Splinters: Part One

Part One | 6

"I guess."

"You're that girl's brother, right? Urs..."

I shrugged. "It's Ursanne."

"Right," he nodded, pointing at me. "She's cool. I mean, I've never really talked to her, but..."

I didn't know what to say. He was talking to me about Ursanne. I didn't know whether to agree or compliment her or anything. What do older brothers do in this situation? Am I supposed to be annoyed or pleased. I didn't even know this guy and he was making a conversation about my sister... or Ursanne. Whatever she is to me. Sister. Yeah.

"Uh, yeah..."

He sighed slightly. "I'm Andrew, but you can call me Drew."

I glanced at his face. "Brayden."

He nodded. "Do you like Constance?"

I laughed kind of. "As much as you can like school, I guess."

He laughed too, a little dramatically if I'm being honest. "You know, you're kind of cool. Say, you want to come to this party this weekend?"

Was everyone invited to this party?

I stared at Andrew, completely befuddled on what to say. The question had been asked not even five minutes after we'd met.

"The reason I ask is because you always look so lonely, man. You know, here at Constance, when you become a sophomore, that's when you start actually partyin'. If you'll let me, I'd like to introduce you to some people. You know, get you part of the crowd."

I watched him as he cheerfully kept talking.

"What was your old school like? Did you guys have parties there a lot?"

I shook my head, remember a conversation I'd had with Ursanne last night. 

"What if people ask me about my life? What do I tell them?"

She scribbled something in hernotes. "You can just say you went to a boarding school or something. It's not like it's any of their business anyway."

"Um..." I started, shifting in my seat. "I went to a boarding school. Parties weren't allowed."

"Gee, you're about to have a culture shock. You know Zech? He's having a party the party at his place. I really think you should come."

"I don't know him, though," I said.

"I'm pretty cool with him. He doesn't care who comes to his parties, as long as they're not nerds and they're not from another school, and looks from you that you're not a nerd."

"I don't... really think I'm allowed to," I admitted, trying to sound as least childish as I could.

"You don't think you're allowed to?" Andrew smirked. "C'mon, trust me, it'll be cool. You can tell your folks you want to hang out at my place Friday and then we'll go to the party."

"Lie?"

He scoffed. "How else are you gonna get there?"

"I don't know." I mumbled.

"Look, Brayden, do you want to be a "nobody" for the next two years here at Constance?"

I didn't answer him.

"C'mon. The party'll be fun."

I scratched my ear. "I'll see."

Andrew cheered and lifted his hand. I stared at him, not sure of what he wanted me to do. I lifted my hand too, and then he did this weird handshake and then sat towards the front of the class.