Splinters: Part One

Part One | 14

After I finished in the bathroom, Collie had already written a response to me. I left the restroom typing my text. Because of my lack of attentiveness, I nearly ran into Isabeau.

"Who you talkin' to?" she asked, peering up at me.

I looked away from my phone and at the little blonde girl.

"Uh, a friend?"

"Is everyone ready?" I heard Melissa call from downstairs.

My stomach dropped. "I needa go get dressed, Beau."

"Okay!"

I rushed passed her and into my bedroom. My clothes sat on a swivel chair Greg and Melissa had put in here so that I could do my homework on a desk. I was thankful to see that Odera was not in the room.

I quickly changed and rushed downstairs just as Melissa was about to call me.

"Finally. We've been waiting forever!" Edaline groaned, getting up from her spot on the sofa.

I blushed. "Sorry. I went to the bathroom."

Greg rolled back his sleeve and looked at his watch. "We've still got time."

"Alright! Let's go!"

Everyone headed out to the car. To say it was crammed was an understatement. I sat in the middle of Odera and Ursanne while Net, Eda, and Beau all sat in the very back. Melissa and Greg held hands in the front seats.

I caught Ursanne texting Bella. They were sending lots of weird smiley faces that confused me. Collie hadn't answered my text message and I was scared that she'd text me while I sat between the only two sisters that didn't like her.

Thankfully, when we reached Orange Forest, she hadn't answered, but then I began to wonder why she hadn't answered. Was she okay? Was she with someone? Did her phone die? Does she need help?

I was almost on the verge of freaking out until we all left the car to enter the restaraunt because once I shut the door, I felt a vibration in my pocket. I took out my phone and read her text.

Where are you going to eat?

I quickly notified her that I was at Orange Forest and then she answered a lot quicker than last time.

"Brayden!" I heard Ursanne call.

I lifted my head to see my family already inside. I hurried towards them.

"If that phone takes up all your attention tonight, Brayden, I might have to steal it from you." Melissa said.

I pressed my lips together, feeling my face heat up. I stuffed my phone back into my pocket and looked around for the first time.

Orange Forest was amazing. There were trees inside. Not literally, but they looked real. Oranges dangled from the branches. I had expected it to look like an orange forest, not a forest full of oranges, but nonetheless, it looked really cool.

The floor was wooden and so was the ceiling, but along the walls were trunks of trees that stood all the way to the cieling. It literally resembled a forest. A forest with a million oranges.

Slowly, we approached a hostess who was dressed in khakis, an orange shirt, and a black apron. She had brown hair and looked maybe a year older than me.

"Hi, welcome to Orange Forest. How many?"

Melissa didn't even hesitate in answering.

"Three adults. Five kids."

"Mom! I want to be an adult!" Odera whined.

Greg looked over at his daughter and winked. She closed her mouth and gave him a glare.