Splinters: Part One

Part One | 15

I shook my head. "I'm okay."

"If anyone's able to ask for anything, it's Brayden, and he doesn't even have nearly the amount of stuff you girls have," Greg admitted.

"I really am in need of new shorts, though, Mom. My old ones are getting a bit short." Ursanne winked at me which made me confused.

I noticed Greg tense in the front seat. "Well if that's the case, I think some new shorts are a must, Lis," Greg said, glancing at his wife.

Ursanne smirked.

"That's not fair!" Isabeau shouted from the back seat.

"Yeah, Aurora's hair is all tangled and I'm not complaining!" Net added.

Melissa groaned. "Last time I checked, Ursa, your shorts were fine."

Ursanne didn't reply, but looked out the window instead. She didn't look mad or upset, so I didn't nudge her. She stuffed some earphones into her ears and listened to music the rest of the two and a half hour drive to Provincetown, Massachusetts.

I didn't have any music to listen to so I just played Flappy Bird on my phone while I waited for text messages from Collie. After school, I apologized to her and she said it was okay. She didn't want to spend Thanksgiving break not talking to each other, but I did remind myself that I have to ask her to be my girlfriend soon.

Just as I was about to beat 65, she replied, making my phone vibrate. Out of shock, I accidentally pressed the screen twice which made the bird fly into a very high teleporter. I frowned and pressed the home button out of the game and checked my messages.

What's it like there?

I looked back at my text message to remember what she was talking about.

I don't know. It's my first time going.

She was referring to Provincetown. I didn't know what to expect. Ursanne said it's beautiful, very "sailor like," whatever that means. The city was on the very tip of the Massachusetts arm, which I thought was kind of cool. I've only seen it on maps before, and now I'll be on it.

Is it all of yours?

I stared at her answer, kind of confused.

Is it all of our what?

She didn't hesitate in replying.

Is it all of your first time going to Provincetown?

Realization hit me. She didn't know it was only my first time going, but it was probably the millionth for everyone else.

ya

It was a complete and utter lie, but Collie didn't know anything about my life yet. My real life. She didn't need to. It was my business and only mine. My new therapist didn't even need to know about it.

I laid my head back and closed my eyes. I was beginning to feel bad that I lied to Collie, but I couldn't tell her the truth. Not now. At some point, I fell asleep on the long drive there.

...

My vision was blurry as I woke up, but in seconds my eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight outside of the car.

In front of me was a small white house with one car in the driveway. I could see that behind the house was only blue water and the curve of land back to the Massachusetts state.

"Brayden, you coming?" Isabeau asked from outside the car.

That's when I realized I was the only one still inside. I unbuckled my seat belt and exited through the right door.