Splinters: Part One

Part One | 16

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of me. It's not like I felt pressured to ask her, I just felt like now it was over. Now she could say yes and it could be official. Collie would be my girlfriend.

After a second or two, a giant smile broke out on her face and she nodded. "Y-yeah." She laughed. "Yes!"

Her arms were wrapped around my neck as she practically pounced on me. I wrapped mine around her back and hugged her closer. Seeing her this happy was something I never knew I wanted so badly, but I do. I want to see her this happy forever.

She leaned back and slammed her lips against mine. It kind of hurt, but I couldn't even try to care. Collie was mine now. She wasn't Zech's or Andrew's. She was mine.

...

When I got home, my thoughts were entirely of Collie. Nothing else, but Collie. We sat and talked for hours until it got to around seven and it began getting dark. Melissa had texted me and said she wanted me home soon so I took that as my cue to leave.

Collie and I talked about so many things, I don't even remember half of what we said. She was great. She was perfect. I couldn't believe I had a girlfriend and it was Collie. I didn't deserve a girl like her.

I ended up walking her home just to make sure she was safe and then I headed back for myself. She texted me the whole way back to my house, making sure I was okay and all that.

Melissa and Greg apparently had to work late and she wanted me home before she was home. The two wouldn't be getting off until after nine and eight is when the streetlights begin to turn on. I heard Ursanne in her room with Bella as I made my way upstairs. Edaline and Net were passed out on the sofa downstairs which made me wonder how they were asleep so early. Odera and Beau were on the computer playing some games.

I went to my own room and practically texted Collie until everyone was asleep. I had heard Ursanne and Bella go downstairs after agreeing on watching a few more films. I fell asleep with the distant sound of my phone vibrating.

...

Waking up confused is probably one of the biggest things I hate. I didn't know if a day or an hour had passed since I had fallen asleep, but after looking at my phone and discovering two unread text messages from Collie, I realized it had only been a few hours since I had dozed off.

My throat felt extremely dry again and my stomach hurt so I decided to go get some food in the kitchen. Using the bathroom first and then heading downstairs, I was satisfied after eating a pop tart and glass of milk.

I looked at the microwave to see it was two in the morning. I shook my head and headed upstairs to go brush my teeth and change, but as I passed the family room, I realized the TV was still on. I slowly went inside to see that Net and Eda were gone. I assumed Bella and Ursa put them in their beds.

I entered the room and went towards the TV.

"I'm still watching."

My bones practically jumped themselves at the frightening small voice that abruptly spoke from behind me. I whirled around to see Bella sitting on the floor next to a sleeping Ursanne. Her knees were pulled to her chest as she stared directly at me.

"Y-you're still awake?"

Bella nodded. "I've been trying really heard to go to sleep, but I just... can't."

I made my way towards her and sat down next to her. Bringing my knees to my chest as well, I placed my crossed arms atop them. "Why not?"

Bella leaned her head back against the sofa. "I don't know. I just feel uneasy."

"Are you scared?"

Bella looked at me. "Of what?"

I shrugged. "I don't know? Sleeping over?"

Bella laughed. "This is practically my second house, Brayden. Being scared of sleeping over here is the least of yours and my worries."

The tip of my lip lifted slightly. "Oh."

"Why are you?" she asked after a moment of silence. "Up, I mean."

"I got hungry."

Bella giggled, but I didn't think it was that funny.

"Where were you today?"

I tilted my head to the side. "I, uh, went to go spend time with Collie."

"Collie?" Bella's head jerked towards me. "Collie Mathers?"

"Yes?"

I knew Bella didn't find Collie to be the best person either, but dealing with Ursanne was enough. I didn't need to hear her make fun of my girlfriend, too. Girlfriend...

"You guys are, like, together?"

"Now we are."

Bella looked away. "Oh."

Her sudden change in mood weirded me out. I didn't think Bella liked me because she's Ursanne's friend and Bella's not that type of person. I had a feeling it was something else.

"You don't like her either, don't you?"

"Well, I mean, it doesn't matter if I like her or if I don't. What matters is what you think of her."

"I think good of her."

"Then what's it to me to say that I don't like her? It does nothing but make you dislike me."

"I don't dislike you."

"That's why I just said 'oh' and not what I think of her."

I smiled at Bella and it took her a few moments to smile back.

"We've never really talked like this," Bella admitted. "It's a different side to you I haven't met before. You're different alone."

"Different how?"

"I don't know," she muttered. "You're... more... open, I guess."

Open was a good word.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"You don't seem that much different. You're still the honest Bella I've known the last few months."

Bella smirked. "Is that a good Bella?"

"She's a good Bella."

She laughed quietly. "You make me a sound like a dog."

"Bella can be a dog name."

She laughed again. "So can Brayden."

I grimaced. "Not as much as Bella."

"That's true."

We went off into a silence for a moment. It was more awkward than not, but it wasn't too bad. I had a feeling she wanted to go to bed so I stood up. Her eyes followed me.

"Where are you going?"

"To bed. Aren't you tired?"

"No, are you?"

"I thought you were."

"Not yet. Could you just stay? Just for a little while longer?"

I slowly made my way back down. "Why?"

"Just stay," Bella pleaded.

"Okay."

So I did. I waited and I stayed with her until she got really tired and accidentally fell asleep on my shoulder. It didn't feel like how Collie had slept on my shoulder. It felt wrong. I wanted Collie's head to be there.

I liked Bella and all, but if Collie were here, she wouldn't be too happy seeing me with Bella in this way, even if it meant nothing.

I slowly put a pillow under her head as I moved her over. She was dead asleep, even when I stubbed my toe on the coffee table leg. I turned off the TV, after recollecting myself and my toe and all, and left the family room and went back to my bed.