Splinters: Part One

Part One | 17

I peeked my head through, seeing Ursanne's sleeping body sprawled out on her bed. The fan was on, but she looked to be sweating.

I completely entered the room and walked towards her. I stood next to her head, watching her breathe slowly. Her eyes opened as if she felt my presence and she stared at me for a short moment before closing them again.

"Is school over?"

"Yeah."

I sat down on her bed near her knees. "Melissa said you might have the flu."

Ursa turned and lifted a hand on her forehead. "Something like that."

"What do you feel like?"

"Like I was ran over by a bus straight on my stomach."

"You look like you just walked a desert."

"That, too."

I pressed my lips together and sighed.

"So," she began, opening her eyes. "How was it?"

"Okay. Bella missed you."

Ursanne winced. "Ugh, she's gonna kill me when I get back."

The corner of my lip tilted upwards. "Why?"

"I left her at Constance all alone! She hates eating lunch with no one there."

"She ate lunch with Grady."

"And not you?"

"I eat lunch with Collie."

Ursanne rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah."

And just like that, she totally ruined my mood. I'd been hoping to see her the entire bus ride from school and as soon as she gave me attitude about Collie, I wanted to get out. Was what she said about being okay with me choosing my friends nothing but a lie?

"I'm going to go get a snack."

I didn't want to start an argument.

"Can you bring an icepack up here please? I'm burning."

I looked over my shoulder and nodded, and then turned back around to get what she wanted.

After I left the room, I felt like I could breathe again. I hated it when Ursanne did stuff like that, talk about Collie in a rude way and then act like it's fine. It's not my fault they- no, she hates her.

But nonetheless, because she's my sister, I care about her, she literally looks like she's dying, and because I'd feel too bad if I didn't, I went and got her an ice pack. When I went back into her room, she was asleep, so I wrapped the ice pack around a cloth from the bathroom and put it on top of her forehead and left to go do some homework.

...

When dinner was ready, I was called down in the midst of finishing my History homework. I was relieved, though, because I needed a break and actually felt like I was starving.

Entering the dining room, all the girls were sitting in their usual spots except for Ursanne who must be sleeping. Odera and Net were arguing about who got the last of the chocolate milk while Edaline was playing with her hearing aid and Beau was telling Melissa about a party she'd been invited to. Greg was still in his suit when he finally sat down.

The food looked amazing. The one thing I'm most thankful for with being adopted here is the food, besides the family. Melissa and Greg sure know how to cook.

We said our Before Meals prayer and I let the girls talk about whatever they wanted to talk about to Melissa and Greg first. I mean, they are their kids. I'm not.