Splinters: Part One

Part One | 17

When she was finished, we both left the house in silence. It was a little awkward, but I just took it as she still feels a little sick. She didn't look completely better yet. Her hair was thrown up in a high pony tail, almost ratted and looking uncombed. Her tie was a little messed up and that was something Ursanne never made look not neat. She didn't wear any makeup which made the bags under her eyes even more visible.

"You okay?" I asked, nudging her shoulder.

She glanced at me and opened her mouth to reply, but someone else had spoken up.

"Hey, Ursanne! I'm glad you're back!" Brody exclaimed from the seat next to us, like always.

She smiled softly, leaning forward to see him. "Yeah."

Brody smiled at her again and she just sat back, still not answering my question, but I let it go.

Later, when we arrived at school, Ursanne told me goodbye and promised she'd see me later. I nodded and let her go, thinking that she really should've stayed home.

...

"So, you heard about the sophie dance Friday, right?" I panted to Grady.

He didn't sound much better. "Yeah, I-... I... Don't really... pay... much attention to that... stuff..."

I slowed down, mainly for his sake. "What do you mean?"

He took a few breaths and tried again. "No one... wants me at one of those."

"A... dance?"

"Besides... I'd have to go... stag... because no girl would say... yes to me."

I took a deep breath, pressing a hand against my aching side. "You don't know that."

He gave me flat look "Yeah I do."

"More running! Boys, keep movin'!" our P.E. teacher shouted.

Grady and I struggled to keep running, but completely stopped when he turned around. Because somebody was giving him attitude, he decided to make the whole class run.

"Why'd you ask me about it anyway?"

"Oh, um," I began rubbing the back of my sweaty neck, hopefully he'd be a little encouraging with what I was about to say since no one ever is these days. "I'm thinking about asking Collie."

"What?"

"What?"

Grady furrowed his eyebrows. "You're going to ask Collie?"

I nodded sheepishly. "I want to."

"What's stopping you?"

"Right now, you."

"Why me?"

"You sound kind of appalled."

Grady shook his head. "I think you're assuming everyone doesn't like her because Ursanne. I'm kind of fascinated by Collie Mathers-"

I glared at him.

"Anyways, I don't hate her."

I let out a shaky breath. "That's good. I thought all of you were against me."

"It would be nice if you didn't spend every minute you can with her."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know, lunch used to be just you and me. Now you sit at the Cool Kid Table."

I shook my head. "I'm the least cool kid there."

"But you're there, Brayden, and your girlfriend is the most popular sophie in the lower grades."

I couldn't help but smile. That was Collie. My Collie.

"So you're not gonna go?"

Grady glanced at me. "To the sophie dance? No way!"

"You could ask a girl out," I suggested.

Grady laughed and then put a hand on his belly. "Like anyone would want to dance with this."

I frowned. Grady really knew how to get down on himself. I mean, my self-esteem is bad, but his... I don't think he even has self-esteem. He may not even know what self-esteem is because he's so mean to himself.

"I'm going to ask her later."

Grady nodded.

I wished Collie liked Grady because then she might help me out in finding someone who's interested in him. It's annoying to have one side of who I care about hate the other. It's like she and I are Romeo and Juliet.

Afterwards, we were done and Grady and I went to the locker room and changed. School went on and as the classes neared the end of the day, I grew more and more anxious to ask Collie to the sophie dance.

When school did end, I went to my locker and stuffed some books that I wouldn't need inside. When I felt arms wrap around my neck, my entire body jumped.

"Woah! Didn't mean to scare you," Collie giggled, kissing my cheek from behind.

I couldn't help but smile. "You did."

Collie smiled and walked around me. "Hey."

I returned the gesture. "Hey."

She grasped my hand and let me close my locker before pulling me down the hall. "Your bus is going to leave soon."

I shrugged. "Ursanne'll keep it waiting."

"Is she back?"

"Yeah. I think she's still sick, though."

Collie nodded and began swinging our hands back and forth.

"Collie?"

She glanced at me. "Hm."

I put my free hand on the back of my neck and began pulling the hair at my nape. "You know, there's that dance tomorrow."

Collie froze and stopped walking, causing me to do the same. She turned to me, her eyes hopeful. "And?"

"Well," I started, looking at my feet. "I was thinking, you know, y-, um, you and I c-could go."

Collie laughed once, probably at my nervousness. "I'd love to."

I jerked my head up to meet her gaze. "Really?"

She tilted her head. "Yeah. You haven't been to a dance, have you?"

I shrugged.

Collie took a step toward me and stood on her tiptoes, pecking my lips. "We'll have so much fun!"