Splinters: Part One

Part One | 18

"Don't worry about her," she whispered. "She'll get over it."

I shook my head. "I just don't get it. What did I do?"

"Nothing."

An awkward silence kind of came between us, mostly because I just wanted it to stay quiet, but it looked to be gnawing at Collie pretty badly.

"Were there dances at your old school?"

I froze, not exactly sure what to say. I wanted to say no, but would it be weird if there wasn't?

"Um, I didn't go to them."

"Why not?"

"No one to go with?"

My response was more like a question, as if I were waiting for her to confirm it was a good answer.

Collie grinned. "I don't see how that's possible. The first time I saw you, I assumed there had to be a few other girls who liked you, too."

I completely doubt that. Nothing was special about me.

"Only you," I smirked. "What's wrong with you?" I joked, shaking my head.

Collie laughed. "Nothing's wrong with me. What's wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?" I smiled.

Collie's grin kind of faded and she looked down. "Well... I'm a bitch," she laughed lightly, but I could tell she was serious.

Don't call yourself that, Collie.

"No you're not."

She gave me a flat look. "Brayden, I almost ruined your relationship with your sister. I took her personal thoughts and exploited them to the entire school and turned everyone against her, and I judge people who don't deserve-"

"Collie," I interrupted. "I don't care. I wish you hadn't done that stuff, but you did, and I don't care."

She waited for a second. "You don't?"

"No."

We swayed for a moment and then she kissed me. Hard. And I kissed her back.

When we pulled away, the song ended and Collie smiled up at me as the light grew a little brighter.

"Wanna leave?"

Time alone with Collie? Well... Yeah...

I nodded and she pulled me out of the gym without saying goodbye to anyone. It was like we didn't even go.

...

Currently, Collie and I were on two swings at the park near Constance and she was busting over laughing. I can't remember what I said, but she thought it was seriously funny. I just smiled at her until she was able to fully breathe again.

She told me a story about her brother embarrassing himself in front of the entire family and I somehow made a pun and she, I guess, thought it was the best thing ever said.

"Okay, okay," she said, catching her breath. "Your turn."

I sighed. "Okay. Well, right before I met Ursanne and the rest of the girls, I was-"

"Ursanne," Collie repeated, sporting a confused facial expression. "Before you met Ursanne..."

Crap. No.

"Uh..." I looked away, scrambling for something to say. "What?"

Why did I say that? Why did I say that?