Splinters: Part One

Part One | 19

She giggled. "Okay."

I leant in to kiss her, but she stopped me. "Brayden, I'm sick."

I frowned. "What do you have?"

She shrugged. "Not really sure, but I don't want you to feel as crappy as I do."

I sighed. "Fine." I kissed her forehead instead and told her another goodbye, heading towards the hall.

Before I left, I looked back at her and saw that Collie readjusted her position and switched off the TV. I could see she was really tired and was probably wanting to catch up on her sleep. I felt guilty for barging in and not letting her know, but I also felt good. Today I told Collie I loved her. It felt good to let it out and admit it. I knew she was happy to hear it.

When I was about to open the door, I realized that I kinda couldn't get home without a certain someone who forced me to come here in the first place. I wanted to ask Collie where the game room was, but I didn't want to wake her up, so I just looked myself.

I really hoped that it was just her brother here so that I wouldn't run into any of Collie's other family members. Now was not the time I wanted to meet them.

I walked down the hall. I don't know how many doors there were, but there were plenty. I could hear the game room from up the stairs, but I decided to take my time and peek through each room. There was furniture that Melissa would buy behind each door, perfectly clean and styled.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!"

I jumped at Caleb's voice and decided I should hurry up and get Andrew and leave. I walked in just as I saw Collie's brother lightly throw his play station paddle.

"You really did get better," he admitted.

Their backs were facing me, sitting on a red couch in front of another flat screen. Scores of what I assumed was Split Screen was shown. Andrew beat Caleb with 72 kills while Caleb had 66.

"I'm not that bad," Andrew said.

"You're an ass."

I laughed slightly. I guess Andrew heard me because he turned around.

"What's up?" he questioned.

"She needed some sleep," I told him.

Caleb turned and watched us converse.

"Oh. Do you want to leave now?"

I shrugged. "Are you done playing?"

Andrew nodded. "I don't think Caleb can take another beat."

"You might beat me in COD, but I still wrestle," Collie's brother warned.

I smirked.

Caleb stood up. "Brayden."

I looked up at him, staggering back a little. "Y-yeah?"

Caleb walked around the couch towards me. "I didn't mean to scare you. I do want you to treat my sister right, though. She's only had two other boyfriends, including this geek," he hooked a thumb towards Andrew who shied away. "She's the heartbreaker, but that doesn't mean you won't be the first to change that."

"I won't," I said almost immediately. And it was true. I could never break up with Collie.

"You better not." He poked me in the chest. "I don't hate you. I'm just being an older brother."

I nodded.

He stepped back and went back for his controller, turning off the play station. "So you guys heading out?"