Splinters: Part One

Part One | 21

I shook my head, hooking a thumb over my shoulder. "She said she can get me."

Melissa propped a leg above the other and clasped her hands around her knee. "Alright. Let me know when you're coming home. And if I or Greg need to come get you, that's fine, too."

I nodded before leaving her office and changing into some better clothes, for Collie and her parents' sake - if they were there. Not long after, I left the house and sat on the front porch, just in case my sisters were to see and interrogate me. About ten minutes later, Collie's car drove up to the driveway. I smiled once I caught her eyes through the windshield.

I stood up and went towards the passenger side door, slipping in and buckling my seatbelt.

"Hi," Collie smiled.

"Hey," I breathed, feeling the slightest bit awkward.

Collie turned the car into reverse before pulling out. I had the urge to grab her hand and entwine our fingers, but I knew better. Collie liked having both hands on the wheel.

"So, are your parents home?" I asked, attempting to hide my fear.

Collie shook her head. "Nope."

I sighed in relief.

She glanced at me, giggling. "I can assume you weren't hoping to meet them?"

I shook my head, leaning back against the head rest. "Nope."

Collie stared intently at the road. "Well you're in luck. They had a meeting today."

I nodded, but the butterflies in my stomach didn't go down. The drive to Collie's house wasn't long, or maybe it was, but I didn't notice. We didn't really say anything. We just listened to this really weird music. I didn't care to ask her who it was. I just liked sitting in the car with her alone.

When we pulled into Collie's driveway, the garage was open and it was filled with three cars. Expensive cars, should I say.

"Um..." Collie turned to me, turning off the car. "Okay, so..."

"They're here?" My eyes were wide open and the butterflies went that much crazier. My hands began to get sweaty as I slowly unbuckled my seatbelt.

"Okay, I'll just try to get us in without them seeing you."

I looked at her. "Won't they get mad?"

Collie rolled her eyes. "My parents don't care about anything."

She hurriedly got out of the car, me following close behind. We both went up the porch. Her left hand took my right and she pulled me through the front door. Three voices came from the left side of the hall. Collie and I passed the living room I'd seen when Andrew and I came. As we grew closer to the voices, we quickly tried to pass it, but unfortunately...

"Colleen?"

Collie stopped, her eyes closing shut. She stood up straight and let go of my hand, which was good because it got sweaty again. Collie and I both turned and entered the doorway where a girl who looked remarkably like Collie, just a little less skinny and older looking, sat on a stool near an island with an older couple who I easily assumed was Collie's parents.

"What?" Collie questioned rudely.

Her mother gave her a look that made me feel uncomfortable. "Is this the boy that came to our house while we were gone?"

Collie glared at her. "Caleb was here."

"That's not the issue, Colleen." The man stepped foward. "You know our rules."