Splinters: Part One

Part One | 23

"No, but I might as well. You're part of them now?"

"Grady, no, I'm not."

"Brayden!"

Collie's voice made me turn around in less than a second. Arms were thrown around my neck and her lips smashed onto mine. Everything left my mind. I forgot Grady was behind me and I forgot about Collie's present. I was so happy to get this greeting from her. She made me feel... She made me feel... She stepped back, looking up at me. I felt like I had grown a couple inches. Or did she get shorter?

"I missed you!" she exclaimed.

I was taken aback. Her kiss had rendered my speechless. "Y-yeah, me too. You."

She giggled, stepping a little closer, but awkwardly bumped into her present underneath my jacket. "What's under your...?"

I gulped and pulled the box out. "Y-you're Christmas present."

I felt embarrassed as she took it, but just as she was about to open it the bell rang. She looked up at me and handed it back.

"How 'bout I open it at lunch. That way, I can get yours."

I frowned. "You got me one?"

Collie shrugged, slowly walking backwards. "Of course! Why wouldn't I?"

"Well-"

But she turned and began walking to class. I sighed, but I couldn't suppress the smile I had. Slowly, I turned and went to my class, too.

...

As lunch rolled around, I was anxiously waiting for Collie at the entrance of the cafeteria. I was leaning against the doorway, looking over heads to find her. Suddenly, my hand was grasped and I was pulled back.

"Woah," I gasped as Collie turned me around and kissed me.

We stood like that for I don't know how long, and frankly, I didn't care. She was making me feel things that were unreal. I was so into her, it was insane. Her hands were in my hair at the back of my neck while mine were at her hips. Unfortunately, she pulled back, and her pearly white teeth smiled at me.

"C'mon," she said, pulling me away from the cafeteria and to her locker.

She opened it nervously. "Okay, don't eat them now."

I tried not to laugh. "My present is food?"

Collie rolled her eyes playfully. "Not just any kind of food!" She pulled out a heart shaped tin box and opened it. It was filled with brownies. "They're Collie-Made!"

I couldn't contain it this time and chuckled. Taking the tin box, I kissed her on the cheek.

"Thank you, Collie."

"You better appreciate them, too," she warned. "I've never made brownies before."

I laughed again and took her hand, tugging her to my own locker. When we got there, I told her to not read anything until she got home because I was too embarrassed to see her reaction here.

"Did you get me a book?" she asked.

I smirked. "No." I pulled out the box from the bottom of my locker and stood back up. I handed it to her.

Collie smiled and ripped off the wrapping paper and opened the present. She grinned when she caught sight of the bear I made her. She took it out of the box.

"Did you make this?"

I nodded nervously. "Uh, yeah, it wasn't that hard. It had instructions and all that."