Splinters: Part One

Part One | 23

"So, what's going on with you and Zech?" I questioned.

He shrugged. "I told him something and he got all mad about it and said I was stupid. So I began to rub it in his face that you were with Collie and he wasn't."

"What'd you tell him?"

He glanced at me in a way I didn't like, as if he were uncomfortable with the truth. "Forget it. I don't even remember."

I didn't quite believe him, but I let it go. He didn't need to tell me. What mattered was that Zech was being a jerk.

"Is that why he was taking it out on me and Collie?"

Andrew shrugged. "Probably. He's just an ass. I know how to handle him. Don't worry."

By that time, we entered our classroom and sat in our desks. He didn't seem to be in the mood for talking any further, so I didn't push it.

...

When the day ended, I said my usual goodbye to Collie and got on the bus. Ursanne was already at her seat when I sat next to her. I knew what her first words would be, but I tried to keep it cool.

"So?"

I struggled to not sigh in frustration. "So?"

"How did giving the wicked witch of Constance her present go?"

I gave her a disapproving glare. "It was great, thank you very much," I replied bitterly.

"What'd she get you?"

I couldn't help but smile as I opened my bag and pulled out the tin box. Ursanne stared at it awkwardly. "She does know it was Christmas and not Valentine's Day, right?"

I rolled my eyes and opened it.

"Brownies?"

"Want to have one?" I offered.

Ursanne leant back. "Not if she made them."

I shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Taking a brownie from the box, I ate it slowly, and to my surprise, it was really good. Collie was never one to cook, but I could tell she really tried with this. It made me want to shout off the highest building how crazy I was about her.

When we finally arrived at our bus stop, Ursa and I walked home in a comforting silence. We shivered on our short journey home, and when we entered our house, the gust of warm air felt so much better. Thankfully, Melissa had decided to get off work early to pick up the younger ones from school.

The rest of the day had dragged on. I did my homework, eating Collie's brownies in silence as I wrote an English paper.

Putting my hand in without looking, I felt something that wasn't the tin. I glanced in and caught sight of something white. Paper. I moved some other brownies to lift the... well, I guess papers. Tickets. Recital tickets. Lifting them from the box it read: Piano Recital. I smiled. She was inviting my family. I never thought she'd do it. The ticket said that the piano recital would be this Saturday from three p.m. to seven p.m. Perfect timing.

When I counted how many tickets there were, my phone vibrated in my back pocket. I took it out, smiling when I saw Collie's name.

"Hello?"

"Can I just say your letter made me cry?"

I frowned. "What?"

"Tears of joy, Brayden. Joy."

I grinned, not really wanting to talk about the letter. "I found your other present, too."

Collie let out a short breath. "What do you think?"