Splinters: Part One

Part One | 24

The good thing was was that this was for us. Mr. Dudd won't read it. But did I really want to open up and put my life on paper? No. But what if it help? Well then maybe.

So I took that risk. If my Splinters could be pinched out even a little, I wanted to take that chance. So I wrote.

I was born in Brooklyn, New York. Hospital? I don't know. My birthday is January 20, 1999. I'm fifteen. I've got black shaggy hair. I'm scrawny and sort of tall. My teeth aren't completely straight, but they're not crooked. There's this really small gap between my two front ones, but that's it. 

My parents' names are Marie and Bryson. Because of the disappearance of my mom and the arrest of my dad, I was taken under my grandma's custody until I was nine where she passed away. After that, I was sent to St. Anne's Orphanage only a few hours from Brooklyn.

My best friend is 18. His name is Jake Quinn, and he's had it pretty bad. My other best friend is named Josephine, but I call her Jo. She's thirteen now. I wish I could take everything bad that's happened to her and put it on me. Jo's not okay, but she's strong.

Suddenly, I heard two knocks on my door. I quickly closed my composition notebook and covered it with my Math textbook and swirled around on my swivel chair. Collie's head peered into the room. Slowly, she entered, closing the door behind her as she gazed around.

"Your mom let me in. Er- your foster-"

"You can just say Mom," I said quickly, still a little shaken up at the possibility that she could've seen what I had been writing.

But why did it matter? Collie knew about me already. Maybe I was scared of her knowing all about me. The idea made my stomach uneasy. Collie didn't have to know about it. Not yet anyway.

"What were you doing?" she asked quietly, awkwardly leaning against my bed now.

I pointed behind me. "Homework."

She sat there, staring at me. It was silent for what seemed like forever until she gave me a weird look. "Are you okay?"

"Me?" 

She stifled a giggle at my stupid question.

"Um, yeah, you just caught me off guard."

"Sorry," she muttered, coming toward me and kissing me.

I stood up, keeping her lips on mine. This kiss was different from all the ones before. This time, we kissed longer and we kissed deeper. It was something I've never done before, and frankly, I wasn't very good at it, but I liked it. At some point, Collie's tongue went into my mouth and I pulled away immediately.

"Sorry!" 

I shook my head, my face going red. "No-"

"Was that too far? I mean, it's just kissing, but I know that you-"

I shook my head again, putting my hands on her shoulders. "Collie, I'm not... good..."

She stared into my eyes, a smile coming across her lips. She laughed quietly and then hugged me. Her arms wrapped around my waist and mine went around hers. This day seriously couldn't be more awkward. But it was a nice awkward.

"Why did you invite me over?" she inquired, almost sounding like a whisper.

I closed my eyes. Today was the day I was going to force Collie and Ursanne to spend time together. My plan is rather harsh but if it makes them civil then outside they go.

"I, uh, wanted to hang out."

"Not at the park?" she asked, looking up at me.

I had the strange realization that I've gotten taller. Since the first day I met Collie, she was a little smaller than me, but now, she's a lot smaller. Since when did she get so tiny?