Splinters: Part One

Part One | 24

I opened the door and pulled Collie out. She stood in front of me as she closed her door. I wrapped her in my arms only to realize a few silent minutes later that she was crying.

"I tried," she whispered. "I tried to talk it out, but she can't stand me. I don't know what to do. I say one thing and she twists my words and jumps to conclusions, I-... I don't know how many times I have to say I'm sorry or do something to show her that I'm willing to at least be something that isn't enemies."

I listened carefully.

"I can't even count how many names in the book she's called me."

My stomach fell. Ursanne wasn't that bad, was she? "What?"

"I don't even know why I'm so upset. I understand why she hates me. She has every right to hate me."

"Collie, you're different now."

"But that's not enough. No matter what, Brayden, that's not enough for her, and I feel awful because you don't deserve this."

"It's okay."

"No it's not!"

She sobbed into my shoulder for I don't know how long which caused my anger toward my sister to go over the top. This one time! This one time I practically beg her to do this for me, she still screws it up!

I told Collie that I'm glad she tried and that's all that matters and that she should go home and rest. She did so after kissing me goodbye and mumbling another 'I'm sorry'. I watched her leave the driveway and didn't go inside until her car was out of sight.

Spinning on my feet and stomping up the porch steps, I opened the front door and slammed it shut as I entered. I angrily made my way upstairs towards Ursa's room and didn't even care that she was talking to Melissa.

"Can you not see that she's trying?!" I burst out, my fists clenched.

Ursanne was sitting on her bed with Melissa next to her. Both of their heads jerked towards me at the sound of my angry voice.

"Do you not get that I hate you hating her?!"

"Brayden-" Melissa tried, but I shook my head.

 "No, Melissa!" I shouted. "It's not fair! Why can't she see that I'm happy?"

Footsteps came up from behind me and a large hand was placed on my shoulder. "What's going on?"

I looked up at Greg who had a frown on his face.

Melissa sighed and was about to speak, but Ursa had beaten her to it.

"Brayden forced Collie and me outside and try to get along."

"She made Collie cry!" I said, glaring at my sister.

Ursanne scoffed. "She's playing you, Brayden! She's the best actress in the world!"

"You don't know that!"

"Yes I do!"

"Okay, calm down!" Melissa said, her hands out to us. "This is ridiculous!"

"I'll tell you what's ridiculous," Ursa said. "Brayden choosing a girl instead of his family."

"You're not even really my sister, Ursanne," I muttered quietly, but I had all intentions on her hearing, and I didn't care if it hurt her.

By the look on her face, I could tell it did.

"Brayden!" Melissa scolded.

I stood there, staring at them, breathing heavily. My face was probably red and my hands hurt from their stiff hold. Not wanting to deal with their presence any longer, I turned around and went for my room, slamming the door behind me.

I took out my phone and dialed Collie's number. A knock sounded at my door, but I didn't answer it. I already knew who was behind it. I lifted my phone to my ear and listened as the long beep stopped and then resumed again. The door slowly opened.

"Who are you calling?"

"Collie," I bluntly replied.

Greg came toward me and pulled my arm down. I frustratingly hung up and finally set my eyes on him. He looked tired, almost in pain. He must've had a hard day at work, and coming home to all of us yelling... I suddenly felt extremely guilty.

"I'm a bad person."

He let out a small chuckle, pulling me into his side. "You're not a bad person, Brayden."

"Yes I am. I told Ursanne she's not my family."

"Well that wasn't the wisest sentence you've ever said," he admitted.

"I just wish she'd do this for me. She always messes it up."

He rubbed my arm up and down. "She's jealous, son. She's jealous that a girl is taking her brother away."

"She wouldn't have to worry about that if she just accepted Collie. She doesn't even have to really accept it. She can fake it for all I care."

"Brayden, she's a girl. Girls are catty."

I sighed. "And then you're probably all tired and you come here to hear your kids screaming at each other."

He smirked. "It's an interesting change. Besides, I'm glad to see you kids are getting more comfortable with each other that you're getting on each other's nerves."

That got me to crack a grin. 

"Now I know you might not want to, but I think you owe Ursa an apology."

"I think I do, too," I mumbled.

Greg stood up and nudged his head toward the doorway. "C'mon."

I hung my head and left the room behind him. Going left and down the hall, I stopped at Ursa's door. Greg waited until I knocked. When it opened, Ursanne was annoyed. She hadn't been crying, but she was angry, and I knew she was holding the tears in.

"We're not family, remember? We're practically just roommates so technically I don't have to listen to you."

"I didn't mean that," I spat, and instantly felt guilty at my hasty reply. "I wanted to apologize."

She seemed to decide on the idea for a moment before opening the door a little wider. I entered and went for the desk chair.

"I'm sorry, too," she said. "But I'm not sorry for making her cry."

I stiffened. "You're not sorry for that?"

"I despise her being, Brayden. How can you expect me to like her after everything she's done? What happened to family first?"

"She's changed-"

Ursanne rolled her eyes. "Brayden, I've known Collie since I was in fifth grade. You've known her for, what, a few months? You don't know a thing about her! You're too obsessed and naive to see who she really is!"

I felt insulted and embarrassed. I wasn't obsessed with Collie. Naive, maybe, but not obsessed. I cared about her. I love her. Couldn't she see that?

"You don't underst-"

"No, you don't understand, Brayden. She's a fake, a phony! This isn't like your orphanage, okay? This is the real world and in the real world, Colleen Mathers is a bitch!"

She was tearing me down. I felt worse than I'd ever felt. I wanted to cry. The lump in my throat didn't leave and my eyes stung. 

Shaking my head hesitantly, I mumbled, "I don't... believe you."

"Then get out of my room."

My eyes snapped up to meet hers. She didn't hold any mercy this time. She wasn't joking. She was done. She was done with me. And she was most certainly done with Collie.

And so I got up from her chair, opened her bedroom door, and walked out.

---

Brayden's birthplace WILL change in the published version of Splinters: Part One and Part Two.