Splinters: Part One

Part One | 25

"Maybe," Collie challenged. "If I were, what would you do about it?"

"Absolutely nothing," I whispered, pressing my lips to hers.

I had no idea where this came from. Maybe it was my way of showing her that I saw no one but her after Kimberly, or maybe it was my sixteenth birthday and the idea that I should act like it. Either way, Collie enjoyed it and so did I.

"Why Jordan's, though?" I asked as we headed to my locker to put them away.

Collie nuzzled her head into my shoulder. "Don't laugh, okay?"

But her telling me not to laugh made me laugh anyway.

She nudged me lightly. "I'm serious, Brayden."

Once I sobered up, I promised her I wouldn't, which was a promise I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep.

"Okay," she started. "I've got, like, a Jordan's fetish."

I pressed my lips together, trying very hard not to let out a peep.

"Um..." I accidentally snorted. "What?"

"I seriously think it's the hottest thing ever if a guy wears Jordan's."

If she hadn't said "Don't laugh" in the first place, then I probably wouldn't be laughing, but I was dying. Surely, it wasn't even that funny.

"Brayden," she said disapprovingly.

"They're shoes, Collie!"

"I know, it's sick."

I laughed even harder and wrapped her in my arms.

"Stop laughing!"

Finally, I did, and whispered to her, "I'll wear them every day just for you."

Her response was an agitated grunt, and mine was another burst of laughter.

...

Collie and I went outside to eat instead of at the usual table because Zech had been getting on our nerves lately, and if he knew it was my birthday, we had no doubt he'd have at least five hundred remarks.

So instead, Collie and I both bought sandwiches and sat at a table outside. After finishing her lunch, she turned to me.

"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?"

I had been hoping she wouldn't ask since the moment she told me happy birthday. I didn't want to explain everything. I didn't want to talk about it. And she could tell when I didn't reply.

"C'mon, Brayden."

I didn't even look at her. "I don't really want to-"

She sighed, glancing at me, almost as if she were scared. "Do you not... trust me?"

Now I felt guilty. "No, Collie-"

"Then why is it such a secret? Why is everything on the down low with you?"

I could tell she was angry, but her eyes showed that she was sad. And I didn't reply to her. I just sat there because I didn't know what else to do. I knew that I should tell her the truth, but I didn't want to. I wasn't ready to.

Shaking her head, she began to gather her things.

"Where are you going, Collie?"

"Nowhere."

She scampered off before I could say anything. Honestly, I didn't even really feel like going after her, which was the worst part. Frustrated, I slammed my fist on the blue table. It hurt, but I couldn't pay attention to the pain.