Hate to Say I Told You So

Chapter One

Collin Lang. How could you describe him? In short, my best friend. My only friend sounded more accurate. He had seen me sitting all alone in the lunchroom on the first day of sixth grade. He, as a seventh grader, took me under his wing and hadn't let me out yet.

Collin had helped me through a lot. Every time I hit a bump in the road, I hit his speed dial I called for advice. I didn't think any of that would change just because he had hit a junior and I remained a mere sophomore. He still picked me up and walked to school with me every morning.

He seemed like such a funny kid. Collin refused to learn how to drive by saying "I can walk from one side of this hick town to the other in 20 minutes flat. Now why would I need to waste money on gas for that?" Despite his quirks, Collin had, without a doubt, helped me through a lot these past few years, and tonight seemed no exception.

"Do you need me to come by? Take you back to my place to wait it out?"

"No, I'm fine." I lied, flinching as the sound of my mom's barking onto the phone grew louder.

"You're lying. I'll come over in a minute." Collin hung up before I could protest. He knew what to do, because this seemed more of a routine than a rarity. My parents hadn't gotten along the past few years. I expected a divorce or my dad to move out any day now. Collin became known as the sole person who had seen my parents fight outside of the family. I only let him in the house, not that I had many friends to choose from.

Opening my bedroom door, the bickering grew louder. I crept down the hall, praying I'd miss the creaky spot in the hardwood, although I doubted my mom would care. Her crumbling marriage seemed all that mattered these days.

My brother, Finn, had his door closed. I could hear his music, just loud enough to hear it over my mom, something he often used for drowning her out while he worked. I thought about inviting him to come, but I needed to have Collin to myself tonight. He should be okay. He just pretended that it wasn't happening.

I knocked on the door, anyway, "Finn? I'm going out with Collin. You want to come?"

Finn paused his music and turned his dark head towards me, "No, thanks. I have homework."

"Okay, just thought I'd offer. I have my phone if you need me."

"Thanks Isa." He put his music back in his ears and I shut his door.

I slipped out the front just as Collin came up the walk.

"What kind is it?" He asked

"He never even came home from work today." I replied.

"Oh, that's not good." He held out his arm, "Okay Belle, you're coming with me."

Not many people called me Isabelle, my birth name. Well, my grandmother did, but oh well. Most people just called me Isa, but not Collin. To him, I always had been Belle, which made it obvious he had never taken a day of French in his life. I kind of liked the fact that he called me cute without knowing. Collin kept a tight grip on my arm as we walked.

"My mom made tea when I left. I bet it's done by now."

"Sounds perfect."

...

Collin's house always smelled like some sort of plant or flower. That night, smelled of lavender. I stood in the mudroom for a minute and took it all in. Mrs. Lang had a garden that seemed the envy of the town. Everyone wanted flowers from her, or her secret to having a lush garden, even in the winter.