𝘽𝙇𝙐𝙀, colby brock.

014.

all alone.

Valerie reached into her pocket, realizing she didn't have her keys. Maybe she left them in the hotel room? They were almost to the lobby as they rode down the elevator.

"Shit, I think I left my keys in your room," She said, double-checking that the keys weren't there.

"Oh, are you sure?" Kat said, watching as Val shook her head. "Okay, um, here's the key to the room. Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, I shouldn't bother you with my forgetfulness." Valerie laughed as she took the key from her. The elevator door opened, and Valerie stayed inside and clicked the button for the floor Colby and Kat were staying on.

The elevator rose until it dinged, signaling for Valerie to get off. She made her way back to the room and slid the key into the door, unlocking it.

The first thing she noticed was the door connecting Colby's to Katrina's was open. maybe Colby had returned and checked to see if Kat was there. Normal. The hotel wasn't haunted.

Valerie walked farther into the room, spotting her keys before she noticed what looked like Katrina luggage had been sifted through. No, it was Aam's luggage. Who had gone through his luggage? Maybe it was Colby trying to find something he had left in Sams suitcase.

Val started to return to the bedroom door before she heard a sniffle from Colby's room. She slowed down by the door before peaking in. She knew she shouldn't have, but she couldn't help it.

He was sitting there, curled into a ball. She couldn't just walk in and start a conversation with him, and she barely even knew him. She couldn't just leave him there either.

"Hey," She whispered, unsure if he heard her. The boy shifted.

"Get out, Kat," He mumbled into the mattress.

"Sorry, just left my keys." She said louder this time. She was turning her head down and shuffling to the door.

"Wait, is that Valerie?"

Valerie paused. She could have avoided this encounter if she had just run out of the door.

"Maybe."

"Did you feel this alone?" He asked softly. He looked over towards the door; he looked awful. Well, not terrible, but just exhausted.

"Maybe," she whispered, lifting her head to find the boy looking at her. She could still walk out. Kat shouldn't have to wait for her. Something kept her planted there, though.

"How did you ever survive?" The boy laughed sadly. Did that make it a laugh then? "God, you shouldn't have to see me like this." Colby wiped his eyes.

"I should go.."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, it's fine." Valerie walked into the room now. She could see Sam's shirt clutched in his hands.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, seriously, it's fine," She whispered, "and I honestly don't know how I survived all these years. Sometimes, it still feels like no time has passed."

"Nice to know I'm not alone," Colby says dryly. Val took a deep breath. She didn't mean to upset him.

"Did you know people thought I killed Ash?" She said finally.

"What?" His brows raise.

"Those first few weeks after his body was found, everyone thought I killed him. Since my dad found his body and everything, they thought I killed him, and my dad was in on it. He almost lost his job." The words feel heavier once they leave her mouth.

"That's awful.."

"We don't have to talk about Sam if you don't want to," Valerie says gently, remembering how this conversation started.

"Can we not, please?" Colby asks, sitting up in bed now. The boy realized he was still clutching Sam's shirt and let it fall onto the bed.

"I'm sorry, I really should get going." The girl says, looking at the door. Kat shouldn't have to wait for her.

"Please stay," he whispers. He motioned her to sit. The girl walks over to the bed and sits next to the boy. For some strange reason, being this close to him feels weird.

They were just friends. Then why did she feel every breath he took in her soul? Why was she so hyperaware of every move he made next to her?

"I'm sorry for intruding earlier," She whispered, looking down at her hands. She couldn't look at him.

"There's nothing to be sorry about." Colby said gently. "Do you ever miss him?"

"Yeah, all the time."

"Do you think we're gonna find Sam?" His voice cracked. She looked up to see tears in his eyes.

Maybe looking at him was a horrible mistake. She really shouldn't have done it. She leaned over and wiped his tears away.

He leaned into her, mere centimeters separating the two. Val's heart thumped in her chest as Colby leaned closer and kissed her.

She cupped the side of his face, kissing him back. Her eyes shot open. No, no, no, no. She shouldn't be kissing him.

He had just been crying about his missing friend not even five minutes ago. She was using his vulnerability, even if she didn't mean to.

"I.." the words were lost in her mouth as she shot up. They were just friends, but why did she kiss him?

"I should go," she mumbled, rushing towards the door. Colby said something, but Valerie couldn't hear him over the roar of blood in her ears.

The door slammed behind her as she rushed to the elevator and slapped the button. God, this elevator couldn't be slower right now.

Val glanced over her shoulder to ensure he didn't try to follow her. This can't be real.

The elevator door dinged right as it opened, and the girl rushed inside. She made her way down to the lobby, hoping she looked normal.

"Hey, ready to go?" Kat asked. If she noticed anything wrong, she wouldn't say anything about it.

"Yep." the words came out forced—way to go on sounding normal.

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word count - 1002