To Catch A Star

Chapter Seventeen

Later that day Andi made her way to the gym, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Usually during dinner Colby would look her way every now and then and make a face or smile. Today he stared glumly at his food, not once acknowledging her no matter how many times she looked over. She felt silly in all honesty, she knew she made a habit of overthinking things and making a mountain out of a mole hill but she couldn't help thinking that something was very wrong.

As she entered the gym, she realised that she was alone. The sinking feeling worsened, so she tried to take her mind off of it and went onto the stepper – that machine always made her ache and she needed the distraction. It was an hour later when Colby made an appearance and he looked off, she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Andi tried a smile but Colby seemed to be refusing to look at her, instead pausing in the middle of the gym.

"We need to talk."
He said, his voice sounded stiff. She stopped the machine but hesitated to get off it. She did not like the sound of this.

"Sure..."
she said quietly. She stepped down and approached slowly, stopping a good few inches away from him. She fought against her flight response, against wanting to run for her room at the complex and hiding until she was forced to come out.

"Listen, we need to discuss what's going on here."

He gestured between them.

"This isn't right and it's not professional at all."

"What do you..."

He cut her off, voice raising slightly, almost defensively.

"There're feelings here... we need to stop before it goes too far."

"Colby, you're worrying me. I can't understand what I've done wrong here..."

He cut her off again.

"Don't play dumb, we both know what's happening. The touching, the staring, the flirting. It's gotta stop, it's not right. You're married for crying out loud!"

Andi felt something she hadn't felt in a long time – burning rage! How dare he!

"Typical man! Thinking you're God's gift to women, who the hell do you think you are! I would never do anything behind my husband's back, I have fucking morals you know!"

"I-"

"No! You keep your mouth closed Seth Rollins! How dare you accuse me of trying to cheat on my husband! The only cheat in this room is you!!"

With that, Andi stormed out of the room leaving a shocked Colby, slack jawed, behind. Andi marched through the halls, adrenaline pumping in her veins. How dare he talk to her like that! Is that what he thought about her, that she was some kind of slut! She felt so insulted!

When she got to her room the adrenaline had warn off somewhat and she slumped against the door that she'd slammed closed... Then the tears started. She thought they were friends. Yes she had some stupid crush on him but she never would have done anything about it, he was way out of her league. Did he really think that she was that kind of person, that she would hurt someone she loved for an attempted one night stand or affair? Did she come across as that bad of a person?

She suddenly felt so lonely and disgusting. She wanted to just go home...

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They ignored each other. That was the adult response from both sides. If they passed each other in hallways when no one was around they would snap that the other was in the way. No one notices because no one knew that the spoke to begin with.

That was until Colby snapped at Andi during a CrossFit lesson, telling her that she was slacking. Andi glared but pushed harder just to spite him. Liv was shocked by Colby's attitude and had a conversation with AJ later that day who dismissed it and said that Colby gets that way when he's in a mood sometimes...

They both slept in their respective rooms and Andi avoided the gym from that night onward, instead taking to the track to run. Colby still goes to the gym but watches her through the window. He hates this and it's killing him that this was his fault for being a defensive, scared jerk. Andi feels heartbroken, then silly about feeling that way. It wasn't as if anything would have happened, even if she were single...

One night, on a particularly bad day for her (emotions overwhelming her) runs for so long that she makes herself sick and passes out from exhaustion. It's Joe who finds her there, going outside to FaceTime his daughter, Jojo, and his wife. He scoops her up from the ground and takes her to where he knows the girls will be, knowing that if he took her to medical, she would panic upon gaining consciousness.

The girls take care of her, upset by this turn of events, especially AJ who tries and fails to get answers on what happened. They all notice the bags under her eyes, and she looks somewhat fragile... Joe decides, and tells her, that she is not to come to class the following day and that she's on rest. He is firm in his decision, even when she protests.

Once settling Andi in her room, the girls make their way to the trainers quarters and upon seeing Jon in the lounge, fill him in on what has happened. Colby just so happens to be in the lounge and a surge of guilt hits him... he did this. He is disrupted by his thoughts when an angry Jon is blaming Andi's husband, claiming that he swears she was arguing with him on the phone. Colby didn't know that, she never mentioned it to him...

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The next day, Andi turns up for half an hour before class ends but Liv tells her no and that she needs to rest, as per Joe's orders. Andi protests but eventually gives in as Liv hugs her and she leaves. Colby watches from afar, guilt eating him alive.