Surprise Me.

Chapter 4- Glares and Stares

"You alright?" Sam asked from the front seat as we got into the car that night.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I replied shakily. "I'm still sick to my stomach from the ride, but I'll be alright."

"We're going to the hotel, don't worry."

"That's good." I yawned.

I looked out the window, occasionally zoning into the conversation Sam and Colby were having up front.

"Shit, we only reserved one room and they don't allow walk-ins." Colby sighed.

"Hey, the rooms are huge, I'm sure it'll be okay." Sam replied, his eyes focused on the road.

"So what, we sleep in the bed and have her sleep on the couch?"

"I guess. You and I can't both fit on the couch."

"True. You kick-box in your sleep."

"No, I don't." Sam sounded almost offended.

"Yeah you do." I said, smiling.

"I used to. When we were younger."

"You still do." Colby replied. "Remember Crescent Hotel?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Sam turned on the radio and we settled into comfortable silence. My phone vibrated on my lap and I unlocked it, reading the text.

Colby> U sure ur ok?
Mads> Yeah. I'm still shaking and I'm freezing my ass off.
Colby> U want my hoodie?
Mads> Ur cold too, it's fine.

Colby barely read the text before he started shuffling in his seat, stripping his hoodie off. He threw it in the backseat, aiming for my head. I looked at the hoodie before my gaze flicked back up to him.

Mads> Asshole.
Colby> wym?
Mads> U hit me in the face.
Colby> Ur fine lol.
Mads> Ty.

I slid the hoodie on and immediately began warming up. The hoodie was oversized on Colby but it was enormous on me. My eyes got heavy and I let the exhaustion take over, falling asleep in the back of the car. The next thing I knew, the car stopped and Sam handed Colby a keycard.

"Is she asleep?" Sam asked.

"Dude she's been asleep since about ten minutes after we left." Colby replied, quietly.

"I'll get our bags, you get her."

"What's the room number?"

"Just follow me."

The boys both opened their doors and got out, Sam opening the trunk and Colby opening my door. I was so exhausted I didn't make the effort to show him I was awake, instead, I let him pick me up and hold me close to his chest.

"Not what I meant by 'get her' but whatever." Sam said, closing the trunk.

"I'm not gonna wake her up." Colby hissed, trying to be quiet.

"Just watch where you put your hands, that's still my sister."

"Sam..."

Colby laid me on what I assumed was the couch in the hotel room and turned something on the TV for background noise. I was out again in minutes. It didn't last long, something fell in the bathroom and startled me awake. I moved to investigate it when I heard a voice.

"Colby's in there." Sam said from the bed.

"Jesus Christ, you scared the hell out of me." I replied.

"Sorry." He chuckled. I moved over and sat on the edge of the bed next to him. "Want a White Claw?"

"Yeah, why not. After all, it's only three a.m."

"You only get one, this way there's no hangover or anything."

"That's fair." I cracked the can open just as the bathroom door opened and Colby emerged, gray plaid sweatpants hanging low on his waist.

"Someone just opened a White Claw." He announced.

"Want one?" Sam asked.

"Hell yeah." Sam handed it to him and he cracked it open, taking an elongated sip. "Can I have my hoodie back?"

"No. I'm still fucking freezing." I replied.

"So am I."

"Put a shirt on." Sam suggested.

"No, I want my hoodie." Colby whined.

"Fine." I yanked it off and he snatched it out of my hands. "I'm gonna go shower. You guys brought my bag in, right?"

"Yep. It's already in the bathroom."

"Thanks."

I closed the door to the bathroom and took the hottest shower of my life, shuddering the minute my wet hair touched the back of my neck when I got out. The room was still cold, even in sweatpants and my own hoodie.

"Your turn." I said to Sam, picking up my White Claw off of the table next to the bed.

"Alright." He sighed, getting up off the bed and heading towards the bathroom. "No funny business while I'm in there, okay?"

"Sam!"

"Just checking." He closed the door and I flopped onto the bed, sitting next to Colby who was scrolling on his phone.

"Can we talk?" He asked quietly, setting his phone down.

"Yeah, sure, what's up?" I replied.

"I'm not kidding when I say that you leaving and coming back has changed Sam and I. He's more relaxed, but cautious at the same time."

"And you?"

"I'm feeling something I haven't felt in a little while."

"Is something wrong?"

"I think I like you, Mads. I guess it took being stuck on a carnival ride for me to realize it. I know you said that I wasn't the person you liked the other day, but I thought you should know."

"Colby..."

"You don't have to say anything, it's...it's fine."

"The only reason I took the shot yesterday is because Sam would have killed me if I kissed you."

Colby smiled at me and laid his hand on top of mine, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. He leaned over and laid his head on my shoulder, closing his eyes. By the time Sam came out of the shower, Colby was snoring lightly and I'd downed the rest of my White Claw.

"We're gonna get up around nine, you might want to get some sleep." Sam said, yawning.

"In other words, you want me to go to the couch and get out of your spot?" I asked.

"Yeah."

I gently slid off the bed, grinning as Colby woke up and looked around.

"Night, Sam."

"Night, Mad."

"Night, Colby." He grunted in response, rolling over and flicking off the lamp.