Sam and Colby: The Amusement Park

• Chapter Twenty-four •

"UNO!" The red-haired boy shouted, quick to point an accusing finger across the circle of friends, his over-abundance of cards clutched in his right hand.

"I HAVE FIVE FUCKING CARDS JAKE!" The agitated blonde girl yelled back, shoving her stack of cards in his face as she threw her other hand up in frustration. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

"Colby, dear," Sam said smugly, taking his turn amidst the chaos. "Draw four."

"You unfaithful liar!" Colby shouted at him, scoffing as he drew four cards disdainfully. "I thought we had an alliance!"

"All is fair in love and war," Sam shrugged, laughing as Corey moved forward and drew card after card to try and pick up a blue or a seven.

By the time the group had made it back from the tunnels earlier that afternoon, the sun was already as good as set, the sky having darkened significantly above them. They talked it over, and since the only thing left that was planned for that day was the seance at 3:00 AM, the five decided to take a well-earned rest. They had experienced an extremely eventful two days, and it was safe to say that everyone was in need of a good relaxing night.

However, the moment the UNO cards had been pulled from the depths of Jake's bag, any chance of that relaxation had been thrown out of the window. It was now an intense race to see who would win, Sam and Colby steadily getting closer while Jake enraged Andi and Corey struggled to hold his twenty cards between his two hands.

One could argue that this was scarier than the ghost hunting.

"Okay, who the fuck shuffled?!" Corey let out a scoff of disbelief, adding card after card to his hand as he drew for something to lay down. "This is sexist, you guys planned this!"

Sam side-eyed Andi, the two sharing a look as they struggled to hold in the hearty laughter that threatened to spill from their chests. The atmosphere around the five friends was warm and comfortable, giggles and friendly jokes mingling and floating through the night air like a sweet summer harmony.

While the group normally shared a plethora of heartfelt moments, this night was different. With no cameras in sight and the knowledge that they didn't have to film again for the next few hours, the friends were relaxed and entirely themselves, the homey vibe further aided by a certain warmth that flowed through the space across the small circle between Colby and Andi. The two sat opposite of one another, sharing hidden, fleeting looks with crinkled, laughing eyes.

Everybody in that room felt the shift that night, felt something click into place between the two life-long friends. Nobody in that circle was a stranger to the depth of Colby and Andi's bond, each having bore witness to the yearning years that the blue-haired boy endured and the longing looks that so often hung from the blonde girl's features. They frequently joked about the two's half-romantic moments shared, teasing relentlessly at their 'close friendship', but tonight, as the pair glanced back and forth, eyes softened around the edges with something that the boys had only ever really seen in perfect movies, nobody dared to say a word.

After walking up on the two sharing a soft moment at the park earlier that day, seeing the way Colby's eyes focused on the girl when lifted her down from the entrance of the tunnel, and witnessing the two walking back to the staff quarters pressed together, arms slung around each other and comfortable whispers flowing between them, the friends knew that whatever was going on between the pair was actually serious now.

The boys could feel it deep in their bones, and Sam's heart tugged at his chest as Andi let out a soft laugh before them, teasing Colby for laying down a nine after she had placed a six. Jake and Corey shared knowing glances as a small smile crossed the blonde boy's face, all three of them watching a picture long awaited unfold before their eyes.