Metanoia *NOT CONTINUING*

Three

Sarah
My body woke itself up with the painful thumping of my head. My eyes squinted as I looked up at the dull grey, blue sky trying to figure out my surroundings. I turned my head to look at who the arm behind my head belonged to. Colby. I sat up, the colorful fall leaves crunching underneath me. He remained undisturbed at my side. His coat fell from my body as I sat up, he must have covered me with it as I was sleeping. My head was now in my hands as everything around me made me feel dizzy and nauseous.

A noise came from beside me and when I looked, he was awake. "What the actual fuck happened last night?" His voice was strained as he stretched. "You're asking the wrong gal." I yawned. It had to be early since it was still so somber out, and the leaves beneath us were slightly damp with dew. "Colby!" Sam's loud voice startled our tired bodies. "Sarah!" Lauren's voice followed. "Over here!" Colby's voice struggled as a cough forced at his throat. "Oh God...did you guys?" Sam tried not to laugh. "Yeah, we did." Colby chuckled. "Wait, we did?" My eyes grew wide with shock at the information I couldn't seem to get a grip on. He looked at me confused, almost as if I was crazy. "Um, yeah." his eyebrow raised at me as Lauren and Sam just stood there enjoying the show. "Wait, what do you mean by 'did we'?" Colby looked over to Sam. "Making lasagna...No I meant sex, dumbass!" "Oh, shit no. I thought you meant if we slept in the woods." We all laughed except I was really relieved. "I was gonna say, I don't think I was that drunk." I joked.

"What time is it?" I mumbled to Lauren as we all walked towards were our cars were parked. "5:18 in the morning." She checked her phone before answering. "So we only slept for a couple hours and sobered up? Damn." I lightly laughed. "Hey, can we get your numbers?" Colby snuck up behind me. "Ya know, to keep in touch." Sam added. "I..." I was cut off by Lauren offering Sam the combination of numbers. "Sarah?" Colby bit his lip nervously as he shoved his fists into his jean pockets. "Colby, I..." I was cut off again by Sam saying "Hey, why don't we all get a hotel room together tonight and just hangout? We can go swimming and crap." Lauren once again cut me off before I could interject. "That sounds fun as hell!" "I don't think..." I started but was once again cut of by the two childish boys begging. "Fine." I gave in for the sake of their feelings, but I was pissed at Lauren for giving in to these things so easily. She knows how I am. How we are because of me.

"What the hell do you guys live in your car or something?" Sam chuckled as I dug through the trunk of my car to find our swimsuits. I turned around giving him a look before continuing my search. "Are you...are you serious? You guys live in your car?" He was surprised but his eyes held sympathy for us. "Shut up, why do you have to say it so loud? Don't tell Colby, okay? It sounds embarrassing." I wasn't affected by his reaction, just the fact of him not knowing the real reason behind it. I didn't want it to come off as if we're poor or got kicked out of somewhere, because that's not the reason.

Sam and I walked through the carpeted hallway with nothing but silence and a handful of swimwear as we continued our journey to meet Lauren and Colby back in our hotel room. "You know, we have an extra room at our place if you guys would..." I stopped him before he could finish his sentence. "Shh Sam, it's fine, I swear. Just forget about it, okay?" And with that, he didn't say another word.

I tossed Lauren her swimsuit as she sprawled herself out across one of the two beds. Colby was already in his swim trunks sitting in the swivel chair at the opposite end of the room.

"Hot tub?" Colby smirked to me. "Hot tub." I gave him a devious smirk in return. We climbed into the hot tub as Lauren and Sam made their was to the pool. Colby and I both leaned back with our eyes closed, completely relaxed. My eyes shot open as I heard Sam quietly talking to Lauren. "...In your car?" Was all I heard. I splashed as far as I could towards him to get his attention, but Lauren was already looking towards me almost as if she needed help with what to say. I mouthed to him so Colby wouldn't hear me. "Shut the fuck up." "Sorry." He mouthed back, lifting up his arms in defeat. "Pool?" Colby's voice startled me. "Pool." We stepped out of the hot tub, the breeze sent goosebumps to my skin as we made our way to the pool. I dipped my toes in the pool, it was beyond cold compared to the heat of the previous water. Colby sensed my hesitation and before I could protest, his arms were around me and he pulled both of us in. My body was in shock for a split second before I remained underwater holding my breath. I struggled to open my eyes in the water as I waited for him to move around with worry. Before he could set his eyes on me, I jumped up out of the water, latching onto his back, my arms around his shoulders as I pulled him back under the water. I let go of him before swimming in front of him so that I could face him. Both of our eyes open, the vision under there wasn't so clear but we could make out each other's features. I stuck out my tongue at him and I watched as he smiled, bubbles rising from his mouth as he laughed. He made his way closer to me, placing his hand on my face...No.