Onward And Sideways (Completed.)

Chapter 8

That night, after the boys all went home and Lucy went to bed, Ally, Ira, and I stayed up talking for a while.

"So, Ally. Did Colby live up to your expectations?" I asked her.

She laughs. "Yes, surprisingly he did."

"Good, I'm glad. He really is a great guy." She nods, looking thoughtfull.

"Is he much different in privet, than he is online or on camera, or in public?" She asks thoughtfully.

I think, staring at the ceiling. "Uh. Not all that much. I mean, he's not always all hyped up like he is for videos and stuff. He tends to be more quiet. Not cause he's shy, geez no. He just." I search for words. "He has an off switch, if that makes sense?"

"Yeah, I understand." She says, looking thoughtfull herself. "I didn't expect him to be YouTube Colby 24/7. But he's calmer than he was tonight?" She asks.

"Well yeah. I think he was trying to impress you tonight, honestly." I raise an eyebrow, smiling.

She hides her face with her hands, blushing and laughing.

"He was not, was he?" She says.

"Oh he was. Maybe not with the same directness as Noah flirting with Ira, but he was laying on the charm."

She and Ira trade off, her now laughing while Ira hides and laughs.

I continue. "Dang, Noah was taking no prisiners tonight. Ira, I do believe he intends to court you." I affect a southern bell accent, fanning my face dramtically with my hand. Ally cracks up.

"He ain't got no money, be he is a sweetheart, and a looker to boot." I continue.

I drop the accent, sticking my toungue out to go back to normal speach. "But seriously, Noah is a great guy, he goes to my church too, and he loves animals, and I hope you guys get married." I tell her. She throws a pillow at me.

"How dare!" I holler in hushed outrage.

"Ya'll, I swear I did not invite you all over with the intention of playing a round of the Dating Games, but if the wedding dress fits." I dodge another fluffy projectile.

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The next morning, Ally and Ira drive over to their new apartment building to do a walk through and sign papers, while I run some errends.

I get back to the appartment and collapse on the couch, not bothering to put stuff away or even take off my shoes.

Somewhere between 2 and 20 minutes later, I'm awoken by Sam shaking my shoulder. I scream, windmilling around and almost punching him in the face, but he takes a step back in time.

"When did - how did you get in here?" I croak, disoriented.

"You left your door unlocked, I came in because you weren't answering your phone and I was worried." He said.

"Oh. Oh geez! How did I forget that? I could have been robbed, I could have been stabbed, someone could have just come in and-" I trip over a bag on the floor and would have face planted if he hadn't caught me.
Once he was sure I was steady, he plopped me back on the couch, freeing my foot from the bag. He does a double take at what's inside, but ignores it and does his best to focus in on me.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asks gently.

I rub my eyes. "Yeah, just tired. Me and the girls where up talking for a long time last night, then I had a meeting to get to for a painting job early this morning, then errends, and I am just solidly beat." I tell him.