Paper Planes • s.g + c.b

chapter twelve

"Golbach, Brock?" The cashier questioned the two teens as they picked up their take-out from Tokyo House. They nodded and before Colby could even pick up his wallet Sam had already paid.

"What the hell man?" Colby stared at Sam as they headed to Colby's red corolla.

"What?" Sam asked as if paying for the date Colby had asked for was no big deal.

"I was supposed to pay." Colby said as he pulled into the street, on their way to a nearby park to watch the sunset.

"Funny, you didn't tell me I couldn't pay." Sam pivoted his head to look at Colby and flashed him a bright smile, "Plus I wanted to pay."

"You've already done enough for me. I feel horrible not being able to pay you back." Colby sighed as he pulled into the empty parking lot next to the park.

"Colby, I don't need anything in return." Sam shifted in the passenger seat to face Colby, "I'd do everything all over again if given the chance. You're my friend." He smiled brightly, "and maybe after this we'll be more." He mumbled to himself as to which Colby held a small smile, hearing the words he wasn't suppose to.

"Come on, the sunsets in thirty minutes." Colby flashed a bright smile as he grabbed the food and opened the car door like an over energized child, immediately running toward a stone picnic table that held the best view of the falling sun. This was the side of Colby the school never got to see, that no one got to see. This Colby was hopeful, energetic, content with himself, care free. Nothing like the Colby he portrays once he enters the doors to Blue Valley High School. To Sam, watching Colby smile was the most wondrous thing.

Sam sat down next to Colby on the picnic table. Yes, on it. These heathens don't want to sit on the chairs provided.

They pulled out their containers of sushi and their drinks, watching the sun slowly fall below the horizon.

"So, what ever happened between you and Brennen?" Sam asked quietly as he took a drink of his Dr. Pepper.

"Oh.." Colby sighed as he placed his trash in the bag that had come with their food.

"It's okay if that question is too invasive, I was just curious." Sam also placed his trash in the bag.

"Well, me and Bren.." Colby stopped at the nickname he used to call the Taylor. "We used to be really good friends, best friends actually. Up until eighth grade when he became a dick." He clenched his fists as he recovered the memory he had buried so deep, that he wanted to be forgotten. "I told him I was bisexual with a preference for guys and Brennen said he'd take that secret to his grave. When I made new friends such as Jake Webber and Clarissa, he got jealous. Or whatever word is worse than jealous. He cornered me after school one day and was saying some shit about him being my only friend and that was the moment I knew to drop him. Imagine how angry he got, told me if I ever tried to make friends again he'd spill my secret and ruin my friendships. Taking it as nothing but all bark and no bite I tried making new friends but each time they dropped me because of something Brennen had told them."

"That's horrible." Sams eyes screamed with sympathy.

"But I don't want your pity." Colby chuckled as he stared back up to the now dim sky, the colors melting together as the sun was almost gone.

"There's no pity here. Just sympathy." Sam smiled slightly as he intertwined his and Colby's fingers while going to stare at the beautiful colors, ignoring the widened eyes and the surprised gaze Colby had given him after he intertwined their fingers.

"It's beautiful, huh?" Colby whispered to Sam.

"Yeah, it really is." Sam had a grin placed on his lips as Colby tightened the hold on their intertwined fingers.