Uphill Battle | Solby

Chapter Six

"Colby Brock?"

He nodded and walked through the towering archway after the petite woman. He still felt shaky and distraught but it was manageable now. He had an hour to vent and then a week to wait and he could do it all over again.

"Take a seat."

He sat gingerly on the pristine white couch and faced the psychologist nervously. She was a kind looking woman, her long brown hair tied into a messy ponytail with a bit of paint on her cheek. Her green eyes were bright and curious as she studied him.

"You look like my wife," she said suddenly. "Sad and defeated but fighting. Fighting an uphill battle and losing."

"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I've forgotten your name."

She smiled kindly at him. "Call me Kim. Short for Kimberly. Now, Colby. Talk to me."

"About what?"

"Whatever you want."

He took a breath. "He's hurting me but I love him." Sam's face came to mind and Colby swallowed thickly, biting back his tears. "I'm oblivious, I'm not good for him, he's not good for me but he's the only one who can help me."

"Is that what you think or is that what you know?"

He met Kim's eyes. "I-I-I don't know.

She hummed slightly. "Tell me about Sam."

Colby relaxed ever so slightly and Kim wrote something. "He's amazing. He's got these blue eyes that are always sparkling. He's like me, just blonde. We've been best friends since, like, Middle School."

"How'd you meet?" Kim's voice was faraway now and all Colby could see was Sam.

"He said I looked lonely so he pulled a few strings and managed to get himself sitting next to me. It grew from there. We graduated together, were partners on Vine. We moved in together as friends and we did everything together." Something darkened in his face. "And then it all just...changed."

"What do you mean?"

"Sam got a girlfriend," Colby said carefully. "He always seemed to be out with her and then we moved in with some of our other friends, Elton, Aaron, Corey and his girlfriend Devyn. It was a little abrupt I guess. I met someone called Brennen and we just became close friends. Not as close as Sam and I."

"How did Sam react to Brennen?"

Colby shrugged. "They were alright. Not close but they were friends. Then, um, I didn't realise I was doing it I guess. Sam always seemed to be with Kat so I just hung out with Brennen. Sam thought I'd abandoned him and he got, uh, depressed." Colby had to stop. His hands were shaking again, he felt his body tremble and seize under his clothes. He couldn't talk about that. Not yet.

Thankfully, Kim sensed his silent battle. "Tell me more about Sam," she urged. "What adventures did you two go on?"

And so Colby talked.

***

"Where've you been?" Sam hugged Colby tightly as the brunette trudged into the kitchen.

"Sorry," Colby apologised. "I took some advice and I got some help.

Sam's eyes widened. "You went to shrink?"

"Yeah."

"Did it help?"

"Yeah."

They looked at each other awkwardly. Sam cleared his throat. "So what-"

"We're toxic, Sam." Colby blurted.

"W-What?" Sam eyes were confused and hurt.

Colby stared. "We help each other by hurting each other. We're in deep water, Sam, and we're pulling each other down."

"You said you wouldn't let go." Sam's voice was thick with pain.

Colby swallowed. "I'm not letting you go," he said. "I'm letting you swim."

"So is this it?" Sam asked, his voice chilly. "This is what finally breaks us apart? Some shrink that thinks they know you. Us."

Colby fidgeted uncomfortably. "I'm not breaking up with you, Sam. I'm just saying we need to focus on ourselves a little more. I'll still be yours if you'll have me."

"Whatever." Sam considered him coldly. "If I didn't love you, I would be long gone."

Despite the hurt Colby was feeling, he was touched.

***

Tensions were high between the two boys for the next few weeks. It was obvious to the housemates. The duo, once so close, was now breaking apart, torn into shreds. It hurt everyone to see them so secluded and hurt.

It had always been Sam and Colby, Solby, best friends, partners, brothers. now they were just Colby Brock and Sam Golbach. They lived in the same house, had the same friends, and were supposedly in a relationship.

Kat practically lived in Sam's room and Colby stopped worrying. No matter how mad Sam was, he wasn't the cheating type. It had simply taken Colby this long to know that and to trust the blond.

And he was tired. He was sick of constantly stressing about someone he could never control. Sam made his own choices and Colby had been suffocating for months now, too worried about Sam to worry about himself.

Likewise, Sam let Colby be. The brunette still hung out with Brennen but his visits were less frequent and Sam appreciated it.

Both of them could finally breathe.

***

Don't worry guys, it's not ending yet. There's still a little angst on its way!!