Do You Mean It?

Part 1: How It Started

   I walked out of the airport door, immediately getting a text as I stepped on the pavement. I looked to my phone; it was from Colby.

Colby: hey look down the car line weirdo 

I looked up and to the long line of cars waiting to pick up passengers. I raised an eyebrow in confusion, I didn't see him anywhere. 

Me: what are you talking about weirdo

Colby: look harderrrr

Me: fineeee 

      I looked again, this time seeing familiar ring-covered hands waving frantically out of the driver's window in a Toyota Corolla. The windows were slightly tinted, but I could see Colby's big smile and wide eyes. I waved and laughed a bit, he looked like an idiot waving like that. Adjusting the strap of my backpack, I grabbed the handle of my suitcases and went over to the car. I opened the trunk and threw my luggage in, then went over to the passenger seat. I was surprised he didn't get out to greet me- he usually does, and he seemed really excited this time in particular. I opened the car door, and saw Colby, his head propped up by his hands, with a huge dumb smile stretching across his face. 

"What weirdo," I smiled and laughed.

"Best frennnnnn!" He smiled wider and lifted his head up. "You're back! And you're going to stay!" Colby closed his eyes and smiled again, laughing happily to himself.

"You bet I am," I climbed in and closed the door. "Now give me a hug idiot!" I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him the biggest hug I possibly could. 

"Okay now let's go I wanna unpack and go to your house already." 

"Okie dokie let's head out." 

Colby started the drive, and we were off. The week before, I had moved my furniture to my house, so I just had to bring my clothes and other small things

   I met Sam and Colby when we were all in our senior year of high school in Kansas; I moved out to LA a year after they did, and when I ran into them at VidCon and we caught up, we all realized we were all in YouTube. I started to talk to them more and we became good friends after a while and were hanging out almost everyday. I met the other boys, Devyn and Kat through a giant video Elton wanted us all in, which was ridiculously incredible. It was amazing to say the least, they were pretty much my best friends- especially Sam and Colby. But it was a different friendship with Colby; because Sam was with Katrina, Colby and I hung out a lot by ourselves when they had a date night or hung out and were left by ourselves. Colby and I definitely didn't mind, we were super chill already. I was staying in a house near the Trap House with three other girls; Kayla, Sara, and Lynn. Kayla  was actually a YouTuber like myself, so we would do videos and stuff together often. 

   Then, I had something happen that affected me forever. I had been living in LA for nearly three years when my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. My dad smoked for a pretty long time, but we thought that when he quit after having my older sister, Melody, it would be fine. Turns out, he actually should have gone in for a check up about this a long time ago; he was already in the second stage when the doctors told him and my family. I decided it would be best for me and my family if I went home while he was going through therapy until he got better. Of course, Sam and Colby completely understood, although they were sad to see me go. I took a break from YouTube for the entire time I was home as well, and thankfully my subscribers were supportive and understanding too, so I defiantly felt a bit better after receiving kind and encouraging words from them . 

   After staying home for almost a year and a half, in a true miracle, my dad's therapy proved successful and he was declared almost cancer-free. Although he wasn't completely cured, his doctor told us that he was easily going to be fine by the end of the year if the therapy kept on the same track. Obviously ecstatic to hear the news, I notified Sam and Colby right away. I visited them the week after and we made a welcome back video for my channel and a colab for Colby's. And sure enough, by the end of the year, my dad was close to finished with therapy and was given the all-clear for recovery. I stayed for an extra month, but then decided to move back, which takes us to where we are now. Luckily, the girls' new roommate moved out of their house about two weeks ago, and they were perfectly cool with me moving back in. Everything just feels so good at this moment in time, for once.