Look After You | Colby Brock

Little Girl

I don't hesitate to get on with the conversation as I drive out of campus. "Where were you then?" I ask, turning into the freeway towards Santa Monica beach. He keeps a blank expression as he stares out the window.

"Busy." He shrugs which I spot out the corner of my eye, "Oh" I say quietly, concentrating on the road.

"Yeah, there's nothing else to it really. I didn't actually say I was meeting you yesterday" I think for a moment, he didn't. "And I saw your texts, but I just think it's for the best if we just don't be friends..or more, Aliyah" I glance at him before looking back at the road so I don't miss the beach road.

"Ok, I get that. We don't really know each other and I'm not going to lie I think mixing profession and romance is a little too movie script for me" I try to make a light joke but he doesn't laugh so I stay silent.

"Yup, but Aliyah when I say we shouldn't be friends or whatever" he stops and sighs, "Look I don't want to be your client. I don't want to be your friend, can we cut the crap of going backwards and forwards?" He turns in his seat and I tighten the grip on the steering wheel. He really does know how to get under my skin. My parents brought me up to never let a man talk down to me and make me feel like nothing. Equality and all that. But Colby really has made me sad, happy and angry since I met him not even a week ago.

"Going backwards and forwards, you didn't even give me a reason Colby! Do you realise how humiliating that was for me today? I had no report and it was the start to my first proper week as a freshman." I take a breath before continuing, "Also, it's not even about the class. You kissed me?" I pull onto the beach road and park up my car at the first free spot, jumping out before Colby can make another nasty response.

He follows behind my heel as I walk, the beach is quiet which calms me a little as I walk onto the sand. I stop in my tracks to let Colby catch up before finding a seat in the sand, which is rather uncomfortable. "You kissed me back" He finally says after a few moments of listening to the waves

"Right so that means you can just tell me to fuck off" I look at him and he shakes his head, "This is so stupid Aliyah. Wouldn't you rather I just told you how it was rather than ignoring you?" he asks and I think for a moment, "It's not that deep. I just I wanted to get to know you and now it's like being treated like the worst thing in the world Colby? I'm not going to hurt you this is just being friendly" I begin to move the sand around in my fingers.

"That's the problem." He sighs, "You must believe somewhere in your head that I'm a good person, kind person, someone you can rely on. Well no, I'm not, I party, I drink, I smoke pot, I'm not fucking..Jake" I laugh, "Why are you bringing Jake into this?" I frown and he scoffs, "You don't know anything. You're clueless Aliyah! You come to me asking to start getting involved in my life, and try to what? Soften me up? That is not what's going to happen here." He stands to his feet as he continues ranting, "When I first saw you I thought oh cool, New girls in the building. Little did I fucking know that you were going to be a pain in my ass" He shouts and I shake my head before joining him on my feet

"Where the hell is this all coming from?" I fold my arms, "Colby you made yourself pretty clear of what kind of person you were, I asked you to be my client because I don't know anyone here, you were nice to me and I thought you may trust-" He cuts me off, "So you kiss me? That's your master plan to bring in clients and to gain trust?" He laughs and I lift my eyebrows, "What? Colby you're literally making zero sense" I sigh.

"We kissed maybe because we were intoxicated, or because I have this pit in my stomach about you, There's plenty more reasons for why that would've happened" I look away and he shakes his head.

"Look, this is stupi-" I cut him off this time, "You keep saying that! I'm just trying to figure out what the hell I've done wrong" I feel my eyes beginning to water so I blink a few times and continue to look away from him, "Nothing. You did nothing wrong. I'm just not that kind of person Ali, I can't date. Or open up, I tried. Trust me" He moves to be in front of me, "Jake and I we got way back to Kansas. We don't like each other for many reasons, But there's something you don't know and probably never will about why we don't like each other. It's one of the reasons I'm so careful of what I say and do. I don't want him to know that I'm beating myself up over something that involves him, he'll think I'm weak" I look at him for a moment, "Okay." I say calmly, Leading the way back to the car.

I drive slowly and begin to feel better about the circumstances. It hasn't been too long so I know I can find another client, But it is frustrating that Colby couldn't find the heart to help me out. At least if I'm not friends with him, he can't distract me. "Thank you though" I finally say and he looks at me, "You don't need to thank me. I fucked up your first report and I do feel bad Aliyah, But it was a stupid decision. I'm sorry" He sends me a small smile and I return one, keeping my eyes on the road as we drive back to campus in silence.

---

We don't hesitate to part ways once we're back on campus so I head back to my dorm to change for dinner with Rose. "So you guys are just not going to speak to one another?" Rose asks with a frown as she spritz some perfume on herself. I nod "It's for the best" I shrug, finishing tying my shoe laces. I've changed out of my jeans and sweater and put on a flowery play-suit that I've paired with my white vans.

It doesn't take us long to decide where to eat for dinner after we find a pizza parlour on the campus. Rose opts for plain cheese and I get pepperoni. "Hey Aliyah, if you really really really need a new client, I'll do it" Rose tells me, taking a sip from her sprite. I lift a brow, "Really?!" I smile and she nods, "I was thinking about maybe finding a therapist to talk about my sexuality and coming to terms with it" She says and I nod, "Perfect".

The Pizza is delicious and we both don't hesitate to tuck right in, we eat in silence as the place fills with more students grabbing a bite.

"You'd really get your nose done over your tits?" A voice sounds entering the diner where me and Roselyn are sat, I glance up and see Jayde entering with another few girls, I sigh and finish my last bite of pizza. The place has became so busy there are not a lot of seats left as me and Rose chat, noticing that our plates are empty the waitress removes them and we sit back, about to begin chatting. "Look guys, this tables free" Jayde smiles towards us, pointing. I frown as does Rose, "Actually we're sitting here." I say, confident.

"Too bad little girl" She pouts her lip which causes anger to grow inside me, "Excuse me?" I widen my eyes, "Just leave it Jayde, she's not worth it" Colby says as he joins her crowd of people in the restaurant. My lips part as Colby looks at me with the same red eyes from the party, I give Rose a look as she scolds Jayde and we both climb out of the booth, "Wasn't too hard was it" I hear Jayde mutter as I grab Roselyn's arm to avoid her attacking Jayde as we leave the restaurant.

"Who the fuck does she think she is" Roselyn scoffs, throwing her bag over her shoulder. I shake my head, "They're suited for each other" I glance at Rose and she gives me a sympathetic look as we walk back to our dorm.