reunited | Colby Brock

-3-

A week passed with Colby and I getting along. Life was great, it was as if we had been thrown back into high school, right before we started dating. The boys kept pointing out to me in private how much he was flirting with me, even though I couldn't see it. His infamous joke of being forever alone and single shielded me from any awkward questions. At this point, I was comfortable with everyone and had even met all the girlfriends. We instantly bonded in a way I had never bonded with any other girl before. It was strange to feel supported and accepted as a person, but I loved it and made sure to return the favour.

It was a hot August day and we were all lounging around the living room on our own devices, most of the boys were editing. Devyn draped herself dramatically over Corey.

"It's so ho-ot," she whined, voicing what we were all thinking.

"How about a pool party?" Kat smirked. Everyone seemed to be up for it and one by one closed their laptops. All eyes turned to me.

"Um, I didn't bring a-"

"You're about my size, you can borrow one of mine," Devyn said, reading my mind. I shrugged.

"Alright." Everyone cheered and we got up to change.

*****

I padded down the stairs feeling very insecure. Everyone was already outside, but I had some trouble with my bikini. Both the back and the neck straps of the top were meant to be tied, but I couldn't reach the strings by myself. I held the front to my chest and peeked around the door. Colby was sitting on the edge of the pool closest to me, so I called his name to get his attention, trying to avoid the others. As he turned around, Kat dashed over from across the back yard.

"I gotchu girl," she laughed, tying me up quickly. Colby's eyes didn't leave us the whole time as I tried to look elsewhere.

"All done!" she said as she dashed back to continue whatever she was doing before. I walked slowly and cautiously as I was quite self-conscious. I finally looked up at the scene in front of me. The boys had found a plastic kiddy slide and were using it to slide into the water. Everyone was gathered around it on the far side of the pool apart from Colby sitting with his legs in the water just in front of me. He saw me looking uncertain and patted the tile next to him.

"I have a perfect view here, want to join?" he offered. I accepted and gently kicked my legs in the water, watching everyone else across from us. We chatted casually and occasionally laughed at Corey or Aaron belly flopping in. Colby got up but I didn't think much of it until I felt his strong arms around me. The next thing I knew, I was being thrown into the pool, but I managed to cling on to his arm. We both fell in with a splash, and I pretended to shove him under the water. We came up, gasping for air and laughing. Everyone else had gone silent, but I saw a few winks and smirks exchanged between them. I tried not to pay any attention to them and lifted myself up out of the pool.