Only the Lonely Survive // Colby Brock

chapter eighteen: you put my head in such a flurry

DAY 9/14

I scrolled through my phone lazily, bored out of my mind.

Casey had left to go talk to Brennen. Colby wasn't home yet, so I was in this house by myself.

I could text Kat... or maybe even Corey?

I sighed, rolling over onto my side. I heard my stomach growl.

Food might be my best option.

I got up from my room and went over to the kitchen to make something to eat. Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrate in my hand.

Colby: weird question... but do you like roses ??

I smiled at the text. I hadn't heard from him since yesterday. Maybe this means he's coming home soon.

Skye: I love roses! they're my fav actually 😊

Just as I locked my phone, I heard three knocks come from the front door. Confused, I walked over and opened it. Covering the face of the person was a bouquet of red roses. I looked at the hands holding the flowers and saw multiple silver rings.

Colby slowly lowered the bouquet, peaking out from above them. He had a soft smile on his lips.

"You're home!" I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around him. He let out a laugh as he brought his arms around me.

"Hey. How are you?" He mumbled into my hair.

I pulled away, giggling. "Better, now that you're here."

"Wow, that was cheesy," Colby chuckled. "These are for you." He handed me the roses as we stepped into the house.

I awed. "What are these for?"

"Well... the whole time I was with Sam exploring... I couldn't stop thinking of you. So I figured I would get you some flowers." I glanced over at him, a blush resting on his cheeks.

I placed a hand on my heart. "Colby... that is so sweet."

We went over to the kitchen. I pulled out a vase for the flowers, filling it up with water and putting them in it. Colby wrapped his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder.

"They're beautiful." I mumbled, staring at the roses.

Colby leaned his mouth against my ear. "Can I ask you something?" He whispered.

Goosebumps raised on my skin as I turned to look at him. "Yeah. What's up?"

He pulled away from me, taking a breath. "So... after you kissed me yesterday in front of Sam, we kinda started talking about you. The both of us have been so busy that we haven't really gotten around to talking so a long-ass car ride kinda felt like the best place to let it all out."

I nodded my head as he gazed over at me.

"During the car ride," Colby continued, "He asked me how I felt about you. And... I wasn't really sure how to respond at first. I told him how the first night we met, you and I had a six or seven hour conversation about life. I told him how you knew things about me that really, only he knew. He was surprised because... I am not that open of a person. I don't trust very easily. But with you... it was different."

I held my breath, the sincerity in his voice made my skin tingle.

He played with the rings on his fingers, twirling them as he talked. "I feel like I can be myself around you, and I haven't felt like that in a long time. A lot of people out here expect something from me, but you don't. You make me feel really happy. I feel... connected to you. You're the only girl I've felt this way towards in such a long time."