Heartless

67

Once we got back to my place we got settled in on the couch, our Taco Bell in front of us. "What video are you filming in Kansas?" I said as we ate. "We are going to an old warehouse we used to go to all the time, just to explore it since we know we won't get arrested for going to it." I pursed my lips, "are you sure? I don't want to get arrested again." He smiled and looked over, "you're coming to the warehouse with us?" His eyes sparkled, "yeah, why not?" He leaned in a kissed me quickly, "I didn't think you would want to go. Wow I'm excited to show it to you, even if it's scary as hell. And I'm sure we won't get arrested, we have been there hundreds of times." I smiled, "you better be right about that, Brock."

We finished up our food and got ready to go to the house, I was going to stay there for the next couple nights until we went to Kansas. The thought of meeting Colby's family made my stomach churn. I knew it would probably be fine, but I haven't always had the best track record with parents. I was scared of my mother for 21 years, and I was worried I would instinctively be scared of Colby's mom.

"What's on your mind?" Colby said quietly as he caressed my thigh, keeping his eyes on the road. "I'm really scared to meet your parents." I admitted and he squeezed my thigh gently, "babe, I promise it will be okay. I'll be with you every step of the way." I took a deep breath, "I know, I'm just worried I'm going to be scared of your mom...like I am with my own." My mother and I were on way better terms now than we were before but she still honestly scared me. I don't think that fear will ever go away. "I know, but once you see how sweet she is I don't think you'll be afraid of her. She's just like me in almost every sense, she would never hurt you." I nodded and put my hand on his, "I hope you're right." I whispered as we pulled into the driveway.

When we walked through the door Kevin was chasing Sam with a nerf gun. "COLBY" Sam yelled and ran behind him. Kevin laughed, "you think that's gonna protect you?" He said as he pulled the trigger and got Sam in the leg. "God DANGIT!" Sam yelled as Colby and I laughed, "Whatever this game is, we want in." Colby said and Sam nodded, "yeah man, it's capture the flag. You guys will be added in next round." Colby grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen where we grabbed some drinks and waited for their game to finish.

"Alright guys! Winning team picks who gets Cora and who gets Colby!" Sam said as Kevin, Kat, Tara and Corey cheered. "We want Cora" Kat said and I laughed, "you're going to down!" I yelled to Jake, Ariya, Sam, Devyn, and Colby.

The game started with the teams going off to hide their flags. "I think we should hide it in here." I whispered and walked to the front room, that was almost never used, "yeah, let's hide it behind the bar." Kat said and ran to place the flag behind the bar that was in the corner of the room. "Cora, you stay in this room and guard it. Kat, Tara, and I will distract the others and Kevin will go find their flag." Corey said as we huddled together.

The game started and I hung out in the room the flag was in. I could hear laughter and screams of joy coming from the other room causing me to smirk. Seeing my friends in such a playful setting made my heart soar.

"Cora! Incoming!" Corey yelled as Colby ran into the room, "well well well...look what we have here." He said with a mischievous smirk. He held the nerf gun up, looking like he was gonna shoot. "Don't you dare do it." I said and smirked back. "It's part of the game love" he said but then instead of shooting he picked me up slinging me over his shoulder, "NOOOO" I yelled as I kicked and screamed against him. I couldn't contain my laughter as he spun around. "I got the treasure!" He said to Sam who was running into the room now, "you're looking for a flag dumbass, not your girlfriend!" He laughed and put me down as Sam grabbed our flag and ran away. "NO!" I repeated and ran after him, but it was too late, he was already way ahead of me. I went to try and shoot him but missed completely.

"You made us lose!" I said pouting to Colby, he laughed and pulled me into a hug, "sorry babe, I couldn't let my team down." I laughed and wrapped my arms around him. This was the most fun I have had in so long.

We continued to play games all night, from paranoia to assassin. It was so fun, but so tiring. It was about 2am when Colby and I went up to bed.

"Thank you." I said quietly as Colby closed the door. "For what?" He said and came up, resting his hands on my waist. "Bringing these amazing people into my life. I'm so happy." I said with a huge smile. He smiled so widely that his dimples were popping out, "you have no idea how happy that makes me." He said as he pulled me closer, kissing the top of my head.

We settled into bed, both of us drifting off to sleep almost immediately.

We entered Colby's house in Kansas, his mom and dad came over and hugged Colby. "Hey mom. Hey dad." He said as the two hugged him. Once they pulled away both of his parents scoffed at me, "why did you bring her?" Colby's mom said as she crossed her arms. "She's my girlfriend...I wanted you to meet her.." he said wrapping his arm around my waist. "She's not allowed to stay here. Find somewhere else for her." She said rolling her eyes and walking away. My eyes blurred with tears as my heart broke.

I woke up gasping. Luckily I didn't wake up Colby this time, but he shifted in his sleep. I slowly wiggled out of the bed and walked out of the room, and down the stairs. As I filled a cup up with water I heard footsteps behind me, causing me to jump. "Woah, it's just me." Corey said with a small laugh. "You scared me to death." I said clutching my chest. "Sorry, why you up?" He said and yawned, looking at the time. "Nightmares..." I said and shivered. "Wanna talk about it?" He said and grabbed a glass, filling it with water. "It's just that I'm meeting Colby's parents and I'm so scared and I guess I just had a stress dream about it. I don't know." He gave me a sympathetic smile, "I know it can be scary but do you think Colby would bring you if he thought they wouldn't absolutely love you? Do you think he would put you in an uncomfortable situation after everything you have been through?" I sighed, combing my hand through my hair. "No..I don't think he would do that." I admitted and he smiled, "they are going to love you dude! You are a lovable person, unlike Colby's previous girlfriend. If they can like Jen then they are going to basically adopt you." I laughed, almost spitting my water out. "Thanks Corey." I said and walked up to hug him. "No problem, now go back to bed." He said and gestures to the stairs. "Wait..why are you awake?" I said turning to him. "Never went to sleep. I have been editing but I'm going now. Goodnight!" He said and skipped up the stairs.

I eventually went back upstairs and slid back into the bed with Colby. I watched as he peacefully slept. "I love you." I whispered and laid my head next to his, then drifted off to sleep again.