𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 | 𝐜.𝐛

25

Colby

This past week has been the hardest of my life. Elle has been staying with Katrina. I knew I needed her but this proves it. The air is cold as I sit on the roof. It's been a while since I've been up here.

"Hey," I hear Sam's voice from behind me. "You okay?"

"No," I answered blandly. My eyes never look at him. Even when he sits next to me.

"Kat called. She said Elle hasn't been eating." My chest hurts. My one mistake had a domino effect on both of us. "I know you didn't mean it."

"I didn't but I did it and I hate myself for it."

"You all need to see each other," Sam states.

"I want to but I don't want to scare her."

"You're both a mess without each other. I think the pros outweigh the cons here."

"Elton won't let it happen."

"Colby, we all care about you and we want to see you happy. You haven't eaten, been on social media, you've barely talked to us since she left. You both need each other more than you don't."

"Okay," I agree. He pats my back.

An hour later and we're driving to Kat's apartment. Sam pulls into the parking lot and waits for me to get out. I stare at the apartment.

"What if she doesn't want to see me?" I question, biting my lip. 

"She will, Colby." Nodding, I exit his car. He stays inside. "I'm picking up Kat for a movie," he explains. Nodding, I take a deep breath and walk up to the door. Before I can knock, Kat opens the door. She smiles at me sadly.

"It's going to be okay," she assures. Nodding, I let her pass me. She walks down the stairs and gets in Sam's car. They linger, probably to see if I'll go in. Twisting the knob, I push the door open. Elle is sitting on Katrina's couch. She looks at me before standing. My eyes follow her as she walks in front of me. She stops arms lengths away. As much as I want to reach out to her, I don't. I need her to tell me it's okay for me to hold her.

"Elle, I am so, so sorry," I apoligize. 

"I know," she whispers. Her skin is pale. I'm sure mine is too.

"Can... can I hold you?" I ask, holding my hand out. She nods before walking into my arms. We stay there for what feels like forever. My arms around her, her arms around me. "I'm so sorry. I'll never be able to make it up to you." My voice cracks as tears slowly slip down my cheeks.

"I know," she sniffles. "We're going to be okay. We can't let Peter win."

"Will you come back to the house?" I question.

"Of course." She takes a deep breath. "This isn't healthy Colby."

"What?" I ask, pulling out of the hug.

"We depend on each other so much. If we're not together then we're not happy. I get that what happened to us was bad but... I don't know... it's something we should think about," she explains. Nodding, I kiss her forehead.

We walk hand in hand back to the house. As we're walking, my phone keeps going off in my pocket. When I look, I see Peter has mentioned me in a tweet.

"Son of a bitch," I curse.

"What's wrong?" Elle questions. Her hand in on my bicep and she's standing close to me. 

"Peter," I answer. We walk into an ice cream shop. I slip my phone into my pocket and look at the menu. Elle kisses my shoulder, knowing I'm upset.

"Hey, what can I get you all?" The woman asks, smiling at us. 

"I'll have a rainbow sherbert," Elle smiles back. The woman nods and types it into the computer. 

"And for you, sir?"

"I'll have cookies and cream," I answer. She nods before adding up the total.

"That'll be $7.34," she tells us. Nodding, I get out my wallet but Elle is already paying. The woman gives Elle the change and we wait for the ice cream.

"You didn't have to pay," I tell Elle, smiling down at her. She grins up at me cheekily.

"I know," she replies, leaning up to kiss my cheek. "But I wanted to." The woman comes back out with our ice creams and we go sit in a booth. I dig my phone out of my pocket and open Twitter. 

Petertrouble
@Colbybrock fans go for it. he's single now

Brocksbaby
What? I thought him and Noelle were together

KingGolbach
Why do I feel like you had something to do with this.

LovingColby
What did you do?

Tfiltrap
I won't believe it until I hear it from Colby himself.

My jaw clenches. Elle can sense my anger. I respond.

ColbyBrock
@Petertrouble then why is she sitting across from me?

Goldengolbach
Tell em, Colby

HighonTfil
Yeah, Peter stop acting like you know everything.

Before more replies come in, I turn off my phone.

"You okay?" Elle asks, grabbing my hand. 

"Yeah, just Peter posting our relationship everywhere." My phone goes off again. Before I can grab it, Elle places her hand over it.

"Don't let him ruin your day." I search her eyes. They hold nothing but worry and fear.

"Okay," I breathe, grabbing my spoon for my ice cream. We eat and talk. It's like our first date all over again. We finish, throw our cups away, and continue walking back home. When we walk inside, Buddy begins barking. His feet click as he rushes to greet Elle. I smile as she bends down to pet the small creature. 

"Hi, Buddy!" Elle laughs.

"Is that Noelle I hear?" Sam asks from the kitchen.

"Maybe," Elle teases. Sam walks out and hugs Elle. He whispers something to her and she laughs lightly. They pull back and she laces her hand in mine. Elton comes out after and hugs her as Sam did.

"Hate to break it to you but our AC doesn't work upstairs," he says.

"Oh no," she groans, earning a laugh from us all.

"I've missed you all," she admits.

"We've missed you too," I tell her.

"Colby missed you the most," Sam teases. I roll my eyes.

"I know," she teases. "He's a little baby without me."

"I am not!" I defend.

"Whatever you say," she laughs. After that, we go up to my room. She falls onto my bed. She stretches out and I lay next to her.

"I need to tell them, Elle."

"Tell who what?" She asks, leaning on her hand. Her fingers brush up and down my arm, tickling the skin.

"I need to tell everyone what happened and what Peter has put us through. If you're okay with me telling your story," I tell her. She inhales deeply, contemplating.

"You should."

"Okay, well, I think I have a video I need to film."