Sam and Colby: The House

11

Corey came in first and the expression on his face was priceless.

"I just got the chills," he said, peering around.

"Of course you did," I replied with a short laugh. Jake walked in next, and I knew what he was going to say before he said it. He opened his mouth, but I beat him to it. "It does not smell like old people in here, Jake. It's more of a new car smell."

"Old people," Jake said. I let out a chuckle.

"Alright, old people," I said, giving up. Everyone filed on, each of them providing a wonderful reaction to the amazing interior. I'm not going to lie, it was pretty damn cool. There were eight really nice wide seats and two couches facing across from each other. The end opposite the pilot's cabin was a half opened door. While everyone else situated themselves and put their luggage in the storage bins up front, I wandered to the back and slowly pushed open the door.

"Well shit, we should stay here for the flight," Colby said from right behind me. I jumped a little bit when he spoke, not knowing that he was so close to me.

"Jesus, what is it with you and Jake always doing that?" I asked.

"What, don't like surprises, princess?" he asked.

"I guess I don't mind them. Especially not your surprises," I said with a smile.

"That's because I'm great at surprises and you know it," he replied.

"Yes I do," I replied. He leaned down and gave me a short kiss, then walked past me and into the room that was behind the door.

It was a full bedroom, about the size of Colby's in his old apartment. There was a bed and a desk screwed into the wall as well as two bedside tables, but not much else. I slowly walked in, peering around at all of the luxurious details of the small place.

"You're beautiful. You know that?" Colby asked. I looked over to see him sitting up on the bed, looking at me. I gave him a soft smile.

"How could I forget? You tell me every day," I laughed.

"Because it's true," he said.

"Oh, stop that," I said with a giggle.

"No. You're absolutely flawless and I am the luckiest guy on earth," he said, continuing.

"Colby, stop," I said, my voice more serious this time.

"Why? You're incredible and I love you," he said.

"Stop," I said harshly. He looked taken aback by my tone, but I didn't really care. I hated when he did this. He would say all of these things and treat me like some perfect human being, but I wasn't one. It was like I was almost scared I would let him down one day since he seemed to think so highly of me. We'd only known each other for four months, which isn't really that long in the grand scheme of things. I'd really had to talk myself into even moving in with all of them after such a short amount of time.

He sighed loudly, obviously annoyed.

"Fine," he said. He got up and grabbed his duffle bag, making his way back up front to put his stuff with everyone else's, stepping around my suitcase to get there. I sighed, too.

We hadn't gotten into a fight yet. Not a real one. But I could honestly feel one building up sometimes. We had little disagreements that we just kind of let blow over without actually solving anything. I knew when something big enough to actually start a fight happened, all of the other little things would come spilling out. But I didn't want to bring it up when I didn't have to. Especially not now, not during this trip.

I expected him to come back into the room, but I peeked out and saw him sitting in one of the single chairs by himself, no other seats for me to sit near him.

I grabbed my suitcase and put it up with the rest, then made my way to the back and sat on the second couch that no one was sitting on. The eight chairs were all occupied and Kevin and Reggie were on the first couch, Reggie typing on his laptop and Kevin reading a book I couldn't see the title of.

Kat's loud laugh echoed through the air and my eyes shot up. Why was it lowkey making me mad to hear that? I saw her slump her head over on Sam, who kissed her forehead before leaning his down on top of hers.

"I love you," Sam said.

"Love you too," Kat said. I looked away from them and dug my phone out of my pocket, not feeling the need to watch them be cute when Colby was sulking in the corner alone.

I put in my earbuds and turned on some music. I listened to different music depending on my mood, and right now I was sort of angry. I put on some ACDC and Dorothy, then sprawled out on the couch and laid down. Kam's voice came on over the speakers, but I didn't bother to listen. Instead, I turned up my music and closed my eyes, starting to dread this trip.

It really did make me uncomfortable to go to Ed Gein's old house. And I guess I could technically stay at the hotel with the girls and Reggie and Kevin while the rest of the guys went to the house, but I didn't want to let them down. I knew that Corey felt safer with me there, Sam liked having someone who knew the history a little bit better than anyone else seemed to, and Jake just liked hanging out with me.

Obviously Colby loves me and loves spending time with me, but I couldn't help think about his conversation with Sam I'd overheard in the asylum.

They had been arguing a little bit, Colby complaining that the other girls never went on the trips but I did. Colby literally invited me to go, but I guess he didn't really think it through in the way he wished he did. He didn't like the idea of me being at risk of getting hurt or getting involved in any sort of danger. But, just as Sam had pointed out, I felt the same way about him doing it. It was like Colby was super excited to have me come with them and then he'd regret bringing me once we actually got there. I really hated that single sided expectation, like it was too dangerous for me to do these creepy things with him but it was perfectly acceptable for him to do it.

However, Colby wasn't the only one in the group. I had been invited in for a reason. There were four of them making that decision, and I'm a firm believer in majority rules. If everyone else wanted me to be there and Colby was the only thing making me second guess myself, then I would be there regardless.

I love Colby. A lot. But he treated me like... like I was something so unique. And I know that I am unique, just like every other human. But he put me up on this pedestal as if I'm better than everyone else and I hate it. I constantly felt the need to act like my best self around him. And I know that seems like something I should always be doing, but it's exhausting to be on and trying to display yourself as what others expect you to be 24/7.

But I really loved spending time with him, so being exhausted emotionally was a sacrifice I was willing to make. However, Colby didn't really feel the same way about that. I know he likes spending time with me, but sometimes he'd just sort of disappear. He'd isolate himself from the group and when I went after him, he'd just tell me he wanted to be alone. I didn't really understand that, missing out on a party or a fun night with friends to just stay alone and tell me to go with everyone else. But that's who he is, and that's okay.

I felt the plane take off and I shifted slightly on the couch as we reached a steep incline. I looked up at Colby, whose chair was facing with its back to me, but I could see his arm sticking out from the side. He was scrolling through Instagram aimlessly, not liking anything and scrolling too fast to actually stop and look at the pictures in the feed.

I'd decided a while ago that if he got upset and left, then I'd wait for him to come back instead of chasing after him. If he wanted his alone time, I would accept that and let him have it.