In This Life (Sequel to 'In Another Life')

46 Colby's POV

 "She's definitely trouble," I said quietly. "What were you doing over there anyway?" I asked, smirking at him. He grinned and shrugged. "Just having fun brother. I'm a single man." I nodded towards Denise. "Yeah, but I think someone might wanna try to change that." He followed my gaze, then looked back at me in shock. "For real?" I nodded. "Not for sure, but yeah, I think she likes you." "Huh," he said, looking back over to Denise, who was still talking animatedly with Terra. "Wanna try to get them to have fun and forget this mess for a little while?" he asked, nodding towards the two girls. I grinned back at him, and nodded. We both walked towards the girls, stopping a couple of feet away from them. "I don't care T! I don't trust her! I'm never going to trust her! You trust people too damn easily. She's bad news and I don't think she's changed one bit," Denise huffed out, crossing her arms. Terra put her hand on Neece's arm. "Neece, please. Just give her a chance. She's always been a flirt, we know that. But she's got a good heart. Everyone deserves a second chance right? If you guys hadn't given me one, or two...actually what chance am I on now? The point is that you're always there for me. If you hadn't given me that extra chance, where would we be right now? For me, I'd probably still be in that drug den, laid up with Levi, sharing drugs, and hustling just to be able to live. If I didn't have you and the girls, I would not have been able to stay sober. I thank God for you every day. What if the difference in Amber staying sober, or overdosing on something is having good friends that stick by her?" I could see the pleading in Terra's eyes as she looked at Denise. She really did have such a big heart. Denise was right though. Her trusting nature could be her downfall in this situation. I didn't really know Amber so I couldn't really judge her...but I had known girls like her. Girls that only wanted attention, or wanted clout. Girls that would use you and toss you the second they thought they found someone better, richer, or more famous. Girls who would do almost anything to get what they wanted, no matter who they hurt. Maybe I was judging her too harshly, but I was definitely going to keep my eye on her. I didn't want Terra hurt yet again. "Hey baby girl," I said, coming up behind her, and wrapping my arms around her waist. Her hands rested on top of mine, and she turned her face to mine for a simple kiss. "Wanna dance? Or play pong? Or go make fun of Brennen?" She giggled, and rolled her eyes. A slow song came on just then, and she turned in my arms, so that she was facing me. "I'd love to dance with you," she replied, then pressed her soft lips against mine. Eli held his hand out to Denise, and for a second I thought she would refuse him. She glared at his hand, then met his eyes. "Please?" he asked softly, still holding out his hand. She sighed, and put her hand in his. He brought it to his lips, and she blushed just a little. "She really likes him," T said quietly, as we made our way to the patch of grass near the speakers. "It hurt her when Amber was all over him. She already hates Amber so it definitely didn't help the situation." I nodded, and pulled her up against me, my hands on her waist. "He likes her too, I think. Maybe they'll hit it off. You look beautiful by the way," She blushed, and looked down at the long t-shirt that she had on, covering her swimsuit. "I look a mess," she said, looking back up at me, then removing one of her arms from around my neck to try and flatten the stray hairs that were frizzing out of her messy bun. I rolled my eyes, and smiled at her self consciousness. "You look amazing. You always look amazing," I tried to reassure her. I still marveled at how she didn't know that she was beautiful. Every time I looked at her, I noticed how her eyes would shine, sparkling like the ocean on a sunny day, how her lips turned up at the corners when she would watch our friends be stupid, causing a dimple to show in her left cheek. The little things that I noticed, the way that I noticed these things every day, and even noticed new ones, it felt like I was just drinking her up in every way that I could. "You are absolutely gorgeous T. Don't ever forget that. I will tell you every day of your life, multiple times, if I have too, just to make you believe it." Her cheeks flamed up again, and I smiled. "Stop it," she said, laughing a little as she smacked my shoulder. "You're biased cuz you love me for some reason." "You guys are making me nauseous," Brennen said, popping up beside us, with Sarah latched onto his side. "Oh shut up B, you should take notes," Sarah retorted, smiling at us. "They're cute." "Ouch, that hurt my body and my ego," Brennen said, putting on a fake wounded look for her. She rolled her eyes. "Come on, you big baby." T and I laughed as she pulled him away, until they were in a dark secluded area of the yard. I couldn't see them very well anymore, but I had no doubt that Brennen was taking advantage of the fact that it was so dark out here. "Yo Colby!" I looked over to Sam, who was holding a red solo cup up in the air. "We got the deal! It went through brother!" "Wait, what?!" I exclaimed, automatically coming to a stand still. "What deal?" T asked, looking over to Sam, then back to my baffled expression. I was in shock. We had come so very far since our Vine days, and that seemed like forever ago...but also not that long ago.