Sam remembers the first time colby bought the army into conversation. They were only young- 16 maybe; sitting on some swings in a park in Kansas, talking about what they wanted to do when they were older. Sam said about wanting to be on social media; colby agreed with him, but there was un-certainty in the brunettes eyes. Sam remembers it.
"What would you do if the social media thing didn't work out..?" Colby had asked. Sam had been baffled. He'd never thought about having a backup... but now colby mentioned it, he knew that he needed one.
"I don't know really... work in a store or something...?" Sam had mumbled. Colby nodded, before fiddling with his fingers; and then spoke.
"I.... I kind of want to join the army."
Sam had brushed it off as nothing; and neither said anything more about it. Until a few months after colby's 18th birthday; when he sat down next to sam on their sofa in their L.A apartment. The blonde can remember the anxious look on his face, and the nervous fiddling of his fingers.
"I... I'm going to join the army."
Sam had froze, his whole body tensing up and staring at his brunette friend.
"W-what...?" Sam stuttered, glancing around desperately for the camera... the tiny red blinking light; anything to indicate this wasn't actually happening.
"I..I've applied..." colby continued. The blonde couldn't stop his mouth from dropping open in shock. This wasn't happening.
"And... I have to go to an assessment, and then if I pass... then I'm in.."
The blonde just stared, back of his eyes burning as tears welled inside them. He looked down quickly, trying to hide his tears from his best friend; who was sat nervously next to him.
"Sam..." colby whispered. The blonde couldn't reply; and he also couldn't stop the strangled sob from escaping the back of his throat. Before he could realise what was happening; colby was engulfing him in a tight hug. The blonde closed his eyes; shifting slightly so he could bury his head into the brunettes chest; grabbing fistfuls of his shirt in his hands. This couldn't be happening. Colby wanted to leave him....
"Sam..." colby started.
"It's okay, I won't go; I won't go if you don't want me to."
Sam wanted so, so badly to nod his head; keep his best friend here forever... with him. Making crazy youtube videos and doing stupid, stupid things with their friends. But sam also wanted colby to be happy; and if colby wanted to do this, then Sam had to let him. The blonde took a deep breath, untangling himself from colby and connecting his red, swollen eyes with the brunettes slightly teary ones.
"No... no... I want you to go," sam lied. Colby narrowed his eyes; before hesitantly smiling and pulling the blonde into another hug. Sam had gratefully excepted the gesture; resting his head against colby's shoulder and closing his eyes. This couldn't be happening...
But it was. Colby passed his assessment with flying colours, and he was set to leave for the army a few days after his 19th birthday. The brunette had a countdown on his phone; and everyday he looked excitement would flash over his face. Whenever sam looked at it; he'd feel sick to his stomach. On colby's 19th birthday; instead of celebrating like they should've done; they were packing their furniture into a moving van. Sam didn't want to live alone; and when his friends Elton, Corey and Aaron announced they were moving into a mansion and were looking for roommates; sam and colby nabbed the spots very quickly. Atleast sam wouldnt be alone.. he'd have other friends. But sam didn't want his other friends, not really. He wanted colby.
They did go out for a meal in the evening; once everything was moved into the new house. Sam had sat next to colby. He tried to be happy for his best friend; he really did; but it's like a dark cloud was looming over him; showering him with the remembrance that in a few days; colby was leaving him. They'd sang happy birthday to colby; and given him presents. Sam had given him a small locket necklace; with a picture of the two inside.
"For when you miss me," sam had tried to joke. Colby had smiled; and sam could've sworn he'd seen tears welling in his best friends eyes. And he definitely didn't miss how colby shifted closer to the blonde so their sides were pushed together during the meal. Not that he minded, not at all.
