"We want you to be apart of our lawsuit against Kai Brooks."

"No."

Everyone's heads tilt in my direction, and I squeeze my eyes shut, cringing at my rudeness.

"No?" Mrs. Golbach asks with shock.

I wave my hands to clear myself, "No, I mean yes for no, so yes! O-okay, wait I'm sorry let me just make myself better to understand for you."

Sam's parents exchange some weird, confused looks at me.

"Okay, yes, please clarify..." Sam's Dad says.

I inhale and exhale, "Right, I'm sorry. I can't be apart of your lawsuit. Again, I'm sorry, Sam's one of my best friends but I just don't think it's right that I should be apart of such an action against Doctor Brooks."

Mrs. Golbach tilts her head, "What are you saying? Are you saying you're more in favor of Doctor Brooks than Sam?"

I rapidly shake my head no, "Of course not! I'm just saying that-"

"That you feel like you don't owe it to Sam for his accident?" Mr. Golbach accuses.

"NO! I didn't say that either, and I certainly do not feel that way! I just can't be on his side because-"

"Because you want to be on Doctor Brooks's side! You are bias to your doctor friend!" Mrs. Golbach interrupts again.

"Again, no. I am not bias, or on his side-"

"So you're on Sam's side?"

"NO!" I shout. "I'm on nobody's side. I am neutral. I wish to not be apart of this situation at all, I know that you're going to sue him for hitting Sam but you know that you don't have the real proof. Word of mouth is not going to help you! So what is the real purpose in having this lawsuit in the first place! It's just a waste of money!"

"How do you know that we don't have real proof besides word of mouth?" Mr. Golbach interrogates.

"Um, well, it was just the most logical assumption," I reply.

They nod their heads with suspicion.

Good job, Ash. Two thumbs up, you idiot.

The room goes quiet. A mouse could probably be heard at the dead silence. I start to fidget with my fingers and avoid all eye contact to everyone.

Mrs. Golbach quietly pipes up, "Do you like Doctor Brooks? Like... like-like?"

My eyes shoot wide and I frantically look around the room for answer, as if it was going to pop up from behind a fucking chair or something. At this point, I was at lost for words. Sam and Colby's pupils even were the size of the moon too, looking at me, thinking that it was true.

"Mom!" Sam whispers with embarrassment.

She shrugs innocently, "What?"

"NO. Of course not," I respond quickly.

I sensed Sam and Colby breathing a sigh of relief out of the corner of my eye.

"You sure?" Mr. Golbach asks.

"Yes, I'm sure! Why would you even ask that?" I exasperate, standing up.

Mrs. Golbach begins to say, "I just assumed, since you aren't on Sam's side-"

Until I cut her off, "Okay, I'm going to stop you there. I don't like-like Doctor Brooks, whatsoever. I don't feel right being caught in between. I also don't think you both have the right to pressure me into doing something so serious, that I wish to not be apart of."

"Fine, Ashlyn, we'll make you a deal," Mr. Golbach interjects.

The first thing that popped into my mind was, what kind of deal? What is even their purpose to go through all this trouble for me?

"We are prepared to offer you a price-"

"OKAY, Mom, Dad, I think it's time for you guys to go," Sam barges, loudly.

"But Sam-"

Sam shakes his head, "No, stop trying. She said no. Stop pressuring her? Offering her money has gone too far, she said no. No means no, and we have to respect that."

"Sam, but are you sur-"

"Yes! Just go home or stay with Auntie or something."

"Son, we came to take care of you," Sam's Dad says.

"Colby, Ashlyn, and Ellie can help take care of me. I'll be fine," Sam argues, pointing to the door. His parents look wearily at the three of us with their son, worried expressions plastered on their faces.

"O-oh, alright. We will see you in a few days then, Sammy," Mrs. Golbach finally obliges.

Sam nods, "Okay, thanks, love you guys."

"Love you too, we'll go now," His Dad says before getting up with his wife from their seats and exiting out the door.

The door shuts slowly, making my breath hitch, wanting it to close faster.

Then once it did, I let out the largest sigh.

"I thought they'd never leave, if I'm going to be honest," Colby chuckles lowly.

Sam gives a tiny smile and looks down, "Yeah."

"Guys, wanna just chill and watch a movie or something?" Ellie suggests, plopping over beside Colby.

"Oh, are we reminiscing old times?" Sam jokes, sitting back in his seat.

I shiver, "Do not. I repeat, do not go there. Obviously, I would not like to remember that day, stupid."

The three laugh at me, remembering that time Sam and I walked in on Colby and Ellie.

"Let's just get off this topic, please?" Colby nervously laughs.

Ellie yawns and leans her head on Colby's shoulder, "Right, I'm getting tired so lets hurry and choose a movie, and watch it before I fall asleep."

The group lets out small chuckles before getting comfortable and switching on Netflix. We decided on "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." I personally think it's an iconic movie, and Sam and Colby haven't seen it so, now they will.

As the movie started loading, Colby asked what I thought about Sam's parents offering me money.

"Honestly, I had no idea what I was going to do," I sigh, truthfully. "I really wanted to stick with my gut feeling of not getting involved."

Ellie jokes, "But what's the price you would've gotten sold by?"

I laugh, "I'm kinda worth a fortune, a few trillion would have to do."

"My parents don't have that kind of dough!" Sam laughs.

We all laugh but once it died down, things got quiet.

"Ash...?" Sam asks.

I turn my head towards his direction, "Mmm?"

"Why aren't you getting involved with the lawsuit?"

I look down, fiddling with the beads on my bracelet, "Um, I just don't think it's the right thing for me to do."

"Colby and Ellie are going to apart of it and you're not. What made you decide to not be apart of it?" He interrogates with a soft tone.

I flush red, "It's n-nothing bad, I just don't think there's a real point in doing it. I also think that Kai doesn't d-deserve such a punishment for one mistake."

My stuttering got crazy, I felt so bad and embarrassed to be the only one not apart of this important situation for Sam.

"Okay, but he hit me with a car, Ash. You said so yourself," Sam reasons, blandly.

I sigh with more annoyance, "But that's just my mouth, will the judge really believe me?"

I'm beginning to have enough of repeating myself, I don't see any reason to continue when they're just going to lose.

"But you should try, at least!" Sam exclaims.

I feel myself grow more intimidated, "Look, Sam, you heard me when I told your parents my stand in this situation."

Sam rolls his eyes, "I really can't accept that answer you gave them. There's something more to it, you hate me for something... don't you?"

"NO! Of course not!" I exasperate, standing up. "If anything, I've realized I've had more love for you, Sam! How could I hate you!"

"Is Ashlyn Neil confessing her love for Sam finally?" Ellie whispers to Colby but still loud enough for me and Sam to hear.

Sam scoffs, "Nope. She couldn't even if she really wanted to."

My cheeks begin to turn into flames and I couldn't stand it, I need some cold water on my skin now.

"N-not in that way!" I defend.

"Yeah, definitely not in that way, probably not ever too because of someone else, isn't that right, Ash?" Sam hints over to me.

Is he remembering that deal finally?

It's been just about over a week...

"I'm now not following..." Ellie trails, confusion arousing her senses.

"Don't worry, it's just not going to make sense... yet," He whispers  the last part.

"Huh?" Ellie questions. Colby doesn't move or react to anything but remains quiet.

"I'm just playing, why isn't nobody laughing? Right, that was funny... c'mon, Colby? " Sam fake jokes, including Sir Cole Robert Brock into the conversation finally.

Colby glances up, "Aha ha."

"Thanks dude, you're someone I can always trust, right?" Sam persists.

Colby gives a weak smile and nods.

What has gotten into Sam!

"So Ash, does it make yourself feel better for not getting involved?" Sam asks.

I stutter, "Y-you're m-making me sound so selfish... you know it's not in my best intentions to betray you or something if that's what you're trying to get at."

"Oh I know," He fake smiles. "I'm just remembering something."

"W-what are you remembering?" Colby asks, quietly.

"Nothing," He blantly says. "Looks like the movie is starting!" He cheers as the screen finally loaded with the motion picture.

"Oh shit, Ellie already fell asleep," Colby chuckles at the passed out Ellie leaning on his shoulder.

"Maybe I should take her back to my apartment," I suggest.

I've been feeling so uncomfortable and intimidated since Sam and his parents first got here. My bladder couldn't even take it. Bringing Ellie back to the apartment is a perfect excuse to get myself out of the situation of feeling even more uneasy. Even though we were just going to watch "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" , I felt as if just being in the same room as Sam just did not make me feel safe.

Colby nods, "Okay."

I nod, "Kay, I'll bring her over right after I go pee." The guys slightly laugh at me as I go over to their bathroom to do my business.

I entered their bathroom, did my business, and stared into the mirror.

Ashlyn Neil, you look terrible.

My brain is asking me questions at a rapid fire pace.

What are you doing?

Why do you make stupid decisions?

Why can't you just make the decision other people want so there won't be any drama?

Brain, I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm just following my gut.

I slide my hands over my forehead and shut my eyes.

I whisper to myself, "You do stupid things for yourself not for other people."

I open my eyes and look myself dead in the face, "You're not selfish for being who you are."

Releasing a heavy sigh, I shake my body and start jumping to relieve my stress.

"You're strong, do it for yourself, not others."

I begin to turn on the faucet and splash cold water in my face.

"Do it for you. Do it for you."

I wipe my face with my shirt and quietly exit the room, feeling better about my decisions.

I'm looking out for myself, it's true, I do not want to be on Sam's side; Neither do I want to be on Kai's either, because what he did was his fault.

I'm neutral, nobody should get mad at me for that. It's ridiculous.

As I turn the corner, I hear Sam go, "So why are you still even with Ellie when you like Ashlyn?"

I rush behind back and lean against the wall so they don't see me overhearing their conversation.

"I-I honestly don't know."

"Has your feelings changed in such a short amount of time?"

"It has not been a short amount of time!" Colby defends.

"So your feeling have changed?" Sam questions.

"Um, I don't know."

"You're so indecisive, what has been happening between you and Ashlyn even?"

Colby ponders for a silent second, "N-nothing, actually."

"Nothing?"

"Yeah, we've been just friends. I tease her still, and I still find her annoying," I could feel him smile.

"Okay... but nothing more? Do you like her still?" Sam asks with confusion.

He stays quiet for a few seconds that felt like minutes.

My heart began to pound so fast.

If it takes him this long to respond to such a simple yes or no question, it must be a no.

"I still like her," Colby finally says.

I sigh to myself.

Good.

"But-"

"But?" Sam trails.

I widen my eyes as he continued to speak.

"Ellie treats me with so much love. I like Ellie, she's so easy to talk to and be around. She makes me happy whereas Ashlyn just makes me even more confused about myself, my decisions."

Sam then concludes, "So you like-like Ellie now?"

Colby responds long seconds later, "I think so."

"You think so?" Sam asks.

"I really am confused, dude."

Sam sighs, "So because you now, actually, maybe, have feelings for Ellie, that is why you're still with her?"

"Yeah."

I hate liking my rival.

-------------------------------------
I AM HERE I AM TRYING TO WRITE FOR YOU ALL BUT I AM SO BUSY I AM SO SORRY.

Thank you all for 72k+ reads MY FLIPPING GOODNESS!!

Let me explain myself... I have a new obsession, and it's BTS ok. Sorry, if you don't like them or whatever but I have a new obsession for them, but don't worryyyyy I LOVE COLBY WITH A BURNING PASSION STILL. Then there's the reason that high school just started for me and I am still adjusting to sleep schedules and homework time and I really do not have much time because I am on my high School's soccer team which practices everyday, and on the weekends I am usually out doing things with my family and friends, so writing hasn't been a top priority for me. I have been writing this chapter over the course of what... 2 weeks? I try to find time but usually I come home after practice, do my homework, go to meetings (like my clubs), and then go to bed because I get so exhausted everyday, and IM SO SORRY MY READERS. I literally finished writing this during my study hall LOL. This book will continue as much as I can have time to:)
Please stay tuned, love you all<3

COMMENT, *VOTE*, & SHARE!!

comment, "Colberity committee unite" if u read up to here;))

hugs, kt