S/O to @redhatchet03 for sending me the lovely cover!! It's so meaningful and I love the quotes ahhhh thank you so much:)<3

if ya wanna make me one, send it or dm it to me on twitter @/colbybrockers | instagram @/wut_brock._ or here!:)

Ellie and I went back to the hotel, Colby stayed back with Sam for the night. I'm so incredibly happy Sam is okay, he's an amazing person... how could the world put him through so much pain?

Two days ago, Kai revealed something that I thought would never be possible.
But sitting here the next day, drinking my hot chocolate, at the head of a hotel table, in a lobby, really makes you think.

Who in the right mind would purposely hit another human being? Let alone with a car?

Especially someone like Kai?

Thinking back on the whole situation, I had the right to get pissed off.
But I shouldn't have gotten pissed off for it being an accident.
Of course Kai didn't mean to be a bastard and smash into Sam by choice. People make fucked up decisions... but I just wished Kai stayed back to make sure Sam was okay.

Obviously, he wasn't.
So what the fuck, Kai.

Ugh, I am still iffy with Colby and Kai's fight.

I mean, Brooks did have it coming for smashing into Colby's best friend.

But damn, it was so hot.

Colby's uppercut was so smooth and done with perfection, and the fact that his jawline is so sharp, it can just cut my fingers from a distance.

"Ash, you ready to go to the hospital?" Ellie asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, did you text the group chat?" I ask her. She was suppose to text everyone to come hang out with Sam today.

"Yep," She says. She checks her purse for her phone, "Shoot, forgot my phone... I got to go back up to the room to get it."

"Kay, I will be in the car," I sigh. I get up from my chair and grab my keys, which are for Colby's car, and walk out.

I get to his car and turn on the engine. As my boredom begins to grow, I decide to just text him.

A/N: Txt message video above!! YouTube: KT Brock
Don't mind it says forty-five lmao

Damn there was so many things in that conversation that I wanted to tell him.

Just, I will never have the courage to.

Or dignity.

Ellie knocks on the window and I roll down the window to mess with her.

"Heyyy bitch," I say, teasing her.

"Let me in, asshole," She deadpans.

"What's the magic word?" I ask, sticking my tongue out.

"Please?" She pouts.

"Nah, gotta be more creative," I laugh, sticking my tongue out.

She rolls her eyes and gives a toothy grin, "Abracadabra?"

I unlock the door, "Dammit. You got it!"

"I know my best friend," She giggles. I laugh with her as we drive out the hotel and to the hospital to do some party planning... this is going to be one interesting day.

/////

"Yo what up, what up, what up dudes," I whistle, strolling into Sam's room.

"Ashlyn! Shut the fuck up!" Colby hushes, pointing to an asleep Sam.

"Shit, my b," I wince, putting my stuff on the bedside table. "He's still asleep? It's like, ten."

"That's fucking early for us, Ash. What are you saying?" Ellie chuckles, giving Colby a hug.

I nod, "Okay, true."

"So what's up, what's the plan?" Colby whispers to us, then kissing Ellie on the forehead.

Shake it off, Ash. Do a T-swivel.

"I was thinking that I can go grab a pizza and cupcakes since cake might be a lil too much for Sammy," I reply, taking my phone out. "According to the group chat, Corey and Devyn are coming first, then Amanda and Elton, Aaron with Gabe, and lastly Brennen and Nikolas."

"I'm not surprised that Nik and Brennen are coming last," Colby chuckles.

"What do they even have going on?" Ellie asks.

"Stupid shit," Colby replies. "Oh hey, I wasn't added to the group chat."

"Crap, I knew I was forgetting someone," Ellie nervously laughs. "Sorry babe, I was texting you when I was making it, guess you just slipped my mind."

"That's okay, it's chill," Colby smiles, pulling her into a side hug.

"Man, can't a guy just sleep in his hospital bed in peace," A sleepy voice interrupts.

"Good morning, Sammy!" Ellie giggles, pulling away from Colby and going to sit by him.

Woah, this is reminding me of that iCarly episode when Freddy got ran over by a taco truck and Carly thought she was starting to fall in love with him...

That was a good as fuck episode on the side note.

"Morning El! Morning everyone," Sam yawns. "I was being stirred by y'all's voices talking bout the party today! Is it all chill? It better not be like the one million party three days ago."

"Ha, nah man. Just the close homies," Colby responds, patting his shoulder. "Brennen and Nik are coming last, just the fyi."

"And why am I not surprised?" Sam chuckles, crossing his arms.

"That's what I said! Basically," Colby says. They laugh and I admire their friendship.

I can't imagine anything tearing them apart.

Please don't let that thing be me...

And that sounds incredibly conceded.

Forgive me, I literally hate myself more than hating my rival.

/////

"Hey, I just got a notification that the pizza's done, maybe you should text Colby to go pick it up?" I tell Ellie as we are at Walmart, getting snacks, decorations, and lokey getting groceries for our apartment because we usually are too lazy to go grocery shopping for ourselves.

"Kay, I'll call him right now," Ellie replies.
She gets her phone and begins to ring him.

"In the meantime, let's go check out," I say to him.

"Okay," She replies. We walk over to the self check out and we begin to scan all the items we want to get.

"Oh hey Colby," Ellie talks, giving me the shopping basket to finish ringing up.

"Yea, go pick up the pizza," She says to him.

I ring up the rainbow streamers and balloons.

"What are you talking about? Just go," Ellie keeps talking and I just listen.

I ring up the cupcakes and juice boxes.

Ellie shakes her head, "Whatever? What does it matter? Pussy."

I ring up the water bottles and princess themed items.

"Fine, thanks babe. Yes, we got them," Ellie rolls her eyes.

I ring up Ellie and I's groceries and the chip bags.

"Ahuh. Kay. We got that too. Good? Ok, love you too. Yep, bye."

I stop ringing up things and freeze.

Love you too?

/////

I furiously grip onto the plastic white bags full of our party supplies. Now, that sounds absolutely ridiculous but it's true. My rival said three words that I do not believe are true to my best friend.

Why the hell would he say that over a phone call?

Was that not the first time they've said it?

I'm so perplexed to an extreme.

I don't know, am I jealous? Angered? Sad? Confused?

Fuck, just the whole rainbow of emotions.

I'm feeling colorful.

From the angry red to confused purple. The cringe of orange to the saddest of blues.

But those colors have different, good, meanings too so, it's a kind of rainbow that is purely negative. The contrast of the two ideas are too bold.

But that's exactly how I'm feeling.

"Ash? You okay? Your knuckles are turning white. You must be squeezing those bags with all your fucking strength," Ellie says to me.

"I'm fine, just stressed."

"About a party? The hell, why the fuck you lyinnn'?" She sings to me the vine.

I give a slight smile, "Well I'm just really hoping Sam likes what we are doing for him, he and I were in such a bad place before the accident."

Partial lie.

"Oh, right. I get you," She nods.

We put our bags in the back seat of the car.

"Thanks," I murmur, turning on the engine of the car.

"Why, do you think Sam's still pissed at you?" She asks as I turn the wheel and leave Walmart.

"I don't know, I'm just paranoid," I shrug. "Yo, wait if we have Colby's car... how is he picking up pizza?"

"Sam's parents came to check up on Sam and let Colby take their car as they're with Sam right now," She replies.

"Right, okay," I nod.

I want to ask Ellie about Colby but I don't have a clever or smooth way to escalate the conversation to him. 

"Dude, I'm so excited for this!" She laughs, clapping her hands once, "We got so much business in this party operation shit. Literally we should just start our own company and be professionals."

I chuckle, "Yeah, okay."

She giggles, "I'm actually considering something like that for myself, right now."

I ponder, has Ellie ever told me what she wants to do when the summer ends? 

Like, I don't remember the colleges she applied to or even know if she got into them. 

"Hey, El."

"Hey, Ash," She copies.

"Do you know what you're going to do once the summer ends?" I ask.

She stays quiet for a few seconds and opens her mouth but closes it.

Finally, she says, "Besides go back to Kansas?" 

"Yeah," I reply.

"I guess, attend Kansas University..." She trails.

"Oh, how come you never told me you got into KU?" I question, genuinely surprised I'm just finding this out now.

"I don't want to go to Kansas University," She states, not looking at me. Her sunny aurora seemed to be rained on, and all was left above her was a cloud of grey. 

"You don't? Why did you tell me now? Why haven't you told me? Ellie, I'm your best friend. How haven't you told me!" 

She puts her hands up at my sudden accusation,  "No, I don't really! And I'm telling you now because you asked!"

"Okay... but why not tell me when you got the acceptance letter? I'm your best friend, I'm like suppose to know this shit!" I exclaim.

"Look, yeah, your my best friend. My incredibly intelligent, popular, athletic, beautiful, best friend. You're literally walking perfection! You could practically get any guy you want!" 

Not every guy.

I shake what she had said, off, "Ellie, what are you saying?"

"Ashlyn, I was embarrassed to tell you! I still am. You're the best fucking person I know, and I couldn't tell you I don't want to go to a university, that also isn't as amazing as UCLA."

"That's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's understood you feel that way, but you didn't have to hide it because you know I'd never judge you or think less of you, girl. Plus, KU is a pretty great university, c'mon," I sincerely say.

She nods her head, "Yeah, I know that, but also there's also the fact that, being the best friend to you is like pressure. I'm compared to you, people expect us to be like, the same person. You have your life all planned out on a map while I'm here and I don't even know what to do with my life! I have no idea what I wanna be."

This was saddening me. It really riles me when people I love talk down on themselves, like accept my support. 

"And you'll figure it out! Look, you should just block out the haters. Who fucking cares what strangers think? They don't know you like how I know you. If anything, I'm jealous of you. I want to have your personality, your humor, your beauty, your loyalty, it's hard being not as pretty as you or as outgoing. Don't think this is just one-sided," I truthfully say.

In the beginning, do you remember how I kept saying how pretty my best friend was? How I loved her personality, and how she's my better half? Yeah, I wasn't lying. This is why Ellie Parker deserves the world, and is my rock. She always will be. She may not be as smart or athletic or whatever, but that doesn't mean she can't have love. She's one of the only human beings where I'll give up anything. 

"Goddammit, you're such a good friend," She sighs, smiling widely

"I kinda learned from the best," I scoff.

"Really who?" She sarcastically asks.

"You, stupid."

"I know, did you not hear my sarcasm."

"Whatever, fuck you," I joke.

She laughs, smiling widely and happier than when the conversation first started. The dark grey cloud was lifted. 

"So, you're going to KU, right?" I finally ask.

"Yeah. But I still have no idea what I will do," She shrugs. "I mean, I've always wanted to do something with business, so I guess I'll go for that." 

"Look, if I was you, yeah, do that. You'll definitely have a future in that and it'll be great since you'll be getting an education. I truly believe you won't regret going to KU," I say.

"Thanks, Ash, yo so smaaart," Ellie coos, poking my cheek repeatedly. 

"Yeah, okay, now quit it!"

We finally get to the hospital and grab all the bags for the party out of our trunk. 

Except our groceries... 

We awkwardly carry everything through the lobby and halls of the hospital, only getting a few strange glances from nurses. 

We get to Sam's room and Ellie stands in front, first.

"We're back!" Ellie exclaims, pushing open Sam's room door with her foot. 

"Finally! Okay, bye Mom, bye Dad, see you guys tonight," Sam calls, lo-key pushing his parents away.

I laugh, "Oh, Samuel."

"Alright, bye honey, we'll be back by nine the latest!" Sam's Mom says, leaving with her husband.

They shut the door and Sam loudly sighs.

"Since Colby left, they hadn't left my side. I felt like a baby, again," Sam groans. "I thought they'd never leave!"

"WE HEARD THAT!" Sam's Dad exclaims through the door.

"BYE PARENTS!" Sam shouts. We all wait for a few more minutes to see if it was silent and after like ten, we concluded that they had finally left.

/////

"Yo, the decorations look hilarious," Sam laughs, seeing the princess stuff too.

"They're not hilarious, this is amazing," Ellie corrects, taking away the bag Sam was looking through.

"Well, yeah it's amazing, I'm sorry," Sam agrees. 

"Thank you," Ellie sassily replies. 

Colby then comes into the room with the pizza. 

"Yo, I got pizz- woah, this is pretty cool," He mesmerizes over the very vibrant, rainbow streamers nicely hung around and the many balloons scattering the floor.

"Dude, they got me princess silverware and stuff," Sam laughs, pointing at the bag Ellie snatched away.

"Haha, because they only want what's best for our princess, princess Samuel," Colby chuckles.

"Word," I agree.

"So, when's everyone's getting here? I thought I was going to be late!" Colby says, putting a hand on his chest.

"Any minute, really," Ellie replies, sitting down.

"We should have someone go to the lobby and wait for them," Colby suggests.

"I got it!" Ellie offers, and runs out the room.

"Well, that was quick," I say, slouching in my seat.

After about ten minutes of casual conversation, suddenly EVERYONE, including Brennen and Nik, pop out of nowhere. 

Well, through the front door, but still. 

"FELIZ NAVIDAD, SAM!" They all scream.

Merry... Christmas?

"Hi everyone!" Sam laughs, surprised, being greeted by hugs, high-fives, bro-hugs, fist bumps, all those greetings. "But, it's not Christmas?" He chuckles, confused.

"Oh we know, but 'get well soon, Sam' sounded kinda lame to yell when walking in to surprise someone, feliz navidad was just cooler," Corey shrugs, giving Sam a present.

"Okay then..." Sam laughs, "-And yo, you got me-" He then looks around the room where everyone brought him something. "-You ALL did not have to buy me anything!"

"Dude, nobody can ever show up to a party empty handed, come on, it's polite to give your favorite crippled gifts," Brennen jokes. 

"Bro, that sounds so inconsiderate," Nik laughs.

"I'm SORRY," Brennen exaggerates, but they sincerely says, "Get fucking better soon, Sam!" 

"Ha, yeah, thanks dude," Sam chuckles.

"Okay, whatever, let's have pizza!" I shout, clapping my hands.

"YEAH," Everyone murmurs, grabbing the princess themed plates, napkins, silverware, all that good stuff. 

We all hang and everything's all smooth and fun. I'm having a good time, Sam's having a good time, everyone be having a good ass time. 

It was all going right.

I'm cheerily mingling with Devyn and Amanda, talking about what's been happening, their boyfriends (while wishing I had one), and how good this pizza is. 

"Hey, how long have Colby and Ellie been together?" Amanda asks.

"Yeah, when did they start becoming a thing, actually," Devyn giggles.

I force a laugh, "Ha, yeah since summer started, really." 

"Oh, didn't know that, ha. Ellie seems all close with Sam!" Amanda jokes.

"Ooh, what if Ellie dumps Colby for Sam," Devyn suggests, laughing.

"Yeah, that'd actually be funny," I fake a smile. 

If only they knew our situations.

Suddenly, I see from the corner of my eye, the door opens and in pops Mrs. Golbach. She looks around for a quick second and closes the door, disappearing back into the hall.

Why is she back so early? It's only five, I thought she'd be here by nine or something.

I'll go greet her, maybe she just doesn't want to intrude on the party.

"Hey, I think I just saw Sam's Mom... I'm going to go talk to her," I say to Devyn and Amanda.

"Yeah, okay," Amanda says. 

Devyn nods, "Mhm."

I quickly say bye, and make my way pass my friends to the door. I open the door and walk down the hall, looking aimlessly for Sam's Mom. She was nowhere in my line of vision...

"Mrs. Golbach?" I call out.

I continue walking down the hall and I stop and scoot a few steps back around the corner as I just saw the Golbach's with the same official with the brown official briefcase. 

What and who is he?

I lean to listen into their conversation.

Mrs. Golbach says, "He's quite busy right now, I don't think you'll be able to speak to him."

"Yeah, he's with a crowd of his friends," Mr. Golbach adds.

"You sure you can't get me to see him? I don't believe I'll have time to come tomorrow," The unknown man says.

"I'm sorry, we can't. We don't in fact, want too many people to know we're doing this," Mrs. Golbach sighs.

Know you're doing what...?

"Why can't we have you come tomorrow?" Mr. Golbach asks.

The man winces, "Sir, I'm very busy tomorrow..." 

"We would really like to serve this man justice, as soon as possible!" Mr. Golbach reasons.

"We will, we will but-"

"Please? Our son is in the hospital, come on," Mrs. Golbach pleads.

The man closes his brief case and sighs, "Fine, I will be here ten in the morning sharp to get Sam's statement for the lawsuit against Kai Brooks."

-------------------------------------

YO YO WASSUP HOMIES IM UPDATING 3:45 AM BECAUSE THE SOONER THE BETTER AMIRITE... i also missed tuesday... and sunday... sorry ily all.... thank you for 36k+ reads oh shit

but i had a good fuckin time in canada, i wish i couldve stayed there longer cuz they dont have trump as their president lmao i posted lots of pics a few pics on my instagram of me doing thangs haha plug @/caitlinith my personal;) but ye... i