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Everyone else is busy, off doing other things to prepare for the night.
Sam and Colby are setting up the sleeping bags inside the tent.
The tent they have to sleep in because Sam lost the key to the cabin.
They had brought the sleeping bags to go and sleep somewhere safer, and now, having to bring everything back and stay in the haunted forest, everyone was a little grumpy.
And blamed Sam for losing the key.
Colby looks up at Sam.
Definitely not to see his lips.
Nope.
Not to see their slightly pink colour and how badly chapped they are.
Nope.
Sam's spreading out a red sleeping bag, and there are tears in his eyes.
“Woah, woah, Sam, you alright?” Colby asks, putting his own sleeping bag down.
He steps towards Sam, hovering his hands over him, trying to figure out how to help. Tears start falling from Sam’s eyes.
“Yeah, ‘m fine.” Sam says, wiping his tears.
“You sure?” Colby asks.
Sam nods, but more tears fall from his eyes.
Colby reaches his arms out to wrap Sam in a hug.
Sam collapses into Colby, tears streaming down his face.
A sob wracks his body.
“What’s wrong?” Colby asks gently.
“No-nothing.” Sam says between sobs. “It’s stupid.”
“Tell me.” Colby says.
“I just…feel horrible. I’m the reason we lost the key and are stuck here.” Sam sobs harder, curling into Colby.
The two slide to the floor.
“It’s okay. It sucks, yeah, but we’re okay. You’re okay. It’s okay.”
Sam struggles on a breath, still sobbing.
“It’s okay. You’re okay. Just breathe. Breathe with me.”
Colby sucks in a large, exaggerated breath, Sam copies him.
“No one’s angry at you. It could’ve happened to anyone. Don’t worry about it.” Colby soothes.
“But-but I-I also lost y-you.” Sam says between gasps of air.
Another sob wracks through Sam, causing a spasm down his back.
Sam whimpers in pain.
“Sam! Sam, you’re okay. Deep breaths. In, hold, out. Please, just try. That wasn’t your fault. It was on me. I thought you were right behind me. It wasn’t your fault.”
“But it was! I should've stayed with you!” Sam exclaims, burrowing into Colby’s chest.
“No, Sam. No. It wasn’t your fault. None of it was your fault. You hear me? None of it.”
Sam nods slightly, sucking in a deep breath. As he exhales, he starts coughing.
He shifts onto his knees right in front of Colby, hacking trying to clear his lungs.
Colby rubs his back comfortingly.
Sam collapses into Colby’s lap once he’s done coughing.
Colby lets out a surprised sound.
“I’m sorry.” Sam says softly. “This is stupid. I-I’m sorry.”
Sam tries to sit up, but Colby pulls him back.
“It’s not stupid. We ganged up on you. And I’m so sorry about that. We’re just all tired and scared, and it was another thing to add on to all the shit we already have going on. But it’s not your fault.”
“But it is! I lost the fucking key!”
“No, Sam. It’s not your fault.” Colby pulls Sam against his chest until the two men are right against each other.
Sam’s face is in the crook of Colby’s neck, and he can feel the wet tears against his skin.
“It’s not your fault.” Colby repeats as Sam sobs into his neck.
After about ten minutes, Sam has finally calmed down.
“Are you okay?” Colby asks.
“Yeah. I’m sorry.” Sam says.
“You have nothing to be sorry about, okay?” Colby states.
Sam nods, shifting up from Colby’s lap.
“Let’s get the sleeping bags set up.” Sam says, changing the topic.
Colby glances at him. His eyes are red and his face is wet, and his lips are pale and chapped.
Not that Colby’s looking.
Not that he’s in love with his best friend.
“Yo! You guys almost done in there?” Corey asks.
“Yup! Just give us a sec!” Colby yells back.
“You sure you’re okay?” Colby asks Sam.
Sam nods, sniffling.
Colby reaches forward, grabbing Sam in a quick hug.
“Don’t worry about it, okay?” Colby whispers in Sam’s ear as Jake opens the tent flap.
“We’re gonna try to sleep now.” Colby says.
“Sounds good.” Jake responds, pulling a sleeping bag over him and falling asleep almost instantly.
Corey takes a little longer to fall asleep, but eventually Colby hears his breathing deepen.
Colby is lying next to Sam, and they’re facing each other.
Sam’s eyes are open and staring at the bottom of the tent.
Colby admires their icy blue colour.
Sam looks like he’s deep in thought.
“Colby?” He says quietly.
“Yeah?” Colby responds softly.
“Thank you.” Sam says.
“For what?” Colby asks.
“Understanding and helping me. I appreciate it.” Sam says, not making eye contact with Colby.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s what I’m here for. I-” Colby cuts himself off.
Sam looks up, his eyes meeting Colby’s.
Colby’s breath catches in his throat.
“You…?” Sam asks.
Colby pauses, mesmerized by Sam’s beautiful eyes. They're so beautifully blue, a lighter shade than Colby's. And the intensity behind them...Colby loves those eyes.
“I-nevermind.” Colby responds.
“You can tell me.” Sam says. “You helped me, I help you. I can tell it’s troubling you, whatever it is.”
“I can’t tell you.” Colby answers.
How could he tell his best friend he’s in love with him?
Sam looks at Colby with a sad look in his eyes, and that just melts Colby’s heart.
“Okay, okay, fine! I-it’s hard to say. I have been meaning to tell you for a while…” Colby trails off, shifting in his sleeping bag.
Jake snores.
Sam’s hand reaches out of his own sleeping bag and over to Colby’s hand, which is resting outside of his sleeping bag.
Sam’s fingers intertwine with Colby’s, and Colby’s heart skips a beat.
“I love you.” They both say in sync, like something out of a movie.
A small giggle escapes Colby’s mouth, and Sam echoes it.
“Fuck we’re stupid.” Sam whispers.
“We should have told each other sooner!” Colby whisper-shouts. “I’m in love with my best friend.”
“We don’t have to be best friends anymore…” Sam trails off, a mysterious glint in his eye.
Colby smiles, squeezing Sam’s hand.
“What are you implying, Sam?” He asks playfully.
“Nothing…” Sam says, smiling.
Colby can feel his eyelids drooping.
“‘m really tired…” He says, feeling himself falling asleep.
“That’s okay, sleep now. We can figure this out tomorrow.” Sam says.
***
In the morning, Jake and Corey are already awake by the time Colby and Sam wake up.
They’re talking quietly on their side of the tent.
Sam and Colby’s hands are still tightly intertwined.
“Oh, finally you’re up.” Jake remarks, noticing Colby stirring and Sam waking up.
“Yup.” Sam says, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
His hand slips from Colby’s, and Colby lets out a small discontented sound.
“You ready to pack up?” Corey asks.
Colby nods.
“Let’s clean the tent up first.” Colby says.
It takes them about an hour to fully clean out camp, but once they’re done, they all load into the car.
Colby sits in the driving seat and Sam in the passenger seat, with Jake and Corey in the back.
They drop Corey off first then Jake.
Then, the two of them head into Colby’s room.
It’s simple; there’s a bed, a nightstand, a desk and a closet. It’s a very neat room.
Sam sits on the bed and Colby on the desk chair.
“So…” Sam starts, trailing off. “That was…something.”
Colby nods. There's a silence between them. Hesitantly, Colby decides to say something.
“So you really do? You really…like me?” Colby asks.
Sam nods excitedly.
Colby smiles, standing up and sitting next to Sam on the bed.
“Aww, thanks. I love me too.” Colby says, smirking.
Sam grabs Colby’s hand, pulling him forward until they’re inches apart.
“Oh, you..." Sam says, pulling Colby even closer.
Their foreheads touch and noses brush against each other.
The moment is perfect.
“Can I kiss you?” Colby asks slowly.
“Yes.” Sam breathes.
Colby leans forward and presses their lips together.
Long, slow, perfect.
God does Colby ever love Sam.
Colby reaches with his free hand and grabs Sam’s waist, pulling them even closer.
After a second, the two of them fall against Colby’s bed, laughing.
Colby looks over at Sam to see his lips swollen and his face bright pink.
They’re still holding hands.
Sam rolls over, looking Colby in the eyes.
“I love you, Colby Brock. I really love you.”