friends with benefits // c.b

07

||May 6, 2017||

Lucy Florence

"Hey, everybody." I greet my friends as I enter their kitchen. "Where's Colby?" I ask, noticing he's the only roommate not in here.

"Uhh... he's in his room I think," Devyn spoke up. I look at every one. Something doesn't seem right.

"Okay. What's going on?" I ask seriously, setting my bag on the little table. They all exchange hesitant looks and my heart begins beating faster.

"Have you been on Twitter recently?" Elton asks me. My eyebrows scrunch together.

"Like... how recently?" My voice is full of confusion and fear.

"Like, any time today." Sam jumps in.

"Not today. Why? What happened?" Without saying anything, Devyn pulls up something on her phone, turning it to show me. It's a photo on Brennen's Snapchat story from last night, showing us cuddling.

"What about it?" I ask, my heart sinking slightly.

"Well, people are spreading rumors that you two are together, and that video is only fueling it more," Elton tells me. I stare at them all in disbelief.

"B-but. We aren't. He's my best friend." My hand rests on top of my head. "Is Colby mad at me?" I ask, my voice small. They all nod slowly.

"But why?" I ask again.

"Lucy, he really likes you. Like, when you leave you're all he can talk about." Devyn holds my hands. My eyes water up madly.

"You need to go talk to him. This is really hurting him." Corey speaks up. I nod slowly and without saying anything, I turn and walk up the stairs, feeling their sympathetic eyes on my back.

Goosebumps form on my arms as I knock on his door.

"Who is it?" His voice sounds rough.

"It's me, Colby." I say softly. When there is no answer, I let myself in. He is sat in his computer chair, probably editing a video.

"Colby?" I ask almost inaudibly. He just looks up at me. I close the door and sit on the edge of the couch. "Whatever you've read or seen is a huge misunderstanding-" I say.

"A misunderstanding?" He asks in disbelief.

"Yes! What you're hearing are just rumors." I say.

"Rumors..." He trails off, laughing coldly, "really? Then what the fuck is this?" He shows me his phone screen with screenshots of Brennen's Snapchat video.

"That is pretty much just Brennen comforting me and helping me sleep." I simply explain to him.

"Just comforting you, huh? Yeah, that explains you two being half-fucking-naked and sleeping together. And the damn hearts and heart eye emoji's." He throws his phone onto the couch beside me, making me jump slightly.

"So, how long have you two been dating?" He crosses his arms over his chest.

"We aren't dating! It's just rumors!" I stand up.

"Oh, so you're going to continue to lie to me?" His face becomes red and tears flood his eyes.

"Colby-" My voice breaks as I reach for his arm.

"Go home, Lucy. Just-" He backs away from me, not even looking me in the eyes.

"If you would just let me fucking explain, damn it-"

"Get out!" He shouts at me, pointing to his door. I stare at him in utter disbelief, tears already streaming down my face.

"Whatever, Colby." My voice cracks. I shove his chest before leaving, slamming the bedroom door behind me.

"Lucy." Devyn's soft voice calls out to me as I reach the main hallway.

"I've got to go." I grab my bag and phone from the kitchen and run out the front door.

"Lucy!" I hear all of them yell after me. I run to my car and speed away from the house.

***

A few blocks away, I park on the side of the road and turn off my car. I let out a loud, high-pitched scream of pain, anger, and sadness. I punch the steering wheel and become a sobbing mess.

I pull my phone out and open Twitter. There was a trending hashtag: #lucyandbrennen

I hesitantly click on it and scroll through a few of the first tweets.

Tears fall down my face like a waterfall, my body shaking from the silent sobs. I quickly open up a fresh tweet and begin typing.

I press the post button and drive to my house, going straight to my bed to lay down.

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