**Completed** Colby Byers and Wyatt Matheson shared an enviable love-at least, until that fateful day. Torn apart by tragedy, the stubborn ex-lovers struggle to come to terms with their desire for one another, while reconciling their feelings with t...
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11 years earlier
It was the most intense portion of their day.
Bone crushing. Gut-wrenching. Heartbreaking.
"Red rover, red rover, send Colby Jack cheese right over! This'll be easy, guys. She'll never make it through," Eric chortled venomously.
"Don't let'em get to you, B," Wynona encouraged. "Eric only called you that to make you mad. You can break their hands!"
It was boys versus girls, the first recess of the day. Colby was fired up, mustering all the courage and strength she could manage. She despised the nickname Eric had so thoughtlessly uttered, and knew she couldn't let her team down.
Wyatt was eyeing her from the far end of the boys' line. He nodded, almost imperceptibly.
It was all she needed.
She took off! Running like the wind itself, she took aim, crashing headlong into Eric Owen and Mark Rushford's joined hands.
Upon impact, she sprang backward, landing forcefully on her tailbone, the dust and debris rising up around her. She refused to cry, though the tears were threatening to spill over at any moment.
"Ah ha ha ha," Eric cackled maniacally. "You got shredded like Colby Jack cheese." His features twisted into a devious sneer, and Colby couldn't help but focus on the smear of sticky honey to the left of his ugly mouth. Eric was a cold, brutal bully.
"Call her that again, and I'll jack up your face, you crap head!" Wyatt said, pulling Colby up by the hand. She dusted herself off, and they shared a knowing smile. She knew yet again what she'd always known: Wyatt would never let her fall without being there to catch her.
"Oh, I see," Eric said. "You looooove her." He laughed mercilessly, reveling inthe attention he knew was upon them.
"Why don't you just marry her, then," Eric said victoriously, crossing his arms over his chest.
Gasps and oooohs could be heard from around the playground. And then, silence, for what felt like hours.
Wyatt stepped closer to the bully, matching his stance.
"Maybe. I. Will." Wyatt said, raising his eyebrows in challenge.
Eric's pompous face fell then, and he ran away, not fit to be challenged so. "I'm telling the teacher you called me a crap head!" he called over his shoulder.
Wyatt didn't care. He threw his arm over Colby's shoulder, and they wandered over to the slide.
"It doesn't matter what other people think," Wyatt said, smiling. "I'll always be there for you."
