Sam and Colby: The Penitentiary

22

"Wow, love you too," Colby said sarcastically.

"You better," I said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Jack continued the conversation with us for the remainder of the drive. He was a really nice guy, super funny and insightful. We pulled up to the airport a little while later and all filed out of his car, shouting thank yous to him as he drove away after we grabbed our bags from the trunk.

"What a dude," Corey said.

"I wish he was my dad," said Jake.

"Jake has daddy issues," Corey said.

"I wonder how Tara feels about that," Colby said.

"That's a good question," Sam said.

"Oh my god. Come on, children. Let's go," I said, leading us into the airport. Security was pretty quick, but I couldn't help but laugh when Colby looked pissed that the TSA worker dude had to feel around the waistband of my joggers.

"He didn't check the rest of ours," Colby muttered as we all pulled our shoes back on. I laughed and looked up at him.

"I would try to make you feel better, but we're wearing the same fucking thing, so yeah. That was a little much," I said. I looked over at the other guys and realized we were literally all matching. No one else had gotten stopped.

We were all wearing Kevin's joggers, some form of Vans, and hoodies from the various merch lines. Jake was wearing his Yummy hoodie, Corey wearing his No Name hoodie, Sam in his NEVER one, and Colby and I in the black tracksuit crewneck pullover.

"How the fuck did we all wear the same thing?" I asked as we started the walk to our gate.

"I don't know, it's 6am. I sleep in these joggers," said Corey.

"Same," said Jake.

"I do, too," said Sam.

"Well that makes five of us," Colby said. "But you put on the hoodie after I did, so you copied me."

"Well you put your shoes on after I did," I pointed out.

"Yeah, your black Vans. That's, like, all I wear," he replied.

"Okay, fair," I answered.

"Hey, Ness, will you text me the addresses to the places we're going? I'm assuming you and Colby are going to want to drive alone," said Sam.

"I want to go with them!" Jake exclaimed.

"Really?" Colby asked.

"Yup. You guys are fun," said Jake.

"Wow. Okay," said Corey, rolling his eyes.

"We don't need you anyway," Sam said dramatically, sniffing as he pretended to cry.

"Come on, tell me you've never wondered what they talk about and what music they listen to," said Jake.

"Uh, okay. I've never wondered that," said Sam.

"Yeah, no. Not once," Corey agreed.

"Ugh, you guys are weird," said Jake.

"Right. They're the weird ones," said Colby.

"Mom, I am being bullied," Jake said. I smiled at him. They were calling me Mom again already. Good.

"Toughen up, buttercup. Real life is hard," I said.

"No kidding," Corey said. We made our way to the gate and sat down to wait. We didn't make it ten minutes until Jake had to pee and Corey wanted food.

"I'll take Corey," Sam sighed.

"I guess I'll just go to the bathroom by myself then," Jake sighed dramatically.

"Hey, I'll go with you if you really want me to," said Colby.

"Never mind. I think I can manage," Jake said.

"I could never," I said as Jake walked away.

"I don't think I'll understand girls not being able to pee by themselves if there's an option to take someone with them," Colby said.

"We just, like, talk. I don't know. And mirror selfies. That's a thing, too," I said.

"Hey, uh, can I take a picture with you guys? Or are you...," a guy asked, walking up to us. He was pointing at the empty seat in between us, clearly wondering if we'd intentionally done that. We hadn't, Jake had just chosen to sit in between us.

"Yes, of course, we'd love to take a picture," I said. "Right, babe?" I asked, looking over at Colby. I couldn't help but join the guy in smiling when I called Colby that. It was like seeing it in person really confirmed it, that we were still together after all of those silent months.