•••

Jake holds onto Colby's hand tightly as they step off the plane. The two had decided after their kiss that they — more so Colby — have waited far too long for this to just keep their relationship a secret. That's why Colby is cuddled up in Jake's arms as they walk out of the airport.

"What if they hate us?" Colby asks nervously.

The taller of the two looks down at his new boyfriend, "They won't, Colbs." He says softly, kissing the man's head as they walk toward the Uber.

"Everyone loves you, brother." Corey says, teasing his friend playfully.

Jake watches as his boyfriend starts to play fight with one of their best friends. He can't help but feel as if everything is okay. As he smiles, Jake notices that Sam isn't with them — he's in the back, where he is on his phone. Jake sighs, 'Him and Colby need to just make up.'

That thought gives Jake an idea as he climbs into the Uber. The man makes sure him and Corey are sitting next to each other, and that Sam and Colby are sitting next to each other. Jake smirks at Corey as they watch the pair in front of them awkwardly start to talk.

"Hey..." Colby says, his voice almost a whisper.

Sam gives his friend a smile, "Hey, Colbs."

The two are quiet for a few seconds before both of them yell out, "I'm sorry!"

Colby rolls his eyes, "You have nothing to be sorry for, Sam! I'm the one who hurt you..." Colby's blue eyes turn dark, guilt pouring out of him.

The blonde shakes his head, "I hurt you, too. So for that, I'm sorry."

The two friends smile at each other before starting up another conversation. Jake grins over at Corey as Sam and Colby talk like nothing happened.

•••

"Colby!"

The dark haired man looks up from where he is standing. He puts his bag down as he grins at the short, blue haired girl running toward him. He grunts when Kat attacks him in a hug, "I'm so proud of you!" She says excitedly as she wraps her arms around him.

"Thanks, K." He says, twirling the girl around.

"Wow... I'm right here." Sam says, faking his hurt.

Kat giggles as she runs up to her boyfriend, "I missed you, hun." She says to him before giving him a soft kiss.

Jake walks up to the three friends and mentally prepared himself for Katrina. Just like he thought, Kat attacks him in a hug.

"I'm proud of you, too." She says to him.

Jake blushes softly, "T-Thanks..." he says, embarrassed of the whole situation.

•••

The group has been back for a few weeks now, and all they have done is edit. Most of the time Jake is at Colby's, helping the man edit his parts of the videos and just to spend time with his boyfriend. But tonight... tonight is different.

"I just don't see why I have to go. I mean, we both know what happened the last time Sam had a party." Colby says as he lays in his bed, looking up at his boyfriend.

Jake scoffs as he pulls his sweatshirt over his bare torso, "Babe, it'll be different." He says as he climbs into the bed again, and starts to pull Colby out of it, "So... get ready! Your best friend is expecting you."

The brunette groans as he gets out of the bed, he shyly looks down at the floor, "Tara will be there... I'm just-" Colby lets out a shaky sigh.

Warm hands are on Colby's cheeks, making him look up into beautiful brown eyes. Jake gives him a smile when he finally looks up at him, "I don't care that she will be there. You're all that matters." Jake explains, his voice soft.

Colby shakes his head as he looks down again, not wanting Jake to see his tears, "What if... what if when you see her you realize you still love her?" Colby asks, his voice shaking with emotion.

"Baby... Baby, look at me." Jake's voice is almost a whisper, his own emotions showing.

Blue eyes look up to find brown ones, "What me and Tara had... it's nothing like this." Jake says as he swallows hard, feeling awful about making his boyfriend feel like this.

"I— I didn't love Tara. She was someone that I thought I loved, someone who I care for. But, Colby, she's not you." Jake explains, rubbing his thumb against Colby's cheek.

Colby lets a few tears, "I... I" he stutters, trying to find the words, but can't.

Jake shushes him, "I love you, Colby Brock. I love you, and I know it's real this time. You're everything to me." He confesses, his own tears falling.

Colby's blue eyes widen. Jake loves him? The man smiles at his boyfriend, "I love you too, dork." He mumbles before pulling Jake closer, and kissing him deeply.

•••

Colby sits happily on his best friends couch, his arms wrapped around his energetic boyfriend. After confessing their love for each other, Colby finally decided to get ready for the pizza party. He had been nervous about seeing Tara, scared that she would hate him now. To his surprise, the small girl had attacked him and Jake both in a hug as soon as they arrived. She told them that she was happy for them, and that she always knew they would end up together.

Tara — being the sweet girl she is — instantly told Colby that she had no hard feelings toward him or his boyfriend, which had made Colby's night. The two ended up on the couch, talking about One Direction. That's how they still are — happily talking.

"I just think Niall should have been appreciated more." Tara says, her smile making Colby laugh loudly, "You would think that." He teases, his hand unconsciously rubbing Jake's side.

Just when Tara's about to say something else, the door to Sam's apartment opens and a dolled up Xepher walks through the door. Colby watches in amusement as Tara jumps up and runs over to her — which isn't shocking to Colby. But what did shock him — and everyone else — is when Xepher leans down and kisses Tara softly on the lips. Colby gasps softly as he looks at Jake with confused eyes.

Tara turns slowly toward her friend, "Guys, meet my girlfriend, Xepher." She says playfully.

"Whoop!!!" Colby yells, jumping up and hugging his friend. The other soon joining him.

After Xepher's arrival, Colby sat back down and cuddled closer to his boyfriend. Jake's brown eyes look down at him as they watch the others play a game of "Would You Rather."

"I'm sorry I made you wait so long... and for hurting you." He mumbles to where only him and Colby can here.

Colby looks up and frowns his brow, "It was worth the wait." He says back, a smile engulfing his face.

Jake smiles back before leaning down and kissing him. They pull back when they hear a chorus of awe's. They look up to find everyone looking at them with smiles, and Sam filming them. Colby gives his friend a playful glare before teasing everyone else.

"I love you." Jake whispers in his ear as they lean back into the couch again. Colby smiles up at him and kisses his nose, "I love you too, Jake."

Colby finally felt happy as he listened to his friends joke around, and held Jake close. He no longer had to hide his sexuality, or his feelings for the man next to him. Colby Brock finally felt free.

••• AUTHORS NOTE •••