"W-what?" He pulls away in one swift motion.

"I think you should go, Colby. We can't be together," I bite my lip from crying, "We can't be anything, I have a guilty feeling in my gut. If I move on from you, Ellie wouldn't have to ever know I even liked you in the first place. What would it matter, right?" I reason, pacing back and forth.

"Okay, I see your plan, but how about after a week?" He exasperates, "What happens then? To us? To her and I? I like Ellie, I do, but-"

"Don't finish that sentence," I glare, "Don't say you like me more, you don't."

He sighs, "Ashlyn... but-"

"No." I shoot, "After you leave tonight, we are never going to be anything more than the usual Colby and Ashlyn. Enemies."

He scrunches his face up, "What about the car pact? What will become of that?" He retorts.

"It doesn't exist," I assert.

He stays silent and seals his lips. The once comfortable silence flipped to the evil opposite. I could tell he surely didn't agree.

But, he's going to have to.

I will not be able to, -am not able to ever live with myself, knowing I'm hurting the people around me.

It's like lighting a match.

You see the flame, think it's amazing, get mesmerized by it's color and then the way it flickers.

Then once you love the way it burns, you might light another one, and make it bigger.

Then all of sudden, you will see the fire lose control.

You drop the match, your fire.

Fire, which represents the burning love in my case.

And once the flame hits the carpet, next thing you know, your whole house is on fire!

Everything catches fire, and it all becomes burning down around you. All the loving memories framed in pictures and the stable furniture where you spend your days living.

Colby and I are a fire, that hit the carpet, and is now burning everything that is stable and loving around us.

Ellie and Sam, our friends.

We are burning them because of our fire.

It leads back to now, our un-pleasureful conversation.

Feeling the displeasure makes me want to scream again, but this time, rip out my own vocal chords. I don't want him here anymore, I told him everything. He does not have any duty nor task to complete here.

"You should go," I murmur, not wanting to look at him again.

"Please don't make me, Ash," He pleads, taking me aback,"Just let me sleep here. It's lonely without Sam, and don't tell me it's not lonely without Ellie. Going back into my apartment, knowing Sam's not going to be there for days or even weeks, depresses me," He explains.

I feel his pain, I'm experiencing the same thing, I guess.

I deliberately pierce my eyes into his to see his intentions. My judgement couldn't see any bad storms over the ocean in his eyes so my tired head nods solemnly as a yes.

"Okay, fine," I oblige."You can sleep in El's room," I mumble, trekking to my room.

"Thanks," He calls out.

I hear him, but I don't reply as I shut my door.

/////

I lay in my bed, ridden of pajamas, blankets pulled up to my nose, and thoughts still swirling but in slow motion.

I let Colby Brock stay in my apartment with me, overnight.

But alone, in separate rooms.

He's no Ellie comforter, but I believe I need one. It's a girl necessity in my opinion.

I wonder if it's the same for guys.

Colby, I hope you're not hurting, aching, or feeling the same pain as I do. He's alone in a room and I'm not feeling sexually frustrated or anything, but I am feeling sympathy. I always pull through with the pity card. This player is pulling some twisted game.

But oh how I love playing with his tricks sometimes.

The thought of an alone, sleepy but not tired, broken down Colby reminds me, of me.

We need each other, but not in the way he wants us to be.

In the way of a comfort, a security blanket.

I slowly shift out of bed, hearing the bed squeak makes me cringe. I hope he didn't hear my noise. I stealthily walk out my door and across towards Ellie's room. I squeak the door open to see a shirtless Colby, laying on his side; still awake as ever as he sits up straight to reveal his bare upper body. Those toned abs and soft skin.

"Ashlyn...hi, what's wrong?" He quietly asks.

"I can't sleep..." I whisper, leaning slightly on the door frame.

"Neither can I," He whispers back, rubbing his eyes.

"Colby?" I ask.

"Hm, Ash?" He sleepily mumbles.

"We need each other, we're lonely, we need someone. I need someone," I shyly put.

He gives me a sigh, but I think it was a happy, relieving sigh. He makes way on the bed and pats the empty spot for me to join him on the bed. I cautiously get in with him and pull the covers up. He turns his head to face me and he smiles. I couldn't help but smile too, but it was not a moment I wanted to feel like a kiss was necessary; if I were to, I would get hooked back to his lips since, he is my drug.

I'm an addict, but the shame I'd usually own up to, was not there.

I smile back at Colby.

He closes his eyes and lifts his arm to secure a spot around my waist. I feel the goosebumps as his cold hand is surfacing my skin. I pull his arm closer and let him clutch onto my bare back. He clings to my body as if we were cuddling, like how I wanted to. I flip my body to nuzzle my head into his bare chest like how I wanted to.

Like how I always wanted to.

I wrap my legs around his waist, like how I wanted to.

I hold his hands, like how I wanted to.

I squeeze him tightly, like how I wanted to.

I was slowly fulfilling my wants, and he let me.

In his arms, in his body heat, in his presence,

I feel safe.

I feel the sereneness.

I feel no reality in occurrence while in our bubble.

I love it.

I love his bare skin touching mine, and it's like a dream.

How I wish this would last an eternity.

Imagining a simpler life when everyday, the day ended like this.

In his arms.

The energy and fuel finally run out and I drift into sleep.

A slumber in Colby Brock's arms.

/////

I am sitting in my giant beanbag chair, editing videos, ya know, the usual. My hair is in a messy bun and my nerdy round glasses are on. I just couldn't figure out how to recolor my hair in photo-shop.

I am so frustrated, why isn't the hue-filter working?

Goddammit! I just cropped my hair out.

Undo button.

Crap, that just took out my title.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS SOFTWARE.

I groan out in agony.

I'm just a basic ass YouTuber trying to make a good ass thumbnail to match a good ass clickbait title.

"HE DID WHAT TO MY HAIR? (dye goes wrong!)"

For the views.

But fucking photo-shop is not COOPERATING!

Now, I just erased the border around my whole picture.

"FUCK THIS," I scream in annoyance.

"Ash, I'm home! I hear you screaming!" My boyfriend yells.

"I'm in our room!" I yell back to him.

I hear my door open and out pops my lovely boyfriend in his usual black jeans and ripped hoodie.

I smile up at him, "Hi, love."

"Hi, babe," He grins, falling beside me on the beanbag. He wraps an arm around my shoulder.

"Whatcha working on?" He asks, peaking over my shoulder.

"Editing," I state, trying to focus.

"Oh, you look very focused."

"Yeah."

"That's too bad, you looked so adorable-," He smirks, turning my face to his and smothering my face with kisses.

"Cooolby! I'm busy!" I whine, pushing his face away.

"Baby, but you didn't give me any kisses todaaay," He whines back, continuing quick pecks all over my cheeks.

"You needy child, I'm just trying to fix my thumbnail," I groan.

"Fine, I'll let you do your thing. I'll watch," He smiles, innocently.

"Thank you," I murmur.

Annoying fucker.

I just got all my things in my thumbnail straight and right in place but I still need to recolor my hair.

I click some paint brushes or whatever and try to do it but end up recoloring my background instead of the hair.

"GODDANGIT," I shout, face-palming myself.

Colby chuckles lightly to himself.

"Hey, that's not funny," I pout.

"It's not but you are," He grins.

I frown, "That's not nice either."

"But you're so cute when you're mad and pouty."

I toss my head back in frustration, "UGH."

"Here, let me see. I'll help you. I've been making thumbnails since the beginning of time," Colby brags, pulling my laptop onto his lap. "Babe, what are you trying to do?"

"Recolor my hair," I mumble.

He rolls his eyes, "Good clickbait?"

"Yeah," I giggle.

He smiles, "Right, what color?"

"Bright orange," I demand.

"Alright alright, here," He stammers, clicking on a few buttons and handing the laptop back to me.

"Wha- Colby, how did you do that!" I exclaim, looking at him with amazement. It took me forever to accomplish absolutely nothing and it took him literally a matter of five whole seconds. I should've just waited until he got home.

"Babe, all you had to do was press on this one icon, where it looks like an eyedropper. Then after, press this button and choose your color," He explains, pointing at it.

"Oh, you're a genius," I laugh, kissing him on the cheek.

He gasps with a his mouth wide open.

"A kiss on the cheek! That's it?" He exclaims with hurt.

"What? What's so wrong with that?" I question with genuine confusion.

"No real kiss?" He pouts.

"Nope," I tease, popping out the p.

"That's not nice," He frowns.

I roll my eyes, "Okay, Mr. I'm-so-needy-boy, I know what you're doing!"

He smirks, "And what am I doing, exactly, Miss I-know-everything-when-I-don't-girl?"

"Y-you're being me! I see you, you butt hole!" I exclaim.

He begins to laugh at me, giving his wide smile and contagious chuckle.

"Oh, you're a genius!" He mimics, kissing my cheek like I had previously done.

I put my laptop aside, and push him over to his back.

"BUTT HOLE!" I shout, trying to get a hold of his arms. We just laugh, playfully wrestling off the beanbag and rolling onto the floor.

He rolls on top of me, "I always knew you loved being bottom." He wiggles his eyebrows.

"COLBY!" I scold, "You dirty, dirty kid."

I flip him over so I straddle his lap.

"I hate you," I deadpan, scrunching up my eyebrows and nose.

"No, you used to hate liking me," He winks.

"Oh shut up," I giggle, pulling his shirt forward to get him to sit up.

I twist his shirt in my fist and grab the back of his head so I could mold our lips together.

He coils his arms around my back and I remove my balled fist to wrap my arms around his neck. I kiss him with all my love as he leans us abruptly backwards.

"Ah!" I yelp as we hit the ground.

"Haha!" He chuckles loudly in our kiss.

He mumbles between my lips, "You're too jumpy."

I lean back to sit straight back up on his lap, "I can't help it!"

"Hey, remember how you said you hate me?" He asks.

"Yeah, you know I was joking..."I trail.

"Baby, I know, but you know what I hate?" He questions me.

I tilt my head in curiosity, "What?"

He leans forward, "When you take your LIPS OFF MINE!" He crashes his lips on mine and springs me backwards to fall on my back. Colby grabs my waist and squeezes my bare skin, making my get goosebumps.

I giggle between his lips as we hit the ground with a thud.

I entangle my fingers in his dark brown locks and wrap my legs around his waist as he hovers above.

"Colbs!" I squeal as his wandering hands tickle my sides.

"Whaaat?" He murmurs, removing his lips from my face and attaching them to my neck.

"You're tickling me!" I laugh, probably in a very obnoxious manner.

"Oops," He laughs.

He gets up and off of me to let myself calm down. I am way too ticklish for my own good.

"Kay, I think you had enough fun for one night," He chuckles. "I'm pooped, Ash. Bedtime for Colby."

I lay flat on the bedroom floor. "Nah, I can't nor really wanna get up, Colberity."

He sighs, and holds out his hands for me to grab. I give him a cheeky smile and gladly take his hands. He yanks me up to my feet.

"You coming to bed with me, now?"

"Guess so," I laugh, hopping into my usual right side.

He chuckles, pulling out the comforter and slipping under with me. He pulls his shirt and jeans off before cuddling under the blanket with me. I had already changed into my pajamas.

"Hey, Neil," Colby whispers.

"Yes?" I whisper into his neck.

"I love you."

I smile, "I love yo-"

Suddenly the door bursts open before I can say it back.

"What about me?" A girl's voice sounds.

"And me?" A boy says after.

I look to see Ellie and Sam, in my doorway.

But all of a sudden, the scene changes to the boardwalk on Moonstone beach.

Colby and I weren't in bed, we were standing where Sam caught us kissing.

I look frantically between the three of them, what the hell is happening?

"You guys are terrible together, what are you doing to all of our friendships?" Sam questions in a booming voice.

"You're my best friend, Ash. How could you?" Ellie whispers, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"G-guys, no, -we, -I, we're all best friends, I love you guys!" I stammer. I look at Colby for assistance, but his eyes didn't even meet mine. He looks stone cold, and is glaring off into the ocean.

"In my ocean eyes, I see you and I," He says with no emotion, to me.

I nod, "Okay, that's good, Colbs. Right?"

He looks dead in my pupils and finishes his sentence with,

"As rivals."

I step away slowly from him. He shows no emotion, but a robotic like, even tone escaped his mouth.

"N-no, Colby..." I stutter, trying to catch my breath. I turn around from the group but then, Ellie magically appears before my eyes.

"We'll never be best friends again, Ashlyn. You hurt me," Ellie whimpers, walking towards now.

"El, no... don't say that," I reply, also walking towards her.

"You allowed my boyfriend to cheat on me, with you! You didn't even tell me. You betrayed me. You ripped me away from my dignity," She retorts. She looks off into the distance, "I can never forgive you. I hate this, and you. You deserve to be the one heartbroken, I never did anything to you. You never told me you liked him. It's all your fault."

This cracked a piece of my soul.

It is all my fault.

I'm a tragedy that exists for no reason, for good people who deserve someone like me, NOT in their life.

My best friend, my person, hates me.

She- she can't hate me...

But she does, and I can't do anything about it.

Friendship breakups hurt even more than relationship breakups.

I turn to Sam, but he frowns deeply.

"I trusted you, Ashlyn. We were best friends, but we could have been something more," He softly says.

"Sam, I don't love you that way..." I say.

Then, unexpectedly out of the blue, Sam's clothes in his stomach area begin to soak with red.

Red liquid soon spills through his shirt.

Blood.

"S-sam! You're bleeding!" I cry, pointing at his soaking clothes.

He peers down and gives me a sad, reddened face. "I'm dying, Ash. I'm bleeding out and you can't stop it...My heart belonged to you, now that you've chosen Colby, it will forever bleed out." He comes closer and reaches for my hand. I stood frozen, I couldn't do anything. I let him pick up my hand and make me touch his red pools. The wetness, it grossed me out and sent chills through my arm.

"You are feeling my soul pour out my body because you ruined all happiness that existed. I hope you're happy with yourself. You demolish all perfect and good things in life and take it over with your selfishness. You are with him for the benefit of only allowing yourself to be happy."

Suddenly, the blood sprays over my face.

"N-no! Holy shit!" I scream, running to Colby's arms.

"Colby! I want this to end!" I sob, wrapping myself in him.

He looks down at me; his face has the expression of a robot and he didn't move as I was hugging him.

That freaked me out.

"Enemies. Rivals. Nothing more. You fucking selfish bitch, when the hell did I ever like you? You are manipulative, disloyal, and will never be worthy of anyone's time. Why did I sacrifice so much for you? I should have stuck with Ellie. She's the better person, better looking person. Well, anyone's better looking than you. Why can't you get over yourself, especially during highschool. Were you so infatuated with me that you had to compete with me in everything I'd do? Get a grip and stop being a knock off of me. How un-original can you get? You honestly need to just kill yourself. I hate knowing my Rival is still alive. We can't be anything but be Rivals," He blankly says, not even looking at me but straight at the distance behind.

I begin in a low whisper, "Colby...but I love yo-"

"I HATE YOU!" He screeches abruptly, and flips me over the dock's fence, and into the cold depths of the water.

/////

I gasp, lifting my head off the pillow Colby and I were just sharing.

I sit straight up, wiping my brow. I was dripping sweat... how did Colby not notice as I was still in his arms?

"Ashlyn, are you okay?" Colby sleepily murmurs as his arms are still hooked to my waist.

I rub my eyes, "Yeah, just a bad dream."

"How bad?" He asks, rubbing my arm in comfort.

I give a weak smile,"It was fine, don't worry about it."

"You sure? I'm here for you," He says, with that adorable deep voice.

"Yes, I'm okay, Colbs."

He hums an 'okay'.

I shift away from him, "I'm going to just go back to my own bed."

"No, w-we need each other, don't we?" He mumbles, sweetly.

"Colby, this is still wrong. We're sleeping in a bed together. Just let me go back to my room," I argue.

He admits in defeat a low 'fine.' He removes his arm from my waist.

I gently lift my sheets off me and tiptoe back into my room. The wave of air felt cold as Colby's body heat was leaving mine. I fall onto my bed, and rest the covers above my head.

I just had a dream Colby and I were together, and then he almost killed me.

Another dream that ended with murder? Are you serious?

This better not foreshadow my real life.

That was terrifying, but eye-opening.

That couldn't have been more realistic.

I had to end it with Colby, or else my life is going to end up like that.

Not dead dead, but dead in spirit without an Ellie, Sam and Colby, in my life.

See, this is why I hate liking my rival.

Rivals make your dreams into your worst nightmares.

I hate liking my rival.

--------------------------------------------------------------

thanks for 18k+ reads!! Also, the pic featured above is not mine, but s/o to them for having lovely edits:)

This was pretty long, and I loved writing the cute part of the dream:). I can't wait until I can write cute parts to become realities hehehe.

Question of the chapter: What has been your favorite part of Rivals? Anything you liked in particular?

IM FUCKIN CURIOUS!! Comment belowwww or if you read up to here, comment, "butt hole:)" because why not. I made Ashlyn say it like twice this chapter lmaooo. and if u read up to here too, add colby's before butt hole hahahah.

COMMENT, *VOTE* & SHARE!!!

hugs, kt