Chapter Ten
1369 Words
"Oh no," Catherine disagreed, shaking her head.
"That color scheme would never work."
I flipped through the book of color schemes again. The book was sitting in my lap as I sat crisscross on the floor.
"What if you went black and white?" I suggested, looking over at her.
"It's very classy."
"Let me see?" she asked.
I passed her the book, letting her view her black and white options.
"I don't know," she mused.
"What do you think Collin?"
"Huh?" he asked, his eyes never tearing away from his current GTA 5 mission.
"What about this color scheme for the wedding?"
"Looks like the last six."
"You're useless," she muttered.
Collin let out a groan, pausing his game to look over at the picture Catherine was holding up.
"Look's beautiful, I'm sure the wedding will be great."
He restarted his game again.
Catherine rolled her eyes, studying the pictures again.
"I do quite like the black and white theme dear," Melissa said, after looking at the pictures for a few minutes.
"I think I might too," Catherine said, making note of it.
"But I also liked that pastel theme."
I stood up, heading to the kitchen to grab a glass of water and stretch out. It had been a long day of wedding planning, and I'd been sitting in that same position far too long.
Collin came into the kitchen as well, leafing through the pantry.
"Looking for some nuts there?" I teased.
"Funny," he deadpanned, making a face at me.
The steroids they had him on for pre-surgery had puffed out his cheeks, making him resemble a chipmunk.
He grabbed a package of Pop-Tarts before heading over to the side door and letting Scooby in. Scooby immediately headed for the living room, and I exchanged glances with Collin.
Catherine was sitting in Scooby's usual spot.
"Collin!" Catherine called.
"Did you let the dog in?"
"The dog has a name!" Collin called back.
"And he's not an outside dog, so yeah."
Scooby came trotting into the kitchen and let out a bark.
"Sorry," Collin apologized, tossing him a treat.
Collin handed me one of the Pop-Tarts in the package before he hopped up on the counter, munching on the other one. I fed part of my Pop-Tart to Scooby before eating the rest myself.
"You spoil him," Collin accused, before feeding part of his Pop-Tart to Scooby.
"Hypocrite."
"He looked at me with big eyes," Collin defended.
"He probably felt offended that you would share yours, but I wouldn't share mine."
"Or he just knows how to play you." Collin's jaw dropped, clearly offended.
"Scooby would never play me like that."
I couldn't help but laugh, reaching down to scratch Scooby behind the ears.
"Right buddy?" Collin asked Scooby for reassurance.
Scooby just wagged his tail.
"See?"
"Hey Aubrey!" Catherine called from the living room.
"Can I get your opinion on this flower arrangement?"
"The flowers are calling for you," Collin whispered.
"How could I resist?"
"I'll just be glad when this wedding mess is over," Collin said, hopping down off the counter.
"You're so unhelpful."
He just shrugged, reaching down to give Scooby a good rub.
"Come on buddy, let's go watch some Hairspray."
"It's so puffy," Dennis said, reaching over to poke Collin's cheek.
"Don't touch me," Collin said, slapping Dennis's hand away.
"You look like a little chipmunk."
"Shut up."
"Geez Collin, lay off the sweets," Kimberly teased, taking a seat next to me.
"Aren't we all the funny guys today?" Collin muttered.
The bell rang, and the rest of the table packed up and left.
"I was joking," Dennis informed him.
"You look more like a marshmallow than a chipmunk."
Collin chuckled, rolling his eyes.
"Feeling ready?" Dennis asked him.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Aren't we a bit bitter today?" Dennis teased, as we reached the hallway.
He slapped Collin on the back.
"Cheer up."
"Thanks."
"If it makes you feel any better, I'd probably eat you last if you were a marshmallow."
And with that he headed to class.
"I hate him," Collin informed me.
"It's the steroids talking," I informed him, kissing his puffy cheek.
"Chin up dear, it's Friday."
"We're headed to the dog park," Collin informed his sister and mom.
"Okay," they chimed in unison.
Scooby and Collin raced out to my car, Scooby careening into my car and Collin a few steps behind. I unlocked the car, and Collin opened the backseat door for Scooby before taking the passenger seat. Collin immediately began to fiddle with the radio station as I backed out of the driveway, Scooby poking his head up through the center console. The seven minute drive seemed like the longest drive of my life.
"Get out," I ordered, as I put the car in park.
Collin let Scooby out and the two took off running towards the dog park. Those two, I swear. I headed out there myself, Collin already halfway up a tree. Scooby ran through a tunnel, and then looked up to Collin for approval.
"Good boy!" Collin called down.
Scooby let out a happy bark before trotting over to find something else to play with. I took a seat in the grass, a couple of Scooby's toys with me. I tossed Scooby one of his rope toys, which he happily went chasing after. After a few minutes Collin joined me, sitting crisscross next to me. Scooby came galloping back with his rope toy and dropped it at Collin's feet, wagging his tail expectantly.
Collin hurled it, and Scooby took off running.
"He adores you," I informed Collin.
"Well, he should," Collin huffed.
"I'm his link to survival."
I rolled my eyes. Scooby came sprinting back, careening into me as he went to drop his toy at Collin's feet.
"Good boy," Collin said, laughing as he picked up the slobber-covered toy.
I patted Scooby before giving him a good shove off of me. Collin hurled the toy a little further this time.
"I got him when he was a puppy when I was 9," Collin said, watching as Scooby chased after the rope.
"So, he's 8?" Collin nodded.
"He'll be 9 this year."
That was old for a dog.
“Still full of energy though," Collin said, bracing his arms behind him and leaning back.
"Like a puppy."
Scooby came running back, dropping his toy before dropping to the floor.
"I was just bragging about you," Collin complained, scratching behind Scooby's ears.
Scooby reached out and licked Collin's leg.
Collin chuckled, giving him a good scratch behind the ears.
"Double burger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake for me," Collin ordered, his arm loosely tucked around my waist.
"Vanilla milkshake and fries," I ordered.
Collin paid for us and then we stepped off to the side, waiting for our food.
"My last Friday night," Collin said to me.
"For a few weeks," I amended.
"I wonder how much brain surgery affects your life."
"I wouldn't suppose too much," I said, wrapping my arms around his waist.
"It probably hurts a little."
"You think?"
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Maybe just a little. And then you have to a little bit of recovery. But they're just removing a brain alien."
He nodded.
"They aren't removing a part of you," I reminded him, rising up on my toes to kiss his cheek.
"You'll still be Collin Langford when you come out of that surgery room and into the ICU."
"But what if it made me act a certain way or what if I was good at baseball because of it?"
"What if it gave you superpowers?"
He rolled his eyes.
"There's no use in the what if game," I reminded him.
"Whatever comes our way, we'll deal with it. And so be it if you're a jackass when you come out that of that surgery room. I'll just have to whip you back into shape."
He laughed, shaking his head at me.
"And so be it if you suck at baseball. Maybe you'll kill at water polo."
He hummed in agreement, a smile stretching across his face.
"Whatever happens, we'll deal with it together," I reminded him.
"So let's get this alien out of your head."
- Writer
