When her parents rights were terminated Colbi was almost thirteen. By then it seems that she would been expecting this but it still crushed her when it became permanent. She didn't have any family to be passed on to so she was pushed into another foster home but when she came into the home of the Ruth's she felt like things were different. Her new parents were genuinely kind and she had a little brother who didn't hesitate to get to know her. Noah showed her that it was okay to be upset and became her first real friend. As they grew up together Colbi became protective of her much quieter and nerdy brother, whenever someone tried to bully him she get in their way and made them regret it and though their bond was strong Colbi still found herself engaging in risky behavior as she got older.

Once in high school she fell into a crowd of trouble makers, becoming bestfriends with a girl named Stell who showed her the taste of alcohol and cigarettes along with showing her the relief that certain drugs showed them. Colbi had fun but as she and Stell got closer she started to notice the way her brother stared at her friend and it made her uneasy. She confronted Noah, who admitted that he was in love with Stell and she warned him that her friend would only cause trouble. She knew that Stell existed to party and have fun with various people, she knew that she would never be the one to be serious and Colbi didn't want to see Noah hurt though ultimately he didn't listen. She watched as her friend and brother got entangled in a relationship, forced to stand aside while they claimed they were happy and eventually they all grew apart with Noah following Stell to California, leaving Colbi behind. The feeling of being alone was still familiar and Colbi was left unsure of what to do. She went on to college but wasn't sure what else she should do so she went about her days like a zombie until Noah called her with the news.

Colbi gave up her life in Oregon, which wasn't much, and rushed to California to help her brother raise his daughter Magnolia. She and Noah lived together and she felt like she found a purpose as she supported Noah. The two worked well together but once again, as everything had settled, Stell came back though this time was much more convincing of her sobriety, even wooing Colbi over. Colbi continued to help them while going to school herself, deciding that she was going to be a teacher like her brother, but for elementary school students, and she hoped everything would go well, even when Stell fell pregnant again. She hoped this second chance would be Stell's moment to show them that she was dedicated but like before she left after Violette was born and this time she and Noah divorced. Colbi found herself comforting her brother again and helping him raise his girls and when they heard of Stell's death she continued to help him and be his support and now, even with the girls grown bigger and Noah more sure in his finances and Colbi having moved out, she continues to help raise her nieces and be there for her brother. She's determined to let these little girls know that even though they don't have their mother they have people who love them more than the world itself.