My Brother's Best Friend

the second day

When my eyes opened the next morning, I did a mental body check. Beside my side hurting from crazy girls, I felt ok. I opened my phone. I had two texts.

Riley- Hey I’m up so let me know when to meet you for a run.

Unknown sender- Hey, this is Ben. I hope you are feeling ok this morning.

I added Ben to my contacts, I replied.

I feel ok, going on a run. I then texted Riley saying I was up and would be ready in 20. I crawled down the loft and went to the bathroom and got myself ready for the day. I met Riley downstairs. He looked good in his running gear.

“How far do you want to go today?” He asked

“I don’t know, you want to do 5 miles?”

“Sounds good I looked up routes this morning”

“Perfect because I have no idea where anything is.” I said

He laughed and we started to stretch. I selected my playlist, put my air pods in and my phone in the case around my arm. I needed this run, I needed to think. We were on the 4 mile stretch when we started for the football fields. The team was out practicing and I tried keeping my gaze in head. I didn’t want Ben to think I was stalking him. We ended outside the cafeteria.

“I am starving, want to head in?” Riley asked.

“Sounds good to me.”

We headed in, I got eggs, oatmeal, an apple and coffee. “What are you going to do the rest of the day?” Riley asked.

“I think I want to print my syllabuses for my classes and get things organized so I am ready for the first day. I have no idea why I am so nervous for class Monday, but I am.”

Riley said he had some stuff to do at the fraternity but would see what I am doing when he gets back. I kind of wanted a low key night, there were parties going on but I was going to play things by ear and see what Hailey was doing. I knew she was going out with my brother but they would be back early.

We walked back to the dorm and went our separate ways for the time being. Riley didn’t bring up anything about the forehead kiss and I was kinda relieved. I think I just wanted to be friends with him for the time being. I needed to focus on school, at least for the first semester until I felt more confident in my classes.

When I got back all the girls were in our dorm room, they looked like they were having a morning brief over the events that took place. When they saw me they instantly were silent.

“So you went home with the quarterback didn’t you?” Said Stacy.

“Yes but nothing happened, he’s my brother’s best friend, I am sure he was just doing Caleb a favor so he could spend more time with Hailey.” I winked at her. Felt like I was punting the questions and attention to her. I grabbed my towel and headed to the shower. After I showered and got dressed I texted Caleb.

Me:“Hey, do you have a printer? I don’t feel like paying for pages at the library.”

Caleb: “Yes, Why don’t you walk over with Hailey. I am taking her to lunch. You can hang out in my room and use whatever you need. My roommates won’t mind”

I waited for Hailey to get ready and packed my backpack. I put my laptop, charger, airpods, two school books and my k****e. If Caleb was going to offer his nice house for me to hang out in I was going to take advantage. I know his roommates probably wouldn’t be home anyhow.

When Hailey was ready we walked downstairs. Caleb’s house was about 8 mins away. We stopped and got coffee at one of the coffee carts. Hailey was asking me about Caleb’s previous girlfriends. He never really had girlfriends, never really shown interest in them, was always way too focused on football. I think now that he is starting and has somewhat of an established football career, he is starting to let go of this rule of his.

When we got to Calebs, He brought me to his room. I had planned to just camp out there until they were back and we were maybe going to see what parties were going on. Like I had previously thought, the house was empty. I layed on his bed, got my laptop out and got to work. I read and printed all the syllabus. Two of the classes I had, had power points available for the first week of lectures. I had read through them. My eyes were starting to get tired when I was finishing up so I laid my head down.

I don’t know how long I was out, but when I woke I could hear TV on. When I opened my eyes I could see mens socks. I was startled awake.

“I am so sorry, sleepy head, I didn't mean to scare you! Your brother texted me to get you and we are going to meet him and Hailey out at the party they ended up” Said Ben. “But when I got in here you were asleep so I figured I’d let you catch up on that and we would meet them later.”

I sat up, wiping the deep sleep from my cheek. “Where is the party?” I asked.

“It's off campus, I volunteered as the DD so I’ll drive us and then drive everyone home” said Ben. I sat up and stretched and then pulled my legs into myself. “It's brisk out, do you need to borrow a sweatshirt?” I had on my normal gear, Leggings and a tank.

My mind was blank due to being in a deep sleep moments ago. I looked at Ben “Am I even dressed ok to go to a party?”

He laughed “Yes it's a bonfire so it’s nothing fancy.”

I sighed, I need to get my head on right before going out in public. “I’ll steal something from Caleb’s closet, it's what big brothers are for.”

“I have to ask, were you doing school work already?”

“Yes, I kind of like being ahead, makes me feel like I have some sort of control over my academics”

“Ah, so you're an overachiever”

“I try to be,” I said. I got up and stretched some more, my muscles feeling a good kind of sore after laying down. I could feel Ben watching me. It made me feel warm and nervous at the same time. Part of me wanted to go right over to him but I don’t know how that would make him feel.

I peeked into Caleb’s closet and grabbed an old university sweatshirt. I heard my stomach growl.

“Are you hungry?” Ben asked

“Maybe a little.” I said packing up my backpack.

“Ok how about we stop on the way and get something to eat.”

“You’re going to make me like you if you keep feeding me” I said.

He smiled and we headed out.