My Brother's Best Friend

the first lunch

Caleb noticed we were walking toward the cafeteria and he and Ben waited for us to catch up. “Did you work out?” Caleb asked.

“Ya wanted to try the gym out.” I replied

“She basically killed me,” Said Riley.

“This is Riley by the way and my roommate Hailey, This is my brother Caleb and his friend Ben.” I quickly introduced them.

“Ahhh you’re one of Eric’s pledges” says Caleb.

“Guilty”

We headed into the cafeteria and got inline behind the rest of the football team that got there in front of us. “We have to eat at least 3 times a day here. Coach checks to be sure we get all our meals in'' Caleb says.

Once our cards were scanned, I headed to the salad station with Hailey. I was not going to gain the freshman 15, I was not one of those girls that had a super metabolism. I always had to work hard to keep a trim and toned figure. In the past I struggled with eating disorders but keeping a consistent workout schedule had really helped. My issue was always with not having control and not to sound too cliche, food was one way to add control to my life, that is until I had detailed workout and lifting schedules. In a way it healed me. Every now and then I could feel the anorexic tendency bubble up, but you have to eat to workout.

We sat at the table, I was right beside Riley and Hailey. Caleb came over to our table. It wasn’t too much of a surprise, he had voiced how much he missed me and told me to prepare for him to make up for lost times when he could. I was, however, surprised to see Ben pull up a chair next to him. I was nervous but thankfully Hailey was taking over the talking for me. Caleb was asking her all kinds of questions. I could tell he liked her. Unfortunately for him, she had a boyfriend back home. He probably thought it wouldn’t last the distance and was laying “groundwork” for him to swoop in when they broke up.

Caleb scooted closer to Hailey, I could tell she liked the attention. It made me smile. It was good to see Caleb going back to his old self.

“So you guys feel comfortable with the campus yet?” Ben asked.

“Oh I have such a good sense of direction, I feel like I know this place like the back of my hand” Said RIley.

“Oh for sure I will be getting phone calls from Lucy, she has never had the strongest sense of direction” laughed Caleb.

I was not offended, he was actually right. Direction was not my strong suite and being teased by my older brothers was a norm that I was actually amused with. If they weren’t teasing me then that meant they were mad at me.

“Oh ya no direction at all”, I laughed. “But I think I will be calling Eric”.

Caleb went on to tell a story about when we were younger, following dad to work. It was Eric, Caleb, Matthew and I. Matthew and I were distracted by something on the beach and dad lost us. Eric was the one who knew exactly where we were.

“I would like to point out that I was not lost, I knew exactly where we were.” I could see Ben smirk out of the corner of my eye.

“Are you guys all coming to Eric's Fraternity party tonight?” Asked Caleb.

“Well I will be there because I am a pledge and I'm stuck doing pledge things” Riley answered.

“Ya me and Lucy are planning to go together” Said Hailey. I am so happy I have her because I would not be going alone.

“Well we and some of the football players are going as well. Do you want us to stop and get you guys?” Asked Caleb.

“No, I think we will be ok on our own. Trying to make my own path here” I said to Caleb.

Caleb rolled his eyes but I could tell he understood. I wondered to myself if Ben was going. There was something about him that made me want to be around him, but I was too nervous to talk to him. I didn’t know if he thought of me as his friend's annoying little sister. I am sure he had multiple girls he was talking to being that he was the quarterback of a huge school.

We finished our lunches. Caleb said he would see me at the party and we split off, Caleb and Ben heading to their house and Riley, Hailey and I heading back to the dorm.

“Well I have to go get ready and head to the frat house to see what my duties are for the party tonight” Said Riley.