My Brother's Best Friend

the first party

The fraternity was just shy of a 10 minute walk. It was dusk and the sun was setting as we got to the fraternity. It was crowded and people were kind of all over clumped together. Eric instantly spotted me and came over. “I'm keeping an eye on you girls. If any guys creep around please let me know and we will address it. This is a clean frat house but I can’t speak on the behalf of others that are here. Do not drink out of any unattended cups. The keg is outback.”

Bridget and Stacy were hanging on to every word he was saying and I let a giggle slip. Eric looked at me. “ you guys have already been drinking, haven't you?” He said with concern.

“Maybe a little” I said, pinching my pointer finger with my thumb.

“Ok well be careful, if you need anything please text me. Kayla is around here somewhere go find her and stick by her”

“Ok,” I said with no intention of doing so. We walked to the backyard. Stacy got us all a red solo cup and we went to the keg. We all had our cups filled. We stood in the backyard huddled around one another. Even with the warmth of confidence from the pregame I could tell we were all feeling the nerves of being at our first party. I knew Riley had to be around here somewhere. I was just about to get my phone out and text him when I felt large, familiar, arms wrap around my waist and lift me up. “MY LITTLE SISTER” I heard Caleb yell behind me. I could tell he was feeling no pain. He always gets so stupidly silly when he drinks and I love it. He started shaking me around. “Ok Ok put me down, we get it.” I say laughing.

He sets me down. Instantly girls swarm around Caleb and the boys behind him. I could tell it was the football team. I almost was knocked over by a few girls and I got a jam to the ribs by someone's elbow. I started to trip over myself when someone caught me. I looked up frazzled to Ben’s face.

“Thanks, I almost got trampled by one of those jersey chasers” I say annoyed. I am annoyed but used to it. Growing up with older brothers that were handsome and in sports, girls were always fighting to be around them. Some even pretend to be buddies with me to get close to them. I could always tell though.

Ben laughed. “No problem, you ok?” My right side was killing me, I looked over by it and there was a defined red spot that would be turning into a bruise. “Ya, I'm ok,” I said, rubbing my side.

“I'm getting some beer, do you need a refill?” He said, looking down at my glass.

“The night is young, I might as well”. He lifted an eyebrow to my answer.

“How many have you had? Your brother may kill me if the refill I get you sends you over the edge.”

“Oh I am fine, but I'm definitely going to slow down. Won’t be able to hold my own against these girls if I get too tipsy.” With that He left and got me a beer. Eric told me not to accept any drinks, but Ben is different. I am sure he wouldn’t drug his best friend’s little sister. Besides, he had girls throwing themselves at him, he wouldn’t be interested in me, probably just being nice.

Ben returned with the drinks. I looked beside me and Hailey and Caleb were talking again, I had no clue where Stacy and Bridget ended up. “So, I hope you don’t mind but I sort of checked your i********: out.” Ben said. Mind? Is he fishing for me to follow him back? I wondered.

“I don’t. I said. “I barely go on there or post anymore.”

“Ya I see the only recent things, you have been tagged in.”

“I have been unplugged for over a year, just haven’t had anything that seemed post worthy.”

“I think the wakeboarding you do is pretty cool. He says.

I look down, I haven’t done any water sports for a year. I definitely missed it. Just needed a break after the accident. It wasn’t that I was scared, I just needed my mom to calm down. I also needed to find a new boat buddy for it and I wasn’t ready to look for one. I think Ben could tell my mind went away. “Did Caleb tell you I will be tagging along for the fall and winter break?”

“No, why is that?”

“My parents will be overseas for the winter months and Caleb offered his house up for me.” He said. I am sure my mom will love it. She loves having all the kids home and entertaining guests. It might be a good distraction as well. I could feel two girls next to me that kept inching closer. I could tell they wanted Ben’s attention as their conversation grew louder the closer they got. “Are you busy tomorrow afternoon?” Ben asked

Before I could say anything a bunch of frat boys came over, pushing me out of the way and stealing Ben’s attention. I wondered why he was asking. I could see Caleb was brushed away with the same group. Hailey stood next to me.

“Your brother is super nice.” She said, “We are going to see a movie tomorrow night.”

Things between her boyfriend ended right before we went out. Hailey was upset but it wasn’t her decision and Caleb knows the situation. Hailey and I were taking sips of drinks and talking. She was asking more about growing up with my brothers and I was over sharing due to the alcohol. A group of sophomore guys came up to us. I could tell even in my state they wanted the attention of freshman girls and were trying anything and everything to get someone to go home with them. They were not very tall, and they were borderline looks. Their personalities were even worse. We entertained them for a little bit. They kept pushing drinks on us. Their pushy nature was a turn off for sure. One guy took his phone from my pocket, “Here is my number, you should text me sometime”.

“I’d like my phone back,” I said slightly annoyed.

“Listen here, you can’t dress like a slut and not expect to be treated like one.” His beer scented breath was a little too close for my liking.

“How about you give her her phone back and find a different group.” I heard a voice from behind me. It was Riley. Instantly I relaxed. The guy had to look up to make eye contact with him. He threw his phone at me. I picked it up and put it in my pocket.

“What jerks.” Said Hailey. “ they were practically wearing a whole bottle of cologne.

“They came here with big egos, I guess, happy to not be freshmen anymore. Little do they know they are still very low on the totem pole according to your brother Eric. They are bad news. Like the kind to drug your drinks.” Riley said. We then went on to talking. At this point I had started to not feel so good, I don't know if it was mixing seltzers and beer, all the carbonation or just the fact that I hadn’t drank that was getting to me. It was getting late anyhow.

“I am not feeling so well, I think I am going to head back.” I tell Hailey and Riley.

“I'll walk you back,” Said Riley. Hailey had planned on going back with Stacy and Bridget. We walked up to the front. Riley said he had to run and tell someone he was leaving. I could feel all the blood rush out of my face. I felt like I was going to faint or worse be sick. I didn’t want my first night to lead to a reputation. I started to head for the dorm. I was walking slowly so Riley could catch up.

Trying with all my might, I tried to walk straight. I closed one eye that seemed to help. It seemed that all the alcohol I had consumed hit me all at once. “Are you ok?” someone from behind me said. “No,” I said, fighting tears. It was Ben. “Riley is stuck talking to someone and I saw you stumble out here alone. I told your brother I’d walk you home and to let Riley know.” he said. He put his arm around my waist. “It's ok, I remember my first night, alcohol sneaks up on ya.”

When we got to our dorm I started feeling better. I chalked it up to being overwhelmed being around that many people and drinking definitely added to the equation.

“Your brother would kill me if I didn’t get you safely inside.” he said as we got to the dorm. I nodded and handed him the key fob to open the front door. When we got inside I started heading to the stairs. Oh no you don’t, we are going to take the elevator” He said laughing. We got in the elevator and waited for it to get to my floor. He walked me to the suite. I remember that he had asked me if I was busy tomorrow and I wondered if he would bring it up again. I got my key ready for my door.

“Are you feeling better?” Asked Ben when we got to the door. “A little,” I say. I kind of didn’t want him to leave.