My Brother's Best Friend

Riley

I had a quick introduction to Haily for the first time in person and her parents. I got out of there so that they could get things organized. I still had an hour to kill before Eric would be here. My phone vibrated with a text from Caleb, apologizing he couldn’t be there to help unpack but said he was coming to dinner and asked if it was ok if he brought a friend. I assumed Eric was bringing Kayla so why shouldn’t Caleb bring a girl. Maybe it would keep Kayla away from pushing me to her sorority.

I Replied to the text saying I was more than ok with it. He thumbed up my message. I was walking the hall of my dorm when I heard a familiar voice say. “You don’t have to go looking for me, that's why I gave you my number.”

I turned around to see Riley. “If I was looking for you wouldn’t I have to be on your floor?” He smiled “Ok if you're not looking for me what are you doing wandering around?” He said

“I am avoiding my roommate moving in, wanting to give her and her parents space to get things done and my brothers won’t be picking me up for another hour or so, so I thought I would walk around the dorm.” I said.

“Come on, you can wait it out in my room, my roommate is out with his parents for dinner”.

I followed him up to his dorm. There were two lofts, one side with a gaming system underneath that I assume would be his hermit roommates' side. The other side Had a lazy boy chair and a small TV and TV stand. “Take a seat” he said pointing to the lazy boy. Riley went and sat on his desk chair. I sat and folded my legs. I took my cross body purse off and placed it on the floor. I could hear my phone ding with messages and checked them on my apple watch. They were from my mom and dad asking how the move in went. I replied on the watch that I would call them when I got in the car with Eric.

“What’s your major?” Riley asked

“Accounting, What's yours?”

“Accounting as well,” he replied.

We compared schedules and had Econ, Accounting I and psychology together.

“Well now I know who my study buddy is going to be.” He winked at me.

He turned the tv on and opened a streaming icon and played The Office. “Do you mind? I like to have it on, it reminds me of home”

“It is one of my favorite shows, I had it on a loop all last year. Would start season one and notice when I was on the last episode and start it over again. There is something comforting about it.” I stopped myself before going into explaining that I like watching it over and over again because it reminds me of my brother. I like that I'm not surprised by the ending, I always know what is happening and I still can laugh at how funny the characters are. My therapist says it is a sign of depression, I say it is a way to help me cope with depression.

Riley must've noticed that I let my mind wander. He didn’t call me out for it but pretended to be watching the episode. I noticed the one playing. It was probably one of the most funniest scenes for that season. I quietly said “This is my brother’s favorite”.

“Eric likes the office huh?” Riley said

“He does, but that’s not the brother I am referring to.”

“Oh that is right you have like 5 siblings don’t you? Or something like that?”

“I did, the youngest brother passed away last year. Right before he was supposed to move in here.” I said

“Oh s**t, I’m sorry I knew that.” He said

“That’s ok, It isn't your fault. Sorry I am still working on my responses for when people say they are sorry when they learn the news. It’s all awkward for me. Today was awkward. All I can think about is him and how he was supposed to be here. I'm sorry I won’t unload. I am just so tired I hardly slept last night. I was a little worried about move-in day.” I stop myself from rambling further.

“You can unload, if you want to. I am very familiar with losing a family member, unexpectedly.” He said. I know it is very wrong to feel this way but when someone says they can relate it is almost like a sigh of relief. They get it, they get how messy recovery is, they get how it can be so indescribable and all you want to do is find the words to describe it. “I lost my dad two years ago, to a farming accident. All I can say is I’m doing a lot better than my mom is. Just know if you ever need a safe space, I’m here. Sorry if that sounds too forward, I know we just met.”

“Not at all, I get it. My mom will never recover” I say.

“Well, not to change the very light topic, what are you doing tomorrow night?” he asked. Move in day was thursday, classes don’t start until monday. The campus does this so the freshmen can get comfortable with their new surroundings.

“I don’t know, I haven't thought that far. I am sure my brothers are both having parties. Eric at the fraternity and Caleb at the football house. I am not sure I want to go to them though.”

“Well I think you should go to the frat house. I’ll be there and it would be nice to have a familiar face there to talk to.” he said. Riley is a very good looking boy and he is easy to talk to. The frat would be crawling with many girls, he would be just fine. In Fact he probably would be one that by the end of the night girls were flocking around.

“ I am sure you would have no problem making friends but I’ll think about it. I am going to get my books at the bookstore tomorrow and I want to check out where the gym is and get a workout maybe.”

“Well I am inviting myself to tag along.” He said

“Ok” I say smiling. “I'll text you when I get up.”

My phone then goes off letting me know Eric is here to pick me up.