My Brothers Best Friend

NOAHS POV As I sat comfortably in the back seat of my dads Chevy pickup I stared out the window with multiple emotions creeping into my system. I glanced up front for a moment to see my parents in their usual banter, their hands locked together over the middle console. They had no idea I was so nervous. “Just another half hour, kiddo” my dad said smiling into the rear view mirror. I smiled lightly trying to hide my nerves. It was move in day for freshman at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. I’d never lived away from the comfort of my parents home. The only thing that was keeping my emotions in check was the fact that my older brother would be there too. Hayes was a super senior this year, having decided to change his major halfway through the second semester of his freshman year. He doesn’t seem to mind though. He calls it his victory lap. I’m incredibly lucky to have a close relationship with my siblings. Hayes is the oldest at 22 years old. He’s tall, reaching just over 6ft. His dark brown hair and green blue eyes are a direct inheritance of my father. Hayes plays rugby and has always been in excellent shape. I guess that’s why his degree is in exercise science. My younger sister Logan is 16 and completely different from me in every way possible, well personality wise that is. She’s my height standing around 5’5 and our builds are pretty similar. We’re both slim and fit with hour glass figures. We could credit our larger breasts to our mom who said she developed hers at the young age of 13. I’m not I believe her but i usually just shake my head when she openly talks about anatomy. Anyways, Logan has dirty blonde hair like our mom and the blue green eyes like our dad. She’s quite a combination of them. Her beauty isn’t just outward. She radiates confidence and kindness and could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. Her downfall would be her choice in boys, always seeming to flock to the ones with the biggest egos and least respect. Then there’s the baby…well she’s not a baby anymore. Riley is 12 and could be a carbon copy of Logan, but on a smaller scale and with thick black framed glasses. Riley tends to mirror my personality. She’s kind and mostly quiet. Which leaves me, Noah Rae Jaxen. I feel that out of the four of us, I’m the most average. I share my dads dark brown hair and seem to be the only one who was blessed with our moms light blue eyes. I’m not saying that I’m not attractive but I’m pretty self conscious. I never used to be this way. During my 4 years of high school I was similar to Logan, I wasnt involved in cheer like she is. I was more of a runner. However, I was confident and proud of who I was but Chris Holmes changed that for me. We had dated from sophomore year up until homecoming of senior year. I thought he was my first love. I gave him everything from my virginity to something even worse…the benefit of the doubt. He’d been cheating on me for over a year and my dumb, naive self refused to listen to anyone who tried to warn me. He ended up dumping me at the homecoming dance when I caught him making out with another girl. The jerk had the audacity to call me paranoid and broke up with me on the spot saying that he couldn’t be with someone who was watching his “every move”. My heart was shattered and I became a little of a recluse for the rest of senior year. Chris tried to contact me multiple times after that but the calls eventually stopped when I found out that Hayes threatened to bring a couple of his buddies up from school and kick his a**. I still chuckle when I think of what Chris’s dumb face might have looked like when Hayes spoke with him after my high school graduation ceremony. “We’re heeeere” my mother said smiling back at me. I snapped out of my trance and looked around. The truck came to a stop in front of an apartment building just outside of campus. I had gone back and forth between wanting to live in the dorms on campus or in an apartment. Luckily, one of Hayes best friends Gabriella was in search of a roommate and I jumped at the chance. Grabriella, or Brie as her friends call her was an amazing soul. She always made me feel welcomed when I’d come to visit. We’d go shopping or out to eat so I didn’t have to constantly be surrounded by my brother and his rugby friends. She was also a super senior, having met my brother in the dorms during their freshman year. I’d always wondered why they’d never dated. They seemed perfect for each other. I climbed out of the backseat and stretched my long legs. It wasn’t long before my brother came barreling out of the apartment with a huge smile on his face. He instantly wrapped his arms around me giving me a tight bear hug that lifted me off the ground. “Baby sis! Welcome to UNCC” He said finally putting me down. “Happy to finally be hear” I said sticking my thumbs into my pockets trying to keep calm. “Gab! Noah’s here” Hayes shouted as he hugged my mom and went to help my dad start unloading my things. Brie walked outside in a beautiful yellow sundress that looked amazing against her tanned skin. Brie was Italian and absolutely gorgeous. She had wavy black hair that came down to the middle of her back and the lightest brown eyes I’d ever seen on someone. She hugged my mom before making her way over to me. “Hey roomie!” She said hugging me tight. “I cannot wait to finally have someone living with me. It’s been so lonely” she said dramatically throwing her head back. I laughed “I’m excited to be here and to be living with you instead of some rando in the dorms.” We both chuckled and began grabbing things out of the truck. After what seemed like hours of unloading and set up, we were all treated to dinner before being dropped back off at the apartment. My mom sobbed into my tshirt, her mascara leaving spots. I knew she’d be emotional but at least they would only be two hours away. Had I gone to my first choice school it would’ve been a six hour trip. Regardless, I hugged her tight. “Mom, I’m going to be okay. I promise.” I say as she pulls away. “I know sweetheart but you know I worry about you. After everything you’ve gone through the past few years with Chris and” I cut her off before she could finish. “I know mom but I’ll be fine” I start to say before Hayes steps in and wraps his arms around us both. “Plus, she has me here. I promise I’ll look after her. So will Gab and I will even make sure some of the rugby guys keep an eye on her too” I look at him and wrinkle my nose, clearly disgusted at the idea of being watched. My dad pulls my mom away and into his embrace before they get into the truck. “I love you, babies” my mom shouts from the truck window. “We love you too” Hayes and I say in unison. I stand there with my arms crossed as I watch the truck get smaller and smaller until it’s out of view. Brie pulls me into the apartment and my shoulders drop as I look around at everything that still needs to be unpacked. “I’ve gotta get back to the house to set up for the bonfire tonight but I’ll see you guys there?” Hayes says grabbing his truck keys. “I’ll be there” Brie says. I shake my head. “You’re not coming??” Hayes asks playfully hitting me in the arm. “No, I’ve got so much unpacking to do still” Brie grabs my arm “I’ll help you with all of that tomorrow. Come on, it’ll be fun.” My gaze goes back and forth between her and Hayes before I shake my head again. “I can’t, I need to get my bed set up and I’m pretty tired” I tell him moving toward a stack of boxes. Hayes face falls but Brie turns to him. “I’ll keep working on her” she says flashing him a wink. He smiles and says goodbye before disappearing out the door. I start to unpack my bathroom items when Brie joins me. She pulls her self up sitting on the countertop. “How are you feeling?” She asks. Brie was amazing at being able to read people, maybe that’s why she was majoring in psychology. “I’m..” I start to say but Brie instantly raises an eyebrow knowing what was coming next was a lie. “I don’t know, I’m nervous but at the same time I’m excited” I laugh. “It’s going to be a good year, Noah. It’s a fresh start. An opportunity to recreate yourself if you want to.. but you have to be willing to let go of the past” she says trying to meet my eye-line. “I know..it’s just all so new” I say finally turning toward her. “Yeah I get it” she hops off the counter. “Buuuut, do you know what would help get over those nerves?” Her lips turning upward into a over dramatic smile. I c**k my head to the side and raise my eyebrows “..if you come to the bonfire” she smiles and tugs on my arm almost pleading. Her face turns into this pathetic puppy dog look and I start laughing. “Fine! I’ll go for a little bit” I say. She jumps up and down with excitement. It’s a short five minute drive to the rugby house which is nice because in nicer weather I will be able to walk if I need to. There is loud music already playing as we try to find a parking spot on the street that’s already lined bumper to bumper with vehicles. Brie whips her jeep into the driveway across the road. I give her an unsure look. “Isn’t this someone’s house?” Brie waves me off, “Miss Mathis won’t mind, she loves your brother and the rugby guys. She’s in her late 70’s and lives by herself. The guys always help her with lawn care and other junk around the house” she says as we get out. As we walk up to the house I didn’t realize many people would be here. We walk through the front door and there are people everywhere. I’d been to my brothers parties before so I wasn’t too surprised at what I saw. Brie waves to a couple of girls on the stairs. I follow, feeling a bit like a lost puppy. “Hey girlies! This is Noah, she’s Hayes little sister” Brie says motioning to me. Both girls wave to me but don’t say anything. “This is Erica and Hailey” Brie says pointing to each one. They give me a small smile before turning their attention back to Brie. I decide to wander through the house. I’ve been here countless times over the last two and a half years so I’m pretty familiar with the layout but I’m always so fascinated to see how trashed it can get in just one night. I walk into the kitchen to see my brother making out with a blonde chick. My eyes widen and I turn away. Hayes glances up and sees me. He pulls away from the girl, who now seems really irritated with him. “Hayes!” She whines as she glares at me. “I’m so glad you came!” Hayes yells lifting me into another bear hug. I chuckle “yeah, Brie convinced me to let loose” he nods, taking another sip of his drink “right on! Where is Gab?” He asks looking around. Before I have a chance to answer the blonde chick wraps her arms around Hayes waist and clears her throat. “Excuse me, but I believe we were in the middle of something. There are plenty of men here. Why don’t you try to find someone in your own league?” Her words bite at me. Hayes and I look at each other and bust out laughing. A look of confusion crosses her face. “She’s my sister” Hayes says to her. Her face goes red instantly, she storms away embarrassed. I pin my lips between my teeth. “You better go sort that out” I say pointing over my shoulder. He shakes his head. My brother had no interest in settling down right now. I won’t pretend to know anything about his s*x life because .. gross! But I know he’s openly said he’s not doing the relationship thing right now. “She’ll be alright” he says nonchalantly. “Drinks are on the island, bon fire is out back” he says before disappearing into the crowd of people. I take a water and walk outside. The sky is clear and the fire illuminates a handful of faces standing in the back yard. I walk closer and take in the warmth and smell. Bonfires remind me of home. My parents own 10 acres of land and summer nights are often spent outside with friends and family around a warm fire. There is nothing better or more relaxing. I take a deep breath as my gaze lifts and suddenly it’s as if all the oxygen leaves me body. Brent f*****g Davis. A perfect male in every single way. I cannot even begin to explain what happens to my body when he’s near. He stirs up so many feelings inside of me, only 10% of those being emotional feelings. Brent is Hayes best friend, they met when Brent was a freshman and Hayes was a sophomore. I’d gotten to know Brent pretty well over the last few years. He’d come home with Hayes some weekends and even some holidays. His parents are originally from North Carolina but moved down to Florida after Brent moved away for school. Whenever our family would come to visit Hayes, Brent would always tag along with us. My mom always says that she considers him another son but I refuse to think of him as a brother. How could I? When all I do is sweat bullets when I’m around him. Talk about someone being out of my league. Brent is 6’2 and completely ripped. His shaggy light brown hair does nothing if not compliment his baby blue eyes and do not get me started on that mans smile. I go weak at the knees anytime his lips curl into anything near a smile. Even if it’s not at me I can’t help but smile like and i***t. He keeps a pretty nice amount of stubble on his face. Not a beard, yet not clean shaven. If his entire body wasn’t enough to send someone over the edge, Brent is like incredibly genuine and kind to everyone. I’ve seen him flirt his way through a couple of girls and every now and again I’ve seen his social media status go from single to in a relationship but nothing has ever stuck. Not that I’m holding out that he’ll ever see me as more than a little kid, or worse..a little sister. His gaze meets mine from across the fire, the corners of his mouth turn upward into a knee weakening smile. He takes a sip of his beer before turning back to the girl he’s chatting up and suddenly I’m snapped back to reality. I look down and kick some rocks under my feet. My mind starts to slowly move through a few invasive thoughts until I feel a deep voice rumble next to me. “Noah, glad you’re finally here” Brent says giving me a side hug. I smile at him like a 5 year old “thanks, I’m ready excited to get the year started” He laughs, his adams apple bobs in his throat and something stirs in my core. “classes don’t start until Wednesday. Let’s enjoy the last of summer, huh?” His tone is playful. “I sound like a total freshman don’t I?” I say rubbing my hand down my face. “Not. At. All” he says with a serious face as he nods his head. I chuckle and give him a playful shove. “No, I’m kidding. It will be a good year” he says. Before I can say anything else a blonde girl swoops into his arm. I recognize her from earlier as Erica. “Here you are, Brent. I’ve been looking for you everywhere” Erica says eyeing me up and down. My heart aches as a pang of jealousy hits me deep down. Brent is not mine and never will be but I still care about who he ends up with. He deserves someone just as amazing as he is. “I’ve been out here all night. Hey, uhm this is..” Brent starts. “Hayes little sister. We’ve been introduced” she says plastering a fake smile on her face. “Hi again” I say waving. The awkward silence is enough to make me want to crawl under a rock right now. “I want a drink, brent” Erica says with her arms around Brent’s waist. His arm is wrapped loosely around her shoulder. “Sure, let’s go. Do you want anything, Noah?” Brent asks looking at me. I shake my head “no, thanks. It was good seeing you”. Brent nods his head “yeah, I’ll see you around” he says before being pulled inside. I stay outside a little longer and decide to go find my brother or Brie. I walk in through the back door and see Brent and Erica playing a game of beer pong against Hayes and the girl from earlier. I guess they made up. I walk into the living room and see brie on the couch laughing with a handful of people, beer in hand. She see me and waves me over. I join her little group where she happily introduces me to everyone as of course, Hayes little sister. The conversation mainly revolves around summer and what everyone did. I feel incredibly left out, especially since I worked all summer and did nothing remotely exciting. I glance at my phone and notice that it’s 10:30pm. I rake my top teeth against my bottom lip, something I do when I’m deep in thought. Brie approaches me “hey, you okay?”. I smile “yeah I just think I might head home”. Brie nods “okay, here take my jeep. I’ve been drinking so I’ll probably just crash here tonight” she says offering her keys. “No no that’s okay. I can walk. It’s not far”. I say pushing her keys away. “Noah, I don’t want you walking home this late by yourself. Drive my jeep” she insists. I shake my head “I’m really fine Brie. I promise”. She nods slowly “please be careful and let me know when you’ve made it” I smile “I will. Will you let Hayes know that I left. He seems busy” I say pointing over my shoulder where my brother is currently doing a keg stand. She nods and I head toward the door.