The Perfect Touchdown

“Rylee is that the last of the boxes?” my mother called up the stairs.

I jumped on my suitcase one more time in an attempt to close it.

“I just have one more suitcase, Mom,” I said and continued to struggle.

“Oh, honey,” my mother laughed. “Have I taught you nothing over holidays? You have to do it like this.” She sat down on the suitcase and pushed everything inside before she zipped it shut with ease.

“I don’t think I weigh enough; I wasn’t blessed with the family height sadly.”

“That hasn’t stopped you from getting into San Marco for JV Cheerleading. I thought you would be over the moon right now, and you’ll finally get to join your brother and Aiden.”

My heart stopped at the mention of my childhood crush, the boy I could very well call another brother from a different mother. Our family has known the Reed family since before my brother and I were even a thought. My mother and Aiden's mother were best friends in high school and were on the same cheer team at University. They both got pregnant at the same time and chose to raise their kids together; Avery Parks and Aiden Reed were born to be best friends.

Which always left me to be the third wheel. I was only a year younger than both of them which meant we were always thrown together during family vacations and get-togethers. Over time I had quickly become one of ‘the boys’, an inseparable trio had been formed.

But there was no denying that over time I developed a major crush on Aiden and his rugged good looks and sweet personality. He was just the right amount of goofy and caring but knew how to be strong and stand up for those he cared about, he was perfect boyfriend material.

But he has never looked at me as more than a little sister, no matter how much I tried to get his attention, I was always shot down and reminded of how close our friendship was.

“I am excited, but I’m also a little nervous. I’m not going to know anyone there and I doubt I’ll be able to hang around Avery and Aiden while I’m there. They have their own frat house and I’ll be in the dorm rooms.”

“I’m sure you guys will have plenty of time to hang out. Now come on, your Dad is waiting in the car downstairs.” She grabbed the last suitcase, and we headed downstairs.

It was a pretty short drive to the school, but my parents wanted to get me in there earlier and make a quick stop to see my brother, who hopefully remembered they were coming today and made his shared house somewhat manageable for their visit.

My heart continued to pump nervously as I thought about seeing Aiden again. It has only been a few months since he and Avery had last come home for the weekend to visit, but every day that I was unable to see or talk to him has been brutal. Our time spent together in University was going to be different than when we were all in high school together.

Despite taking after my mother with her gorgeous, good looks and athletically built body, I looked nothing like the many girls Aiden showed interest in during our high school years, he never looked twice at me.

But over the summer my body finally decided to fill out and catch up with my age, instead of being a 19-year-old in a little boy’s body. This was going to be my year to stand out and what a coincidence that this was the year I finally reconnected with Aiden in a place where frat parties are plenty and anything could happen.

My parents helped me bring my bags and boxes into the dorm rooms and set up my side of the room before we had our tearful departure. Then, I was finally left on my own.

It wasn’t until later in the morning when my roommate finally arrived, a sweet girl named Isabelle who was studying music and had a huge celebrity crush on Henry Cavill, judging by the many, many posters she hung of him.

I was halfway through unpacking my suitcase when the door flew open, and I was tackled by two large bodies. “Ryles!”

“Ugh, can’t breathe. Get off!” I struggled to push them off me.

My older brother Avery helped me off the floor and pulled me in for a bear hug.

“Do you need any help unpacking?” Aiden asked.

I could feel the sweat perspire on my hands as soon as my eyes landed on his, the familiarity of their blue warmth washed over me and almost caved in his arms.

“I don’t have a lot of stuff, and classes don’t start for another day,” I said.

“Then, let’s go grab something to eat. I can show you all the good places to go around here,” Avery offered. “You also have to come to check out the frat house and see the guys, they’ve been dying to meet you.”

“Sounds good, let me just change really quick.” I pushed them out the door and rummaged through my suitcase to find a clean pair of jeans and a shirt to trade out my joggers and sweatshirt.

We walked around campus sipping on Starbucks as Avery and Aiden took me to all the local and hot spots that students frequented, including the campus bar that was pretty loose on checking I.Ds. After that, we were headed to the infamous Alpha Sigma Phi Frat House that Avery has taken so much pride in as the house's President, Aiden of course being the Vice President or whatever the titles were.

When we walked into the house, I was greeted right away with loud hollering and shouting coming from the living room.

“Hey guys, come meet my little sister!” Avery called out.

I heard what sounded like controllers dropping to the ground before two towering guys rushed around the corner, both of them built like damn trucks.

“This is Carter Romero, our Treasurer, and the official Hazing King.” Avery pointed to the one with short-cut dark hair and tanned skin.

“Pleasure to finally meet the littlest Parker's sibling.” He stuck out his hand for me to shake.

“That’s Noah Knight, our House and Scholarship Manager.” He pointed to the other guy next to Noah with shaggy blonde hair and bright green eyes who gave me a small wave.

“I’m Ryan Hayes, and I’m the house Secretary and Academics Chair. We’ve heard a lot about Avery’s famous little sister, and word is you can drink him under the table.” A preppy kid with curly brown hair and glasses that slightly hid his brown eyes.

“Thanks for the warm welcome, I’ve heard a lot about the house as well and I look forward to these infamous parties I hear you guys like to have,” I said with an excited grin.

“Well then you gotta come tonight!” Carter said. “It’s our first party of the semester, so it always goes out with a bang.”

“She just got here, give her the night to settle in,” Avery frowned.

“I’m up for it if you guys don’t mind me bringing a plus one.”

“What plus one?” Aiden asked.

“Yeah, you’ve barely been here an hour, who have you met already?” Avery piped in.

I rolled my eyes. “I meant my roommate, geez. I don’t remember asking for two brothers, by the way.”

The guys chuckled. “I can’t wait to see these two in big brother mode, I never thought I’d get to see that,” Carter said and slapped Avery on the back.

“Yeah, yeah, alright. Let’s get you to the main building, you still need to grab your locker keys and cheer uniform. What are your classes like this semester? Have you gotten your schedule yet?” Avery bombarded me with questions as he pushed me out the door.

“You’re acting worse than Dad right now, he already forced me to make a list and check it twice before we left the house. I have everything I need already; I just need to unpack.”

“Then, let’s get you unpacked.”

“Why are you shoving me out the door?”

“I’m tired of my friends checking out my little sister,” he grumbled.

I slapped him on the arm. “Don’t start that now, no one is checking me out. Now, drive me back to the dorms, I’m not walking back.”

“I don’t have any gas left.”

“I’ll drive you back to the dorms,” Aiden said.

My heart lurched in my chest at the thought of a car ride alone with him after not speaking for almost a year.

“O-okay.”