My brothers best friend

Chapter 1: Famous, Fatigued and Now a Freshman

(Edited)

Chapter 1

Valerie's Point of view.

University of California.

Can you hear me looking forward to it? No? Well, that's because I don't. To be honest, UC was never part of my grand plan. It wasn't in the cards for me, and I'd like to think I had it all figured out before my parents and my older brother Mason stepped in and ruined my perfectly laid-back life.

I mean, let's be real—I was fine with being famous, living my life without worrying about textbooks or homework. But apparently, my dream of lounging by a pool with a mojito while being an influencer wasn't exactly what my parents had in mind. So here I am, enrolled in a school I didn't even choose. According to them, "You're missing out on one of the best three years of your life." Yeah, I'm sure.

But fine, whatever. If I'm being completely honest, I'm not dreading it. Not entirely. Maybe they're right about something. Maybe there is something to this whole college experience.

Viktoria is coming too, which makes everything better. My best friend—who's more like my sister—and I have been inseparable for years. If she was going to UC, I was going too. Simple as that. Who else would I survive it with? The thought of going to college without her? Not an option.

And then there's my brother, Mason. Yeah, he's already here, and I'm still undecided about how I feel about that. I'm pretty sure his presence here is some kind of cosmic irony. The guy who drives me crazy with his "I'm-the-older-brother, listen-to-me" routine is already a student here, making it impossible for me to get away from him. But whatever. UC was the only school that felt like it could actually be fun—at least for a while. So, here I am.

I know some people here. I mean, it's not like I'm totally starting from scratch.

Jake Graham.

My brother's best friend. The golden boy. The star athlete. The football team captain, which is just unfair when you factor in his jawline, those green eyes, and that smile that could melt glaciers. Not to mention his stupidly good physique. It's almost like he was genetically engineered to break hearts and leave everyone around him breathless. He's a legend at this school. Of course, he is. And, of course, I'm not the only one who notices.

Can you be a little more obsessed with him, Valerie?

Shut up.

Okay, fine. I'm obsessed. But here's the thing—I really shouldn't be. Because last spring? Jake and I kissed.

Yeah, you read that right.

The kiss. And trust me, it was breathtaking. That's the best way I can describe it. A kiss I can't really explain, but one I definitely haven't made peace with yet. Honestly, I don't know how to feel about it. All I know is that it was Jake who made the first move. I wasn't exactly the one jumping into it.

But let's get real for a second: Jake is Mason's best friend. And I'm his annoying little sister. What the hell was I thinking?

I should've stopped it before it went any further. But I didn't. I'm not sure what I was expecting—maybe some magical, romantic revelation? Nope. Not even close. Just... confusion. A whole lot of it.

And right now, as I drag my tired body across campus on my first day of freshman year, that kiss is the least of my concerns.

Because right now, I'm on my way to my dorm. And I feel like I could fall asleep on the sidewalk and sleep through the entire semester. The exhaustion is real. The kind where you wish you could just press snooze on your entire life, but nope—here I am. This is college now, and whether I'm ready or not, I have to face it.