Can You Be My Best Friend?
The Lore of Briar & Joe.
Late Spring 2018
When Briar Matthews first stepped into Tiger Stadium, the Louisiana heat hit her like a wall—but it was nothing compared to the whirlwind that was Joe Burrow. She was 19, an almost sophomore this upcoming fall, ambitious, and laser-focused on her athletic training major. Her world revolved around muscle recovery charts, kinesiology notes, and the dream of one day being on a pro team’s medical staff.
That day, she was supposed to be picking up her clinical gear—a stack of polos, khakis, and an oversized duffel bag full of more stuff with “ATHLETIC TRAINING” stamped across it. She was rambling to the head trainer about the proper way to assess a shoulder impingement when a voice interrupted her mid-sentence:
“Did you know if you take all your blood vessels out and line them up, they’d stretch 2.5 times around the planet?”
She blinked. She knows that voice.
He smirked.
And just like that, Briar met face to face with Joe Burrow—the newly transferred quarterback from Ohio State who, apparently, still thought he was part-time anatomy professor and full-time smartass to this day.
What followed was a thirty-minute rapid-fire exchange of facts, theories, and lighthearted jabs about whose degree was more “useful.” They both are know it alls. The head trainer eventually had to step in and tell them both to “take it outside” because they were distracting the rest of the staff.
They both walked out giggling and exchanged new numbers after he playfully asked “Can you be my best friend?”. Briar left that day rolling her eyes. Joe left grinning. Neither realized it yet, but that was the start of something that would define both of their college years.
From Challenge To Comfort Fall
Over the months, they fell into an easy rhythm. Joe would pop into the training room under the excuse of a “tight hamstring” just to pester her. Briar, ever the professional, would fuss at him while icing his leg—but she’d always save him one of the extra protein bars from her bag.
It wasn’t until Joe begged her to come to a teammate’s house party that things shifted slightly. He thought she’d say no—figured and knew she wasn’t the type for frat lights and cheap beer. But she showed up. And not in her usual athletic gear either.
Nah. Light denim wrap skort, a yellow cropped cami tank, and Nike dunks. Simple right? Yes but it had Joe stuck the whole night.
He barely said a word that night.
He couldn’t. Scared he’ll make a fool of himself.
Because suddenly, the loud, confident guy who could talk circles around her was just… stuck. Watching. Wondering why his chest felt weirdly tight when other guys tried to talk to her.
Briar noticed the silence. She assumed he was just tired. Joe assumed she wasn’t into white boys. Neither of them talked about it.
Thanksgiving Road Trip 2018
It took one long, slightly disastrous car ride for the walls between them to crack. Flights home were too expensive, so they decided to drive from Baton Rouge to Ohio together. Eighteen hours. Two playlists. A cooler full of snacks.
They sang, argued about gas station food, shared new family stories, rapid fire fun facts, and at one point, she fell asleep leaning on the center console somewhere in Tennessee. When he reached over to adjust her blanket, she mumbled, half-asleep, “Thanks, Bestie.” He chuckled and mumbled back “You’re welcome Pretty Girl.”
That was the moment she knew something may be different.
By the time they got to Athens and pulled into his family driveway, his family was already suspicious. Her and his mom rekindled immediately. Joe’s mom joked about “future daughter-in-law material,” and Briar nearly choked as Joe groaned, “Mom please.”
Same thing happened when they walked around the corner to her parent’s house.
The Best Friend Dynamic — Comfort Meets Chaos
Now, their friendship has become infamous around campus. Their friends seen it: Joe dropping by her dorm unannounced, followed by Justin and Ja’Marr, throwing himself into her lap like she’s his personal pillow, while she just carded her fingers through his hair like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Had a long day, Big Head?” she’d murmur.
He’d nod, eyes closed, mumbling, “Mhm Pretty Girl. You always smell good…” before promptly ‘passing’ out.
Meanwhile, Justin, Ja’Marr and Briar’s Friend Leilani would exchange the same exasperated look every time.
“Y’all need to date,” Justin would blurt out.
“Why?” Briar would ask, genuinely confused.
Ja’Marr groans “She can’t be forreal! Mans just crawled into her lap and called her pretty girl and went to sleep!”
“It’s just a name Marr, and m’ not sleep.” Joe mumbles from her lap.
“Because LOOK at this shit!” Leilani would say, gesturing to the scene of Joe half-asleep in Briar’s lap humming contently.
“What? I cuddle with you like this all the time Leilani.” Briar would reply, completely serious.
Justin, Ja’Marr and Leilani? Speechless.
What They Don’t Admit (Yet)
To the world, they’re “just best friends.” Briar steals his hoodies, late-night talks, and rides around Baton Rouge. They celebrate wins together and patch up bruises—emotional and physical—after losses.
But every so often, when the world quiets down, there’s a flicker of something else.
A look that lingers too long.
A laugh that feels too intimate.
A moment where the line between “best friends” and something more blurs— which it always does.
They both feel it—but neither says it. Because why ruin something that already feels perfect?
Still… everyone around them knows.
It’s only a matter of time.
A/n: how are we liking this so far? Chapter 1 will be posted soon. 😘
