Everyone makes choices. Every single day. You are choosing to drag yourself out of bed, you’re choosing what clothes you’re wearing each day, you’re choosing to eat lunch, you’re choosing to hang out with your friend. Small choices, but big steps.
Then you have big choices. Like what college you’re going to attend, what major your pick, your friends, where you’ll sit in class, who you love. Big choices filled with small steps into larger steps. All very important.
That’s why when you chose your college in the mountains of North Carolina, only hours from the small town you grew up in, you were choosing new beginnings - a place with thirteen times the people in your town. You grew up with, skinned knees with, learned how to do the monkey bars, the people you graduated with.
It was bittersweet goodbyes and see you laters as you hugged in the courtyard of your high school, summer slipping by so quickly, into you shopping at the local Walmart to enhance your living space at your new home - a dorm room.
Speaking of choices. You made the choice to hammock on the edge of campus, just to be joined in by a brunette with similar book taste as you. Drew walked up, Eno in one hand, book in the other, taking deep breaths. Making friends wasn’t necessarily difficult for him, but the initial moment of awkward hellos and getting to know each other was for the birds.
He spots you, sunk down in your hammock, one hand holding East of Eden, the other rolling your bottom lip in between your fingertips with concentrations. Drew tightens his straps to the tree next to yours. “We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the neverending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal.” Drew recites, flipping into his own hammock.
This causes you to move the book down from your face, your own eyes meeting his own as he gives you a welcoming smile. “Is that how you start all of your conversations with strangers? By reciting quotes from their books?” Drew lets out a small laugh. “Only all of them. Hi, my name’s Drew.”
And that started the story of you and Drew - an undeniable, unconditional friendship. It started with hammocking on the edge of campus, moving quickly to grabbing Starbucks, to late night Cookout runs. Now the two of you were seniors, having experienced some of your greatest and worst moments together.
It was a chilly Saturday morning, homecoming weekend to be exact. You were pulling yourself out of bed, slipping on a pair of leggings, at shirt and flannel, and hiking boots to finish your complete morning outfit. It was tradition - a tradition you had somehow managed to fit yourself in with Drew’s family.
Drew’s family made the weekend of homecoming a special weekend, one where they came together in that little college town, taking the time to wake up early and enjoy a hike before breaking off to get ready for tailgating and the big game. It was more than enough fun, and you were more than shocked to still be included, even on your fourth year.
Drew would warn you before, every single time they came up, to prepare for the questions. They were well aware that a guy and a girl could be best friends, but when people were outside looking in, you could see why they’d think something more. The two of you were attached at the hip.
If you weren’t with each other, you had plans to be with each other later. If there was a party, you went together. You both had dated other people during college, but it never affected your own friendship - they were well aware of the friendship you shared. But when your boyfriend was caught cheating on you, by none other than Drew, rumors began to fly but quickly simmered down about the way Drew stood up for you. But that’s what any great best friend would do, right?
Drew walked side by side with his mom and brother, catching them up on the beginning of the semester, leaving you to the back and in the middle of his sisters, who you’d become very close with as well. During the summers, you’d found yourself either coming to their town or them coming to your own, not always hanging with their brother.
The conversation was casual. “I can’t believe this is your last year of college. I just, I can’t imagine us not coming up here next year for this.” Brooke says, bumping your shoulder as you walked. “I know. These four years have flown by.” You respond. “You’re going to stay around, right? Like you’re not just gonna forget about us, right?” Mackayla jokes. “You know I could never.”
That’s when the next words fall out of Brooke’s mouth, and though you know it’s a mere joke, it does cause you to almost choke on your own reply. “Maybe you should just marry Drew so you can stay in our lives forever.” Brooke grins. Your eyes widen, a laugh escaping your lips, maybe a laugh that’s too loud, and you stare back at her. “Drew couldn’t handle being married to me. That’s why we’re best friends, he can get rid of me when he wants and come back whenever and we won’t fight about it. Not worth adding to the divorce rates.” You grin.
You’re careful when Drew’s family comes around, knowing they’ll sit at the games with you and your friends. You’re extremely lucky you hold your alcohol well because Drew shows up to you and your roommate’s shared apartment, shot glasses in his pocket and a small bottle of alcohol. “For the ladies.” He says, setting out the glasses as Josie joins your side, cheering. “This is why we allow Drew Starkey over.” Two shots in, and you all are meeting his family down in the parking lot for the tailgate. Your attire has been switched to jeans, boots, and a college shirt tied at the waist. You practically match every other girl that’s there, and that’s why Mackayla is coaching you to get next to them to snap a picture.
As the game begins, Drew sits knee to knee with you. “This is our last homecoming.” He murmurs, staring out at the field. “Can you believe we’ve gotten here already?” You ask, resting your slightly swimmy head on his shoulder. “Couldn’t have gotten here without you, y/n.” You feel his cheeks go into a smile, cheek resting on the top of your head. “I know you couldn’t.”
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Drew is sitting at breakfast with his entire family the next morning, and you opted out so he could spend time with his own family while you caught up on some much needed work.
The local spot is a hit with his family, each of them complimenting the french toast and spreads of sides. Drew is wiping the sides of his mouth as his mom leans up, resting her chin on her hands. “I’ve avoided this question, but time is flying by, honey. Any plans so far?” Drew knew the question would come, and it wasn’t like it wasn’t something he hadn’t thought of before, especially now.
Drew sits back, taking a sip of his water before sitting it down, his fingers rubbing the condensation on the cup in circles as he thinks. “I have a few ideas. You know, LA is still an option, maybe Atlanta.” “Well you know you always have a place at home, too.” His mom reassures him as he gives her a small smile.
Though it seemed so in the distant, there was no doubt the ideas swarmed not only in his brain, but in his stomach. Thinking of a future was scary and difficult and exciting all at once. And one thing he wasn’t necessarily trying to think of during this time - was a girl. But that dreaded question came next.
“Any girls in the picture?” Brooke asks, wiggling her eyebrows. “We’re ready to have a sister in law.” “That won’t be happening anytime soon. I’m not getting married to her right now.” And that’s when it was too late. A mistake in his wording - how could even do that - sent bombards of questions around the table. “Her?” Logan stabbed at his food, suddenly interested in the conversation. The mutters of questions overwhelmed him.
Questions about who, when, what, where. Why they hadn’t met this girl yet. Your name being thrown out several times around the table wondering if you were her or knew her. And that’s when the overstimulation kicked in and Drew couldn’t handle it. Drew made a huge mistake and blurted your name out. “Y/n. It’s y/n.”
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A/N: hi lovelies! welcome to Mean Something. i hope you’re ready for a wild ride. please note i went to a different NC college but i do know a tad bit about drew’s college so ill try to bring that in. thank you for your patience, i just got home from a much needed vacay so now i’m in writing mode WHOOP! pls leave me feedback and comments. as always, requests are open and pls send me a message or ask to be apart of the taglist. much love ✨
"You want to know what I think? I think the only thing that keeps people truely safe and happy is love. I think that is where they get their courage, and that's where countries get their strength, and that's where God grants us our miracles. In that absence of love, there is nothing. Nothing in this world worth fighting for."
Kevin Costner playing Stephen Simmons in the 1994 movie The War.
