;I will remember and recover, not forgive and forget

If you would of asked me a year ago if I was going to be in the sunshine state of America - I'd of laughed, then punched you in the throat.

New York was my home, it was everything I knew - except England of course - but the fact my parents had dragged us out here was a fucking nightmare.

I had to leave my friends, my squad, my roots that I'd planted from the age of 12 - I'm now 21!

I haven't missed the irony of the numbers being the opposite way around.

So here I am.

In Miami.

Attending Florida International University.

The basketball and football fuelled college that everyone is obsessed over.

Where 65% of drafts are made from. Impressive, not going to lie.

At least I knew Eli would thrive here. He was born to play ball. He was fast, good under pressure, quick with his hands and had the mind set of a winner.

What more could you need in a player?

Me, you ask?

I was forcibly pushed into cheerleading because it was all my mother ever wanted to be when she was a little girl growing up in London, England. So, to make her happy, I became one letting her live her dream vicariously through me.

She's so lucky to have me as a daughter, honestly.

What I really wanted to be was a published author. I loved to read and write. I loved the idea of falling out of reality and dropping into a made up world full of imagination, a place where anything could happen. No limits, no guidelines - just you and where every your mind takes you.

But I guess cheerleading is a good way to stay in shape and escape your own mind for a few hours, so, there's always that..

Now I know you're wondering; why did they move from New York?

Good question - let me know when you find out the answer please, because I'd love to know too.

Me and my brother came home from school one day and found our parents sitting at the dining room table - grim ass looks on their faces - something was obviously wrong, it didn't take Einstein to figure that shit out, the only answer we haven't yet received is why.

So, as summer began, we found our self on a 1300+ mile road trip, with a couple U-Haul vans following behind us, driving our entire life from one state to the next.

I found friends pretty quickly.

Steph White lived next door - not too far away from campus - plus me and Eli would go to the beach most days - play volleyball with the locals or soccer in the sand - other days we'd do a sibling date and go for waffles.

Then there was the night with Maddox Hunter, who I now know, attends my new fucking school. Wonderful. You couldn't write this shit, could ya?

I went out of my way to keep everything about me under wraps, now he's going to know everything because of my brothers big mouth.

I love him sure, but sometimes, he can be a real chatty Cathy.

And even though Eli has a mouth he doesn't know how to control, at least we were close, and I loved that about us.

We'd gone through a lot together - nothing like, traumatic as such - but it was nice to know that we had each others back when push came to shove.

A lot of the time he was my absolute rock like for example; when I got my heartbroken for the first time by Dale Cater in 6th grade - who he punched in the face, breaking his nose for me. That's loyalty in my eyes.

Eli was also the first person I wanted to tell when I made cheer captain in my junior year of high school. The only one who could talk me into coming out of the locked bathroom when I had a bad haircut, he's still remained the one constant person I knew I could count on. Regardless of what or who he was doing.

The bond became stronger when we met Mason Rose at a party held by a guy called Kade, who we met on the beach that summer. He was such a sleazebag - physically making me sick to my stomach. Only my luck to find out he goes here too, and plays ball for the team I'm cheering for. I knew Eli wouldn't let Mason get under his skin, but with his temper - it was only a matter of time before Mason's smug face would get pummelled by my brothers fists.

While Eli moved into an apartment with some guy called Danny Jones, I moved into the shared apartment with Steph White and Hannah Reed just off campus.

I liked the girls and we had a lot in common - besides cheer - and I could for sure see myself becoming good friends with both of them.

Me and Steph already had a bit of history because of the summer, and Hannah was sweet too.

Her black wavy hair so dark and long that it made me envious, tanned skin extremely sun kissed, brown eyes like milk chocolate drops.

Steph was the complete opposite with bright, bleach blonde hair, apple green eyes and a natural looking spray tan - because come on, who she trying to fool? I'm not one of them.

Living with them was going good.

Sitting at the dining room table, flicking through my phone while one foot dangled against the chair, my ass sat on the other one - sweats and a tank top to feel loosey goosey after wearing those tight ass shorts and a crop for training.

Luckily classes don't start until after the weekend, giving me 2 days to relax- which I was doing until my phone started vibrating mercilessly in my hand, caller ID being my brother himself.

"Hello, you've reach the best sister in the world, how may I help you?" I answered sarcastically. He chuckled.

"So glad you asked that because help is exactly what I'm after."

Internally groaning, I sighed. "I wish I wasn't such a smart ass, sometimes. Go on. What is it?"

"This is the one and only time I'm glad you're a smart ass. Wanna help me move?"

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Move? Move where?"

"To the baller house. They have a spare room and Maddox asked if I wanted it." he responds.

I don't know if it's me and my overthinking brain, but is Maddox playing a game here or does he not remember me? Or the fact that my brother is on his team.

"So, why can't they help you?"

"Maddox and Miles are, but we need an extra car because Miles rode Jason's motorbike here." He tells me. "C'mon, be that best sister in the world you were chatting shit about." He laughs down the speaker.

"You're an ass and owe me waffles for the week." I murmured, instantly hanging up.

I receive a text saying 'thanks, you're the best.'

I literally just said that.

I threw on a cardigan before grabbing my keys and phone and leaving the apartment - as well as my relaxation - behind.

Jumping in my black beauty Audi R8 and driving over to Eli's - now - apartment complex.

The drive wasn't far, as I finally arrived at Eli's apartments parking lot, pulling into a spot beside a big, black G wagon - my dream car - only to see Maddox, Miles and Eli leaning against it, talking.

Maddox did look extremely hot though. Grey sweat pants, black t shirt clinging to his solid torso and wrapping round those bulging biceps. Black FIU cap sitting backwards on his dark head of hair. Shades hiding those baby browns.

Ugh.

I get out, keys and phone in hand to be met with 3 pairs of eyes on me, giving me the complete and utter ick.

I chose to not even acknowledge Maddox or his entire existence.

Silently chanting to myself that I do not know who this boy is.

"You came." Eli smiled, walking over to me.

"I am the best sister after all." I lightly pointed out.

Eli chuckled. "That you are." he teases. "Here, come meet the guys." He jerks his head towards the waiting boys.

I look over now seeing two pairs of eyes are watching my every move. I'm dying to scream out that I had already met Maddox but decide to keep my vow of silence on the fact.

"Maddox, Miles. My sister, Tori." Eli introduced me, pointing to each one as he says their name, I give them both a small smile and a wave with the hand that had my keys in.

Miles looks me up and down. "After this should we go to your place or mine?"

"Both. You'll go to yours and I'll go to mine." I replied with an overly sweet smile.

Maddox laughed, and I god damned blushed like a little kid.

The guy was fine as wine, but I'm still unsure how he's playing this so I just keep repeating my chant.

"I told you before she got here-" He sighed. "No hitting on my fucking sister!" Eli scowled, his jaw clenched.

Eli was protective of me, yes.

He's a brother, it's wired in them to do such, I'm just thankful he never reached the point where I'd have to tell him to back off, y'know.

He was the perfect mix of caring and couldn't care less. In this case, he cared.

He doesn't wanna join a new team for them to all be drooling over his sister, no matter how hot I am.

Note the sarcasm, I am not one of those girls.

Miles obviously ignored my brother as he tried to hit on me again. "C'mon, I know how to please a woman." he wiggled his dark brows.

Eli elbowed his team mate in the ribs.

"Then please, leave me alone." was my quipped response.

Maddox again chuckled, hitting Miles around the back of the head.

Poor twat is getting assaulted from both ends now.

"Come on, fire cracker. We've got shit to do." Maddox shot me a cheeky boy wink, moving his hand as a gesture for me to follow him.

I'm guessing Miles was the cheeky - somewhat - clueless one. His tussled sandy brown hair and olive skin complexion made him incredibly attractive, just a shame he had no brain to go with it.

Maddox was obviously the devastatingly charming, dreamy type that could easily get away with swaying between being a dick and being unsubtly flirty without having to deal with any kind of back lash from it.

The Knight in a shiny red basketball jersey.