Beating Heart •Luke Kuechly•

Chapter 4.

It's been a few days since I've been home and a few days since I've met Luke Kuechly.  What was that spark that I felt when I shook hands with him?  And the way my cheeks flared up with a blush of how he was looking at me.  I have never had a boyfriend or even been remotely interested in any guy until now.  All of the guys at KU were either party people or loud and I never quite fit in with a lot of them.  Sure, I'm friends with them- but that's as far as it went with them.  I guess you could say I never quite got the whole let's get drunk thing.  I don't care if other people do but it's not something I like to do.  I'll have one drink here and there but that's where I stop.

It feels so good to be home in North Carolina.  I've missed it so much.  Even though I love Kansas and going to school there- there's nothing quite like being home.  The thing I love about Kansas is that mostly everyone I meet is so nice that it made transitioning there that much more easier.  Of course, it's always harder once I have to leave to go back to school but I can't complain.  

Besides the KU men's basketball games are the best and being inside Allen Fieldhouse is unlike anything I've ever experienced.  It gives me goosebumps every time.  

Mid way through the day my phone starts to ring.  I see that it's my roommate and good friend- Clare.  She has lived in Kansas her whole life so it was nice that I knew someone who was actually from there.  We clicked right away when we first assigned as roommates in Oliver Hall and decided to get an apartment after that with two other girls- Madison and Taylor.  We all get along great, which is really nice.  There's no hard feelings, no nothing.

"Hey Clare, what's up?"

"Hey.  Nothing much just at home bored.  What about you?  How's North Carolina?"

"Haha your always bored when your home.  It's pretty good, I've missed home."

"Yeah, well unfortunately not all of us lucked out with four other siblings.  Only child here."

"Riiiight.  Even though I love my siblings I wouldn't mind some peace and quiet."

She scoffs.  "I would kill to have hot guys that look like Abercrombie models."

"Umm... okay.  Change of subject."  I laugh.

We end up talking for the next thirty minutes about what were going to be doing while on break, how life at home is, etc.  I had to cut the call short because I got a knock on my door.  

"Come in!" I yell.

"Hey, sis.  Grandpa's here.  And he brought some guys from the Panthers team over for dinner tonight," my sister Ariel says.  

•••

I walk downstairs and immediately feel my heart is beating outside of my chest with how loud it is.  There I see Luke, Cam, Thomas Davis, and Mike Tolbert.  I look down at what I'm wearing and I'm in my PINK Victoria Secret grey sweat pants with a white Panthers shirt, my hair in beach waves, and only mascara on.  Maybe if I can make a run for it while they don't see me I can be real quick.  I make my way up the stairs but as I make my way to the first step I hear grandpa calling my name.  Well, damn.  There goes that plan.  This will have to do.  I sigh and turn around.  

"Grandpa!"  I walk up and hug him.

"Hey, Callie.  How are you?"

"I've been good.  How about you?  Is grandma not with you?"

"No, she wanted to stay home tonight."

I nod my head in understanding and immediately move my attention to the guys.  My good friends on the team- Mike and Thomas.