Notes: Mari and Sammy - Thanks for your wholehearted support of this storyline. You're the best! Thanks to Mari for the great title!

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Hope you enjoy!

Next to Fly (A McRoll in the REAL World Story)

Cody opened the door of his apartment to let his sister inside about a half hour after she'd texted to see if he was home.

"Hey," he said. "What's up?"

Casey stepped past him. "Hey. Can I use your computer to check something?"

"Yeah, sure. But … what's wrong with the computer at the house?" he asked, closing the door behind her.

"Nothing, I just …" She paused, chewing the edge of her thumbnail. "Everyone's home so I don't want to check there."

He studied her, brow furrowed. "Why not? What do you need to check?" He took a step closer. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she tried to assure him, but his concerned look remained. She sighed. "USC announces admission decisions today."

His eyes widened. "Oh my god, that's right. I totally forgot what day it was."

She tapped her foot nervously, one arm folded across her body. "Yeah and they're supposed to send an email and … I just didn't want to be home when I checked, in case …" Her voice faded as if she wasn't sure how to finish the sentence.

"Yeah, yeah, sure," he said hurriedly, walking over to the coffee table and opening up his laptop. "Here." He stood back as she sat down on the couch, curious why she hadn't just checked the email on her phone, but deciding not to ask.

She quickly signed in to her email and paused, staring at her inbox without clicking.

"Did it not come?" he asked, watching her carefully.

"It came," she said quietly.

"Well …?" he prompted when she didn't make a move to open the email.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Opening her eyes, she leaned forward a little and clicked to open the email. Her breath caught and she let it all out in a whoosh.

"Well?" he said again, coming around the table and sitting next to her. On the screen was a large intertwined S and C. The logo for the University of Southern California followed by a large "Congratulations!"

"I got in," she whispered. She turned to him and her face broke into a huge smile. "I got in!"

He laughed, wrapping her in a hug. "You got in!"

She laughed, repeating, "I got in. I got in!"

"Congratulations, Casey," he said when they finally pulled back. "That's so awesome."

She brushed away an uncharacteristic tear. "I didn't think … I mean, I didn't want to let myself get my hopes up …" She sat back on the couch, staring at the congratulatory email in amazement.

"Los Angeles," he said, smiling in wonder. He reached over to squeeze her shoulder and gave it an excited little shake. "You're gonna be moving to Los Angeles!"

She grinned back at first but her smile slowly faded, her eyes clouding.

"What?" he asked, immediately catching the change. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just …" She shrugged, avoiding his eyes. "I don't have to say yes. I'll probably get into UH, too. That'd be … fine."

His brow immediately furrowed in confusion and he ducked his head to try and catch her gaze. "What are you talking about? Not say yes? USC's your dream school, Casey. You've been researching it for, like, three years. And you absolutely loved it when you did that tour while we stopped over in LA on the way home from New Jersey."

"Yeah, but that was before it was … like … a real possibility. I didn't actually think I'd get in."

He rolled his eyes. "Case, you're super-smart, of course you were gonna to get in."

"It's such a huge decision, though. It's so expensive. And moving that far away …"

"It is a huge decision," he acknowledged, remembering when he was deciding on a school. "But as far as the money goes, you haven't even looked at your aid package yet, plus you've got a lot of money saved up in your college fund."

"Yeah …" she said unconvincingly.

"And if you're worried about being so far away from family, it's not like you'll be alone. Mary and Aaron are in LA, and Aunt Deb's not far either."

"I know, it's not that," she started. "I'm just not sure I should go …" she said, voice trailing off as she looked down at her hands in her lap.

"Hey," he said quietly, realizing something. "Did you not want to be around the family when you opened the email because you were worried that you didn't get in … or that you did?"

She looked up at him and he could tell from her expression he'd hit on something.

He paused, waiting for her to collect her thoughts.

"It's just … is it even okay for me to leave the island for school?" she said. "I know Mom's always said to dream big, that's part of why I applied to USC in the first place, but … now that it's actually a possibility, I can't help but think it's … selfish," she finished, wincing.

"Selfish? Casey, no," he protested.

"You didn't leave for school," she countered. "Hell, you even lived at home the first two years."

"That was different. I'm … different."

"Why, because you're a guy?" she asked, lip curling in annoyance.

"No, it's just … things were different then, and I just … wasn't ready to step back. To step out on my own without … feeling guilty. But you don't have to feel guilty. Things are really good at home."

"I know they are."

"Of course we're all gonna miss you like crazy, but this is such a big chance for you. Everyone's gonna be so excited."

Her eyes drifted back to the computer screen. "Yeah …" she said quietly.

"UH is a great school," he said. "But for you, it really would just be 'fine.' And you deserve more than that, Casey. You've earned it."

"It's not like I can come home every break," she said, glancing back at him. "Flights are expensive."

"We'll figure it out." He paused. "It's okay to want this. To be excited about it."

She looked at him for a moment. Slowly, her smile returned.

He grinned. "Plus, I know Dylan's practically drooling over your room and if you stayed at home I don't know what he'd do."

She chuckled, then met his eyes again. "Your room."

"It's your room now."

She shook her head. "It'll always be your room, Cody. We … we needed you. Turns out we still do."

He sighed, smiling softly.

"I didn't want to be surrounded when I opened the email," she said, "but I didn't want to be alone either." She smiled at him. "Thanks," she said, and he knew she meant for far more than letting her use his laptop.

"Hey, I'm still your big brother," he said seriously, then teased, "even if you have been admitted to one of the best schools in the country." He quirked an eyebrow as she looked back at the screen. "So …?"

Grinning, she turned back to him and said, "I'm going to USC."

He laughed, hugging her again. "You're going to USC!"

The apartment door opened and Jadon came in.

"Continue with your sibling moment," he said when they immediately released each other to look at him. "Don't mind me."

Casey wiped her eyes and grinned broadly. "Guess what, J? I'm going to USC."

He laughed, running over to the other side of the couch and flinging himself at her in a brotherly hug. "Hell yeah! Of course you are!" He pulled back, grinning.. "Lil' sis," he said, mussing her short hair. "Next to fly."

She shoved him away, laughing.

" 'Next to fly'?" Cody asked.

"You know," Casey said, rolling her eyes. "Like 'leaving the nest'?"

Cody grinned. "Oh right."

"This calls for a celebration," Jadon said definitively.

"It does …" Cody agreed, but glanced at Casey questioningly.

She nodded her understanding. "It does. But first," she said, smiling proudly, "there's some people at home who need to hear the big news."

….

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