You Are My Home

Chapter 1 - Home Sweet Home

His Aunt's cabin ^

Gabriel's POV:

I find myself looking up at the two-story cabin and a sigh escapes my lips, wishing that I didn't need to be here at all. Leaving home at such an early age wasn't ideal but I knew I couldn't have stayed in England, running from my problems was easier than sitting among them.

After cracking my neck and shaking the tension from my shoulders I place my bag on the floor, the gravel crunching lightly underneath and I knock on the door with three quick rasps. Reaching up I smooth my hand through my hair and cringe, forgetting I'd put gel in that morning. Just as I'm wiping my palm on my jeans the door swings open, a grinning face greeting me happily.

My Aunt Olivia was a small woman, probably around 5'4, but she seemed to be even smaller since the last time I saw her. Her eyes sparkle up at me, my height giving us a few inches of difference, and I only have time to brace myself before she squeals loudly and throws her body towards my own. Her arms surround my torso, my own falling onto her shoulders as I hug her back just as tightly.

We'd not seen each other in 4 years, the last time being when I was 14 just after Christmas and before the family all but fell apart. I wish I could have prevented it, the guilt of it all never disappearing even after all this time but I'm knocked out of my thoughts as my aunt pulls away and holds me at arm's length, her eyes scanning my body.

"My god you've grown! I can't believe how good you look" She chuckles, squeezing my arm before dropping her hands and stepping away into the threshold.

"Yeah well, it has kinda been a while hasn't it" I chuckle back, my hand coming to rub at the nape of my neck, a nervous habit I've carried with me since I was younger.

"Come on in Gabriel, make yourself at home" She ushers me inside with a wide smile, her body practically vibrating with excitement.

I grab the handle of my bag and shuffle through the doorway, walking into the living room after shutting the door behind me. My eyes scan the room, my heart tugging at the familiarity of it all and suddenly I had a sense of calm wash over me. She'd not changed much, just put up new curtains and freshened up the furniture a little, but it still reminded me of my childhood. Some of the best memories I have is when I used to visit my aunt in the summer.

Following her up the stairs she leads me to the room I used to call mine, my face falling into an easy smile when I push the door open and see she hadn't changed it from when I was last here. Blue walls surrounded a dark grey carpet, the bed being in the far right corner of the room with an old oak desk sitting parallel to it. I scan the photos I'd pinned up on the wall, some old and crinkled at the corners making me feel nostalgic of the memories captured with old friends and family.

I drop my bag on the floor near the end of the bed, flopping onto the mattress straight after and letting out a groan of satisfaction. Aeroplanes weren't the best place to fall asleep and my neck was reminding me just how terrible my posture was for the entire 15-hour fight here from London. I hear my aunt laugh and I lean up on my elbows to see her in the doorway watching me with a smile full of love and happiness. The foreign sight of it makes my stomach flutter uneasily and I clear my throat to try and get rid of the feeling.

"Dinners gonna be at 6, I decided we could order pizzas and watch a few films, catch up a little. You can unpack first though" Her brown eyes shone slightly full of hope and I couldn't find it in me to decline her offer, especially when my stomach reminded me I'd last eaten on the plane here.

"Of course. I'll be down for 6" I say, glancing at the analogue clock that rested on the edge of the desk. It was only 3:50 pm leaving me plenty of time to get settled in.

"Okay I'll leave you to it Gabe" She pushes off the frame and heads downstairs, my grin getting bigger at the nickname I'd not heard in a while. It was nice here and I could feel the anxiety in my chest loosen a little in hope. Maybe I'd finally feel at home somewhere.

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Placing the last hoodie in my wardrobe I sigh, my hands finding my hips as I spin slowly in a circle. My bag had been unpacked and all of my stuff had been put away in its respective place adding to the clutter. A few newer books now sat on the small windowsill that overlooked the garden and I'd added my laptop to the desk making it room look lived in again, the dust being brushed off little by little.

Ever since I got here it felt like the air was easier to breathe in, my hand subconsciously coming up to my chest and feeling the skin underneath the shirt I was wearing. It was easier than being back home anyway, that's for sure.

Looking at the clock again I see it's 5:30 pm, the sun slowly starting to set as dinner time rolls closer. I appreciated summer, the fact that the light lasted longer was a bonus, but I found myself comforted by the cold and slightly rainy weather in Forks. The constant sound of rain lulled me to sleep better than any genre of music ever could and I knew that the change in scenery was exactly what I needed.

Pulling on a hoodie my socked feet carry me onto the landing, the floorboards making my steps light and airy. Sliding down the railing to get downstairs I chuckle, reminding myself of when I attempted to do it when I was younger. I hit the bottom and I heard my aunt laugh from the kitchen, clearly seeing what I'd done. I shoot her a boyish grin, my glasses falling down my nose slightly before I lift my finger to push them back up. 

Heading into the living room I scan the films she had on the TV stand, settling on 21 Jump Street for the comedy aspect before pausing the intro and joining my aunt at the island in the kitchen. We discuss pizza toppings, eventually settling on a large Hawaiian each and waiting for it to be delivered. As we settle onto the couch she turns to face me, my heart beating quicker when I recognise the look on her face.

"How's your mom?" She asks casually taking a sip of her drink but I know better than to be fooled by the display of casualness, she was trying to snoop.

"She's okay, same thing as the last time you saw her" I shrug, trying not to dive into just how bad it got back at home before I left.

"I can't believe she didn't listen to me! I told her-" She starts to rant and I let her, nodding and shrugging in all the right places knowing she needed to get it out of her system.

Once she finishes her rant of pent-up anger she sighs, pulling me into a hug and I go willingly knowing she needs the comfort. I was slightly rigid and I could feel her frown against the crown of my head, clearly not understanding that physical affection was a rarity until now. Just before she can pull away and ask me about that too the doorbell rings, the pizza arriving and I jump up appreciating the chance to escape.

I thank to delivery driver, handing him a tip and I bound back over to the sofa with two boxes in hand. We crack them open and start the film, the conversation put on the back burner for now and I appreciate that she'd decided to drop it. I wasn't naive enough to think she's forgotten it all together and her occasional glance at me proves I'm right but I pretend like I'm focusing on the film, too tired to get into it all tonight.

When the film finishes it's around 10 pm and I yawn, the long flight finally catching up to me. I fold up the blankets we had been using as she cleans up the pizza boxes and turns off the TV, comfortable silence floating in between us both as we head up to bed. My aunt gives me a side hug before saying goodnight and closing her bedroom door softly and I quickly head to the bathroom, doing my normal routine before entering my bedroom and climbing into bed with a content sigh.

I close my eyes and deflate slightly, the tension leaving my shoulders as I sink into the mattress. Today was good, apart from the tense conversation before dinner, and it made me look forward to the rest of my time here in Forks. I can slowly see my future being built here, my past in England being left behind the longer I'm surrounded by happiness. 

Damn the first chapter is finished! This story has been a long time coming so I hope you enjoy it. The first couple of chapters are slow but it soon picks up, just bear with me. Let me know what you think and don't be scared to leave a comment :)