You Are My Home

Chapter 3 - First Days And Close Calls

Gabe's POV:

Hearing my aunt yell me down for breakfast I sigh, looking at myself in the mirror one last time before gingerly leaving the bathroom and starting my journey down the stairs. Today was my first day at the new school and I could already feel my heart flutter in my chest just from the thought of it, my nerves being hard to swallow so early in the morning.

I'd decided to dress casually, the black cargo pants hugging my legs nicely paired with a set of white Converse and a black graphic t-shirt with a random city displayed across the back. I had on my chain and a few of my rings, my fingers twisting the one resting on my ring finger anxiously. My hair's a spiky mess on my head but I can only sweep it back with my hand and hope for the best, the brown mop becoming unmanageable with how long it is.

I reach the kitchen and Olivia sends me a soft smile, clearly sensing how on edge I am and I try my best to return the grin as enthusiastically as possible. She slides me a plate filled with toast and I thank her, sitting down on one of the stools before I start to dig into my breakfast.

She sits across from me reading the local newspaper, taking sips of her coffee and in the comfortable silence I found the ability to calm down just a touch. With my stomach no longer lodged in my throat I finish the last piece of toast on my plate, placing it in the sink after rinsing it off. I check my reflection in the microwave glass once more and when I hear Olivia snort from behind me I can't help but let out a soft chuckle realising I was being a bit ridiculous.

I turn around and watch as she makes her way towards me, handing me my backpack and my trusty leather jacket to finish off the outfit. I couldn't help but send her one last worried look.

"Everything will be fine Gabriel" She reassures me, brushing a strand of hair off my forehead in a motherly fashion and it makes my stomach churn.

"You think so?" I question, a hint of insecurity in my tone and she pulls me into a comforting hug, her arms wrapping around my torso and squeezing it.

"I'm positive they'll love you sweetheart" She says and I nod my head, squeezing her back before she steps away and lets me start my journey towards the school.

Grabbing the keys from next to the door I blow my aunt a kiss before I make my way outside and onto the driveway. I breathe in deeply, the crisp air settling in my lungs and making me cough slightly at the icy feeling it leaves in my throat. It wasn't raining but if you looked hard enough you could see some condensation hanging from the leaves, the grey clouds foreshadowing a looming downpour.

Quickly making my way towards my aunt's jeep, an old Wrangler that she'd had modified by the local mechanic to keep it running, I unlock the doors and hop into the driver's side. The echo of the door seemed too loud for the early morning and I wince when I hear a flock of birds scatter into the sky at the disturbance.

Jamming the key into the ignition I let the engine roar to life, glancing at the clock on the dash and when I see it reads 7:15 am I grin knowing I'll be on time. Sticking it into reverse I back out of the drive and onto the main road, waving at my aunt who was standing by the window watching, before taking off towards the school.

It was a 20-minute drive, the cold slowly seeping away the longer I had the heating on and I was glad that she got the radio fixed, my music slowly waking me up as the jeep sailed to the school easily. I reach the parking lot and raise my eyebrow when I see that it's almost empty, people obviously waiting till the last minute to arrive, and as I park into one of the bays I can't help but check out the building sitting in front of me.

It's an old cluster of brick and as I gaze at the vines slowly snaking their way up the walls I can tell it hasn't seen any maintenance in a fair few years. Strangely, it matched the vibe in Forks. I sit and watch as people begin to fill up the parking lot and I try to make note of the different groups that seem to be forming as people mulled around waiting for the bell to ring.