Numb3rs

Chapter 1 First Day

A/N: The picture above is the house that my OC's dad bought for her. I love that house. I think it would be cool to live in a house like that.

Numb3rs

Chapter1 First Day

I was walking down the halls of Cal-Sci, my bag slung over my back. It was my first day here at school. I was originally from Seattle; I was used to the rain. I was now in state where it didn't rain as often as I was used to. I had been in LA for a week. I had a house not far from campus. I kept moving my thin tall frame away from the other students. I wasn't used to being around so many people. I was on my way to my math class. I was lost so I stuck my head in an open office door and knocked.

"Excuse me Professor?" I asked seeing the back of a man about 5'10 with dark curly hair. He turned to look at me. He wore jeans, tennis shoes, dress shirt, suit jacket, and tie. "I'm lost, I'm trying to find Professor Eppes' classroom, could you please help me?"

"Yeah, actually, I am Professor Eppes. I'm on my way now," he said gathering his papers and laptop. He came towards the door where I stood waiting. "What's your name?" he asked trying to balance his papers and nearly dropping his laptop. I caught it, as it took a dive for the floor.

I stood up straight from having bent to catch his computer. "Bella Stillwater," I replied now carrying his laptop walking beside him. "I just moved here from Seattle." Bella was my real first name; Stillwater was my mother's maiden name, but not the name I had held before moving here. It wasn't my choice to come here; it had been forced on me. The only reason I went with it was because I was trying to protect my father.

"Are you liking it here?"

"I'm still making my mind up about this place. I moved just last week, this is my first day of class. So, I'm trying to reserve judgement till I have more information," I said following him into his classroom. "Though I do miss my home very much." I set his laptop down on the table next to the chalk board and took my seat up front so I could see. I pulled out my note book and pencil before turning my attention back to Professor Eppes. I more than easily followed his lecture, taking notes in my own short hand.

When class was over I had a short break before my next two classes. I was heading out of the huge auditorium when Professor Eppes called me back, "Hey Bella." I turned to look at him. "I was just about to head to lunch, I was wondering if you would want to come, learn the best places to get a bite to eat on campus." Most might have found this odd but I didn't think twice about it.

"Sure, you read my mind," I said leaning in the doorway waiting for him. He gathered his stuff and came up to me, almost dropping his laptop again. I caught and held on to it and followed him back to his office. When we reached his office Professor Fleinhardt was there.

"Well hello again Professor Fleinhardt," I said coming into Professor Eppes' office to set his laptop on his desk.

"Uh, Miss Stillwater," he greeted barely glancing at me.

"Bella, please," I said as my stomach growled. I hadn't eaten that morning and was now paying the price.

"Larry, we're going to go get lunch, would you like to join us?" Professor Eppes asked his friend who muttered something. Professor Eppes started to leave the office so I followed. "You know Larry?"

"Yeah, he teaches my first class of the day," I said walking beside him as my phone buzzed, indicating I had a text. "Excuse me for a minute," I said answering it. It was from my stepdad. He was all I had. I eagerly answered it. I missed him, a lot.

After I had answered the text Charlie asked, "Who was that?"

"Step dad," I replied. "He had to stay for work so he sent me here with enough money to live and bought me a house down here." The house was nice, having my own car was nice, but it wasn't home. The person that made it home wasn't there.

"So you're here alone? How old are you?"

"I'm 16 and here on a scholarship and yes I am alone here. Unless you count my dog Bear," I said coming into the café. It wasn't the full truth but it was the truth that I was allowed to tell anyone. I didn't want to lie to my teacher. I liked him; I felt that I could trust him. I followed Professor Eppes to what seemed to be his favorite spot.

He ordered a coffee and a sub. I got the same except I changed the coffee for a green tea. I followed him to a table in the sun. "Dad, my step dad calls me every day." I called him step dad for Charlie's benefit. I looked almost nothing like dad, but I had always called him dad. He was the only dad that I knew.

"16?" Professor Eppes asked. I nodded taking a bite. "What's your IQ?"

Most would have this question odd or even offensive but I wasn't bothered. "I don't know the exact number, my dad won't tell me. I know it's off the charts though," I said as my phone buzzed again. "Sorry, I have to get that. Dad gets nervous when I don't answer." I chuckled slightly at his text.

"What?" Charlie asked. I finished typing my response and hitting send before showing him the message. Dad was making sure that I was eating. I had been so wrapped up in my work before that I had forgotten to eat. He laughed handing me the phone back. "When's your next class?"

"1:30," I replied. "I have English, Psychology, and Sociology to finish today." My first two classes had been physics and computer science. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I had Public Speaking, computer graphics, Ethics, and History.

"How many classes are you taking?" Professor Eppes asked.

"Nine," I said shrugging. "Five on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and four on Tuesdays and Thursdays." I looked at my watch; I had ten minutes till class. "Thank you for the lunch Professor, but I must get going. I don't want to be late to class on my first day," I said getting up and picking up my trash. "It was wonderful to meet you," I said grabbing my bag.

"Nice to meet you," Professor Eppes replied before we both went our separate ways. When the end of the day finally came I got in my car and drove home. I had boxes that still needed unpacking and I needed to take my dog for a run. I pulled in my drive way and once I was parked I went inside. I put my book bag on my dining room table and grabbed a bottled water, plastic bag, and leash.

"Bear," I called and the dog came running down the stairs. I hooked him up and went for a run. This quickly became my routine as the weeks passed, blurring into months.