Just A Normal Day

The sunlight peeked through the blinds, painting stripes across the floor. Gabriel gulped down his coffee, the warmth chasing away the morning chill. Gazing out the window at the sunrise, a few things clicked into place.

First off, forget those sparkly vampires in the world, no disco ball effect for him. No chance of blinding someone with his skin, which was a major win.

Second, sleep was optional now. His whole vampire deal was settled in, no more needing to crash every night. But he could still choose to hibernate, like a fancy sleep schedule, where he set the alarm clock in his head.

Last, there was the 'Reserve,' those three million souls chilling inside him. Creepy soul bodyguard wasn't the right word; it was more like a giant library of memories.

Gabriel could basically search for a soul that fit the bill, and their memories would pop up in his head. Then he could pick specific skills or knowledge, becoming an expert after assimilation.

Focusing for a second, Gabriel snagged the memory of a former Israeli soldier, a Krav Maga practitioner. As the memories flooded in, the soldier's moves becoming his own.

He gradually incorporated the intricate moves and actions into his soul, mind, and body.

Looking at the clock, Gabriel cursed under his breath.

Slamming his mug in the sink, he hopped into the shower, washing away the grime of the night before. Dressed in a white t-shirt and jeans, Converse sneakers completing the look, he headed downstairs and out the door.

After a quick ten-minute drive to school, Gabriel parked the car and got out. Looking around, he saw Bella stepping out of her beat-up truck.

"Morning, Bella!" Gabriel exclaimed, striding towards her.

She turned and saw the giant friend she'd made yesterday.

"Morning," she mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, a yawn escaping her lips.

They walked toward the school entrance together. Pausing for a moment, Bella looked up at Gabriel. "You were hanging with the Cullens yesterday," she started hesitantly. "Mind if I ask something?"

Gabriel nodded, urging her on.

"So, what's the deal with Edward? I have biology with him, and he seemed... weirdly distant." Her voice was barely a whisper.

Gabriel laughed. "First-day crush already?" Before he could finish, Bella smacked his arm. "Shut up."

Thinking for a second, Gabriel came up with a response. "Not sure. He seems the same around his family too. Maybe he's like you, socially awkward?" he blurted out before taking off at a run.

He heard Bella yelling his name in the background, teeth clenched.

A wide grin spread across his face. 'Damn, it's fun to tease her. Like a little sister I never had.'

Rushing to the locker room, Gabriel shoved his clothes into his gym bag and made a beeline for the basketball court. He plopped down on the bleachers, pulling out his phone to check the time. A notification popped up, a message he'd missed last night.

<Rosalie Cullen: Hey Gabriel, sorry if I'm messaging you late. How did enjoy your first day?>.

'That's so out of character,' Gabriel thought. 'But then again, this isn't a story anymore. These are real people with real lives. I gotta stop thinking like I'm a character in a book. This is my life now.'

A sense of relief washed over him. No need to overthink everything, plan ten moves ahead, or be constantly on guard. He just needed to live, use his future knowledge as a cheat code, and have some fun.

Before he could reply, the bleachers shuddered like a minor earthquake. "Morning, bro!" yelled Emmett's voice. Gabriel looked up to see Emmett's signature grin plastered across his face.

"Dude, thanks again for inviting me over this weekend. You got any new Xbox games? I could swing by and pick some up this week." Gabriel was genuinely excited to hang out with Emmett. They'd clicked on a bro level instantly.

"Nah, you're good. I got Call of Duty, looks sweet. Just don't cry when I whoop your ass, alright?"

"Oh, fuck off. You haven't seen my skills yet."

Coach Clapp calling for a split class session cut their conversation short. Girls were on volleyball duty, while the boys divided into two basketball teams.

It was safe to say Gabriel and Emmett got a little too competitive. They dominated the court, yelling trash talk at each other while everyone else basically watched.

Classes flew by in a blur. Before he knew it, Gabriel shuffled into biology.

He knew the drill this time, heading straight for the back corner of the classroom and snagging his usual seat. He was so focused on getting settled that Rosalie practically materialized beside him before he noticed.

"Oh, hey there! Sorry, spaced out for a second," he said with a sheepish grin, turning his head to acknowledge her.

"Hey Gabriel. How are you doing?" she asked, a soft smile gracing her lips. Her movements seemed a little stiff as she adjusted her shirt, her gaze lingering on him for a beat.

"Not too bad," he chuckled. "Thrashed your brothers on the court, actually." The memory brought a playful laugh to his lips.

"Right, and sorry about the message. Phone was on silent all night. Didn't see it till this morning." He rubbed the back of his head with a grin, feeling a touch awkward under her gaze.

"No worries, just checking in," Rosalie replied, a playful glint in her eyes. "Although missing a text from a pretty girl? That's a rookie move, wouldn't you say?" Her voice held a playful, teasing tone, the tension in her posture easing.

The conversation flowed easily between them, a refreshing change from the usual high school small talk. Rosalie seemed to let her guard down, cracking jokes and engaging with him. This intimacy continued through lunch, where Gabriel found himself once again seated with the Cullens. This time, however, a certain brooding member of the family was absent.

"Where's Edward?" Gabriel asked, feigning curiosity.

Alice, ever the quick thinker, jumped in before anyone else. "Oh, he's back in Alaska visiting an extended family. Should be back in a few days."

'Liar, but fair enough,' Gabriel thought with a knowing smile. Edward's absence was because of his fear of losing control around Bella. A retreat to gather himself after yesterday's near miss. He'd be back soon, no doubt, after feeding and getting his emotions in check.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes. Nothing particularly eventful happened, depending on how you looked at it.

As the last bell rang, Gabriel packed his things, slung his bag over his shoulder, and headed towards the parking lot. He spotted Bella waiting near his car.

"Is this some kind of shakedown?" Gabriel joked dramatically, a tactic that earned him a chuckle. "Hey, I swear I didn't sleep with her. It was my brother!"

"Shut up," Bella swatted him playfully. "Seriously though, I never got your number. I figured making a new friend might be nice."

"Yeah, right. You just want an inside scoop on your new boyfriend, don't you?" Gabriel grinned, unlocking the car door.

"He's in Alaska, by the way. Visiting family or something." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and offered it to Bella.

She quickly entered her number, a fleeting smile gracing her lips as she muttered a thanks before heading towards her own car.

'Great, jinxed myself,' Gabriel thought, recalling his earlier joke about Bella being like a little sister. 'Maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.'