I'm New Here

Gabriel flopped down on the giant couch. He gazed at the super high ceiling, even though it made him feel tiny. Today had been a crazy rollercoaster - dying, meeting God, being reborn - the whole shebang. All he wanted now was to chill and figure out what to do next.

He grabbed the notebook he swiped from his room, the leather feeling smooth in his hands. He snatched a pen and started scribbling his thoughts down.

'Stuck right at the beginning of the story?' he thought, gnawing on the pen cap (a bad habit that apparently stuck with him even after dying).

'Looks like I'm gonna be a nobody, or something totally wacky is gonna happen.' An enormous sigh whooshed out of him, filled with annoyance.

"Training," he uttered, writing like crazy. "God said my wishes would start coming to fruition. Maybe I should use the exercise stuff in the basement? Gotta start somewhere, right?"

He ditched the idea of making huge, amazing plans. Small steps were the way to go. No point in freaking himself out. Plus, he didn't have any friends in this new world. Maybe joining a sports team or an after-school club would be a good first move.

Making friends for Beginners by Gabriel, the newly reincarnated dude.

Feeling good about his plan, he slammed the notebook shut. "Nighty-night," he said to the empty room.

"Tomorrow's gonna be a super wild time."

He turned off the lights, leaving the living room dark. Upstairs, his comfy bed was waiting for him. A quick rinse in the shower, changing into his soft cotton shorts, and then sleep city. The second his head hit the pillow, he was out like a light, drifting off to dreamland.

—- POV Gabriels Bedroom (3AM) —-

The silence in Gabriel's room was thick, broken only by low, pained moans that seeped out from under the door. It wasn't the peaceful sighs of sleep. The thrashing of his body against the mattress sounded violent, a frantic struggle against unseen forces plaguing his slumber.

Then came the strange noises. Soft pops started like bubble wrap at first, but intensifying with each passing second. The pops morphed into a horrifying series of snaps and tears, like bones being twisted and realigned in a grotesque symphony. It was as if some unseen force was trying to contort Gabriel's body beyond its natural limits.

Skin ripped open in flashes, only to mend itself back together in the blink of an eye. Blood welled within the torn flesh, then vanished before it could even spill, devoured by an unnatural regeneration. The room became filled with the sickening sounds of muscle tearing and reforming.

Yet Gabriel remained blissfully unaware. Deep sleep, a cruel mercy in this case, shielded him from the nightmarish transformation playing out within his own body. Finally, the grotesque metamorphosis subsided. The room plunged into an eerie silence, broken only by the ragged gasps of his recovering breath.

—- POV Gabriels Room (7AM) —-

A rough groan escaped Gabriel's lips as he woke up. Pain slammed into him, like someone took a sledgehammer to his whole body. The bedsheets were gross, soaked with sweat and some weird black goo.

Then came the smell. Like a dead animal had partied in his bed all night. He scrambled out, flinging the window open and tossing the sheets outside in one panicked motion.

"What the fuck?" he rasped, his voice dry. Did he... no way? The thought of that made him gag. "Shower, now!"

He stumbled into the bathroom, cranking the hot water until it scalded. He scrubbed like crazy, trying to wash away the stink until it finally seemed to fade. Wrapped in a towel, he shuffled to the mirror, catching his reflection.

"WHAT. THE. FUCK?!" Two things hit him like a brick wall. First, the black goo wasn't... well, you know, him shitting himself. Second, his powers. They were wide awake and in charge, apparently.

His once decent muscles were now solid and defined, like they were chiseled from stone. He had grown taller, and his features had become more striking, giving him an almost otherworldly appearance.

"Well, at least nobody will notice. Bella barely glanced at me. And Charlie? Probably forgot my name the second I walked out the door. No big deal, right?" He mumbled to himself, letting out a sigh.

He shuffled over to his closet, grabbing a plain white t-shirt and some light blue jeans. Tossing on a red flannel shirt and his trusty Doc Martens boots, he figured this outfit would do.

Glancing at his watch, he cursed. Only 30 minutes to get to school! He grabbed his keys and sprinted to his car, practically throwing himself behind the wheel. The engine roared as he peeled out of the driveway, tires squealing.

Thankfully, the drive was quick. He pulled into the student parking lot in under 10 minutes, his new car turning heads as it rolled to a stop. Tinted windows hid the driver from curious stares.

He parked near the exit, carefully climbing out and grabbing his bag from the back seat. He took a moment to survey the school. It was straight out of an awful movie - old red bricks, rain-streaked windows. The whole thing looked more like a creepy hospital than a place of learning.

As he approached the entrance, he couldn't help but notice everyone staring. Then a sharp voice pierced through the air.

"Holy crap. Is he real?"

He whipped his head around, catching Jessica Stanley staring at him with a predatory glint in her eyes. A shiver ran down his spine. His powers were definitely kicking in - he'd practically heard her whisper from across the parking lot.

Lost in thought, Gabriel heard the unmistakable groan of a dying car approaching the school. The sputtering exhaust was a dead giveaway, Bella's jalopy. Right on cue, a beat-up orange car rattled to a stop a few seconds later, followed by a loud BANG as the engine sputtered its last.

The sound seemed amplified a thousand times, piercing his ears with a jolt. He winced, adjusting to the unexpected sharpness of his hearing as Bella climbed out.

She scanned the crowd, her gaze eventually landing on Gabriel staring at her. He gave her a quick nod, and she sighed before starting a slow walk towards him. New kid misery shared was misery halved, right?

Gabriel noticed her approach and grinned, reading her mind. "Morning, Bella. Good to see you again."

She returned a hesitant nod, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Uh, yeah, hey," she stammered, her awkwardness bubbling over. "Sorry about last night. I'm not great with… new people."

Gabriel flashed her a reassuring smile before turning. "No worries. Wanna head inside together? We're both going to the same place, anyway."

She gave him a quick nod and followed close behind his imposing figure.

They reached the school entrance, a staircase leading up to the imposing double doors. Just then, a student practically crashed into them. His focus, however, seemed laser-sharp on Bella.

"You must be Isabella Swan, the new girl! I'm Eric, the walking, talking school encyclopedia. Anything you need, a tour guide, lunch date, or a shoulder to cry on," he declared with a forced cheerfulness that bordered on desperate.

"Uh, I'm more of a 'deal with things on my own' kind of person," Bella mumbled awkwardly, glancing at Gabriel as though seeking backup. He chuckled silently, observing the exchange.

Eric followed her gaze, landing on Gabriel's imposing figure. He hesitated for a moment. "And you must be Bella's... brother?" His question hung in the air, more of a fishing expedition than a genuine guess.

"Not even close, Eric," Gabriel replied, his voice smooth. "My name's Gabriel, a new student as well. We're heading to the office to grab our schedules." A subtle smirk played on his lips, clearly enjoying the confusion.

Eric seemed momentarily speechless, stuck in processing mode. Seizing the opportunity, Gabriel turned back towards the entrance. Before stepping inside, he tossed a suggestion over his shoulder. "How about we all grab lunch together? Get to know each other better?"

A frown that had been creeping onto Eric's face instantly melted into a hopeful smile. "Yeah, sure! Sounds good! See you both there!"

The silence between them wasn't awkward, just comfortable. Gabriel wasn't one for small talk, and Bella seemed content to let him take the lead. They entered the office, and Gabriel approached the elderly woman behind the desk with a smile.

"Good morning, I'm Gabriel Hudson. It's my first day. Could I please get a copy of my schedule?"

"Certainly, dear," the woman chirped, her smile warm. As she started typing, she glanced at Bella. "And you must be Isabella? Welcome to Forks High."

Bella visibly flinched at the sound of her full name, but managed a small nod in response.

A moment later, the printer whirred, and the woman presented them with their schedules. Gabriel took his, offering a friendly smile and thanks.

"Thanks for the coming with me Bella, see you later!" before heading out the door. His first class, according to the paper clutched in his hand, was gym.