The Only Exception

"I've got a tight grip on reality

But I can't let go of what's in front of me here

I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up

Leave me with some kind of proof, it's not a dream"

The Only Exception- Paramore

Welcome to college (!)

A sock under my pillow, which I now yanked out and lobbed at the wall, where it probably stuck to the wall.

I sighed and sat back now, staring at the ceiling on the top bunk, which was pitch black. It was dead silent and peaceful... until my roomate and her boyfriend crashed into the room, her giggling and started to literally "rock the boat" below me.

Now I groaned and just said loudly. "Jamie!"

"Holy crap-!"

There was silence now, then her hesitant and embarrassed voice. "Um... Co-? Is that you-?"

"No, it's the fairies (!)"

"Umm.. sorry. But I thought you were with Freddy-?"

"We broke up a few weeks ago."

"Oh. Uh, yeah. I forgot..."

There was a rustle now, then the bed creaked a little as Jamie told her boyfriend that they were headed back to his room. I rolled my eyes a little, but chuckled- Jamie made me laugh sometimes she was so blonde. She chuckled nervously as I poked my head over the top bunk, then said. "Ah, see you in the morning."

I nodded absentmindedly, then sighed as the door was closed behind her. Yeah, welcome to college (!)

Now I couldn't freaking get back to sleep, so I yanked on my coat over my nightie, then traded my slippers for Ugg boots and grabbed my keys, stepping out into the cool night air of Springfield, Ohio.

-ToE-

I was leaning against the apartment wall now, staring up at the night sky- it was pretty clear, letting the stars shine through, twinkling at me as I stepped forwards, then realized I was still half asleep as a car swerved around, and someone yanked me out the way, making me crash to the floor and graze my knee.

"Jeez girl! Are you sleepwalking-?"

I sat there now, then looked up to see someone getting to their feet, brushing dirt off his jeans. "Are you ok?" a male voice asked now, and I saw slightly concerned eyes staring at me. I nodded and got to my feet, my head spinning a little. I swayed a little, then he grabbed me before I fell, going. "Whoa there-!" I groaned a little now, my head throbbing.

"Let's get you back in bed yeah?" The guy who had came to my rescue said, outting his arm around my shoulders and helping me back to the room.

Somehow, he got me up onto the lower bunk of the bed, then the lights came on, and I saw peculiar caramel eyes staring at me, but that was all I remembered as I nodded off.

-ToE-

I awoke with a start the next morning, chest heaving. I raised my hand to my head, groaning a little- weird dream. But now I sat up and smacked my head on the top bunk, making me gasp out loud- had it been a dream, or... something else-?

I scrambled to the edge of the bed now, yanking up my torn and stared at the red mark of a very nearly healed gash, making me frown a little, trying to remember just who had saved me the previous night, bringing me back here...

The door opened now, then Jamie came in, shutting the door hastily behind her, then sighed. "Raymond bleeding walked in..."

I sighed and got up, but my leg twinged and I fell back down.

Jamie frowned in concern now, then said, sitting next to me. "Coco? What happened-?" her eyes saw my leg now, and she gasped. "You're hurt-!"

I waved her away now, brushing my dark brown blonde hair away from my face and tired bronze eyes. "I'm fine Jay... but..."

"What-?"

"Someone saved me."

Jamie frowned now, then said curiously. "Who?" I just shrugged, getting painfully to my feet and walked over to my wardrobe, pulling out my short little purple dress and black leggings, geting ready for college.

I saw Jamiw grinning at me now, then she said excitedly. "You have a guardian angel!"

Now a scoff escaped me as I pulled my cage heels on, now pulling a brush through my hair. "No, he was real."

"He!"

"Jay! I don't know! It was dark."

"So?"

I groaned and pushed past her, grabbing my keys and folder, leaving for college, where I was nearly late.

-ToE-

"-Miss Desree?"

My head snapped up at the sound of my name, and I just said, sitting up, ignoring the throb in my head. It was drama, and the teacher, Miss Taylor, was waiting for me to step forwards, playing the role of Lady Macbeth. I sighed, shaking my head and said hurriedly. "Sorry. I couldn't sleep last night..."

The guy playing Macbeth, my ex Freddy... raised an eyebrow and waited for me to step forwards and say my lines, which I hastily did-

"Stand not upon the order of your going, but go at once."

I sighed now, sitting down behind the stage, running a hand through my hair, feeling tired.

"Marvellous job if I say so myslef."

Now I looked around to see the campus janitor, staring at me, a grin on his face as he leaned against his broom. He looked a tad older than me, but had a certain air about him that exuded both old and new.

I smiled a little at him, then he spoke, standing up straight. "But, I say it'd be better to empathize the last word a tad more yeah? Dramatic effect, and boom."

I blinked a little now, then smiled. "Thanks for the advice. Are you new? I don't recognize you."

The guy nodded now, then ran a hand through his hair and said. "Yep. First day today." he chuckled a little now, then said. "Kinda scary huh? But still-" he laughed and just said. "If anyone gets on my nerves, I'll just shove this broom where the sun doesn't shine."

I groaned now. "Ouch."

"Yeah. So... are you gonna tell me what you were doing wandering in the middle of the road at midnight?"

My eyes widened now, then my own eyes fixed on his strange caramel ones and I realized.

"It was you-?"

"Guilty."

I was took aback now, then I just said greatfully. "Thank you so much."

He looked a little taken aback at my thanks, then chuckled. "No problem. What was I gonna do-? Let you go splat?"

I met his eyes now, then looked away, chuckling nervously. "Well... they'd need a new windowscreen anyway." I chuckled and just tacked onto the end. "I'm Coco."

"Like the chocolate?"

"Nah, Coco, not cocoa."

He smiled and just said. "Yummy name anyway." he chuckled lightly, then added. "Call me Gabriel."

"Like the angel?"

"Yep. That's me. Angelic aren't I?"

I grinned now, then found myself laughing- he was too much fun. I frowned now, then pointed to his nose, where he had a smudge of dirt on it. "You have something-" I started, but he raised a hand and rubbed it off. I just laughed, kinda nervously, but then, the guy, Gabriel, looked behind me and said. "They want you back out Lady Macbeth."

I looked behind me to see Freddy beckoning me, and when I looked back, I found myself frowning- he was gone, no trace of him left.

I looked around the corner, nothing, then walked out to the stage, trying out his tip, which worked very well.

Just who was this Gabriel-? He intrigued me...

A/N: Well, an idea that's been in my head from around the time I started writing "Help! My daddy is an Archangel!" and so, here we are(: enjoy! Let's see how much attention this chapter gets, then maybe a second chapter(: so reviews much loved! x