Here is the first chapter of Whatever Happens...as usual the idea came to mind from listening to music...I hope this one is well received like my other titles...read and please review with feedback! Enjoy! :)


Gabby Copeland strutted down the streets of Chicago with a million things going through her head. She had just come from an interview where she was offered the copy writing position for the Chicago Tribune. The 23 year old was ecstatic to land her first paid job where she was using her college degree. After leaving the building, she rooted through her bag to call her big brother and share the news.

"Hey Gabby, how's Chicago?"

"Adam, I got the job! Can you believe it? They offered it to me on the spot!"

"That is great news, I'm so proud of you. I guess that means you're on the apartment hunt? How about I come down tomorrow and we'll look at some penthouse apartments in the nice part of the city."

"That's sweet, but penthouse is not in my budget."

"That may be the case, but it is in my budget. Gabby you just got out of school; let me help you out for the first year of your adult life."

"Adam, you paid for my college education in full and have footed the bill since I was 16. It's time for me to take care of things, so thanks, but no thanks."

"Gabrielle, you are my only sister and the parts of Chicago that you can afford are not safe for you."

"Please stop worrying! I already bought the paper and I'm going through looking for a rental with a roommate. I'll be fine, trust me." Adam wanted to trust Gabby on her own, but she was still so young and naïve, she didn't know what the world was like. "Okay, well I've got to go, but I'll be home tomorrow to start packing."

"Packing already?"

"Yes, I start Monday! Bye big brother, love you."

"Love you too Gabby and please be careful." Gabby rolled her eyes as she tucked her phone back into her purse. There was no doubt in her mind that Adam would worry about her regardless if she lived under the same roof, or a different city. They grew up with just their mom, their dad had walked out when Gabby was only 3 and Adam took over the role of the man in the house. Their mom worked two jobs trying to make ends meet, which meant Adam and Gabby were usually left to fend for themselves. He'd never stop being overprotective, but Gabby had learned to adjust.

Walking down the busy Chicago street, Gabby couldn't wipe the smile off of her face. This was going to be her life, day in and day out. She'd get to know it like the back of her hand in time, but for right now she was enjoying the weather on the walk back to her hotel, that is until the sky got dark and the rain started to fall. Gabby tried to improvise by using the newspaper she grabbed for shelter, but it was useless, she was getting soaked by the minute. Spotting a coffee shop up ahead, Gabby ran for it and was surprised when a good looking guy held the door for her. He too had gotten wet, but the hoodie he wore had kept him fairly dry.

"Oh my gosh, thank you so much. Does the weather randomly change here all the time?" The guy laughed and she smiled when she noticed his smile. Hailing from Canada, she felt it necessary to introduce herself to this good looking stranger, but he beat her to the punch extending his hand first.

"It's not usually this bad, but I saw on the news this morning that the storm won't last long. I'm Phil Brooks, but my friends call me Punk. You look really familiar, are you from Chicago?"

"Not yet, but I'm in the process of moving. I think I know where you know me from, my name is Gabrielle Copeland, but please call me Gabby."

"Copeland, as in Adam…"

"Yes, Adam is my older brother. I think we met briefly at the hall of fame ceremony."

"It's a small world, anyway Gabby, would you like to grab coffee and wait out the tsunami?" Gabby laughed at his poor attempt at a joke.

"I would love that actually." Phil ushered Gabby over to a booth where the two sat and chatted back and forth, giving the waitress their orders when she came over to them.

"So, what brings you to Chicago?"

"A job, I just finished my masters degree last month and I've been eager to get out on my own. I saw the Chicago Tribune was looking for a copy editor and much to my brother's dismay I went for it."

"I see Adam is the overprotective big brother. I can relate, I have two younger sisters and I wouldn't be thrilled with the idea of them moving so far away."

"Well he'll have to get used to it, just like he has to get used to the idea of me being financially independent. He's already trying to buy me a penthouse apartment because in his words everything in my price range is in the bad parts of Chicago." Punk raised his eyebrows at what she said and thought to himself. Scratching his beard, he let his thoughts loose.

"It's interesting you bring that up because I've actually been looking for a roommate."

"Is that so? Why in the world would you need a roommate?"

"Well I'm on the road a lot and I don't like to leave the house empty. A roommate would keep it occupied and besides that I'd have a guaranteed person to hang out with when I come home."

"Okay…well how much are you thinking?"

"I don't know, what's your price range?"

"I can afford up to $800 a month."

"It's up to you, but that's fine with me."

"Seriously? When can I see the place? I hope you're not ripping me off and charging me $800 for a closet sized room because I've already seen in the paper I can get one of those for $600." Phil laughed as he took a sip of his tea. He glanced out the window and noticed the rain had stopped.

"Well Gabby if you don't have anything else to do then we can go check it out right now." Gabby reached in her purse and tossed some money on the table before gathering her bag on her shoulder.

"You don't have to ask me twice." Phil nodded and followed the spunky blond out of the coffee shop. He didn't really need a roommate, but he had the extra room and he and Adam were buddies on the road, so he'd heard stories about his younger sister. He had a big house to himself and the idea of her moving into a shoebox apartment didn't sit well with him, so why not. What's the worst that could happen?