Chapter 2: Moving In
GabPOV
"Ugh, how much longer 'til we get there? I think my ass fell asleep back in Portland!" I yelled over the sound of Kings of Leon blaring on my I-pod.
Ok, so I know I don't have the nicest mouth but being cramped in a car for umpteen hours with my dad is definitely starting to wear on what little couth I have. That's not to say I'm the crassest person on the planet, but well I've been compared to a sailor once or twice in my day.
"Gabrielle Josephine Grant! How many times have I told you to watch your mouth? I swear I thought your mother would have been able to turn you into a lady while you were with her in London, but apparently there's just no hope for you," my dad yelled back.
That's Joe Grant, ex-NFL great and current man of leisure. The mom he referred to is Svetlana Yorska Grant, ex-Victoria's Secret model and current "girlfriend" to some Euro-trash billionaire playboy or another. I'm the product of their short lived celebrity marriage, and have managed to keep myself far from the Paris Hiltons my pedigree would have me associate with.
I've spent the last two years attending boarding school outside of London with snobby stuck up royals and richies. If you can't already tell, that was so not my scene, and being the only half black half Russian foul mouthed American transfer didn't help. What I did grow very fond of during my stint in boarding school prison was the dreary English weather. I know, sounds like I'm depressed right? So wrong! I just like the rain, its calming for me since my personality tends to be over the top, for most people anyway.
The weather is the main reason I am currently stuck in the ridiculously expensive rented Land Rover LR3 with my dad on my way to the Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. I am guaranteed rain, clouds, and even snow…sweet! I'm also pretty sure that this will provide a four year break from my parents and their lame attempts to make me fit into the Hollywood celebu-tard scene.
"I just want to get there already, sorry!" I whined to my dad. Add that with the famous Yorska pout I inherited from my mother and my dad was putty in my hands.
"Its ok baby…I know you must be tired," he cooed. Can you believe that? I'm 18 years old and my dad still coos at me when I pout. Ugh, the 'rental units I was dealt seriously needed to find a way to connect.
"Why so far away again? You've been in London all this time and now New Hampshire? What is wrong with USC or UCLA? You could have stayed with me or I would have gotten you an apartment near school," my dad said.
Right! So he can try and fix me up with the son of some football friend or the next up and coming Hollywood himbo.
"Dad, you know I hate California, it's too sunny and plastic, and I wanted to be somewhere where no one knew my name before they knew me. I just want a fresh start. Besides, if you miss me too much you have my permission to move up here to be closer," I winked at him and we both started laughing at that. There was no way he would ever move to New Hampshire.
"Anyway, looks like we're here Gabs! It's a good thing you had most of your stuff shipped to your room ahead of time, I'll get your bags, you go and check in," my dad called out as he headed to the back of the LR3 while I gathered my purse and room information and got on the new student check in line.
Finally, this was real. I was really starting over and to be honest I was excited. Frat boys and keg parties and normal college life are really just ahead and I can't wait! As I stepped up to the desk where the resident assistants were helping the freshmen with check in and room info I noticed one of the prettiest girls I had ever seen in my life standing next to me.
She was roughly my height, about 5'4" with long wavy brown hair, golden eyes, and the sweetest smile I had ever seen. I must have been staring because I heard someone clear their throat and say "Um, did you want to get your room key or not? There's a line here you know!"
Ugh, great start already Gabrielle! "Uh…hi, sorry. Gabrielle Grant." I said giving my room information to the resident advisor and throwing a death glare to the asshole behind me.
As I said my name, I swear I saw the beautiful girl in the next line over glance at me with a hint of recognition in her eyes. Great, please don't let her have put it together already. "Ok, you're in Bissell room 201A, you have three other roommates and it appears they have checked in already. Actually, Isabella Cullen?" the advisor called out and the girl looked over seemingly shocked to hear her name.
"Yes?" she answered in a melodic sweet voice that sounded like silk. "Good, I caught you before you walked away, Isabella, meet your roommate Gabrielle."
"Um, hey, it's just Bella. Nice to meet you Gabrielle, we can walk up together if you want. My boyfriend's sister Nessie and my sister Alice are the other two in the suite, and I can introduce you," she offered as my dad walked up with my luggage.
"Thanks! Dad, this is Bella one of my roommates, Bella this is my dad Joe." Bella smiled sweetly at my dad who was visibly taken with her and shook his hand.
"Pleasure to meet you young lady, um Gabs you ok with your bags? The car's here to take me to the airport. I parked the Rover for you in the lot so you have a way to get around, it's my gift to you for well…just because. I put some money in your account, if you need more call my assistant. You also have the card for anything else so you should be all set"
That's my dad folks, terrible with the affection, awesome with gifts. "Thanks dad, and yeah I can get it from here. I'll email you when I'm settled." And with that he was off. Probably some celebrity charity golf tournament or another to get back to.
I gathered my two Louis Vuitton suitcases and turned back to Bella, and asked "Ready?"
She eyed the luggage, shrugged and replied so low that I doubt I was meant to hear "yeah you're gonna fit right in."
We decided to climb the two flights of stairs rather than wait in line for the elevators and were in the room in no time. Bella opened the door to the suite, and I have to admit it was a pretty cool setup. The main door opened into a living area and the four bedrooms were located along the right wall. Across the living area were the two bathrooms we would be sharing and a small kitchenette.
"Looks like you guys brought the furniture for the living area," I said noticing the plush off white couch and loveseat and the oversized coffee table and large flat screen television hanging on the wall.
"I hope you don't mind, my mom got excited about being able to decorate. If you don't like it we can change it," Bella offered sweetly.
She seemed so nervous and almost shy, and I could tell that she was genuinely worried I would be upset they decorated without me.
"No worries, I think it looks great. We just need to add a Nintendo Wii and an X-Box and it will really be awesome in here!" I let my excitement show in my response.
I really wanted to put this nice girl at ease, and for some reason I really needed her to like me. As I turned to open the door to my bedroom I heard the other two bedroom doors open and out came my other roommates. The first girl I saw had the most amazing bronze curls I have ever seen and big brown eyes that looked melted cocoa. The other girl was tiny, with spiky black hair and big golden eyes just like Bella's. This must be the sister she was talking about.
"Hi! I'm Alice and this is Nessie. Oh my God I love your luggage, I have the same set!" the tiny girl exclaimed as she ran over to me and hugged me harder than I have ever felt before. She was strong for such a small little thing.
"Um, thank you and ouch! For such a tiny thing you sure are strong," ugh I so didn't mean to say that out loud. "I'm Gabrielle, and did I mention my lack of internal filter. Sorry about the tiny comment." I smiled at her and hoped I hadn't offended her.
I was really going to work on dialing my personality back a little at least in the beginning so I could make a few friends here.
"Don't be silly, I get it all the time. Besides, you kind of reminded me of our brother Emmett just now," she practically sang back and gave the strangest knowing look to Bella and Nessie.
Hmmm…wonder what that was about?
"Hey, I'm Nessie, nice to meet you. Do you prefer Gabby or Gabrielle?" the quite girl with the bronze hair asked.
"Gabrielle, I know it sounds pretentious but I have never been a big fan of Gabby and my dad calls me Gabs despite my many protests," I answered hoping I wasn't coming across as a snob.
"I bet you want to get unpacked and settled," Bella noted, "we're already done. We could help you if you want? I saw that a lot of your things were already delivered in boxes, and we don't have to meet up with the guys for a while."
"Wow that would be great!" I said with a sigh of relief. " I have so much crap it would take me days to unpack it. If left to my own devices I may just live out of my boxes the rest of the semester."
As I turned to put my luggage on the bed I swear I heard Alice say under her breath "so perfect… he won't know what hit him." There is definitely something I'm missing here.
The girls piled into my room and began opening and unpacking boxes with little need for direction from me. We chatted lightly about majors, Alice was majoring in Fashion Design and Merchandising, Bella was an English Lit Major, and Nessie was majoring in engineering with a minor in business. I informed them that I was currently undecided.
"To be honest with you guys, I just want a year to party, and enjoy college life before I start planning anything. Ugh… I know I sound like some spoiled brat just living off my parents dime, but I just want a year to feel like a normal college kid if that makes any sense," I found myself confessing to these three strangely beautiful girls.
"I totally get it," I heard from the last voice I expected to hear, Nessie. "I can't wait to feel like a normal college kid either. My twin brother Edward and I along with my other brother Jasper were all home schooled and were pretty much outcasts in our small town. Bella, Emmett, my boyfriend Jake, and Alice were our only friends, so we all decided to head off to college together"
Wow, I didn't expect to find people I had something in common with this early on. It sounds terrible, but knowing they were outcasts kind of put me at ease.
"Oh my goodness, your wardrobe is amazing! Is that Chanel? Are those Gucci? I haven't seen this much Christian Louboutin since, well, my own closet!" Alice exclaimed pulling me from my reverie.I couldn't help but smile. While I am not super girly, I do enjoy fashion and one of the perks of having wealthy absentee parents is the insane allowance.
"Thank you Alice. You guys are welcome to borrow whatever you like. I just hope there is some decent shopping nearby. It's nice to have the option if the occasion ever calls for it," I hearing me say this, Alice literally stopped breathing and her eyes just about fell out of her head. I haven't ever gotten that reaction before, but I do believe I just met my shopping kindred spirit.
"Oh Gabs!" Alice exclaimed. "I don't know what I did to deserve you but thank God you're here!" she practically yelled as she ran across my room and wrapped me tightly in her tiny arms for the second time today.I have a feeling I am going to have to get used to these mini-bear hugs from her. And I didn't miss the Gabs slip, but coming from her it was cute, maybe I'll let that slide as well.
"Alice!" I said laughing "I am going to need circulation to my arms again soon! I take it you guys aren't that into shopping," I asked Bella and shy smirks were all the answer I needed. I've met my fair share of unwilling shopping buddies to recognize one when I saw one.
"Well, you're all unpacked and we're heading off to meet the boys in a few. Do you want to join us? We're going to The Pavillion to grab a quick bite and I hear there are a few welcome parties over on frat row," Bella offered.
"Sure, just let me shower and change, I'll need about half hour if that's ok?" I asked. I was already formulating my outfit choice in my mind as we spoke and hair and makeup usually took little to no time for me anyway. Another blessing from the super model mom.
"That's fine, lets all meet up in the living area in 40 minutes and we'll walk over together," Nessie chimed in, and we all ran off to our rooms to get ready.
I pulled out my Charley 5.0 denim romper and tan slouchy ankle boots and grabbed a towel to hop in the shower. I took a relatively quick shower, just to wash the travel grime away, and ran back to my room to finish getting dressed. This was one of my favorite outfits, it always made me feel sexy and cute at the same time and it was comfy as all hell.
I finished off my look with my fringe hobo bag and put my hair into a bun to air dry. It always fell into long dark curls naturally, but this loosened it into a soft wave without much effort. I decided to add a little extra sex appeal with a dark smudged eye and some cherry chapstick. What can I say? I hate how gummy lipgloss can get.I grabbed a long gold pendant necklace and looped a fringe scarf around my neck, and I let my hair down and one last look in the mirror told me all I needed to know… I looked smokin' hot! As I pulled open my bedroom door I noticed Alice, Bella and Nessie were all waiting for me. They looked amazing as well, Alice was wearing a strapless black mini dress and red pumps, Nessie was in black skinny jeans, brown boots, and a flowing cream halter top, and Bella was wearing black shorts, a pair of super cute flats and a grey blouse.
"Wow, you look amazing!," Bella commented as I closed and locked my door.
"Thanks, you guys look great as well. So, let's get this night started. I'm totally ready to get my party on!" I yelled and did a fist pump in the air for emphasis. All three girls gave me the strangest look and just shook their heads. I am so going to have to ask about their reactions.
Am I really that weird?
We made our way over to the cafeteria chatting about everything and nothing at all. I don't know what it was about these girls, but they made me feel completely comfortable, like I could be myself, despite their sometimes strange reactions to my random energetic outbursts. It feels almost like they're expecting them. What the hell, no time like the present to ask about that.
"Um, Ali, why do you guys give me weird looks when I fist pump or snort when I laugh? I mean I know its weird but you guys look at me with like awe or something," I asked as we were nearing the dining hall. For some reason I knew if I asked Alice she would just tell me. She seemed rather no nonsense in her approach and I was beginning to love that about her.
"Its nothing really, you just are a lot like my brother Emmett, that's all. It's funny; you'll see when you meet him. I guess we're just surprised to find a girl version of him. I hope we didn't make you feel like uncomfortable or bad or anything." She replied, looking rather sheepish.
"No, just curious. This Emmett sounds awesome if he's anything like me," I winked at Alice and we both laughed.
As we arrived at the cafeteria I began to feel butterflies in my stomach. That's weird, I never get nervous about meeting new people, they either love me or hate me and I can deal with either.
"Oh, there they are!" I heard Nessie exclaim and as I turned around the earth shifted.
My eyes connected to the most gorgeous honey colored eyes I have ever seen. I could have stared at them all day, but they paled in comparison to the man they belonged to. He was easily the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. He was tall, at least 6'5" with short curly black hair and muscles that would make John Cena cry. That was all an alluring package, but when he smiled, he revealed the most amazing dimples I have ever seen. I knew I was in trouble.