Chapter 5: Meeting The Cullens (1/2)
Navigating the maze-like hallways, Gabriel found a quiet corner and took a deep breath. High school was a strange experience for him, so different from the life he'd left behind. Back then, he'd been a skinny kid, always picked on because of his stutter and the signs of a rough childhood.
Pushing those dark memories aside, he focused on the present. He found the gym, a large room filled with the squeak of sneakers and the bounce of a basketball. Approaching the coach, a short, heavyset man in his 40s, Gabriel smiled.
"Good morning, Coach Clapp. I'm Gabriel, a new student."
Coach Clapp looked up, his eyes widening. "Whoa there, son! What'd you eat for breakfast, steroids?" He laughed loudly. "Welcome to Forks High. Head to the locker room and get changed. I left your gym clothes in locker 66." He eyed Gabriel's size again, muttering, "Though it might be a squeeze for a giant like you."
Gabriel silently chuckled, catching Coach Clapp's comment. He knew he stood out, a giant among the other teenagers.
In the locker room, he found locker 66. His clothes disappeared quickly as he changed into the standard gym uniform, a drab combo of a gray shirt and green shorts.
Gabriel grimaced as he pulled them on. The fabric clung tightly to his muscular frame, making him look more like a movie star playing a high schooler than an actual student.
"Well, at least I don't look like a dweeb," he muttered defiantly. Locking his locker, he headed back to gym class.
"Alright, Hudson! You and Cullen over there; you two look like you could bench press a house together! Today's a light day, basic exercises to get the blood pumping. Huddle up and let's get started!" Coach Clapp yelled, gesturing to Gabriel and another student.
Gabriel turned and saw another large guy across the gym, Emmett Cullen. They exchanged a quick look, then both grinned and walked towards each other.
"Man," Emmett said, amused, "I thought I was the only redwood in this school! You make me feel normal-sized for once."
"Seriously," Gabriel chuckled, relieved to find someone who wasn't intimidated by his size. "I was worried I'd accidentally flatten someone on my way here. You'll have to show me the ropes, giant-dude."
Emmett grinned widely. It looked like Gabriel's first class wouldn't be so bad after all.
They ran through the basics together, chatting easily as they did push-ups, sit-ups, sprints, and even some wall climbing. It felt like catching up with an old friend, despite just meeting.
"Wait, seriously?" Emmett exclaimed, grinning. "Your dad's Charles Hudson, the director of Heist Run? That movie was awesome! Are they making a sequel?"
"Yeah, I think he's filming it now," Gabriel laughed. "But keep it quiet, okay?"
Emmett made a mock salute. "Secret's safe with me, dude. Seriously though, what's your workout routine? I thought I was in good shape, but you're putting me to shame!"
Gabriel chuckled. He knew Emmett was probably downplaying his own strength. Still getting used to his new body, Gabriel might have overdone it a bit.
When the final whistle blew, signaling the end of gym class, Gabriel said goodbye to Emmett. They'd hit it off well, and Gabriel promised to join him at lunch for more conversation. It seemed the Cullens, despite their strength, struggled with the social aspects of high school.
Navigating the hallways again, Gabriel finally found his next class: biology. Realizing he was a bit late, he knocked on the door before entering.
"Sorry I'm late," he apologized, holding the door open with his foot. "I'm Gabriel Hudson, a new student. Couldn't find the room."
The teacher, a man with thinning hair and a surprised expression, nodded. "No worries, Mr. Hudson. We just started. Take the empty seat in the back corner, next to Miss Cullen."
Gabriel's head turned quickly toward the back of the classroom at the mention of the name. There, among the teenage faces, sat a striking woman with very blonde hair that fell in soft waves. Her sharp eyebrows framed golden eyes, and she had a quiet, intense presence that made her seem distant.
Their eyes met for a moment. Her golden eyes narrowed slightly, then widened in surprise before looking back down at her biology textbook. Curious and a little confused, Gabriel walked to the back of the class, dropped his bag, and carefully sat next to Rosalie Cullen.
He set his things down and turned to the silent vampire with a hesitant smile. "Hey there, I'm Gabriel. Nice to meet you."
Rosalie flinched at his voice, then slowly turned. Her lips curved into a faint smile. "Nice to meet you too, Gabriel," she replied, her voice cool but pleasant.
Before Gabriel could respond, Mr. Banner started his lecture. And that's when something remarkable happened.
Thanks to his special abilities, Gabriel had a photographic memory. His mind was busy as he absorbed every word, diagram, and concept Mr. Banner presented. It was like his brain was doing mental gymnastics, easily processing and storing the information. Every page, image, and word became etched in his memory, stored in a vast vault of knowledge.
A soft whisper beside him pulled him out of his near-trance. "So..." Rosalie murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "How are you liking Forks? I heard you were new. People gossip." Her golden eyes glanced at him briefly, showing curiosity.
Gabriel's jaw nearly hit the desk. Rosalie Cullen, the queen of icy indifference, was talking to him? His brain scrambled for a response. "Uh, yeah," he stammered. "Forks isn't bad. I like the cooler weather and the rain. And the forests are beautiful, though I haven't explored them yet."
A rare, genuine smile tugged at Rosalie's lips. "If you like hiking, Forks is perfect. My family and I go on hikes almost every week, just to get away." There was a hint of something unspoken in her voice.
'Smart,' Gabriel thought. 'One conversation and she'd already covered for potential absences.' He tapped his pen lightly on the table, pretending to be casual. "Speaking of family, Cullen... any relation to the giant dude, Emmett?"
Rosalie sighed dramatically. "Please tell me he hasn't gotten into trouble again. I swear, I'll have Jasmine give him another earful later."
'Jasmine? Who's Jasmine?' The confusion must have shown on Gabriel's face because Rosalie chuckled. "She's Emmett's girlfriend, the only one who can keep him in line. Sorry, didn't mean to insult him. He is my brother, after all."
The last piece of information hit Gabriel hard. Not a couple? His brain felt like it was rebooting, the sound of a Windows error screen flashing silently behind his eyes. 'What is going on here?!'
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