THE BILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR

~ Rebellious? No, just free. ~

POV: GABRIELLA BROOKS

"Welcome to Los Angelos" I read out what was written on the green signboard as we drove past it.

Finally

"I can't believe we are already here, I already miss you baby." My mother cooed as she turned her head slightly to look at me from the shotgun seat.

Miss me? Really? Like I haven't been in your sight for the past eighteen years of my existence.

"I'll miss you too mum" I played along with a fake enthusiastic smile on my face but deep down I couldn't wait to be away from her and my Dad.

"Oh..Don't miss us too much, we'll come to visit you at the dorm every month end" My Dad said as he swerved the car to the left entering another road.

Visit me? Why am i not surprised, Classic Brooks move.

"Yes dear, I.....

I tuned out whatever my Mother was going to say and looked out the window. The weather was chilly and I could feel my freedom getting closer with every building that we passed. Just few more minutes and I wouldn't need to hide who I truly am anymore, I wouldn't need to wear skirts down to my ankle just to get validation from my parents, i would be able to use cuss words freely, I would be able to step outside without anyone keeping track of my movements, I would finally be able to break free of the stereotype my parents had created for me.

"We are hereee" My Mother said in a singsong voice and that was when I realized we were already at the dorms.

Kill me.

"That was quick" I said and opened the door to step out of the car.

My parents did the same and my Dad opened the car trunk to bring out my luggage. I packed just one bag because everything I owned were basically things my parents liked or wanted me to like, especially in the aspect of clothes. And there was no way in hell I was going to bring those clothes with me to college.

"Thanks Dad" I smiled as I took the bag from him. "I can sign into the dorms on my own"

"What do you mean? We are already here, of course we should help you get settled in perfectly" My Mother smiled at me.

"Yes dear, if you feel pressured with the two of us, then I can wait in the car while your mom follows you to your room. So she can get to know if your roommate is a good kid or not. That way, we know we are leaving you in good hands" My Dad added while my Mum nodded her head in support.

The hell?

"Um...about that..." I touched the back of my neck. "I'm already in contact with my roommate, we thought it was best to get to know each other before we resumed. And she has a little family problem, her Mom got into an accident so she won't be resuming anytime soon." I lied like a pro while keeping my head up high so they wouldn't find any loopholes in my story.

"Oh my God, that's really bad." My Mum said with disappointment written all over face.

"But that....

"And you don't really see anybody around here entering the dormitory with their parents." I cut my Dad off. "How am I supposed to go into society if you do everything for me?" I asked rhetorically with a small voice.

"That's right my baby" My Mother suddenly agreed. "I can't believe you are all grown up"

"Yeah...it feels like only yesterday she was a baby and.......

"The weather is getting bad, you guys should go now" I cut my Dad off again. "I will miss you both so much" I hugged my Mum and my Dad joined in, making it a group hug.

"We'll call you later in the evening" My Mum said as they both got into the car.

"Bye" I waved my hands frantically as the car drove off, eventually.

Wasn't life beautiful? Maybe there is something here in the air at UCLA that made my parents leave easily because on a normal day, they would have had their way no matter what. I think I'm gonna love UCLA.

I brought my phone out of my handbag, probably the only thing my parents bought for me that I liked. I booked a taxi online and just scrolled through I*******m waiting for it to arrive. After about ten minutes, it finally arrived and I wasted no time putting my bag in the trunk and getting into the taxi.

We arrived at my destination and the driver helped me bring my bag out of the trunk. I looked at the apartment building in front of me that contained about four flats, two downstairs and two flats upstairs. I was happy about the decision I made to live alone, away from my parents wandering eyes. The money I was supposed to use to get a dorm space, I used it to rent a little one bedroom apartment off campus and I pray my parents never find out.

The apartment building was kind of old school and had no elevator, not like it was needed, because it was just two flats upstairs. I climbed the stairs with my bag in hand and it was starting to feel really heavy with every step I took and by the time I got to the top, I was breathing hard like crazy. I took a minute to catch my breath before bringing out my keys from my bag, I remember the house agent telling me my apartment was on the right. There was another door on the left and I think the agent said it was occupied too, I really couldn't wait to meet my neighbors and make friends with them.

I've never really had long time friends except my cousins, and I can't really count my cousins as friends, they are literally family. I have zero social skills but I hope i can change that here in LA.

I jammed the key into the key hole and opened the door, I walked into the apartment and was welcomed by cold air. Not like the air outside wasn't cold, but this was air conditioner kind of cold. I think they might have forgotten to turn it off, and by 'they', I meant the cleaning agency. I actually paid the agent to have the house cleaned the previous day and have the key waybilled to me.

I loved how the house was fully furnished, it was exactly like what I had seen in the photos. The walls were white and the floors were hardwood, I went to the kitchen space and saw that it had a microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher and basically everything I needed to survive college. I checked everything from the bathroom to the bedroom and what I loved most was the walk in closet. I literally cannot wait to buy and wear everything I really want.

This life is mine.

"it's time to go shopping and.......

The loud rumbling engine of what I presumed to be a motorcycle almost deafened my ears. i walked to the window of my living room and opened it to see what was happening, there was no way anyone in their right senses would make so much noise.

A black motorcycle was parked right in front of the apartment building and a boy covered in tattoos was getting down from it. He was wearing black shorts and a white baggy T shirt, he slowly removed the helmet from his head and I felt my mouth drop open. His ocean blue eyes were the first thing that caught me off guard, he had a cute button nose, his cheekbones looked like something out of a manhwa and i wasn't even exaggerating. He had stud earrings on and then his hair, it was all over his face and he brushed his hands through them making him look a hundred times more attractive.

Who was this fine shyt? He looked like the type of boy my mama always warned me to stay away from.

Well, being handsome was no excuse to make such noise. I quickly closed the window and made a mental note to buy curtains when I went for shopping later. I took my bag to the bedroom and began to offload everything. I arranged my skincare and perfumes on my dressing table and put my shower care and hygiene stuff in the small cupboard in the bathroom. I removed my iPad from the small compartment in the bag and turned it on, while others were busy having laptops, I was busy getting a iPad.

All that was left in the bag was my small backpack and clothes, clothes i probably will only be wearing anytime my parents comes to visit. I dragged the bag into my closet and jumped on my bed. I had to get a good nap so I could function properly when I go for shopping. The moment I closed my eyes, a loud hiphop song began playing and i wondered what was going on. I checked my phone and my iPad but the music wasn't playing from there, so where? I went to the living room and that was when i realized the music wasn't coming from my house but from the house next door.

What the actual hell?

I opened my door and could even hear the music more clearly, not even music, it was noise. I was actually bare footed but I didn't care because all I wanted was a good nap and nothing was going to get in the way of that. I walked over to the next flat and knocked on the door, there was no response and i used my two hands to bang on the door again.

I was about to knock again when the door abruptly opened and I was shocked to see the person standing in front of me. It was the motorcycle guy from earlier, and looking at him more closely, I realized he had really pink lips. And then the studs on his ears, they were so shiny. Wait...are those diamonds?

"What is it?" His deep baritone voice caught me off guard and I realized I had been staring at him all along.

He must think I'm crazy, I actually forgot why I came here in the first place. The music was no longer playing and I guess that was a good thing.

"Oh hi...i'm your neighbour, i stay in that flat over there" i pointed to my door. "I actually came to tell you that your music is very loud and I can't seem to sleep. So if you could please reduce the volume or better still, just turn it off. I would appreciate it." I said as politely as I could.

"The audacity" He scoffed and looked at me like I was joking.

Do i look like I'm joking?

"If you think I'd turn off my music just because you want to sleep, then you've got another thing coming." He looked me in the eyes as he said that. "So if you could please take your long skirt and get the fuck out of my door, I would appreciate it." He said in a way that mimicked my voice and proceeded to bang the door in my face.

Wow!

The music was playing again in no time and I was still standing there, I couldn't believe that he just spoke to me like that. No one in my eighteen years of existence has ever talked to me that rudely, neither have I ever talked to someone like that.

Just Wow! "A fine face doesn't really mean a fine heart" and that boy was the quote personified. And what did he say? Long skirt? Was that supposed to be an insult? I looked down at my flared skirt that was all the the way down to my ankle, I couldn't help but get angry at my parents for making me wear skirts like these. But still, he had no right talking shit about my skirt.

He was so going to hate having me as a neighbor.