THE ALPHA'S DESTINY (THE PROPHECY)

CHAPTER 6: HAZEL'S VIRGINITY

GABRIELLE'S POV

FLASHBACK: THREE DAYS AGO

"Gabby are you done in there?"

"No Dad. I'll be out in a minute."

I rolled my eyes and gave myself a once-over in the mirror. I hated being rushed.

I'm the type of b***h that accomplishes things at her own pace and make her own waves.

"I gotta sexy piece of ass," I giggled to myself and did a little twirl before I headed downstairs for breakfast.

I'm not a morning person.

My bitchometer was off the charts between the hours of 5 and 11 am. But since my Grandpa was gonna be in town for a couple of days, he made me promise him I'd be on my best behaviour.

I stepped into the hallway and was greeted with the most amazing smell.

"PANCAKES," I squeaked. "My faves."

I bolted downstairs towards the smell.

My mouth was already salivating.

I was stopped in my tracks when my eyes landed on the back of a tall and muscular frame with messy blonde hair.

What is this motherfucker doing here? I pondered to myself.

I watched as Dad patted his shoulder with pride.

He was laughing at whatever this douche was telling him.

My entire day was now ruined!

My dad's eyes finally met mine, he gave me the 'please behave yourself look.'

I straightened my shoulders and made my way over to Dad and Douche.

I plastered the brightest, not to mention the fakest smile on my face.

"Good morning, Dad," I stood on my tipped toes and kissed him on the cheek.

"Good morning, Princess."

"Where's Mom?"

"She wasn't feeling up to it today, so she slept in."

Great, I thought. If I had known king of the douche was gonna be here, I would have slept the f**k in too.

"Ok, I should probably go check on her then."

"No Princess, let her sleep. She needs it."

"Ok Dad, you're right," I nodded my head in understanding.

I practically forgot that that pile of s**t was standing next to us until he interrupted us with the clearing of his throat.

"Hey Princess, look who came home to visit." My Dad's eyes shone with adoration.

I wanted to puke.

My eyes shot over to that smug-faced piece of s**t.

I saw him eyeing me quizzically.

I folded my arms across my chest.

I was standing with my legs wide apart.

I was ready for war!

I was ready to verbally kill this asshole.

My eyes fired the first rounds of ammunition as they shot Chinese daggers at him.

I'm so sorry for what I'm about to do, Grandpa, but I'll make it up to you at Thanksgiving.

"If it isn't Mr Asshole of the century," I spat.

"So you do see me. I thought I was invisible, or you were becoming blind."

"No such luck to either of those motherfucker," I gave him a deadly glare.

"Kids please don't do this right now!" Dad tried to get us to behave civilized. "And Gabrielle, watch your language."

"Sorry, Dad," I sighed.

"You two were so close, but now you're like fire and ice." Dad pinched the bridge of his nose as he continued. "Look, I don't know what happened but please can't you guys let bygones be bygones?"

I could see the pain in Dad's eyes.

He didn't want his children to be at each other's throats like this.

I was about to wave a white flag, but then Mr Asshole had to go open his mouth and ruin any chance of peace.

"Yeah Gabz, I miss my little sister. Let's just hug it out," he made a pouty face as he held out his arms in an inviting way.

My hands were clenched into fists at my sides.

I felt the steam coming from my ears.

I saw red!

I was like a rabid dog ready to attack!

BOW-WOW MOTHERFUCKER!

He was just about to say something else when my right hook smashed into the side of his jaw.

"How dare you call me that!" My voice was laced with rancour.

"You don't get to f*****g call me that EVER again!" I spat through gritted teeth.

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks.

Dad stood between us, in case we needed an arbitrator.

"Gabrielle Felicity Smith! What has gotten into you?" Oh s**t, dad was using my full name. He was definitely pissed.

"What the f**k Gabby!" My brother held his jaw.

He spat blood onto the floor.

His dark brown eyes were as wide as an owl's.

I saw flashes of emotions behind them - Hurt and sadness, but one stood out the most - REGRET.

I didn't have time to revel in the satisfaction of punching this d**k in the face.

My focus was on the burning pain that was shooting up my hand.

"Motherfucker!" I yelled. My jaw clenched. My hand felt like it was on fire.

My Dad came over and examined it. "It's not broken, but it may be sprained. I'm going to get you some ice." I could only nod my head at this point.

Dad hurried over to a still shocked Gerard and held his face to look at the damage.

He recoiled in pain at Dad's touch.

GOOD. I smiled a little. That fucker is in pain.

I guess the pain in my hand is worth it then.

"Your lip is bleeding son. Nothing seems broken though, but you're also going to need ice."

I saw the nasty bruise forming on the left side of his face.

NICE.

"Don't you two dare move, I'll be right back," He announced in his dad voice.

He only used his dad voice when he was really pissed and both of us knew not to go against a command he issued in that tone.

I nodded in understanding.

Gerard went to sit on a small sofa near the window.

Dad shook his head in disillusionment and left.

The room was dead silent, apart from our rapid breathing.

I didn't dare glance over at my brother, and he dared not look my way either.

I paced back and forth, trying to see if it would help to alleviate the pain that was pulsating through my hand.

What the hell was taking Dad so long?

In walked our heavily pregnant Mom. "What's going on?" She mumbled groggily, wiping the sleep from her eyes with the back of her hand. "I thought I heard shouting," her eyes slowly opened and a warm smile graced her face as her eyes settled on me. "Hey, honey."

She waddled her way over to me.

She kinda reminded me of a penguin the way she was swaying from side to side.

I would have been laughing my ass off if we were in another setting.

But at that point, I felt ashamed of myself. I could't believe I said profanities In front of Dad.

I guess the award for the most disrespectful daughter of the year goes to yours truly.

Nice going, Gabz.

I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact with mom.

She realised this as her motherly instincts kicked in. "Honey, is something wrong?"

Her eyes began scanning the area, looking to see if there was any danger.

My Mom may be petite, but nobody messed with her kids and got away with it.

Her eyes stopped at the far end of the room.

"Gerard! You're home," her eyes beamed with excitement. She quickly made her way over to him.

He still had his palm over his jaw.

"Hi, Mom," he got up from his seat.

His 6ft height towered over mom's 5ft 5' frame.

She wrapped her tiny hands around his torso, and he draped his free hand over her shoulder.

"It's good to see you, sweetheart," mom sobbed.

The last time Gerard came to visit was last Christmas.

"It's good to see you too, Mom."

Mom pulled away from his hug and used the inside of her robe to wipe her tear-stained cheeks.

"Where's your Dad and Grandpa?" She directed her question at me.

I couldn't speak.

I just couldn't say a damn thing!

Her gaze fell on Gerard.

Her face twisted in shock. "Oh my God! What happened to your face?"

"Mom it's nothing, I'm fine. Really!"

They both sat on the sofa.

"No it's not nothing and you don't look fine," She examined his jaw. "Who did this to you?"

His eyes slowly met mine.

Mom followed his gaze.

She looked a little puzzled for a few seconds, but the look of hurt and heartbreak settled on her face as the realisation hit her.

It made my stomach churn.

I flung my head to the side and threw up.

I didn't see when mom got up from the sofa, but she was there holding my hair back as I vomited last night's meal.

"I'm here, honey," my Mom cooed.

"Sorry, it took me so long," Dad's voice rang through the room.

He threw an ice pack at Gerard, and then he walked over to mom and me.

"Genevieve darling, you're awake," he spoke as he handed me the other ice pack.

"Yes Barry, but do you mind telling me what the hell happened?"

"I wish I could darling. But I'm lost as well," he let out a sigh. "I think these two are the best ones to enlighten us," he asserted, gesturing his index finger between Gerard and me.

The cold sensation of the ice pack did wonders to ease the burn in my hand.

Dad came over and wrapped it in a bandage.

Mom was busy rubbing a foul-smelling ointment on Gerard's jaw that she explained would help with the inflammation.

"Dad?"

"Yes, Princess?"

I hung my head low in shame.

Dad let out a sigh and then placed his hand on my chin to tilt my head up, so he could look me in the eyes.

"What is it, Gabby?"

I started to cry.

"I'm sorry, Dad, for acting like a disrespectful brat," I flung my arms around him. He held the back of my head and brought my face to rest on his chest.

"Shh, it's alright Princess. Don't cry." My Dad's soothing voice lifted my spirit a little.

We stood there for a few more minutes before we parted.

My Dad used his thumbs to clear away the remaining tears on my face.

"Better?" He asked.

"Yes, better. Thanks, Dad," I giggled.

"Breakfast is ready!" Grandpa called from the kitchen.

The four of us went to take our seats, as Grandpa served breakfast.

Everyone was silently eating.

You could taste the awkward tension in the air.

It was so thick you could probably cut it with a knife.

"More pancakes, anyone?" Grandpa asked. "They Are hot, hot stuff."

Oh boy, Grandpa was so corny.

"Sure Grandpa," Gerard said, chuckling at grandpa's terrible pun. The tension slightly lifted.

"What the heck, a few more won't hurt my figure," Dad replied as he stabbed his fork in the stack of pancakes.

"Baby Gizelle says thank you, Grandpa," Mom declared as she too piles a few more on her plate, rubbing her belly.

I watched them eating their pancakes.

I wasn't hungry anymore.

In fact, I was too exhsusted, but Grandpa wasn't having it.

Oh! No.

I guess he still wanted to melt the glacier that was obviously still in the room.

I felt Grandpa's eyes on me.

I looked over to where he was sitting and saw him staring at me in amusement.

He had a mischievous smirk on his lips.

His chin was resting on his intertwined fingers.

He almost resembled that fat cat from the cartoon my brother used to love as a kid - What's the name of it again? - oh yes, Garfield and Friends.

"So how about you, MIKE TYSON, don't you want some more pancakes?"

HOLY f**k, HE DID NOT JUST SAY THAT!

Gerard's fork fell with a loud clunking noise to the floor.

Mom had an 'oh s**t' look on her face.

Dad's mouth was wide open in shock, showcasing the unchewed piece of pancake.

Grandpa's pearly whites were in full view. Leave it to this man to turn serious situations into a joke.

Suddenly, I heard booming laughter. I looked over and saw Gerard's eyes were shut tight as he erupted in laughter. I guess I didn't punch him hard enough.

Grandpa followed next, laughing like there was no tomorrow. He stretched his arm and gave Gerard, who was sitting next to him, a little squeeze on the shoulder.

"Dad, I don't appreciate you making fun of a situation like this," my dad said as he spat the unchewed pancake in a napkin.

"Relax Barry. I needed to break the stifling tension."

"Wesley, what are we going to do with you?" My mom added, trying her hardest not to laugh.

I, on the other hand, was still in shock that Gerard was laughing at the situation so soon. He caught on and said to grandpa. "She sure has a mean right hook."

Mom and Dad joined in on the laughter at this point. I looked over at Gerard. "It's ok sis. I don't blame you," he slumped back slightly in his chair. "After all, I am - how did you put it? - Mr Asshole of the century."

"No - did she really say that?"

"Yes Grandpa, she did."

Grandpa was laughing hard. Really, hard or was he choking? I couldn't tell the difference. "You are Grandpa's little spitfire. Just like your Grandma," he sighed. A little sadness twinkled in his eyes for a moment. "May her soul rest in peace." Grandpa regained his playfulness. "So Gerard, what did you do to piss off Tyson over here?"

Sweat started to break out on Gerard's face.

"Yeah bro, tell everyone why I'm so pissed at you."

Mom and Dad now focused on us again.

"Gabrielle, shut it!" Gerard warned.

"You two please don't start again," Dad begged.

I was pissed off all over again. Gerard saw the turmoil in my eyes. His eyes soften. Obviously, he didn't want me to spill his secret in front of everyone.

With him being the golden child, he had to keep up with his image.

"For what it's worth sis, I am truly sorry."

"I'm not the one you should apologise to, Asshole!" I got up from the table and kicked the chair.

I just wanted to go back to bed.

"Where do you think you are going, young lady?" Mom was trying to stand. It took her two tries before her rounded tummy finally let her up.

"Be careful, darling." My Dad was by her side in a second, with his hands positioned to catch her if she falls.

"Barry I'm pregnant, not handicapped, I can damn well take care of myself."

"Mom just let her go," Gerard let out.

"Both of you follow me to the living room NOW!"

We didn't wish to upset our Mom any further, so we did as she asked.

"Mom - I'm so - " She placed a finger on my lips, shushing me.

"I don't want to hear it, you two have been at it for a while now," she ran a hand through her long blonde hair. "At first I thought you two grew apart because Gerard left for College, but now I see that there's something deeper going on."

Gerard stared at his feet with his hands in his pockets.

Mom walked up to the coat closet that was beside the staircase. She opened it and said. "Get in."

Gerard and I looked at each other, flabbergasted.

"Mom, you do know we're not kids anymore?" Gerard questioned.

"Oh really? Because all I see is two immature kids who don't know how to sort out their differences," Mom stated without stopping for breath.

"NOW. GET. IN. THE. CLOSET. BOTH OF YOU!"

Seeing that neither of us was going to win against a hormonal pregnant lady, we stepped into the closet.

"This is ridiculous," Gerard mumbled.

"It may be," Mom replied as she grabbed a few wire hangers and an old umbrella from the closet.

"What the hell are you doing?" Gerard gave Mom a confusing look.

"Just removing anything that can be used to poke an eye out." She spoke the last part with her eyes on me. "Now you two have twenty minutes to sort out whatever it is you guys are fighting about."

"And what if we don't sort things out," I asked.

"Then so help me God, I will lay both of you over my lap and beat your asses into next summer," she responded, pointing the old umbrella at us. She sighed and then she closed the door.

I stood at one side of the closet. My face to the wall and my back to Gerard.

Gerard was leaning on the wall to the opposite end, whistling some annoying tune, while his hands were folded at his chest.

I was trying to think, but Gerard's whistling got louder and more annoying by the second.

"Would you please stop doing that?" I spun around to confront him. He had a smug smile on his face.

"Look, since we're already here. We should talk. Come on sis, it'll be like old times."

"You think this -" I gestured with my hands. "Is like old times?"

He straightened his shoulders. "Kinda."

"You thing this is a joke? This is nothing like old times Gerry. It's not like the time I broke your toy truck, and we fought for days until mom locked us in here until we made up." I let out an exaggerated sigh. I looked up and saw that Gerard had a huge grin on his face. "What the f**k are you grinning about?"

He took a deep breath and I could have sworn I noticed a small tear in his eye.

"You called me Gerry." His voice cracked and for the first time, I believed that he was sorry for what he did.

"Yeah - I guess I did," I mumbled.

"I miss you, Sis. I miss when you would call me Gerry and the way you use to look at me like - like I was your hero." I didn't miss the guilt in his speech. "I can't take back what I did, but tell me how to make it better."

"I miss you too Gerry but you didn't just hurt her, you broke her."

"I know, but believe me I was too drunk to remember anyt - " I cut him off.

"Don't tell me you're gonna blame it on the alcohol? How the hell do you take a girl's virginity and then forget about it the next day? That's bizarre, even for you."

Gerrard rubbed a hand over his forehead. "What did she tell you?"

"Everything," I deadpanned.

His face went pale. "Oh." He looked away from me.

"Oh Jesus Christ, Gerry - no-no - f**k No! She didn't give me details of the s*x. I don't think I would ever want to hear about your tiny d**k ploughing into my best friend's p***y? No, thank you, sir," I made a gagging sound.

"Ok," He sighed in relief. "I was pretty wasted that night. Two years later and I still don't remember everything that happened."

"You still don't recall having s*x with her?"

"Yes, I do. It took me months to remember though. It's just that I don't recall how I got that wasted. I could have sworn I had only one beer that night."

"Yeah, you were out of it. I remembered after Haze and I got home from the movies you and all your boys were drunk out of your minds. I had to call a cab for Larry and Dane, but Ethan stayed over because he couldn't remember his address to give to the driver. I led Ethan to the guest room and Haze led you to yours."

"Oh, I kinda remember that."

"Haze and I cleaned up the mess you guys made in the kitchen and living room. I was tired, so I went to bed and Haze said she was going to stay up and watch some TV. When I got to my room Ethan was there, and he was sitting on the bed."

"Wait, why was he in your room? Did you guys - I'm gonna kill that fucker." A small blush crept on my cheeks. I had the biggest crush on Ethan back then.

"We didn't have s*x -" Gerry let out the breath he was holding. "At least not that night." He punched the wall hard. I laughed as I remembered Ethan was terrified of my brother when we used to fool around back then.

"That son of a b***h - you wait till I see him when I go back to school," Gerry ran a hand over his face and then flinched. I guess he forgot that bruise I put there earlier. I knew I should have punched him harder.

"Anyway, Ethan and I got to talking, and we started making out - heavily."

"Woah, Woah! Can you please skip that part, I don't want to hear that shit."

"Okay. So, Haze walked in on us, and she gave us some more privacy. She went back to the living area. The next thing I know, I was waking up in Ethan's arms. I thought Haze just slept on the couch, but when I got to the living room she was nowhere to be seen. I then thought maybe she slept in the guest room, but again she wasn't there. I called her phone, and I heard it ringing in your bedroom, so I opened the door and saw you guys cuddled together in the sheets. Buck NAKED. Both your clothes were scattered all over. I didn't need a genius to tell me what happened. I managed to wake her up without disturbing you. It was Sunday, and she had to go home to get ready for church."

"Oh wow. I remembered waking up and remembering the kiss we shared, but that was it. You guys were gone when I got up. That's when Mom and Dad called and informed me that Grandma Ellen passed away. I was consumed in grief, so Ethan and I went over to Dane's and then I really got wasted."

"Yeah, I remember getting the call from Grandpa on my way back from dropping off Haze. I had to pull over at the side of the road. I texted Haze, and she told me she was going to come over later after church."

"I remembered she called me a couple of times but I didn't answer. I so regret not answering her. Why was I such a d**k?" Gerry sighed.

"I'm glad we can both agree on that," I poked his shoulder playfully. "When she came over that night, you were still not home. We both called you, but all we got was your voicemail. She held me in her arms until I fell asleep, but I guess she was too worried about you to go to sleep herself. I must have been sleeping for two, maybe three hours when I heard her sobbing in the room. I remembered asking her what's wrong, but she wouldn't say. It was my turn to hold her while she cried. She said she wanted to go home, so I called her Aunt to send a car for her. Before she left, she told me she never wanted to see you again."

"And let me guess, that's the moment you decided to karate kick my door down?"

"I sure f*****g did, and that's when I saw you snuggled between syphilis and gonorrhoea."

"s**t Sis, their names were Angel and Candy." Gerry laughed and shook his head.

"Whatever, those two still looked like walking STDs," I rolled my eyes.

"Anyway, I didn't even know she was going to be there."

"You'd have known if you answered her calls, plus she's my best friend and you took her virginity, of course, she was going to come over."

"I had no recollection at the time that we had s*x. All I remembered was that we kissed."

"It doesn't matter. It's Haze we're talking about. A girl who has been in love with you since she was ten."

"I tried to talk to her at Christmas, but she acted like I was invisible."

This boy is something else.

"Let me break it down for you because for someone on the Dean's list, you're slow as a snail. You took a girl's virginity, then you forgot about it the next day. She then caught you that same day in a threesome. You then left for college a week later, you didn't call or text her. Four months passed and you come home for Christmas and then decided that she should talk to you. I don't think so, buddy."

Gerard was paler than a ghost. "I see."

DING! DING! DING! We have a winner, ladies and gentlemen.

"What should I do?" He ran his hands over his hair and pulled hard.

"I can't tell you how to fix this Gerry, you have to do this on your own. After that day she went back in her shell, she started having panic attacks again, and she didn't visit for three months. Did you know that she was supposed to start her junior year with me that year - But because of what she went through with you, she told her aunt that she'll continue with homeschooling?"

"s**t! I'm sorry, Sis, will you forgive me?

"I will, but only if you get Haze to forgive you first."

"Ok deal."

"Deal."

We spoke about a few stuff from the good old days. Like the time we egged Mr Monroe's car.

"Yo Gerry, that's classic. I heard it took months for him to get rid of the smell."

We were laughing and joking that we didn't notice Mom standing at the door smiling triumphantly at us.

"I see you two have made up," She said winking at us.

"Yeah," we both replied in unison.

Dad and Grandpa came to join us in the living room. They, too, were happy that Gerry and I were now on amicable terms.

Gerry checked his phone."Oh, Mom and Dad, I forgot to tell you that a friend is coming to visit."

"When?" Mom asked.

"In the next couple of minutes."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? You know I don't like to look like a slob in front of guests."

"Don't worry Mom, you are always beautiful."

"Thanks, Son."

"Is he cute?"

Gerry rolled his eyes at my question.

"She -" He emphasised. "Is a friend of mine from college."

"Is she your girlfriend?" I smirked.

"What? No."

"But I bet you're sleeping with her?"

He looked down in guilt.

"What does that got to do with anything? We may have hooked up a few times, but she is just my friend."

"Gerard Christopher Smith, you're saying you are sleeping with a girl who is not your girlfriend?" Mom yelled.

This is getting good. Mom's using his full name and s**t - this is juicy. The only thing missing is some popcorn.

"Mom I'm 21, who I sleep with is nobody's business plus hooking up with a girl doesn't make her my girlfriend."

"Ok, but I hope you're at least using protection." Mom warned.

That's it? I guess it's up to me to stir the pot.

"So where's she from? I asked.

"She's from Toronto. We met freshman year, and we've been buddies ever since."

"You mean you guys have been f**k-buddies ever since," I swallowed my laugh when I saw the look mom gave me.

"Seriously Gabz. We're just friends. She's not girlfriend material."

"Oh - ok then. You see why I think you're an asshole?"

He rolled his eyes at me.

"By the way, what's hooking up?" Mom asked.

Oh! My God. Old people.

Before Gerard or myself could answer, Grandpa came to the rescue.

"Hooking up, my dear is just s*x with a person. No strings attached, no commitment and no expectations. It's like they scratch my back and I scratch their's in return."

Way to school her Grandpa, I couldn't have said it better.

"Oh, " Mom looked a bit disgusted.

"Don't worry Mom, it's okay as long as both parties involved are both on the same page," I added.

Mom was nodding her head in understanding.

"So does that mean you have done some hooking up of your own?" Dad was giving me a 'be careful of what you say next' look.

My heart went crazy in my chest. I said the only thing that I could think of. "Dad, I'm a virgin?" It sounded more like a question than a statement.

Dad beamed with pride at my answer. "That's my Princess."

Mom was looking amused while Grandpa nodded in approval.

We all noticed that Gerard was now having a coughing fit.

"Son are you ok?" Dad asked.

Gerry couldn't talk through his coughs, so he just gave Dad a thumbs up.

He was still hacking away.

The veins on his bruised face were popping out.

He looked like a person who was trying to hold in a colossal fart.

He looked like he was going to explode. Mom hurried over and patted his back. She looked perturbed.

"Here take this," Grandpa handed him a bottled water. Gerry wasted no time as he emptied it in one massive gulp.

I wondered what caused that. Maybe he swallowed a fly or something.

"Gerry are you sure you're ok?" I asked a little concerned.

"Oh yes, Sis. I'm good, especially since I know you're still a virgin," he winked.

Why this little s**t face. He really wants me to commit murder.

He was about to say something else when he was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.

Thank God. I'm literally saved by the bell