Chapter 1 - The First Time We Met
1396 Words
Lakeshore 2010
Gabrielle's POV
That was 10 years ago, but the memories of that tragic night still haunt me even in my sleep. Too many questions left unanswered, who killed my mom?
Where is my stepdad? If he was the one who killed my mom, where is he, and why did he do it?
After that frightful night, Tony, my savior and now my foster dad, brought me to his house and raised me as his own.
He was never married, so he lived alone and ran his Auto shop on his own. I practically grew up holding wrenches instead of Barbie dolls or teddy bears, but hey, I'm not complaining.
I love helping my foster dad in the shop. He taught me how to repair a car or motorcycle after school.
We never talked about that fateful night. We've reported my missing stepfather as the main suspect and abusing me physically and my late mom.
The police have been looking for him for years now, but no trace was found. Is he alive? Is he dead? Where is he?
And because he was not found, my dad Tony, enrolled me in a self-defense class and always asked me to bring my pepper spray if I'd be needing it.
I was an introverted girl growing up. I stayed away from big crowds and kept to myself.
People at school will look at me differently, but who cares? I want to be left alone. I have one friend at school, Tricia, but even she gave me space.
She knows my story, and she understands the reason why I am what I am. I am now in my senior year, and despite being an introvert, I am at the top of my class.
I dedicated my time to studying if I'm not in a car or repairing a motorcycle.
But most of the time, I am at the cemetery talking to my mom. I miss her terribly, but I also thank her for saving me that night because if she didn't push me out of the door, I would probably be with her on the ground.
I tell my mom everything. It's like she is with me always. I always bring a sketch pad and a piece of paper whenever I visit her, sometimes I draw or write a letter to pass the time.
A letter addressed to no one in particular. I write what I feel, my fears, my dreams. I pour my heart out in these letters, and I then erase them afterward.
But all that was about to change. One letter will change my destiny forever.
" Gabby, you're going to be late for school! Wake up and eat your breakfast!" Gabby was awakened by her father's loud voice, telling her to get up or she'll be late for school.
" Uuuurgh, I'm coming!" she screamed, annoyed because she still wants to sleep.
She slept late last night because she was up writing her letter again. She fell asleep, still holding her pen, and the letter is a bit crumpled.
Because she doesn't want to be late, she just folded the letter and put it in her book. She knows that her dad is right, she has to get up if she doesn't want to be late for school, and Gabrielle Fuentez is never late, EVER.
She went to her closet, took out some clothes for school consisting of tattered jeans, a black crop top, and her leather jacket.
She then went into the shower. After a few minutes, she's ready and went down to have her breakfast.
" Good morning, Princess, now hurry up, or you'll be late." Greeted her dad.
" Morning, dad, I'm just going to grab an apple, and I'm good to go." She answered.
" Okay, let's go! I'll drop you off at school and then go to the shop." Said Tony.
"Mmmkay," answered Gabby while biting on her apple.
When they arrive at school, she just kissed her father goodbye and went out of the car.
She was confused with the people around her. They all seemed agitated or excited.
She went inside the school, and the same scenario greeted her in the hallway.
Everyone is talking excitedly, girls are checking on their makeup, and they wore super short skirts.
I went straight to my locker and as usual my only friend, Tricia is waiting for me there. She also looked excited and happy?
" Hey, girl wazzup?!" I greeted her.
" Hey, giiiirrl! what took you so long?" Tricia whine.
" What's up with you? and what's this fuss all about?! Why are people waiting outside and in the hallway excitedly? Are there celebrities coming to school?" She asked Tricia, still bewildered by what's going on around her.
" Haha, you could say that it's not exactly a celebrity, but a significant person is coming to school today." Answered Tricia in a very excited tone.
Have I told you about my school? This is one of the biggest and prestigious schools in Lakeshore and also the weirdest.
The people here are different. They act so strangely and weird around me that they are disgusted with me.
They looked at me differently whenever I'm around, always in groups, never alone, unlike me.
Only Tricia was crazy enough to approach me and befriended me, and since then, we're inseparable.
Suddenly, screaming was heard from the girls outside and in the hallway while the boys were on alert.
Four men wearing all black entered the school lobby and told the students to give way for someone.
Whoever it is, he must be very important. Then everyone turned quiet when a man entered the hallway, his tall, about 6 feet tall.
He has dark brown curly hair and a dark complexion. He exudes confidence and power.
He walked in their direction, but he suddenly stopped in front of them and looked at Tricia, smiling.
" Hey, little cuz, good to see you again. How are you?" He said, smiling and looking at Tricia.
" Hello, dear long-lost cousin, nice to see you too, and welcome back." Answered Tricia smiling as well. But to her dismay, her cousin is not looking at her anymore but at the girl beside her.
" Aahhhm cuz this is my best friend Gabrielle, Gabby this is my long lost cousin Alphh. I mean, Alaric." Tricia stammered, looking back and forth at the two. They seemed lost in their own world.
" Hi, I'm Alph...I mean Alaric, pleased to meet you," said Alaric while extending his hand.
" Hello, Gabrielle or Gabby, nice to meet you too" Gabrielle reached out her hand as well to shake Alaric's hand, but what he did shook her heart.
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it ever so gently, as soon as their hand touched sparks flew, she felt like she was electrocuted then she heard someone said "Mate!"
"What?!" she turned to Tricia thinking it was her who she just heard.
" What what?' asked the puzzled Tricia.
" Did you say something just now?" asked Gabrielle.
" Nooo.." Tricia answered, shaking her head.
"Oh, okay, I thought I heard someone say, Mate?" Gabrielle replied, confused.
Alaric, on the other hand, looked different. His eyes changed color when he stared at her.
At first, his eyes were the bluest eyes she had ever seen, but it turned gold like it was glowing when he took her hand.
She withdrew her hand right away and bolted. She walked to her first class and took a seat.
Her breathing was erratic. It seems like she took a 100-meter dash. Tricia was right behind her calling her and shouted goodbye to her cousin, but Alaric smiled widely.
" What happened, Gab? Why did you run? What's wrong?" asked the concerned Trisha.
" Nothing, Trish! I don't want to be late for our first-class, that's all. Besides, you know me, I hate being late and miss some important lessons." Gabrielle explained to her friend but omitting the part where she felt the electricity when Alaric touched her.
" You sure?" Tricia asked again, curiosity written on her face. Her friend is acting weird all of a sudden.
" Yeah, I'm sure," Gabby again replied but avoiding her friend's stare. Then the sound of the bell broke the tension, and their class began.
- Writer
