JUST A REGULAR DAY

                                                                JUST A REGULAR DAY

The atmosphere was awkward. They all ate breakfast in silence. Everyone minding their business. For Luna and Gabrielle, their silence was as a result of fear and uncertainty. But as for Gabrielle's father, Richard Vander, his silence was from the hurt of her defiance.

Luna and Gabrielle threw stares at each other, as they ate. The situation was unusual. It had never been so in the Vander mansion. Gabrielle and her father were best of friends. They had a special bond. He was very close and attentive to her because he raised her by himself, choosing not to remarry. 

Richard Vander never saw himself being able to love another woman like he loved his wife, Elizabeth. So he stayed single, all through the past twenty years, he dedicatedy raised Gabrielle. 

He truly loved his daughter, and raised her to be the best that she could possibly be, to live up to the standard of the Vander legacy, the legacy of fearlessness. The Vander pack was the most feared packs amongst them all, and were the only pack with the true pure bloods. 

"Daddy?" she called, consciously setting her gaze on him to see how he'd react. "Yes sweetie?" he replied to her surprise. "So, what are you up to today? This she asked, not knowing what to say exactly, but she did in an attempt to break the awkwardness.

"Well, the usual. Going to office, attending board meetings and the rest... You know how my day usually is right?" "Yeah, I do", she replied cracking up a smile.

"And also, I'll be going over to see the witches. There's something I need to talk to them about." But he withheld he identity of the witch exactly he was to meet. Especially because of the presence of Luna. 

He didn't trust anyone who wasn't loyal to his pack. 

"So what are you gonna be up to today?" he asked. "You know, girl stuff. Am feeling a bit off today, so I thought it wise to take a day off and just relax, go out, and clear my mind",she said.

"That'll be okay. We do need to rest our bodies sometimes." He responded, finishing his meal, and taking  sip of water, before standing up from his chair at the dining table. 

Luna was speechless all through the meal. She thought it wise to stir clear, in order not to invite more trouble than there already is. 

"Have a great day dad." He turned, smiling at his little angel, Gabrielle, and said, "Have a great day too sweetie," walking out of the dining room to the living room, picked  his keys on a table in the ante room, he walked out of the front door.

Sitting in his car, he leaned into his seat and sighed a great sigh of relief. He hated last night. He had never had any altercation with his angel before. For the first time in a very long time, he was ever challenged, not by an adversary, but his own. 

The last person who had the guts to do so was his wife, Elizabeth. She was someone who stood for what she believed in, and could confront any about it. 

Seeing Gabrielle do so, didn't just hurt his ego, but also reminded him of his dear wife, his soul mate. The only woman he ever loved growing up, and the only one he pledged to spend the rest of his with. 

He cried sat in the car for a while, lost in thoughts. Then the mighty alpha, Richard Vander cried. But he pulled himself together, and started the car and drove off. 

Gabrielle could sense that her father had broken down. She had an unusual connectivity with him. They shared such a strong bond. It was sort of telepathical. They could feel each other's emotions. 

She fought tears from running down her eyes, preventing it from ruining her make up. 

Luna noticed Gabrielle was down cast, so she stood up from her chair and came behind her, hugged her and comforted her. 

"You know what, am taking you out, and making sure you get out of this state. You can't be this way. Alright?" Luna said, giving Gabrielle an assuring look. 

"Alright. Anything you say boss," Gabrielle replied.

They both picked their bags, and went out the front door. Gabrielle asked, "whose car are we using?" "Mine of course. Who else's would we use?" replied Luna as she winked with a smile at Gabrielle. 

As they say in the car, Luna turned on the stereo system of the car, playing an upbeat song to cheer up the moodiness of Gabrielle. 

"Now that's more like it," Luna said as she turned on the ignition, pressing the throttle, giving off the loud sound of the V7 engine that powered her car. 

"Woohoo! Now that's what am talking about," She said excitedly. Gabrielle smiled, getting into the flow as well. 

"Let's rock this town girl!" Luna shouted, as she sped off to the gate that was being opened s she started the car. Passing through the gate, she drove off speedily unto the road and was headed straight for the mall, one of her favorite places on earth. 

As they drove through the well organized streets of Fairway, the residents knew who was cruising around. In a town of 12,000 people, just about everyone knew everyone. So they didn't go unnoticed. 

The attention was exactly what Luna craved. But Gabrielle on the other hand, preferred being conservative. Being an introvert by nature, she loved keep to herself. But leadership would require her to come out of her shell. 

They pulled over at the parking lot of the mall, their bags in one hand, they made their way into the mall, walking majestically. 

Upon their entrance, they stood for a moment, surveying the mall. Looking at each other, they proceeded to the clothing section to begin their shopping there. 

They went through different racks of clothing, especially with Luna looking for the latest trend of the big brands. 

"What do you think of this Gabby?" Luna asked, holding up a blue armless dress. Coming towards Luna as she observed the design of the dress, she said, "This is too revealing. Anyone can see through it. Something not so see through would be more preferable. 

"Okay. How about this? Luna selected another, holding it out for Gabrielle to come have a look. Gabrielle replied, "that's more like it." 

It was a purple armless dress as well. But not see through. It was just fitting on her as she tried it out. 

"Well, now look at you? Aren't you just so gorgeous? Looking like royalty indeed, praised Luna. "Thank you," Gabrielle replied. 

"One down, many more to go," Luna said, as they went on making more selections from the clothing section, the shoes and accessories section as well. 

By the time they were done, they needed help getting the things they bought to the car. It was quite the shopping they did, and it was all paid for by Luna, as promised. 

From the mall, Luna took Gabrielle to the spa for a massage. On their way there, she said, "Gabby, you need to do away with all stress, physically and psychologically. Moreover, being a werewolf brings it own fair share of body aches when we transform."

"So we're gonna be doing away with that in a spa as we get massages. And you know what? I'm gonna request that it's a male masseuse who'll give us the massage." Luna said with a smirk on her face.

Gabrielle turned, looking at Luna, she said, "A male masseuse? That's not happening, as far as am concerned."

Luna protested, "Come on, think about it. A man's hand is more firmer, and it'll be able to hit the right spot."

"Not even a chance Luna, am I allowing a man to touch my body, let alone massage me? No friggin way," Gabrielle said firmly. 

"Alright, whatever you want. Whatever you want," Luna said, succumbing. 

Arriving at the spa, which was a ten minutes drive from the mall, they greeted the manager of the establishment. She was a werewolf too, from Luna's pack. But the people working there were humans. 

Getting into their robes, they began with a pedicure and manicure. Then they had a facial, and proceeded to get a full body massage. 

While laying face down on the massage table, Luna asked, "So, are you going to speak to your dad again? Gabrielle hesitated for a couple of seconds before she answered. "I hate myself for even saying this, but yes, I will."

"I am happy that we were okay this morning, but my joy wasn't full because I knew I'd have to face him again. I seems selfish but... But I have to do this," she said.

"I'll support you, all the way. I hope you know that right? Luna asked trying to reassure her friend, as they still laid face down on the massage table. "I know Luna. I know," she replied softly.