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[color=7c0a02] G A B R I E L   H E R N A N D E Z [/color]
 [color=gray]G A B R I E L   H E R N A N D E Z [/color]
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[color=7c0a02]P O R T   C A N A V E R A L ,   F L O R I D A [/color]
 [color=darkgray]P O R T   C A N A V E R A L ,   F L O R I D A [/color]
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[color=7c0a02]_______________________________________________[/color]
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	To say the least, the past week had been downright shitty. Earlier in the week, Gabriel had had an interview with Alternative Press that had turned south rather quickly. The Interviewer, a man close to his age, began the session like any other. He asked Gabriel about the band, the direction they were heading, the next upcoming album and tour, and how he was doing. Everything seemed like a typical interview with the second-largest musician magazine. Gabriel's assistant, Cole, had informed him that the magazine would be sponsoring their next tour in Europe, their most extensive tour yet. Naturally, Gabriel put on his best leather jacket and tucked in his shirt. With a smile on his face, Gabriel answered without a problem. He needed to get his act together. Get back into the groove of things for his band and his lively hood.

	Of course, that didn't last very long. The questions took a personal turn after the man asked Gabriel about his love life. Gabriel, being the good professional man he was, answered every question with a wavering smile on his face. These people just wanted any kinds of crumbs thrown their way—anything to get a glimpse of Gabriel's private life. The tiniest detail would send tabloids wild. Always waiting for any slip-up, any cracks, [i]anything.[/i]

	 Who was his daughter's mother? Were they still together? Why was Gabriel so private about his personal life? Did his band member know his daughter? Why was Gabriel never seen around women? Was he gay? Bisexual? Was his lack of motivation the reason the band was falling apart? 

	Gabriel had handled every question with questionable tolerance. A few more minutes and the interview would be over. A few more minutes, and he could go home, plop down on his couch and get high. This was nothing he hadn't handled in the past! Gabriel had this under control. Easy peasy, as they say. This man was just another nosy interviewer trying to milk any details they could. Unfortunately, the man asked his last question.  

	[i]Who is Daniel?[/i]

	Every bone in Gabriel's body tensed up, hearing that. His face paled, and his fingers gripped the hem of his leather jacket. One little question, one mention of that name, and he was back there. Gabriel could feel those cold hands on the back of his neck, over his chest, over his mouth, slowly suffocating him. Pulling the life out of him insult after insult; you after beating. He could hear his assistant, somewhere to his right, call his name. An argument broke out around Gabriel, but all he could do was stare at the man's growing smirk on his face. 

	He knew. He fucking knew. 

	Without a hint of hesitation, he stood and walked over to the man. Gabriel doesn't remember what he said; all he remembered was punching the man square on the nose. After that, well, the tabloids already covered that. 


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	[b]WEDDING MARCH OR WEDDING LINE:  IS LILY REIGAN BACK AT IT AGAIN[/b]

	Gabriel looked down at the magazine cover his assistant had handed him while in the limo. 

	[color=427ea9]"Looks like someone took the covers instead of you."[/color] Cole snorted as he pulled out his phone from his bag. Gabriel's assistant was a muscled man with large blue eyes and dirty blond hair. He had an aurora around him that screamed, "don't fuck with me." 

	[color=7c0a02]"Most of the covers."[/color] Gabriel corrected, eyes trained on Lily Reigan wearing some wedding dress. Smart woman. Using the vultures as free publicity. [color=7c0a02]"Rather her than a picture of me punching that fucking guy."[/color] Although most of the biggest tabloids had spared the cover for Ms. Reigan, he had still trended alongside her on Twitter. He discarded the magazine and pulled on his favorite leather jacket. 

	[color=427ea9]"Maybe you should thank her and her team."[/color] Cole mused with a smile, glancing up at Gabriel. [color=427ea9]"A fruit basket would be nice. Add some wine and a merch shirt."[/color]

	Gabriel rolled his eyes at his assistant.[color=7c0a02][i] Haha, funny[/i][/color],Gabriel thought but kept his sarcastic thought to himself. They were nearing the drop off zone for the cruise, and just the thought of being out on the sea for the next week made Gabriel feel like jelly. He'd miss his daughter, but even if he stayed, he wouldn't be able to spend Christmas with her. He had promised Marisol to FaceTime her every day before bed and send him pictures of the sea every time he could; in exchange, she would send him all sorts of pictures. He expected dog pictures with ugly sweaters and a photo or two of Marisol's mother cooking. While they had been separated for almost six years now, both of them continued to have a good relationship. He was glad Marisol had been spared from a messy divorce. 

	[color=7c0a02]"We're here."[/color] Cole interrupted Gabriel's thought as he climbed out of the limo. He allowed the cruise staff to gather the luggage from the trunk while he turned to face Gabriel as he climbed out. [color=7c0a02]"Remember, have fun, don't think about what happened these past days, stay away from Twitter, and for the love of God, don't fall into your bad habits."[/color]

	[color=7c0a02]"Anything else, mother?"[/color] Gabriel flashed Cole a smile. He didn't was him to worry and make a fuzz. Knowing Cole, he would probably be glued to his phone, refreshing his messages and DMs in case Gabriel slipped up or sent a message his way. [color=7c0a02]"You relax and spend the week away from your phone. Pay attention to your spouse. They will kill me, you know how Ale gets when they don't get enough attention from you."[/color] Gabriel squeezed Cole's shoulder; besides them, the staff was already taking the luggage into the ship. 

	[color=7c0a02]"See you in a week,"[/color] Gabriel turned on his heels and slipped on his Cartier sunglasses. A staff member greeted him by the VIP gate with a smile, all the while people from the other lines looked his way. He heard his name and a quick flash of lights shortly after. [i][color=7c0a02]Great.[/color][/i] Gabriel turned to wave as more people recognized him. He took a selfie here and there while moving up the line. He could tell that the staff member was getting tired of waiting around for Gabriel, so he took the last selfie and hurried up the line. Luckily, none of the people had asked about the interview. 

	Once in the VIP deck, Gabriel gave a once over the people there along with their attire. Well, it looked like he would have to follow Cole's advice and thank a certain someone for sparing him the tabloid covers. That would have to wait, at least until they got to the speed dating. Was that really what they were doing? Seriously, speed dating? Oh right, this was supposed to be some kind of matchmaking cruise for the rich, something that Gabriel had completely forgotten. Whatever, it wasn't like he would actually try to search for someone. He was not. Gabriel still had too much shit going on in his life to involve someone else. Not only that, but it seemed like someone else was trying to slither back in. 

	Gabriel declined the champagne when a waiter offered the tray and asked for apple cider instead. He glanced over to the many faces, some he recognized and others he did not and wondered how Gabriel would fare with them. He would at least try to stay sober for the next week- hopefully. Just thinking about it made him want to dig into his pocket and pull out the small bottle of blue pills. 

	[color=7c0a02]"Relax, you got this. One week."[/color] Gabriel whispered to himself as he drank from the flute, hand already shaking. Great.
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