"Are you my father?"
"No, I am not"
Those words keep repeating themselves in my head as I sit in the taxi.
I left home about an hour ago and I still have no idea where the fuck I'm going.
"Did you know?"
"I- I did."
Screw Asher!
SCREW HIM!
He knew this entire time and he never told me.
The only thing I'm confused about is how he knew.
I mean, Jonathan knew because he found out about the affair but how did Asher know?
It's not like he and Jonathan are close...
It doesn't matter though, he still should have told me.
"Miss, we've been driving in circles for the past hour, are you sure you can afford this?" The taxi driver says while pointing at the meter which has almost reached $100.
"I can afford it," I say dryly.
He just shrugs before turning back around to face the road.
What the fuck do I even do now?
I'm not sure if I'm ready to meet Grayson yet and I don't plan on going home anytime soon.
My thoughts were cut off when I felt my phone begin to buzz...again.
Thinking it was Asher, I was about to decline it again until I noticed the screen read "Jess".
It doesn't surprise me that Asher has told them.
I sigh before picking up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Oh thank god! Where are you? We've been looking everywhere for you. Are you okay?" He says quickly and sounds out of breath.
"We?"
"Yes! Me, Xander, Axton, Asher."
"Oh. I'm fine." I mutter.
"Where are you?"
"Doesn't matter, I'm fine."
"Alyssa! Please tell us!" He begs.
"I-" I hesitated for a moment.
Maybe it's best if I'm not alone.
"I'll tell you as long as Asher stays the fuck away from me."
I hear him mumble something on the other end before he finally replies.
"Okay, we just sent him home. Now, where are you?"
"Meet me at the cemetery my mom's buried in," I mumbled before hanging up the phone.
I feel bad for being so rude to Jess, especially after all he and his family have done for me, but right now all I can think about is my shitty "family".
After about 15 minutes, the driver drops me off at the cemetery and I make sure to tip him extra since he had to witness me ugly crying for over 30 minutes.
I notice that the boys aren't here yet which is a relief because it gives me time to talk to my mom.
"Hi, mom..."
"What are you doing?"
"Talking to her."
"Why?"
"It makes me feel like she's still here. You try."
Fuck, I need to stop thinking about Asher.
"A lot of things happened today...I found out about my real dad and how shitty of a husband Jonathan was to you."
"I'm so so sorry you had to go through something so horrible. I know you're in a better place and at peace now."
"I know you would be disappointed if you saw how Asher and I are fighting but mom, he lied to me! He knew the truth and didn't tell me! I always tell him everything, no matter how bad it is. Right now, I don't know if I could ever forgive him."
"As for Jonathan, I'm never forgiving him. But not just for what he put me through but mainly for what he did to you. He hurt you in more ways than one and you were trapped in an abusive marriage. He's disgusting."
"I hope you know that I'm not mad at you for any of this. I understand why you did what you did and why you had to keep it from me. I love you so much." I whisper while leaning my head against the headstone and wiping away some of my tears.
"Alyssa!" I hear Xander's voice from the entrance.
I don't bother moving though, they know where her grave is.
I just continue rereading the words on the headstone.
"Alyssa! Thank god." I gasp when I feel three pairs of arms wrap around me tightly.
"I'm fine guys," I say before pulling away from them.
"Fuck, we were worried sick. When Asher told us you ran away, we automatically thought the worst." Axton says.
"What did he say happened?" I ask.
"He told us that when he came home, you, your dad, and Macy were fighting and that you completely shattered everything in your room and then you grabbed all your things and ran out of the house," Jesse explains.
"So he didn't tell you why I ran away," I ask.
They all shake their heads.
"Of course, he fucking didn't." I sigh.
"Woah...since when do you cuss?" Xander gasps.
"Since I found out that my whole family fucking sucks," I mutter.
"What happened?" Axton asks.
"It's a long story." I shrug.
"We have time," Jess says.
"How about we go take a drive and talk about it?" Xander suggests.
I think it over for a moment before nodding and following them to Xander's car.
Jess and Axton take the seats in the back while Xander and I sit in the front.
"Alright, tell us everything," Axton says.
I take a deep breath and hesitate for a couple of minutes.
Well, here goes nothing.
"It all started the night Asher went missing. That night, Macy had a man over...Dr.Moore."
"What?! You mean the doctor who treated Asher in the hospital?" Jesse gasps.
"Yeah. Anyways, he and Macy were getting "comfy" and while that was happening, he caught me staring at them. I promise I wasn't trying to be a "peeping tom" or anything but when he caught me, he wouldn't look away."
"Wait wait wait! You're telling me that this grown-ass man was watching YOU while he and Macy were doing sexual things?!" Jesse yells.
"Why aren't you two shocked?" He asks the brothers.
"Because they already know," I reply.
"What?! And you didn't tell me?! I'm gonna kill you both." Jesse threatens.
"JUST WAIT! I know it's fucking weird but this isn't the end of the story." I say.
He quickly shuts up before I continue.
"A few days after Asher was released from the hospital, Jonathan had a dinner party with some of his friends. One of the said friends was Dr.Moore. You should have seen Macy's face, she looked like she was about to throw up. Anyways, towards the end of the party, Ash and I got bored and he suggested that we go into the city and do something. Once I made it to my room, Dr.Moore was there and he shut the door so I wouldn't leave-"
"WHAT?!" Xander yells.
"JUST SHUT UP AND LET ME FINISH!" I let out a frustrated laugh.
"Sorry..." He mumbles.
"He kept telling me how much I look like my mom and it started getting annoying then he said 'how well do you know your family?'. I was obviously confused and questioned him about it and then he said something about my dad not being my real dad." I pause for a moment to take a breath while I hear the boys gasp.
"Before he left, he handed me a flash drive with a bunch of information about my real dad. I was confused and frustrated and automatically started to question everything, you know?" I ask before they all nod.
"Anyways, I refused to watch whatever was on the flash drive until after I got back from France because I didn't want my mood ruined while I'm there, so I just left it in a drawer while I was gone. However, even while I was there, all I could think about was what Dr.Moore told me."
"Is that why you were avoiding all of Asher's calls?" Axton asks.
"Yeah, I just kept thinking about whether or not he knew about my dad."
"There's no way Asher knew," Jesse says.
Little do you know...
"When I got home earlier, I finally watched the video on the flash drive and-"
Oh god here comes the fucking waterworks again.
"Take your time." I feel Axton place his hand on my shoulder in a comforting way.
"It was a video of a man named Grayson Hart...my father."
"Are you sure he's your dad?" Axton asks.
"He looks like me," I say.
"He told me that he and my mom worked together for years and that he found out that my mom was in an abusive relationship with Jonathan after he found her on the floor one night bruised and bloody."
"Holy shit." I hear Xander gasp.
"He said that he let my mom and Asher stay with him for a while until she was forced to go back. He said that he and my mom fell in love and the night before she left, I was conceived and he never saw her again."
"Then he said that Jonathan knew I wasn't his kid right away and threatened him saying that if he ever contacted me or my mother ever again, he would send someone to kill him."
"Holy shit Lyss!" Jesse sighs.
"He said that he tried looking for us but never found us. He told me about how he found out about her death and that he finally saw me when he snuck into her funeral."
"Apparently, he and Dr.Moore have been working together for a while now and when he found out about his affair with Macy, he knew that that was his chance to reach out to me."
"He ended it by saying that he has physical proof and that he would love to explain to me in person and gave me his phone number."
"When I finished watching the video, it's like something snapped. I started breaking everything in my path and I almost hit Jonathan with a lamp. I even slapped Macy in the face after I found out that he and her started their affair while my mom was alive. Once Asher came home, that's when I asked Jonathan if he were my dad and he said 'no'. Then when I asked Asher if he knew, he said he did."
"That's why I left." I finish and look around the car to see all the boys with their jaws dropped.
"Fuck Lyss...I'm so sorry you had to go through something like that." Axton says before wrapping his arms around my seat and hugging me.
"I can't even imagine what you went through," Xander adds.
"I hope Jonathan goes to hell and the next time I see Ash, I'm beating the shit out of him," Jesse says.
"Count me in."
"Me too." The Mitchells add.
"I just- I don't know what to do and where to go," I mumble.
"You are staying with us," Xander says.
"But-"
"No 'buts' Lyss, there is no way in hell we are letting you stay anywhere else. You are safe with us and we'll make sure that Asher keeps his distance until you're ready to speak with him."
"Thank you," I mumble.
"I think you should reach out to your dad," Axton says.
"WHAT?! No! What if he's some fucking serial killer!" Xander yells.
"Then we'll go with her to make sure he isn't," Jesse says.
"I'm not sure if I'm ready to meet him yet," I mumble.
"Take your time, Lyss. As of right now, you need to rest and eat." Xander says as we park the car in front of the building his penthouse is in.
We all get out of the car and make our way upstairs.
I'm fucking drained.
My brain hurts.
My body hurts.
Even my fucking heart hurts.
"Go take a shower and relax, we'll make dinner and pick a movie," Axton says as he gently pushes me up the stairs towards the guest bedroom I'm all too familiar with.
"Thank you," I mumble before making my way into the bathroom.
I haven't checked my phone in a while.
Once I take it out, I find my screen full of notifications.
47 missed calls, 126 texts, and 27 voicemails all from Asher.
Some missed calls and texts from the boys that I didn't see before.
And of course...nothing from Jonathan.
I don't know why that bothered me, he's not even my dad.
I put my phone and bag on the bed before stripping and getting into the shower.
"I love you Lyss."
Lies.
It's all fucking Lies.
If you loved my Asher, you would have told me the fucking truth.
Maybe I should call Grayson.
I just want to know the truth.
I'm tired of being lied to.
I continue to think everything through during the longest shower of my life.
"Lyss? Are you okay?" I hear Jesse's voice.
"Yeah! I'm fine." I replied.
"Okay! Food is almost ready!"
"I'll be down soon."
"Okay!"
I hear him shut the door and I finally get out of the shower.
Shit! I forgot my clothes.
I sigh as I make my way back into the bedroom and gasp when I find a pair of pink pajama pants with a matching top and a giant black hoodie on the bed.
I hear my stomach growl and I quickly end whatever argument I had in my head about whether or not I should wear the clothes and put them on.
I quickly spray some detangler and brush out the knots in my hair before finally making my way downstairs.
"Uh...whose clothes are these?" I ask as soon as I walk into the kitchen that currently smells like an Italian restaurant.
"They're Arya's, don't worry and the hoodie is mine," Xander replies while scooping some spaghetti into a bowl and handing it to me.
"Did the shower help?" Jess asks.
"A little," I mumble while picking at the food.
"Alyssa...you need to eat," Axton says.
"I know," I mumble before finally taking a bite.
I'm usually a pretty good eater but right now, I can barely get myself to eat a second bite.
"I uh- I think I'm gonna call Grayson." I blurt.
They all stop mid-bite and look at me wide-eyed.
"Are you sure?" Xander asks.
"Yeah. As long as you guys promise to come with me."
"Of course," Jess reassured.
"When you call him, tell him to meet you at the diner Arya and Ryan work at," Axton says.
That's actually a great idea.
"Therefore, the three of us can sit in a booth next to you guys and listen in case something happens." He continues.
"Okay. Should I call him now?" I ask.
"If you're ready, then yes," Xander says.
"I'm ready," I mumble before grabbing my phone and dialing his number.
I put the phone on speaker and the boys all stayed completely quiet.
I feel my hands shake as the phone rings.
"Hello?" I hear his voice.
This was a mistake.
I should end the call.
I let out a small gasp when I feel a small nudge on my shoulder.
"Say something." Jess mouths.
"Oh uh- may I speak with Grayson Hart please?" I stutter.
"This is he, may I ask who's speaking?"
"Hi...my name is Alyssa...Alyssa Phoenix." I mumble.
I hear him gasp which causes me to hold my breath.
I feel the boys wrap their hands around one of my shaking ones.
"Alyssa...hi!" He says, his voice sounding happy and shocked.
"Uh hi...I uh I watched your video."
"I understand if you think I'm crazy-"
"I don't think you're lying," I reassure him.
"Oh, thank god..." He lets out a breath of relief.
"I was calling you because I wanted to meet you."
"Alyssa I- I would love that."
"When are you free?" I ask.
I feel my breathing grow ragged and I think I'm about to pass out.
"Breathe," Axton whispers.
"I'm free next Wednesday. Where would you like to meet?" He asks.
"Can you meet me at Cherry's Diner at noon for lunch?"
"That works perfectly!"
"Okay."
"Thank you Alyssa...thank you for giving me a chance." He whispers and I hear his voice crack a bit which causes my throat to close up a bit.
"Thank you for reaching out to me," I mumble.
"I'll see you next Wednesday."
"See ya."
"Goodnight Alyssa."
"Goodnight Grayson," I say before hanging up the phone.
We all sit there for a few seconds while I try to keep my breathing in check.
"You okay?" Xander asks.
"I'm fine...just anxious I guess," I mumble.
"I'm proud of you," Axton says.
"And don't worry, we'll be there with you," Jess says.
"I love you guys." I smile up at them.
"Ah, there's the Alyssa we know and love." Xander laughs.
I don't know what I would have done without them.
They're like the three other brothers I never asked for but got.
We continue some small talk and I help Axton wash the dishes before we all settle on the couch to watch a movie.
"Really? Moana?" Jesse smirks.
"IT'S A GOOD MOVIE!" Xander defends before pushing play.
The boys keep arguing about the movie but all I keep thinking about is meeting my dad.
What if he's an asshole?
What if he doesn't like me?
What if he lies to me too?
"Alyssa!" I watch as Jesse snaps his fingers in my face.
"What?"
"You were overthinking again." He laughs.
"Oh, sorry." I laugh.
"Don't worry! Everything will be fine." Axton says.
He's right.
Everything will be fine.
Hopefully.
I let out a loud yawn and feel my eyes begin to shut.
Just before I'm completely asleep, I hear the TV shut off and one of the boys carries me up into my room.
And just like, the world around me fades away and I finally find myself at peace.
----------Author's Note----------
I genuinely feel so bad for her y'all.
Also, can we talk about how sweet and brotherly the boys are to her.
Love their relationship.
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!
-Pradabagg
Word Count: 2777