Chapter 33: Kiss with A Fist (Florence The Machine)

I drove around for a while after I left Mami's, feeling better about what I needed to do by the time that I got home, it was pretty late, but I had made up my mind.

The pain in my neck had dulled a little but not enough to stop the splitting headache that was fogging my mind. I was feeling spent but at least I had come to a decision.

Everything was dark as I pulled into the parking lot and the lack of movement reminded my body that I should be in bed, sleeping and not concerned with the drama.

And I planned to do just that but as I parked my car the Bluetooth sounded alerting me that my future wife was calling.

"Hey B!" I said excited that she was finally calling, even though I was sure my voice sounded like I needed to be asleep.

"Hi Ana, what are you doing? Are you driving?"

"I just parked at home, I was driving around for a bit...got a drive thru burger and fries that didn't even make it through the drive home." I chuckled.

"Oh yeah? I thought you were off meat?"

"This kid was craving it, who was I to deny my unborn?"

"I can't wait for you to get back, all I wanted today was to be in your arms. What are you doing right now?"

"On the road, driving around with my cousin, great minds think alike, huh?"

"Wow, they do...I'm so happy you called."

"Well, I wanted to hear your voice. Are you headed to bed?"

"Well, right now I'm sitting here listening to you but once I get out the car, I'm going to shower and then call you back."

"I like the sound of that, you should probably head inside though my love, it's late and you're sitting in a creepy parking lot."

"You're right, stay with me until I get in the shower?"

"Duh."

I was feeling a million times better as I climbed the steps to my second-floor apartment with literal sunshine in my ear.

"Fuck." I muttered. I saw him before he saw me and so I had a moment to school my expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Um, B…I have to go now. I'll um...call you when after my shower, okay?"

"Oh…alright..baby, is someone there?"

"Uh...um...fuck...I need go. I love you, okay?"

"Baby you're scaring me."

"I'm okay, I swear. I love you!"

"Santana?"

"I love you, Britt…always and only you!" I said aloud not caring who heard me and then I ended the call.

When I finally made it down the hallway to my doorway, Marco stood there waiting for me and I smiled at him, like this was a normal occurrence.

I knew that he heard me, and I knew that he was angry about it but right then I just felt so content that I didn't have the time or energy to be afraid him.

Honestly, I had imagined this moment for months, this is the first time that we would be alone together since that night he almost killed me, but I didn't have time to be nervous or frightened.

Really, I felt confident in who I was and what I would tolerate from him going forward. I moved past him, opened my door and when I was fully inside, I held the door open for him.

My phone was vibrating in my pocket as I did something that Brittany was never going to let me live down.

He seemed surprised that I let him in knowing that he was pissed but I had balls today, apparently.

When I closed the door behind him I took a deep breath and then turned around, I didn't see it coming but I should have.

As I turned around, his fist collided with the side of my face and it felt like he had broken my cheek. My balance thanks to training with the Cheerios, was back in full form, so I lunged at him landing a few punches to his face.

There was no way he could get me down so easily because he wasn't getting away with it this time, at least not without feeling some pain too.

I landed a knee right against his balls and he staggered backwards.

While he was trying to recover, I leaned across the kitchen counter and grabbed a knife so that when he finally came towards me, I was ready. I held the knife tighter and pushed it against his neck, pressing down and drawing a little blood.

He seemed frightened and it gave me a rush.

"Don't you ever put your hands on me again, got it motherfucker?" I said through clenched teeth since my face was exploding in pain.

I squinted with my one eye closed just to relieve some of the pressure from the swelling.

He held his hands up in surrender and I pulled back just a little bit, I held my hand steady as he stepped back and sat down on the sofa in my favorite spot.

My face pain was increased by the ache in my neck and shoulders.

"I see you got your claws back, Princesa...be careful you don't get too cocky. "

"Are you going to keep your fucking hands to yourself?"

"This is an interesting dynamic don't you think, love, usually I'm the one threatening you."

"Answer my question or get the fuck out!" I screamed at him.

"Okay, Princesa, I won't touch you."

"What is it that you want? Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see my wife."

"Well, I don't want to see you."

"Even though you are living here, fucking that girl and carrying a bastard you're still my wife..."

"Not for long."

"No? Why not? Your fucking father can't threaten me from the grave. I'm free and clear to beat you until I cum myself, Princesa."

"Gross."

"You know you want me. That blonde bitch has nothing on me!"

"Oh please, you have less game then a four-eyed cripple! Now tell me Marco, What the fuck do you want?" I said, taking a step closer to him and placing the knife against his jugular, digging in.

He kept swallowing as I had my fun and then he caught my eyes and stared me down.

That look was one of warning, one that I got to know very well while we were in New York.

I faltered and stepped back a second.

"Good girl, Princesa." He said as he rubbed his neck and I cringed, my limbs feeling weak suddenly.

"Out with it already." I said regaining my composure.

"Is it a bastard or is it my baby?"

"Maybe it is...maybe not."

"What is that? What the fuck does maybe mean? Who else is there other than that Mohawked Jew that knocked up Lucy?"

"Actually, Daddy-o, this baby is down to being yours Azimio Adams and Ian Perkins."

"Wow, got a thing for athletes? Not a man among them."

"Yep, including you Marco."

He balled up his fists but kept them resting on his knees.

I looked down at him and smiled, happy that in some small way, I had finally gotten under his skin, but it didn't last long.

He gave me that warning look again and then he smiled back at me, sitting back and putting his hands behind his head, stretching his legs out and crossing his ankles out in front of him, like this was his home.

"Play all you want but unless I divorce you, by law that's my child...bastard or not. I could take you to court and win."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I?" I held a hand to my belly and tried to hold back the tears, he had gotten under my skin deeper than I could have gotten under his. "Oh yeah, how could I forget, let me be the first to congratulate you by the way..."

"On what?"

I was confused with what he was talking about, I hated when he came from left field with shit like a snake, he would lull you into a false sense of security and then when you thought you had the upper hand he would strike.

"On your acceptance to Columbia."

"How do you know that I was accepted?"

I hadn't heard anything from them yet, so this was news to me.

"Haven't you been checking your mail?"

He had a smug look on his face as I shook my head.

Truthfully, I hadn't been really been paying attention to much other than burying Papi, staying sober and keeping up with school work, not to mention juggling hormones and Britt.

I had been doing just enough to get by and he knew that...he always fucking knew.

So, I shook my head again and then walked backwards into the dining room.

I had been throwing my mail into a box on my buffet and ignoring it.

Looking now, I had a decent sized stack of envelopes that I had been neglecting.

I rifled through them until I saw the blue and white packet and a small envelope both with the Columbia logo them.

Keeping an eye on him, I used the knife and to open the packet first and then I pulled out my letter of acceptance. Here it was, my fathers dream for me to follow in his and Mami's footsteps and now I would get the chance.

Marco was lingering as if he was waiting for something, that smug look had yet to leave his face and it was making me clumsy as I opened the smaller letter, guessing that whatever it was might be the reason for the look on his face.

The letter was on the standard Columbia letterhead and had an embossed lion next to my name, I smiled with pride. The letter was offering me an internship working in the mayor's office at the start of the semester. Excitement filled me until I saw Mr. Jeffry Evans at the bottom.

I threw the paper down on the table and turned to Marco who was now standing over me with the knife that I had placed down in a moment of shock.

He wrapped his left hand around my neck and then shoved me against the wall lifting me off my feet. I was kicking my feet; my immediate reflex had my hands holding my stomach to protect it as I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to breathe.

I was gulping hard as I tried to get air, but he just pushed me harder. I looked up at him refusing to cry out.

"Still being quiet for Daddy, such a good girl." He hissed, that smug look now was morphed into a snarl. "Did you really think I would be okay with you pulling a knife on me and then just be able to leave here, peacefully, Princesa?"

He squeezed my neck tighter and began to run the tip of the knife up and down the side of my face. Terrified as I was, I wasn't going to be backing down. I looked him straight in the eye and leaned my face into the knife. I glared at him and then, when I felt like I had enough air, I looked him dead in the eye and yelled,

"Just fucking do it, Daddy-o!"

He wasn't expecting my defiance and so he flinched and hesitated, giving me just enough time to shove him backwards and make a break for the door.

I was so thankful that I hadn't had the time to take off my jacket and that my car keys were still in my pocket because I didn't have time to look back but when I pulled open the door and attempted to run, I ran straight into another body and fell backwards.

I could feel Marco behind me as my ass hit the floor and my head hit his legs.

Gripping my stomach, I looked up and felt relief wash over me when I saw Brittany with a face of shock glancing between me and Marco.

"Ana, are you alright?" she leaned over and helped me up off the carpet. I wrapped my arms around her neck and hung on for dear life, this was better than running away.

Marco only had the balls to fuck with me when no one was watching.

I was safe again.

As she was rubbing at my back, I heard her speaking to Marco over my shoulder.

"I think you should leave before I call the cops or kick your ass myself."

Almost immediately, I felt Marco push past us, "This isn't over, Princesa." He hissed but Britt kicked the door, slamming it in his face.

Even though the door was closed, I still had my face buried in Britt's shoulder and I was afraid to move.

When she felt my shaking increase, she hugged me even tighter.

"I'm so glad I was already on my way...he could have killed you."

"Sorry sorry sorry."

Britt continued to rub my back and allowed me to seek her comfort, she was a God send and I felt so happy that she was here.

After a while I pulled away and looked up into her eyes, ready to show her my gratitude but then she looked down at my face in horror and all my gratitude faded.

I turned away from her and stormed to my bedroom, finally feeling anger again, I needed to see what he done to me that made the love of my life look at me like I was a monster.

Even now, Marco was stealing my moments away, he'd hit me better than Papi ever could. The imprint of his fist was already darkening my cheek as I stood in front of my mirror, obsessed with what he'd done to me.

My cheek was quickly turning a deep shade of purple and when I lifted my chin I could see equally dark hand prints forming on my neck.

Fucking snake.

"Fuck!" My voice was strained as Britt came up behind me. My hair was still up so I knew she could see the back of my neck but then she put her hands on my shoulders and I flinched in pain.

Those she hadn't known about, not yet. .

Pain was now shooting through my neck and shoulders, she tried to pull at the collar of my shirt, but I pulled away.

"Britt don't." I whispered as I leaned in to inspect my face further.

Trying my best to be nonchalant but she wouldn't play along.

"I need you to let me see, take your shirt off please?" she whispered at my back.

"Don't think you can come in here making demands." I said looking at her through the mirror.

"I'm asking because I'm concerned Ana. Please?"

"No."

"Okay maybe later then." She said staring back at my reflection.

"Why are you here, B? You are supposed to be in Chicago with your family."

"Charley and I took the car. I needed to be with you. So, I had her drop me off."

"Why? Tell me the real reason that you are really here, there's no way you just decided to come all the way here!"

I was becoming desperate.

There was no way in my mind, that I could understand why her parents would allow her and Charley to make a four-hour drive alone just because she wanted to be with me.

"Can we talk about it later just let me take care-" She had placed her hands on my hips and I felt trapped.

"No. I don't want you to take care of me right now. I want you to tell me why the fuck you suddenly felt the need to be with me? Is it because Q was here to take care of me, again? Is it because you were jealous that she and I have a connection...something we had pushed away long before you came around? Do you want me to admit that I have feelings for her? I used to, at one point but then you came along. That's the truth...happy?"

I still wasn't looking at her, instead I was playing with things on my dresser.

Her eyes began to water, I know that she hates when I scream at her, but I was on edge and I had brought Q into it. She let go of my hips and walked to the bed, but I still hadn't turned around.

I was watching her though as she plopped down on the side of the bed and looked at me for a moment before releasing a pained sigh.

"I know that I'm it okay, I can't help the jealousy I feel. I just feel like I'm keeping you two apart."

"No...you're not. I love you more than anything or anyone. What I feel for her is something weird and half-sister, half the one that got away and I don't want to wade into that. You are the only person that I have loved from the first moment, without hesitation. You are my unicorn."

"Well...as great as that is, I'm still getting on a plane tomorrow night...I just found out this morning and I wanted to tell you face to face."

"So, you're leaving?"

"I'm headed to New York. The head choreographer is doing a workshop starting Friday straight to Christmas week. I will be back during Christmas break. I can take my midterms online...it's no big deal."

"What?!" my scream made her jump. "Why does everyone I love, leave me?" I turned my eyes from her and lifted my left hand and punched straight at my mirror. "Fuck!"

The pain shot up my arm and my hand was instantly covered in blood.

Britt jumped up from the bed, came over to me as I clutched my hand to my chest. She grabbed my hips spinning me around trying to see the damage.

"Let me see...what did you do, baby...please let me see?"

"No, get the fuck off me!" I planted my hands on her shoulders and I pushed at her way harder than I intended and she flew backwards, hitting her head on the bedpost and falling to the floor unconscious. "Shit! Brittany?"

I knelt beside her and kept calling out her name, but she wasn't responding, so I reached my good hand into my pocket and then called Quinn.

"Hello?"

"Fuck, Quinn I need you to get back over here it's an emergency!"

"What happened?"

"Just get here please!"

I knew she was out on her date, but Rachel would have to forgive me, this wasn't something I could handle on my own.

Nervously, I checked Britt's pulse and let out a sigh of relief that it was steady…thank God!

I was hunched over Britt crying out her name when I heard Quinn open the front door and called out to me.

"San?"

"In here!" I screamed,

She came rushing in to my bed room, took one look around and then the moment Quinn saw us she flew into action.

"Rachel get in here, I think they finally tried to kill each other!" she called out and between the two of them they managed to carry Britt out to the car.

I quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my aching fist,

Shit just went from bad to worse.