Stalker...

Chapter 6

The car was silent. Tyson sat in the backseat, contemplating what she told him. His ears were ringing faintly, buzzing through the racing thoughts in his mind. Did I take advantage of her? does she still want to be with me? What the hell did I do? She was a virgin, and I just took that away. Knocking on the window shook him out of his spiraling panic. Maria opened the door and sat next to him. 

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before it happened." 

"No, I 'm sorry. I should have asked you. You don't have any reason to apologize. Let's just get you home, okay darling? Your father is probably worried." 

The drive was bright, but a dark cloud loomed over their heads. Maria was anxious as the thought of going home, and the thousands of endings that she could imagine. Her phone buzzed once more with a call from Jake. She ignored it, but knew there would be consequences. They pulled into the driveway of her house, where Mikhail, Dima and Jake's cars were parked. She buried her head in her hands, knowing what was coming when she stepped through that door. Tyson shut his car off, "Are you sure you want to do this? You can always stay at my place. There's extra space in my room." 

She sighed, "I have to go home. They'll kill me if I don't. Will you come in with me?" 

"I wouldn't have it any other way, sweetheart." 

They exited the car, walking slowly towards the front door. She remembered the effects of her last vanishing trick, which had almost cost her a life. Dima...open the door...please... I- I'll behave... I'm sorry... I can change... Her heart dropped as the front door opened. Her father's fiance, Anna-Giselle, was standing on the other side, looking elegant as always. Anna-Giselle was rarely seen except on weekends. She lived just a few streets over, but her work schedule kept her busy at all times. Her company was A.G. Fabrics, a multi-million dollar operation that made some of the most luxurious fabrics in the world. Maria never knew how her father had even come in contact with this woman, but she didn't mind in the slightest. Anna was much nicer than the last few women her father had brought home. She loved them like a mother, but knew that she might never be truly accepted in that way. She pulled Maria into a hug, "Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" 

She turned to Tyson, "Thank you for bringing her home again. We've been so worried that something bad happened to her." 

They entered the large foyer, which looked almost like a scene from Titanic. The large, golden chandelier glimmered like a thousand stars. It complemented the two sterile white staircases and gold crown molding around the ceiling. Maria loved the house, but some days she felt like she didn't deserve it. Tyson had never seen the inside of Maria's house before. He felt out of place in the enormous brick walls. In the kitchen, Dima and Mikhail were conversing in German. Mikhail spoke fluent German, while Dima spoke Russian and German. She was happy to see her brother, but she froze in her tracks as Jake entered the room. She grabbed Tyson's arm and pulled him up the left staircase to her bedroom. He raised his eyebrows in confusion as she locked the door behind them. The words Jake had said to her before the match echoed through her head. If you're not back by midnight, I'll make sure he'll never fight again. Same goes for you. 

She didn't want Tyson to get hurt, even if he could take Jake in a fight. Something told her Jake played dirty, and she wasn't willing to take that chance with someone she cared about. Too much was at risk this time. The important part was that she was home, and she would see less of Jake when she went back to school. All they had to do was make it through one night, and they would be safe. She straddled Tyson's legs, scared to let go of him. He ran his fingers through her hair, "honey, what's wrong? You've been acting weird since we got here." 

"I just don't want to lose you," she whispered, "If Jake sees you here-"

Before she could finish her sentence, someone tried to enter her room, shaking the door handle before knocking. Jake called out to her, "Maria? Maria, open the damn door." 

She jumped back, motioning to her bathroom or closet for Tyson to hide. He ran to the closet, which had slots in the doors so he could see. Maria took a deep breath before opening the door to let Jake in. He slammed the door behind him and backed her against the edge of her bed. 

"Where the hell were you? I told you to be home by midnight or else I'd make sure he couldn't fight again. And since that bastard isn't here, I'll make sure you can't fight." He grabbed her wrist and twisted, bending it farther and farther back. She groaned in pain, tears slipping from her eyes. Her arm was searing with pain, like a thousand knives cutting her simultaneously. She pushed him back, earning the back of his hand across her face, "Don't you dare try that again! I own you! If I see you with him one more time, I'll kill him. Got it?" 

She nodded, too disturbed to hold in her sobs. He exited, slamming the door behind him. She locked the door, leaning against it and sobbing painfully. Tyson ran to her, looking at her wrist, which was now red and almost bruised. His anger boiled at Jake's words, but more at how he had treated Maria. He would never let him near her again, even if it killed him. 

"I'm not leaving your side from now on. I'll be with you all day at school, and I'll drive you home and to practice every night. He's not going to hurt you anymore. I promise you."