Monsters Inside Him (Completed)

Chapter 22: Three Strikes

Chapter 22: Three Strikes

I jammed my finger against the elevator door button, praying it would reach me before whoever was following me did. I continually jammed my finger against the button, repeatedly poking it, but receiving no response.

Damn, he must have that stupid elevator lock on.

I spun around to see Louis and Niall approaching me with solemn looks on their faces. I had no doubt that Zayn sent them to drag me back into the TV room as he is otherwise occupied with nursing his hurt balls and his hurt ego. Just as they reached me, I ducked under their arms and darted towards the study.

I caught them off guard, so I had a second or two head start, but they started to chase after me. I slammed the study door behind me and locked it, buying myself more time. Quickly, I jerked open the window and climbed through and onto the escape ladder. It was a long way down, but I had escaped this way once before.

I felt tears sting in my eyes at the déjà vu I was experiencing. I thought Zayn and I were past this. I thought that things would be different, but we were literally doing the same thing we had done a few weeks ago.

I heard a loud bang above me and suddenly Louis and Niall’s heads popped through the window, watching me race downwards. I was already a few floors below Zayn’s penthouse.

“FUCK!” Louis shouted as they disappeared from view, going back to report to Zayn.

Now knowing how to get home from his place, I made my way back to my apartment in less than fifteen minutes. When I got back, I found Claire watching TV in her pajamas calmly. As soon as I walked in, she turned it off and rushed over to me.

“I was so worried. You didn’t come home last night. Wait, why are you wearing his clothes?” She asked me suspiciously. I held up my finger as I panted, out of breath, and made my way to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

“Everyone was at his house and we all fell asleep.” I explained, immediately knowing that she assumed I had slept with him.

“How’d it go?” She pressed. I gulped down my water and turned to her.

“Perfect, actually, until this morning.” Her eyes widened.

“What happened. Hannah, tell me. You can’t keep me in the dark!” She whined nervously. I sat down, my breathing finally getting back to normal.

“He thought I was texting some guy, when it was only my brother, so he hit me.” I turned my face to show my injured cheek. I didn’t know how it looked, but I don’t think it was too bad. She gasped and stuck her fingers out to gently run them along my cheek.

“Oh my god…” She didn’t even know what to say.

“Then I kicked him in the balls and emasculated him in front of his gang members and their girlfriends. Problem solved.” I shrugged casually and stood up.

“HANNAH YOU’RE INSANE!!” She shouted at me as I walked towards the bathroom to take a shower.

“That ship has sailed, Claire!” I called back to her.

I took a nice long shower, standing under the hot streams of water as I thought about what I was doing with Zayn. Where was this going? What are we going to do now?

A half an hour later, I reluctantly shut off the water when it started running cold and toweled myself off. I quickly threw on something comfy and sat down to work on my makeup. I had to cover up the forming bruise on my face somehow.

As I was playing with foundation, I heard a loud banging on our front door. My stomach tensed. He wouldn’t come here, would he?

Before I could tell her otherwise, I heard Claire answer the door. Not a few seconds later, did I hear her scream. I rushed into the front room to see Claire standing pale white by the front door while Zayn stood in my living room, his head craning around, looking for me, peaking in the kitchen.

“Sh-sh-she’s not here!” Claire stammered nervously from where she stood.

“Bullshit.” Zayn snarled. I marched into the room with my hands on my hips.

“And what the hell do you think you’re doing here?” I shouted at him. Zayn’s head snapped at the direction of my voice, his furious eyes landing on me. I was glad I hadn’t yet covered my face in makeup, so he could see the full extent of the damage he had done.

“I asked you a fucking question.” I snapped. He took a few long strides, closing the gap between us, and grabbed my wrists roughly.

“What the fuck was that?” He yelled at me. I glanced at Claire in the corner of my eyes. She was trembling in fear, her bottom lip jutted out as if she were about to cry.

“I could ask you the same thing.” I retorted coolly, struggling, in vain, in his grip.

“You think you can get away with fucking emasculating me like that in front of my gang, Darlin’?” He shouted again, shaking me a little.

“You started it. You hit me first!” I defended. His eyes blazed.

“I hit you because I thought you were cheating on me!! You could have just clarified!!” He shouted, he shook me again.

“If you don’t fucking let me go, I’ll show you a repeat of this morning and I’ll limit your abilities to make babies.” I snapped. He narrowed his eyes at me, but released my wrists. I stepped away from him and pressed my back against the wall. My still wet blonde hair fell in front of my face as I crumpled to the floor. Sadly, I looked up at his still infuriated figure.

“I thought things would be different. I thought we were going to try.” I whispered. He looked down at me, some of his anger evaporating.

“I lost my temper. I’m sorry.” He whispered. He came and sat down next to me, leaving just enough space so that we were almost touching.

“You could have just asked me who David was.” I continued. I saw Claire staring at me strangely, her whole body still convulsing in fear.

“I lost it. I completely lost control, I am so sorry. It’s just the thought of you with someone else…” He couldn’t finish his sentence.

“But you completely embarrassed me in front of everyone. You knew that out of all the ways you could have reacted, THAT was the worst.” He scolded me softly.

“I know, but I had to make sure you didn’t do it again.” I explained. I leaned my head against his shoulder.

“I’m sorry.” I whimpered. He let out a sigh and wrapped his arms around me, holding me close to his chest softly.

“I guess we’re even.” He mumbled.

“Zayn, what are we doing? Are we going to delude ourselves into thinking this can work?” I asked him. His whole body stiffened.

“I made a mistake and I’m sorry. Please Darlin’, please don’t talk like that.” He begged me. I let a few tears escape my cheeks and looked up at him sadly.

“This was our do-over. I don’t know how many of those I can give, Zayn. I can’t be in an abusive relationship fooling myself into thinking this is going to get better. It won’t.”

“Please, Darlin’. I made a mistake- a bad judgment call-”

“How many ‘mistakes’ will you make until I end up in the hospital? I-I can’t do this, Zayn. I don’t think this is going to work out. I don’t think WE are going to work out.” I whispered sadly, still engulfed in his embrace.

“No, no we can do this, Hannah. I know we can. You’re strong and you fight back. You can handle me. Please…” He begged.

“I think maybe we need some time apart to rethink this.”

“No, please Darlin’. Not you too. You can’t leave me too.” He sounded like he was crying, but when I looked up he was staring emotionlessly ahead.

“I don’t know.”

“Please. I’ll do anything.”

I looked over at Claire, who was still standing by the door, but no longer shaking. She stared back at me in complete shock.

“Fine, but there are rules.”

“Anything.” He sat up straight, holding me tightly as if he let me go I would disappear.

“You hit me and I’m out.”

“Of course.”

“I can talk to other guys.”

“But-”

“Zayn, I won’t have a fucking one night stand, but I can at least give the waiter my fucking order or say hi to your friends.” Zayn stiffened up while he thought about it. Reluctantly, he gave in. He knew he had no other choice.

“No more hickeys.”

“Those protect you, Hannah.” He stated firmly.

“Zayn-”

“NO, that’s the one thing I won’t budge on. If you hadn’t covered my mark that night a few weeks ago, I wouldn’t of had to carry your naked, lifeless body back to my apartment.” My whole body shook at the reminder of that night where my virginity was almost lost, where I was almost beaten to death, if it hadn’t been for Zayn.

“Fine.” I sighed. I pushed myself off of him and stood up. He stood also.

“This is our last chance though.” I warned. He stared down at me and nodded.

“Three strikes and that’s it, Zayn. We’ve already tried twice before.” I continued.

“Ok” he nodded. I squeezed my eyes shut, not really sure that this was a good idea.

“But I have some rules too.” He amended. I stared up at him with raised eyebrows.

“If I tell you to do something, especially in public, PLEASE listen to me. It’s not just me being an ass, but me trying to protect you. You don’t know how to deal with the people I’m involved with, but I do. Please.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Whatever.”

“Ok, and you will never ever embarrass me in front of my gang again or we will be having some serious problems.” He looked at me pointedly and wagged his finger in my face. I smacked it out of my face but nodded.

“I won’t have to if you don’t act like a dick.” I shrugged. He laughed humorlessly.

“I won’t be a dick if you don’t act like bitch, Darlin’.” He caught my chin in between his index finger and thumb and tilted my head upwards to look at him. Carefully and slowly he leaned down and placed a kiss on my injured cheek. I shut my eye and let myself enjoy it. His lips found their way to my lips and left a soft and innocent kiss. Before I could kiss back, he pulled away and looked down at me. I stared back up at him and stepped out of his grasp.

“Can you just give me tonight alone? I’ll call you tomorrow, ok. I just need time alone.” I pleaded. His eyes softened and his muscular arms wrapped around me in a hug.

“Ok, Darlin’.” He whispered. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and walked towards my front door, ignoring Claire’s presence on his way out.

“If you ever touch my balls again, Darlin’, it had better be in bed!!” He called back with a mischievous smirk, ending the sad tension between us. I shut the door with a wave and stalked back into my bedroom to cover my bruise. I looked at the faded mark on my neck, surprised that Zayn didn’t give me another love bite right then and there.

In fact, it was barely noticeable.

I collected my hair over on one side so that it was covered completely and let out a sigh of relief. I feel much less objectified and much more comfortable in my own skin. I turned away from the mirror, avoiding looking at my bruise any longer. I wasn’t able to cover it completely, so a dark shadow was still visible on my cheek.

When I walked back into the front room, I found Claire exactly where I had left her.

“Are you ok, Claire bear?” I asked her softly. She stared back at me with wide eyes, tears brimming in them.

“I-I-I’m so…” She stuttered. I suddenly felt guilty. She grew up in London, so she knew about the things One Direction have done. She, of all people, knew to be afraid of them, so that encounter with Zayn must have scared her shitless.

“I’m sorry you had to see him angry like that.” I whispered to her.

“I’m so proud of you!” She squeaked out, shocking us both.

“W-w-w-what?”

“You, you’ve tamed him. You stood up to him- you… I have mad respect for you.” She gushed out. I looked at her like she was insane and then burst out laughing. I will always be surprised by this girl. I gave her a quick hug and shook my head.

“You’re a character, Claire bear.”

“And you’re insane, but I think that’s what saves your butt from getting beat by Zayn Malik. I think he’s in love with you- he acts like a lost puppy around you.” I rolled my eyes at her and walked off to my room. I couldn’t show it to anyone, but I was shaking internally from my confrontation with Zayn.

I truly thought that he was going to beat me or something.

The amount of courage I had to summon in order to face him mentally and emotionally exhausted me.

I climbed under the covers of my bed and curled into a ball. It took me a half an hour, but eventually I cried myself to sleep, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on my Saturday.