Take Over || (n.j.) || Sequel to Closer

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight--
"You need to tell him." Nick tells me about a month later. I'm sitting next to him on the couch in his house, leaning into his side comfortingly. We've been 'seeing each other' for a little bit now, and I still haven't told Derek.

"I know that I do."

"The media is blowing up about seeing you at my front door the other night." Nick says to me, putting his arm strongly around me. I groan and throw my head back, Eliza playing with Elvis behind us. I look to Nick, his deep brown eyes pulling me in once more. I got up from the couch and walked over to my daughter, picking her up and tickling her sides. She giggled and squealed in my grasp. I put her down and she ran to Nick for protection.

"Mommy is chasing me! Ahhh!" She said, hiding behind his leg and I walked over there, saying that I was going to get her. Nick picked up our daughter and defended her.

"I think this little girl is fearing you." Nick teases me, and I raise an eyebrow at him. He puts Eliza down and she runs into the living room, playing with Elvis. Nick took my hand, leading me up the stairs. We entered his bedroom and he closed the door, instantly pushing me up against it. His lips found their way to my shoulder, and he pulled the fabric of my shirt to the side. I melted at the touch of his soft lips, his hands firmly on my hips. I put my fingers in his hair, tugging slightly. His lips met mine, capturing my breath. I moaned into him as his tongue explored my mouth. He was the first to pull away, looking at me with a sparkle in his deep brown eyes.

"I want you Nicholas." I purr breathlessly without thinking one bit.

I woke up next to my ex husband, and in his bed. It was 5:00 in the morning and I rubbed my hands over my face. I get up from the bed, putting on my shorts from the previous day, and my bra and shirt. I throw my hair up in a bun and then give Nick a light kiss on the cheek before exiting the room quietly. I didn't want to leave, but I didn't know what else to do at the moment. I go to my daughter's bedroom in her father's house, seeing her peacefully sleeping. I kiss her on the head, whispering to her in the dark.

"I love you baby. See you soon." I looked down at her in adoration once more before heading downstairs. I found my black sweatshirt I had worn here, putting it on and making sure to make it look like it's not me. Almost. I grab my car keys and sneak out of the house, feeling very secretive. I slip into my car, turning on the engine and whipping out of the drive and heading to my own home. When I arrive home, I take a deep breath and walk into the house, my dog coming to greet me.

"Hey boy." I scratch him behind the ear and go into my room, laying on the bed. I get lost in my own thoughts quick.

"I need to tell Derek. I'll just break up with him." I confirm before hearing a knock on my front door. I get up off the bed, partially scared. I mean, who'd knock on my door at six in the morning? I cautiously walk to the door, crouching down. Through a little peek in the curtains over the front window, I see Derek. I sigh in relief and answer it.

"Hey." He says gruffly.

"Hey?" I question, looking at his fists almost clenched at his sides.

"Can we talk?" He asks me, trying to keep his cool by the looks of it.

"Uh, yeah, sure." I let him in the house and close the door, turning on a lamp in the living room.

"Where were you last night?"

"What are you talking about?" I ask him, stammering a bit and feeling my face get hot.

"Where the hell were you last night Marni?! Don't lie to me!" He takes a picture off the coffee table and smashes it on the hardwood floor. The frame crashes with glass shattering everywhere.

"Derek..." Tears start to come and I try to talk to him through my sobs. I've seen him angry, and it's not pretty. He has hit me before, but I've never told anyone. He raises his hand and slaps me hard across the face.

"Where were you?!!" He roared once again, not giving up. I couldn't bring myself to do it. My face stung now, along with my tears blurring my vision. Another smack on the face made me cry even harder. Did he seriously get a kick out of this?

"I was with Nick!" I scream at him, my voice cracking as I yell as loud as I can. He abruptly stops, but then gets even angrier. This time, he kicks my leg. Hard.

"Why the hell were you with him?! Huh?!!!!" He shouts at me, kicking me until I know for a fact that there will be a bruise or two on my thigh tomorrow. I don't answer, so he smacks me across the face again, and then lets me try to talk.

"I missed him." I whispered, scared to talk any louder. Honestly, I was scared for my life right now. It had never been this bad. I thought of how I just left Nick, and how they're both probably still sleeping, and having no idea what's going on.

"You went behind my back? You little slut!!" Derek's voice rises with anger and hatred. I shake, backing up against the living room wall. He comes closer, giving me a good punch to the head before I hit the floor.

"Miss? Miss, can you hear me?" I faintly hear a woman talking to me, and I always feel as though I'm moving. I try to open my eyes, but it hurts horribly.

"Hmm?" I mumble, feeling my cheeks wet and stinging. I hear people talking amongst themselves over me, and that's when I realize that I must be in a gurney or something. I'm loaded into an ambulance and the vehicle starts to drive away. I finally get the strength the open my eyes, looking to the left of me. I see Kristen holding my hand and crying.

"K-Kris?" I manage to get out, my voice soft by the sound of it. She looks at me, her eyes red and teary. A little smile of relief comes over her face and she bends down to hug me.

"Mar, how are you feeling? I am so glad you're okay." She sounds so relieved. I have to think about why I'm even here, but I can't remember. My head hurts terribly and I see a pump on my arm and a bruise on my hand.

"I hurt. What happened?" It frustrates me that I couldn't remember.

"Uh, I'm not too sure. I went to your house at about 7:30, and I found you lying on your living room floor, not responding. So I called an ambulance right away. I did see a broken picture frame on the floor and only your lamp was on."

"I can't remember Kristen." I feel tears climbing up my throat as I speak.

"It's okay honey. We'll get you to the hospital and in recovery right away." A paramedic tells me in a soothing voice. I look to the other side of me, her smile warming. I gave her a weak smile and I had a massive headache.

"...yeah, she's in an ambulance. Yes, I'm with her. Alright, see you in a bit." Kristen was talking on the phone, then puts it away in her pocket, still holding my hand.

"Who's that?" I croak out, my mind racing.

"Nick. I called him, and he'll be at the hospital when we get there." I don't say a word, but just look at the fluorescent light on the ceiling.

"Mar!" I hear Nick's voice as I'm wheeled into the hospital, Doctors all around me.

"Nick?" I mutter out in question. I see him suddenly appear next to me, his eyes full of worry.

"Don't let them take me Nick." I whisper out as I'm being wheeled through various rooms, by ex by my side the whole time. I feel tears slide down my cheek and I grab his hand.

"I'll be here the whole time baby."