Mi Salvador

Move

Ascella's POV
I fed Tanner while listening to the news play on the TV. I sighed, wiping his messy face as he finished. I picked him and sat on the couch so I could rock him to sleep. He slept quietly as I changed the channel to something less tedious. The news was always the same here in New York. There's no point in trying to catch up if it's always around the corner. There was a knock at the door, so I got up and opened it.
Enzo stood there, looking tired as ever. I let him in and he sat down on the couch, covering his face. I sat next to him and smiled sadly.
"What's up?"
"She's not getting better..." he murmured.
"She will."
"How do you know that?!" He stood up, causing me to flinch and hold onto to Tanner a bit tighter, "You don't fucking know everything, Ascella! What if she doesn't get better?! What am I gonna do?! What are you gonna do?! You'll be happy, I'm sure!"
"What?" I furrowed my brows. He scoffed and looked down.
"You'll be so happy to have something of your own! To be the mother you always wanted to be! Right?!"
I laid Tanner down on the couch before standing.
"How dare you? I would never take anything away from you. I may have been your girlfriend and expressed how much I wanted kids, but I'd never take Maya or Tanner away from you! How dare you?!" I huffed, "You're not taking Tanner home tonight. You need sleep and food."
He clenched his fist before trying to get Tanner, but I stood in the way.
"Move." He sneered. I stood firmly.
"Go home."
"I said move, Ascella."
"No."
He grabbed onto me and pushed me against the wall, causing me to gasp.
"Why don't you understand?! I need to do this!"
"Enzo-" His grip became tighter, causing me to push him, "Please, you're hurting me!" He didn't even budge. I squirmed and let out a few sobs, "Enzo!"
Before I knew it, he was hit over the head. This knocked him out and I saw Amanda standing there, her gun in her hand. She pulled me to her and hugged me close.
"It's okay, Sug. It's okay."
"What happened?" My dad rushed in with Liv. I moved out of Amanda's arms quickly as Tanner started to cry.
"It's okay, it's okay..." I then looked down to Enzo's unconscious body and started to cry.

My dad came up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders, shushing me.
"It's okay...he's just exhausted and upset."
"I know..." I held tanner close, heading to the stairwell.
"Fin, help me get him on the couch, Amanda, some ice for his head." My dad instructed. Someone placed a gentle hand on my arm and I turned to see Rafael.
"Sit down first." He whispered, leading me to the dining table. The first aid kit was already on the table, I sat down with Tanner in my lap and Rafael cleaned up the nail cuts on my forearms.
"Thank you, Mr. Barba..."
"We're not working right now...you can call me Rafael."
I nodded, playing with Tanner's hand with my fingers as I stared into nothing.
"Am I hurting you?"
"No." I whispered. He looked at me briefly before nodding and placing a gauze and taping it.
"Where'd you learn how to do that?"
"Eddie and Alex were always the ones in fights. I'd just patch them up."
I nodded and looked at him as he sat across from me and took Tanner from me. He smiled to him talked softly.
"You can speak some Spanish to him. Maya's family is from El Salvador."
Rafael smiled more and spoke in Spanish to him. I took a moment before whispering, "I love you..."
He looked at me before responding softly, "I love you too."

I sat up in my bed that night, not able to sleep. The snow was still falling rapidly, so I wasn't surprised if the squad and Barba were still here. Tanner slept quietly on my bed, surrounded by pillows, as I left the room and went downstairs. My dad sat at the table with Rafael and Fin while Amanda and Liv sat on the couch.
"Enzo is in the guest room." Dad looked at me. I nodded, going to the kitchen and cleaning up some dishes.
"I've got it." Dad whispered. I shook my head.
"It's okay..."
"Stay with Tanner..."
"He's fine." I didn't bother turning, but dad grabbed my arm from moving.
"Ascella." He said sternly. I sighed and looked at him, feeling tears in my eyes.
"Do you wanna know what he said to me? What he thought? He thought I wanted this to happen to Maya. He said I'd be happy because that meant I could have Tanner. Take care of him. Raise him."
"Ella-"
"It broke my heart. I could see so much just get pulled away from him in just a few simple words. And-"
There was a sudden knock at the door and Liv opened it. A laugh and huff came from the doorway.
"While I was on the A Train it wasn't snowing that bad!" It was Paulo. I wiped my hands and went to him. He placed his crutch to the side and opened up his arms lazily. I took that opportunity to hug him, which caused him to sigh.
"Sorry, I know I haven't called you in a while."
"It's okay." I whispered. I helped him sit down at the dining table where Rafael, Fin, and Amanda sat.
"Enzo's looking rough." He accepted the drink my dad handed to him. I nodded and looked at him. Then there was crying coming from my room.
"I'll be right back." I whispered with a smile before heading upstairs. Tanner was all sat up, crying. I laughed gently and picked him up.
"Did I scare you?" I teased him playfully, wiping his tears, "Awww, I'm sowwy." I walked down the stairs and hopped off the last step, causing him to laugh. I walked back into the room as he leaned against my shoulder, fingers in his mouth. I sat in front of Paulo and caressed Tanner's head.
"How are your sisters?"
"They're good. I kinda miss when they were his size."
I nodded, "Wow, that was our sophomore year, right? Gina was just born and Carla was 3? Same as Zara, right?"
"Yeah. Crazy..."
"Things were simpler."
He laughed, "No they weren't!"
"Okay! They were never simple. But, I don't know, they seemed a bit better."
He lost his energy all at once, "Better? I abused-"
"I was thinking about volunteering at that senior center you worked at freshman year. In El Barrio. I mean, I know I have school and work, but I kinda want to do more."
"More? Ella, you're taking care of your ex's kid. You take time out of school to spend time with Zara, and you check up on Shireen's parents, me and my family, and Nash all the time. What more could you want? You're going to work yourself to death."
I looked at him for a moment before holding Tanner closer and looking away, shrugging. I made eye contact with Rafael and immediately regretted it. Tanner pulled at my hair, causing me to stand up and head to the kitchen to get some food for him. I hated being in the wrong, but Paulo was right. And I know Rafael is going to give me an earful when we're alone...