The next day, Mark was home..all day. Taylor was up in one of the guest rooms doing the wallpaper in that room. Jana walked in and shut the door behind her. "How was it?," She asked quietly.
Taylor turned around and sighed, "I saw him.."
"And?"
"He looks about the same. Only Mark made of fool of himself and me.."
"Like thats new."
"But..he called last night..after Mark passed out in the bedroom..he wants me to meet him..in about two hours in Tampa.."
"Are you going to?"
"I'm going to see if I can..hide this wallpaper so I have a reason to get out.," Taylor said handing Jana the last roll of wallpaper.
"Okay..I'll put it in my bag."
"Thank you Jana. You're the closest thing I have to a friend right now.."
"You're welcome..now you better go.."
Taylor nodded and cleaned up a little. Then she walked into the bedroom and put on some other clothes. Then, she went downstairs. Mark was outside on the deck doing paperwork. Taylor opened the screendoor and walked out. Mark looked up and then backdown at his work. "Mark?"
"What do you want?"
"Umm..I ran out of wallpaper..I can go out and buy another roll or two right now..that way I can get the room done.."
"Send Jana."
"She's busy..I'd only be maybe two hours at the most.."
"I don't want you going out Taylor.," Mark said putting his pen down.
"Why not?"
"Because I said so."
"You're not my master or something and I'm not your slave..please, I'll be back in two hours at the most..you can get more work done and Jana can get all her work done.."
"Fine..be back by 6 at the latest.."
"I..I will..," Taylor said and went back inside.
Taylor was almost jumping for joy inside, she was finally getting to go out..by herself! She grabbed her car keys(that Mark had tried to hide)and went into the garage.
Ten minutes later, Taylor was on the interstate heading for Tampa. An hour later, she was passing by Nick's house and knew she had to go to the park. Fianlly, she parked in the lot and got out. The park was empty, except for a lone figure sitting on top of one of the picnic tables by the basketball courts. Taylor walked down the hill and towards him..she knew it was AJ. She finally reached him..but he hadn't noticed her yet. "Hi AJ>."
He turned around, "Hey..you're early.."
"Oh..sorry.."
"Don't be..I'm glad you came..," He said hugging her.
Taylor instinctively tensed up and then relaxed and hugged him back. "Me too.."
"How'd you get out?"
"I told him I had to go get more wallpaper.."
"Ohhh..."
"AJ? Are you mad at me?"
"No..why would I be mad at you?," He motioned to her to sit beside him. She did.
"I..I don't know. Whenever Mark doesn't say any more than a word or something it usually means he's pissed at me.."
"Does he drink?"
She nodded, "Yeah.."
"You think he's an alcoholic?"
"I don't know.."
"Why are you marrying this jerk Taylor?"
"I..I don't know...I..I love him.."
"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself of that.."
"AJ? What would you do if, say just for the sake of it, you were a girl and were getting hit every night by the guy you're supposed to love..what would you do if he proposed and you knew if you said no, he'd beat the friggen' hell out of you, till you couldn't get up anymore?"
"I..I don't know Taylor.."
"Its hell living there AJ. I can't talk to you or the other guys or Alicia or Jane or any body..I'm a prisoner in that house and I feel like if I'm stuck there any longer, I'm going to suffocate and die.."
"Then leave. You can come stay with me. I'll make sure you're safe Taylor.," He said taking her hands in his.
"I..I can't. I can't just leave..he'd find me!"
"How do you know that?"
"I don't know..he just would. I can't..not now AJ."
"Why not?"
She looked away from him as the tears sprung to her eyes. He reached out and gently pulled her face so she was facing him again. She swallowed hard and fought not to cry. "I..I.."
"Taylor..you can tell me anything.."
She took a deep breath, "I'm...I'm..pregnant AJ.."
AJ pulled away for a second and looked shock. "Are you sure Taylor?"
"I'm positive.."
"Have you told him?"
"No.."
"How long?"
"Almost..7 weeks.."
"For almost two months you've known? And you take those beatings?"
"He..he never hits me there.."
"But he could..I want you out of there Taylor.."
"AJ..I can't leave him..not when I have his child inside of me!"
AJ stepped down off the picnic table. Taylor let a few tears roll down her face and brushed them away. "Don't leave me AJ..not now..please?"
"I'm not..I'm..I'm scared for you Taylor. I won't let you go through this alone though.."
"You don't think I'm scared? I'm freaken pregnant! I told myself when I was 10 and we saw those freaky ass puberty tapes that I would never have a kid! Now look at me!"
"I don't want you to be afraid.."
"You can't stop it.."
"Leave him..don't let him hurt you or this baby..I'll help you in any way I can..Everyone else will too.."
She shook her head, "I'll deal with it.."
"Taylor..I love you too much to let him keep hurting you. I thought when you stopped calling that I did something wrong..that it was my fault. Last night when I saw you..I wanted to walk up to you and kiss you and take you away..."
"You sound like prince charming.."
"Maybe I am..taking you away from the evil 'stepmother'..," He said walking to her and taking her hands again.
"I am so scared. I want to leave him..but..but I can't..he'll find me and then kill me and..and..and...I don't know what to do!"
"Don't cry Taylor..please..," He said hugging her.
Taylor wrapped her arms around him as tight as she could. "Please..leave him and live with me.."
"You're with Maria..aren't you?"
"No! She left a long time ago Taylor..I want you and this baby safe..and with me.."
"I can't leave..immediately.."
"Fine..by the end of this month, I want you in my house.."
She nodded slowly, "Okay.."
He cupped her face, "I believe you can do this Taylor."
"I hope I can.."
"You're a strong woman..you can do this..you will do this.."
She nodded, "Okay..by the end of this month.."
He kissed her forehead gently, "I better get going.."
"Me too.."
"You take care of yourself..and if you need anything, you call..okay?"
"Okay..thanks AJ.."
AJ nodded and walked off. Taylor walked to her car and got in. Then she drove towards home.
Once home, she walked inside. Mark was sitting at the bar drinking a martini. "Where the hell have you been?," He demanded.
"I..I told you. I went for the wall..paper..," She said suddenly remembering she didn't get any wallpaper.
"Where is it?"
"I umm..well you see..they ran out of the pattern I had so I had to order it.."
"Do you have any clue what time it is!?"
"N..no.."
"Its 7:30! I told you to be home at 6!," He yelled standing up and throwing his glass against the wall.
Taylor's heart was beating so fast she thought the whole world could hear it. "Come here!!"
"Wh..what?"
"You're lying to me.," He stated simply walking over to her.
"No..no I'm not Mark..please.."
"Please what? Don't hit you? Like this?," He said before slapping her.
Taylor landed on the floor from the force of the hit. Mark bent down and grabbed her by the hair, pulling her up. Tears were pouring down her face as he continued slapping her and hitting her. Then, she was on the floor again. She thought it was over but then his foot landed in her stomach. She cried out in pain as he did it..again..and again. 'When will it stop?,' She wondered as she fought to keep him from hitting her in the stomach anymore.
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