Chapter 2
“What are you doing here?” I asked him calmly but coldly.
“Nothing much… I’m just visiting my old school.” He said then looked into Marc’s eyes. “My old friends...” Then he looked into mine with such searing hatred in his that I almost cowered away from him. “And of course, my wife.” He spat in between his teeth. I gathered my papers, stood up and went around Marc to the door. Troy grabbed my arms as I passed by him, his forceful movement causing the papers I was holding to fall down and scatter on the floor. His fingers dug into my skin I was sure that they would leave a bruise.
“Just where do you think you’re going?” he asked his fingers still wrapped like a wrench on a bolt. I looked down at his hand pointedly and despite my fear back up and into his eyes. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at those beautiful sapphire orbs that I had come to love. I saw the flicker of emotions that raged within him but that did nothing to quell the growing apprehension in my own heart.
“I was…” I started to answer but was cut off when his mouth came down on mine in a punishing kiss, one of his arms locked around my waist, the other on my neck to keep me from pulling back. I tried to fight him off; clawing at him, punching him, kicking him but all to no avail. His savage attack on my lips kept on going, getting fiercer every time a hand, a finger nail or a foot came in contact with him. My strength slowly faded and soon exhaustion took over me. I didn’t have enough energy to keep fighting him off so I stiffened in his arms and stopped moving. It was all I could do not to respond to his kisses. It took all the strength I had, all that was left of it at least, to keep my lips from moving against his in the kiss that I knew and loved. If he could do this to me in public, I didn’t know what else he could. Suddenly fear clutched at my heart, fear for my child, for what he would do to her. Luckily I was sitting on the corner table in the room so the baby carriage was half-hidden behind my desk. And then, there was Marc; I just knew he would protect Rose. Troy suddenly seemed aware of our position; of what he was doing and what I was not. His onslaught stopped, his arms dropped to his side.
“I’m so so…” he started to say. I slapped him, putting all the betrayal, hurt and worst of all his gut to defile me in front of Marc in that single blow. I put a year's worth of pain in that hit and I had to control the urge to smile when I was rewarded with his head snapping to the side while the sound rebounded throughout the class. I briefly wondered why we hadn't gathered an audience seeing as the door had slammed loud enough to the wall to be heard out on the street. But, I didn't have time to contemplate on that. I had to get away from him or I wouldn't be able to stop myself from doing what I hated to do most; to reveal my emotions. The raging emotions inside of me were terrifying. I hadn't felt anything like the turmoil that was happening within me at the time and it scared me but I knew I had to be strong if not for myself then for my child.
“Are you finished?” I asked him icily. “Now, if you’ll excuse me,” I said as I started to gather the fallen papers. As I was headed for the door, an ear-piercing wail came from the baby in the carriage. Troy froze and I ran to her, the papers tightly clutched in my hands. My heart was working on overdrive I was almost sure that a heart attack was not too far in the line of possible reasons for my death. Her cry broke the tense silence and everyone jumped. Marc turned to the carriage, his features laced with worry. I picked her up gently cooing to her, mumbling reassurances, words that not even I myself could believe at the moment.
Troy took a step towards us mumbling something the sounded like ‘my child’. I stepped back, afraid to let him come near us and the baby who had quietened down a little seemed to sense my fear, she cried louder. I immediately turned my attention to her, forgetting everything else though I could still feel the other people’s presence. I was desperate to get Troy away from me and my child and yet I knew that I couldn't go anywhere simply because there was nowhere to go. Troy took another step but this time Marc blocked his way. I couldn't see Marc's expression as his back was turned to me.
“Let’s take this outside, Troy,” he said. It was not a suggestion, it was a command. Troy ignored him.
“I have to see my child,” he screamed at Marc. His desperation leaked into his voice but his hotheadedness wasn't moving Marc.
“I’m not going to let you come anywhere near them.” Marc said his voice calm and composed yet authoritative.
“Who are you to stop me?” Troy asked, angry at Marc. “I’m her husband and the child’s father. I can do what I want to do to them,” he said with such acid in his tone that I feared more for what would happen to my child than to me should he get his hands on us.
“Not if I can help it.” Marc snapped at Troy. “Now let’s go outside.” Marc repeated as he took hold of Troy’s arm and pulled him out of the class. Troy just let Marc lead him finally acknowledging his defeat. I slid onto the floor, my back supported by the wall as a wave of relief flooded through me. Rose was safe, even if just for a moment.
I composed myself then I went to the balcony still carrying Rose in my arms. I cried. I hadn’t realized I was crying until a small hand patted my cheek. Rosalie looked at her hand, it was wet and she seemed perplexed at the fact that I was crying. I saw them as they came out of the building; Marc still leading Troy. He led Troy to a nearby bench and sat him down. I watched as they spoke.
