Audrey's POV

Trigger Warning: Mentions of homophobia

Scarlett's expression fell and her eyebrows creased together when I told her that my mother was calling.

"Your... mother?" She backed away to give me some space.

"Yeah... I need to take this," I said as I jumped off the counter and walked a few feet away.

I dreaded any phone calls from my mother, and I knew that she was going to yell at me as soon as I pressed the green call button. And as much as I wanted to decline the call or let it go to voicemail, there's no way I'll be able to avoid any confrontation from her, so the sooner I settled this, the better.

"Hi, M-"

"Ты сука такая!(You brat!)" she yelled at me before I could even say two words. "Ты почему мне не сказала что Ты и Andrew broke up, huh? (Why didn't you tell me that you and Andrew broke up, huh?)"

Oh shit... Andrew must have finally told her what had happened.

"I... didn't think it was that big of a deal," I replied with a shrug as if she could see me.

"Not a big deal? How is breaking up with your boyfriend "not a big deal"? And a whole month passes by before I hear about it? I'm your mother, ты тварь (you bitch)."

"I-"

"I want you to come here right now," she interrupted me again. "Not tomorrow, not next week, right this minute."

"Can't we just talk about this o-"

"Did you hear what I just said?" she bellowed, the volume making me wince and pull the phone away from my ear. Scarlett moved a little towards me, and I extended my hand to stop her.

"Да(yes)," I whispered.

I heard the sound of the call ending and opened my messages. I had the no disturb on the entire night, so a whole barrage of texts met my eyes, most of them from my mother demanding answers and half the texts were in CAPS.

"That was... your mother?" Scarlett's voice made me glance up. She wore an expression of worry mixed with anger as she took another step towards me.

"Yeah..." I sighed as I turned off my phone and tucked it into my pants.

"I know you told me you have problems with her, but from what I just heard, she sounds like a monster."

"She... sort of is." I lightly chuckled.

"I'm guessing she doesn't know that you..." She raised her eyebrow at me inquisitively.

"Oh, she does. She just doesn't accept it," I nervously cleared my throat. Scarlett had told me about her ex's homophobic parents, so I knew that the subject was a bit touchy for her.

"So she's... homophobic huh," she said. The tone of her voice prompted me to reach her and tuck my fingers under her chin so she could look at me. Which I guess wasn't all that necessary since she's taller than me and was practically already looking at me, but I wanted to do the gesture.

"Hey," I softly said. "I'm not like Abriana, okay? I don't care about my mother's views or expectations. I'm here, aren't I?"

She sniffled. "It's going to take more than just words to convince me of that."

Her words were like a brick to my face. They stung, despite the fact that I've already lied to her multiple times before. Of course she would have doubts, but it was still hurtful.

"I know," I said instead as I cupped her cheek. "And I'm willing to prove it to you. Today. I'm going to go over there and lay it all out."

I stood a little up on my tippy toes and placed a kiss on her lips. I stayed there until I felt her returning it a few seconds later. Our lips mashed together in perfect harmony. Her breath shuddered into my mouth as her hand touched my waist lightly before she broke off the brief kiss.

"I'll go with you," she said firmly as her eyes darted on mine. "In case of anything," she added as I opened my mouth. "I want to be there for you. And if Andrew will be there, then that's all the more reason for me to come with you. I won't let him hurt you again."

Her words sent streams of lava into my core as heat creeped up my neck. She had the ability to turn me on just like that. I loved her protectiveness, the way she's willing to hurt someone else for me. I used to dislike that trait in a person, because I felt that it was a bit toxic, but experiencing it myself... It was the opposite of toxic. It was... exhilarating.

"Just promise me you won't kill him. I don't want to be visiting you in jail," I half-teased.

"Why? Are you going to abandon me?" She smirked.

"Maybe," I smiled. "I don't date criminals."

"Perhaps you'll change your mind," Scarlett grinned. "Now, let's go deal with your demons."

Later

They definitely were demons. I've spent years living up to my mother's expectations, and here I was, on my way to tell her to basically fuck off. And not just alone, with my girlfriend too. What was I even thinking? Could I really stand up to her finally?

The one hour drive to my mother's place was spent in silence. She lived in Malibu, so the heavy LA traffic added to the timeframe. I knew Andrew would be there. She adored him, after all. She had arranged my whole life to be a living nightmare by including him into it. That was the main reason why I stayed with him.

We passed million-dollar mansions and well-kept lawns, the green grass and blooming trees contrasting well with the dull colors of the buildings. Each property was surrounded with different fences, from white picket to full walls built from rocks.

We finally pulled up to the gate of my mother's property, the tall, black steel gate hovering over us ominously. My only thought right now was to turn this vehicle around and flee, like I always do. But when Scarlett's warm hand landed on my thigh reassuringly, I was filled with a rushing feel of bravery. I took a deep breath and rolled down my window to punch in the code: "37819". The gate slowly slid open. I drove the car through and followed the narrow road for a few hundred feet until we reached the house.

Calling it a house is a bit of an understatement. The earthy brown and gray colors clashed with red gave the stone-brick walls that visual elegance. It was two-story high, with a half-acre swimming pool at the back. The sun's warm rays bounced off the windows and illuminated the clear-cut glass. Rows of rose bushes and various other flowers surrounded the circular driveway as I pulled up to the front of the house.

My heart stopped when I saw Andrew's recognizable Porsche parked in the garage. Of course that bastard was there. And speaking of the devil, the front door opened right at the moment. He stepped out in his suit, wearing a smug grin as my mother followed him. Scarlett cursed under her breath, her hand about to fly to the door handle when I grabbed her arm.

"I promise, I got this," I said, my tone saying completely otherwise.

And Scarlett sensed it. "Do you, Audrey? Because it sure as hell doesn't seem like you... got this."

Her tone took me aback, and she noticed. Her face immediately softened. "I'm sorry babe, but you and I both know what he's capable of, and I don't think you can handle this on your own."

I looked at my mother from the corner of my eye, and then back to Scarlett. I wanted to touch her face, to kiss those soft lips, to reassure her that she's my whole world, and nobody will take our love away from us.

But I can't. I feared my mother and her wrath. Even more than the fear of losing Scarlett, because I'm still not brave enough to face the woman who raised me.

I saw a look of realization flicker in Scarlett's eyes as her lips twitched. She inhaled as disappointment and understanding spread over her face at the same time.

"Perhaps you're right..." I said in a soft tone as I swallowed my tears which threatened to escape. "Am I scared? Yes. Am I having second thoughts? Definitely. But... knowing that you're here, with me... just that alone has given me the strength to even come here. I would have run away and hid like a coward, as I always do. But you..." I took a deep breath and let it out with a shudder. "You have me willing to face my problems. So please... trust me that I'll do the right thing. And I promise... I won't hurt you, okay? Do you trust me, baby?"

Scarlett bit her lip and glanced out the window before facing me again. "Yes. I trust you," she finally said.

"Good. Now let's go."

I walked out of the car, with Scarlett doing the same thing. I noticed Andrew's body stiffening when he saw her. He adjusted his jacket and straightened his posture, as if he could be any straighter than he already was.

"Mother..."

"Look who finally arrived," my mother said, crossing her arms.

"I meant to-"

"Did I ask you something? Закрой свой рот, ты сука, (shut your mouth, you bitch)."

"Scarlett." Andrew glared at Scarlett as I watched his hands turn into fists.

"Well, hello Andy. How is your nose doing? A little bent out of shape, isn't it?" Scarlett said.

"You fucking bitch," Andrew snarled and took one step before my mother stopped him with her hand on his chest.

"Now, Andrew, let's not waste our energy and time on this filthy demon," my mother said as Andrew relaxed a little beside her.

"What the fuck did you just say?" Scarlett said. This time, I was the one who held her back by placing my hand on her arm.

"Don't, Scarlett. I'll deal with this, I promise," I whispered. She inhaled sharply before taking a step back.

"Now that that's handled," my mother resumed. "Andrew would like to speak with you, Audrey. Inside. Alone."

"Why are you speaking for him, mother?" I asked. "What is he, a little boy who can't talk?"

"Don't you fucking dare talk back to me, you ungrateful little brat," my mother says angrily. "Now get your fucking ass inside before I give you a подзатыльник (slap on the head)."

Before I could comply and walk forward, I felt Scarlett's hand wrap around my wrist. I looked back to find a sheet of concern over her face.

"I'll be fine, Scarlett," I said reassuringly.

"I'll be out here if anything happens, okay?" Scarlett said, her worried eyes darting across my face.

I nodded. She released her grip on me and let me go as I climbed up the stairs. I kept my eyes on my mother as she glared at me. Andrew gave me a smile before he tried to grab my arm. I swatted his hand away, emitting a grin from him as he fell back and followed me inside.

Which was a mistake.

As soon as the door closed behind, something heavy struck me on the back of the head. My ears rang as the stench of fresh blood filled my senses. I fell to my knees as I reached to the back of my head and felt warm liquid on my skin. When I brought my hand in front of me, the sight of crimson blood staining my palm greeted my eyes.

I was struck once again, and this time, the darkness conquered my mind. And the last thing I felt was the cold, hard surface of the tiles making contact with my face.