Chapter 8 - Tobias

I didn't spend long rummaging through the boxes Zeke had kept for me as I have never been a materialistic person, nor very sentimental and therefore there wasn't much to sift through. They mostly contained clothes, and a few nic nacs, but I did manage to find a collection of photos which I had accumulated throughout the years. Ones which featured my mother were a relief to find as they are the last piece of her I have and those of Tris and I which I smiled both fondly and regretfully at. There could have been so many more of these to add to the collection but I gave up that chance a long time ago and the way Zeke has been deflecting my questions relating to her have me anxious.

Being able to fall onto a proper bed in a place in which I feel entirely at ease has my eyes instantly drooping as the weight of my exhaustion hits me. I don't know how long I was out before I heard raised voices down the end of the corridor which stirred me awake. I didn't exactly want to pry into a private conversation but I felt I was most likely the subject of the conversation and so I strained to hear what they were saying.

"You can't just bring him here Zeke!" I heard from an aggressive whisper belonging to a feminine voice. Shauna. She must be back from work. "What was I suppose to do, just leave him there. You didn't see him, he..." I what, he became quieter but I still strained to hear him. "He looked terrible Shauna, a shell of his former self...he's my best friend...hell even my brother-"

"How are you going to explain this to Uriah, your brother" she emphasised on the word brother and I frowned at what Uriah had to do with me being back, I'm excited to see him again why wouldn't it be reciprocated?

I don't want to intrude but I feel I have been listening a little longer than I should; old habits die hard I guess. I always attempted to eavesdrop when Marcus had colleagues come over to the house when I was younger, I knew if I got caught I would most definitely get punished for it but it was a small act of rebellion and defiance against him.

I swung my legs onto the floor and put on a pair of old sweatpants which I'd found in one of the boxes and a plain black t-shirt. I made my way out of the room and followed the voices which were still hushed but easily heard nevertheless and gave a slight cough to make my presence known. They both immediately ceased their conversation and turned to greet me as I walked into the kitchen.

I rubbed the back of my neck in anticipation for how Shauna would react to me as the conversation I overheard had me slightly worried I wasn't welcome.

She smiled softly at me and approached me slowly with her arms a stretched and despite my dislike of physical contact with most people, I willingly stepped into the hug as my deprivation of contact allowed me to appreciate the feeling, just this once. She didn't say anything and neither did I but once she took a step back she had a stern look on her face and one I knew spelt trouble.

She shook her head numerous times with her eyes clenched shut, hands on her hips and I just stood there waiting for the word explosion I knew was coming my way.

It didn't, not really.

She raised her head and made eye contact with me and in a harsh tone she said

"how could you? I don't care about how you may have thought it was the best thing to do, because it wasn't. You left a wake of destruction behind which we all had to pick up after and don't think you can come back after two years and everything will be how you left it, because it isn't and never will be!."

She stood firmly in her place staring me down and when she knew the words had sunk in she pushed past me and left me standing there assessing how juxtaposed her reaction towards me was.

The rest of the night was fairly tense and I offered to leave on multiple occasions but Zeke insisted I stay and reminded me of my limited options for other accommodation which I couldn't argue with, even though there was one place I really wanted to go, but I kept that to myself. There were multiple conversations between the pair throughout the night which were of similar intensity but they were too quiet for me to overhear.

I found my exhaustion lessening throughout the night and it opened my mind to thoughts which I've been trying to keep out, and they are now plaguing my dreams. It's fair to say I didn't sleep very well last night from a mixture of replaying the events of the night and the recollections which haunted me when I did manage to fall asleep. I feel an intense need for fresh air so I take a quick shower and sit out in the back garden absorbing the sun and feeling refreshed as the cool breeze swirls around me.

I've been out here for a couple hours when I hear the rumble of an engine pull up out front of the house. It's an abnormally quiet entrance into the house as the last I knew Zeke was an exuberant greeter when one entered his 'crib' as he called it, but the atmosphere has been a bit stifling lately so I shouldn't read into it too much.

I'm not sure if I should make my presence known but I'm in desperate need of a drink and that need is significantly outweighing the inner debate of whether or not I should remain hidden. I don't think either of them has told anyone I'm back, but the topic hasn't been openly discussed so who knows but I decide to throw caution to wind.

I reach the door and pull the handle but it won't budge, it was fine when I came out so I use a little aggression as I assume it must be jammed and after numerous attempts it opens but not without a loud thump. As I step over the threshold and raise my eyes I am met immediately with Zeke staring at me stunned and I have little time to question the look as I scan the room until my eyes land on a pair of stormy gray ones which I'm sure are burning holes into me.

The world could be falling apart around me and I wouldn't notice. I'm too mesmerised by the sight before me, one I didn't think I would be privileged to ever see again. My eyes roam over her as I take her in, she's just as beautiful as I remember and the distance between us it too great in my mind and its infuriating. I'm broken out of my trance by a sharp sting on the left side of my face and I realise I have walked the length of the room and planted myself in front of her and she must have slapped me. I don't blame her and I'm happy to see she is still as fierce as ever but that thought is instantly forgotten as she spins on her heels and storms out the front door.

I'm stunned in place for a few moments before I take off after her, "Tris!" I yelled whilst running after her, she bypassed her car and continued running down the street.

Tris POV

I had a few errands to run today as I didn't have to go into work so I took Ruby to Christina's as she was going to watch her whilst I ran around town for a few hours. After my goodbyes I got back in the car and as I was about to set off I cast my eyes over the front seat and noticed the sweater Shauna lent me over the weekend. "Damn it" I muttered as I now had to add going around to her and Zeke's place to drop it off onto my ever growing list of things to do today.

After I had finished going to the post office, bank and doing a spot of grocery shopping I was questioning whether or not I should drop the sweater off now as I'm not sure if both Shauna and Zeke are at work or wait until later tonight.

I decided as I was more or less passing their house on the way to Christina's that I should at least attempt to see if anyone was in fact there. As I was pulling up onto the drive I noticed Zekes' pickup truck and assumed he must have gotten back from his business trip either yesterday or today and I was glad I wouldn't have to make another trip over here later today to drop it off. I grabbed the sweater and made my way to the front door and knocked loudly a few times as I know Zeke can get pretty preoccupied and would most likely miss me knocking. A few knocks later the door swung open and Zeke was standing there, mouth agape with his eyes alert, refusing to meet mine. It is as though I caught him doing something he shouldn't be doing and if it's in any way going to hurt Shauna I want to know. I go to walk through the door when Zeke blocks me, making me more suspicious, I cast him a stern glare and barge past him when he expected me to back down. Nothing seems out of place when I look around the front room so I turn around to face him, arms crossed and say "so you're back from your business trip..." he doesn't miss my accusing tone and I can see him trying to formulate a response when a loud thump interrupts and causes me to turn around.

I can't move as my body is in shock at the sight before me. He can't be here; he can't be its not possible. I'm sure my eyes are burning a hole through him as I can't seem to tear my eyes from him in fear he'll disappear as quickly as he appeared. I see and feel his eyes roam over me and the hairs on my neck stand to attention and my body shudders at the overwhelming emotion that only he is able make me experience. That feeling is quickly overtaken by pure rage as the reality of the situation starts to sink in. How dare he look at me like that when he chose to leave me and as I notice him start walking towards me my anger is starting to overpower me and the next thing I know I have raised my right hand and slapped him across the face. I glare at him and as his scent floods its way into my vicinity I can't help but choke at the emotions it creates so I turn on my heels and bolt out of the house and down the street. I don't stop at my car I just keep running, running from him, my past and everything the last few years has thrown at me, I hear him shout my name but I don't stop, I can't.

Hope you enjoyed this one, next chapter will definitely contain some more drama and it should only be a few days until it is up.