Tris POV
"What the hell!?" My father's voice... I wake with a start. Tobias' arm is wrapped around me protectively. "What the hell is he doing in here?"
Tobias shifts and stares with wide eyes. I hear him curse under his breath. "Sir… I, um…" I close my eyes; we can never catch a break.
And to make the situation worse, his shirt is off and I don't have any pants on. I know how this looks. "Dad, I can explain-"
"No!" he shouts, slamming the door. I jump. "You don't need to explain anything. I come home after three days and you're in bed with some boy- Marcus Eaton's boy! God Beatrice, you're such a slut. I will not stand for it!"
I bite my lip. Tobias' hand finds mine under the sheet. I squeeze it.
"Mr. Prior, this is a major misunderstanding. I can assure you-"
"You do not need to explain anything boy, get out!" Andrew opens the door again.
Tobias looks wearily at me, I nod with a frown. He slides out of the bed and puts on his shirt and, to my relief, he is wearing shorts. My dad clenches his jaw when Tobias walks past him. I struggle to catch my breath when he leaves.
He isn't here anymore. He can't protect me anymore. The thought runs through my head repeatedly, like a chant. I clench my fist.
"What. Exactly. Were. You. Thinking?" My dad spits. My fingers tremble.
"I'm sorry. We didn't do anything dad, I promise." I meet his eyes and then quickly look away.
I hear his footsteps loudly approaching and he backhands me across the cheek. Heat spreads through face instantly. "Liar." He hisses. "You are a slut and a liar!"
I bite my lip to keep from crying out. My cheek throbs. He isn't here anymore. He can't protect me anymore. I close my eyes and picture Tobias here with me. My heart beat calms.
Andrew starts unbuckling his belt and I shiver, the last time he did that… "Stand up and turn around." He whispers.
I do what he says. Anything is better than...
The first hit is sudden and hard. I moan in pain. I feel my shirt rip on contact with the buckle. He hits me again. And again. And again and again and again. I lose count after thirteen. Or maybe I pass out. All I know is I wake up sitting against the wall, covered in sweat and blood.
I check the clock next to my bed, 4 am. He isn't here anymore. He can't protect me anymore. I wish he were still here. I wish he didn't have to protect me anymore. I close my eyes and fall back asleep.
Maybe I can disappear…
"Tris… Tris hey." I feel a hand cup my cheek. I flinch in pain. It moves away. "Lets get you cleaned up."
Tobias carries me to the bathroom and turns on the water in the tub. He looks away when I take off my shirt, but I wish he didn't. It made this whole thing awkward. This isn't the first time we have done this and this isn't the first time he has seen me in my underwear, but it's the first time we've done this as a couple. A chill goes up my arm.
Tobias takes a cloth and some cold water and dabs at my back. I stiffen. The pain is ghastly. "You good?" he says in a low voice. I nod.
I'm glad he can't see my face. If he could, he would see that I'm not good. I haven't been good since my mom died and I want to be dead. I'm not good because I need him so much and I'm not ready for him to know and all I want is to run away with him.
I feel a hot tear slide down my cheek.
"I wish my mom was here," I whisper.
The towel drops from my back and Tobias faces me. "Me too."
I meet his eyes, "What, you hated your mom."
He grins a little, showing his front teeth. "No. I mean your mom. I wish she was here."
I look down at my intertwined fingers, "oh."
"Hey," he cups my cheek, (the one that isn't slapped) "Are you okay?"
I bite my lip, "physically?"
He soothes my hair down, combing his careful fingers through the knots. "No."
"Oh. I don't know." I climb off the edge of the tub and grab my shirt. Putting it on I whisper, "I've been through a beating before. But this one was different. It was about you."
"Tris," he murmurs, "That's what I want to talk about."
I meet his eyes.
"Whenever I'm around, you're in trouble with your dad. And if we're together, you're going to be in so much more danger with him."
I lick my lips, "What are you getting at Tobias?"
"Maybe we should… stop." He clutches the hem of his t-shirt like the sentence pains him.
"Stop what?" I whisper.
"Us."
I touch my palm to my stomach. It feels like he just punched me. "Oh."
He runs his hand through his hair. I fight back tears.
"Well," I whisper. "I guess you better go then." I open the door.
"Tris-" he starts.
"Don't." I choke. A lump has formed in my throat. "Please. Just don't."
He nods and walks through the door. "I love you." He grabs my hand.
"Please, just go Tobias." My voice is hoarse and scratchy and I want him to stay. Why am I telling him to leave? Beg him to stay. Plead him to stay.
He squeezes my hand and walks down the stairs. I wait for the front door to shut before I break down into a sob.
SOSOSOSO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! (AND FOR THIS CHAPTER)
READ AND REVIEW
-RILEY
