Some ideas are mine. Everything else belongs to Veronica Roth.
I knew going to my parents' apartment was a bad idea. It would just end bad for all three of us. I wouldn't be able to control my anger and, well, that never ends well.
But still, after seeing Lily's tattoo, which was a flower on her ankle, I decided it would just be best if I visited.
I didn't hate my parents. I loved them. It's just, we have such separate views on everything, I won't be able to have a real conversation without fighting. They say it's out of love. They like fighting with me because they love me and want the best for me. I just think they don't want their older daughter to grow up.
I knocked on the door and waited outside, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets and looking around. It was late, and the hallway was completely empty.
After a few moments, I was greeted at the door by a tall, handsome, carbon copy of my dad.
Beck.
"Oh look, it's you," He said, trying to contain a smile.
I laughed and he pulled me into a big hug. Even though he was only 15, he was at least 6 inches taller than me. My little brother.
We both walked into the apartment and I saw my parents, sitting in the couch together. I held my breath, half expecting my dad to ask why I've been walking around without a shirt and half waiting for my mom to question me about everything that occurred today.
Quite frankly, I didn't want to talk to either of them. I immediately regretted coming. I remembered everything I heard from Uriah and I hated them. I hated my parents right now. But, I didn't want Beck to see any of it.
"Beck, Joseph was looking for you in the pit," I lied, looking my brother in his deep navy eyes. Mine are different from his, they're more of a blue gray. He nodded and waved goodbye before leaving quickly. I couldn't have even faked being a Candor. I'm too good of a liar.
I turned around and looked at my parents with so much disgust that if looks could kill, their hearts wouldn't be beating. They must have noticed my hostility because Dad got up and walked towards me, finding words to say.
"Listen-" He tried to speak, but I cut him off.
"No," I sneered, walking past him so I stood in between both of them. I heard my heart pound in my ears. Is my breath ragged? Yeah, it probably is.
"Do you two really think I'm that pathetic? That I can't even train with regular Dauntless born?" I spat out the words like they were sour. I didn't notice that my mom was now standing next to my father. Her blond hair was pulled back from her face. Right now, they didn't look like the legendary Four and Six, toughest trainers and Dauntless leaders that our faction has ever seen. They looked like Tris and Tobias, my unfortunate parents.
"It's not like that Theo," She tried. I laughed, sarcastically.
"Well it's certainly not all this gender and Nicole bullshit!" I didn't realize I was shouting. Right now, I wasn't realizing anything but the fact that I hated them.
"If you would just listen-" My dad sounded surprisingly calm. I looked into his sad blue eyes. I must be really messed up if I could hate him.
"No. All I've ever done is listen. Listen to you, listen to Christina, listen to Will, listen to Uriah. Hell, the only person I haven't listen to is myself. I'm tired of being lied to about everything! It's as though I don't exist!"
"We were worried-"
"That's bullshit, Mom. You know I've been able to hold my own against everyone since I was little. Not even Joseph or Xander could put me down. You call yourself Dauntless leaders when you're just as cowardly as Marcus!"
Then, it all happened quick. I felt a burning sensation across my face. It stung, but it didn't feel painful. There was only one thing that did.
My father, Tobias Eaton, my daddy, the man I've loved my entire life, just did the unthinkable.
He hit me.
I looked up at him, his expression blank. Like he wasn't there. My mom had her hand over her mouth, in total shock. I saw tear peek out of the corner of her lashes. My father came back from his daze. His face showed pure pain.
"I-I'm so sorry," He breathed, trying to comfort me. "I didn't mean to do that. Oh my God, I'm so sorry," He looked as though he was the one who just got backhanded across the face. He extended his arms towards me.
I should have accepted them, but I couldn't. He meant to hit me. Right when the word came out of my mouth, he lost it. He meant to hit something, not necessarily me, but he did. And he could apologize all he wanted, but I couldn't accept it now. That didn't mean I didn't love him, though. A part of him did mean to hit me, and that part was stronger than the one saying "this is your daughter,". Marcus was the word that pulled the trigger. And for some reason, I said it, knowing I would get hit.
"I told you not to lie to me," I whispered, before opening the door and exiting, without another word.