Chapter 9: Injuries

I start driving towards the school parking lot. I look out the window at the dreary scenery. Why do I feel a warmth in my chest when it's raining? I would say the warm feeling is love but a, I don't do love, and b, love is too feeble of a word to express what I feel. This feeling is sort of like a loving so strong that it makes me loathe the rain. Funny how that works.

I turn the radio on and it matches this feeling perfectly. Don't you love it when a song plays and it's fits perfectly with the moment you're having. And sometimes it's not the lyrics that match the moment, but the music. The song that comes on is Chasing Cars, a love song that sounds so beautifully tragic.

I start relaxing and taking in the tragic beauty of my situation before recognizing the school parking lot and remembering why I'm driving here. Right above the parking lot are three lone ravens. They seem to fit with the scenery so well.

I pull into the parking lot and make out a figure sitting on the steps leading into the school. Their head is in their hands. I park the car, get out, and walk towards it. He looks up at me. I gasp. He's beaten up worse than when I kicked his butt.

"Who did this?" I ask.

"Someone."

"Thanks, real helpful. Side you're obviously not going to answer that question I'm just going to tell you to get in my car. I'm taking you to Tori." I say. He raises his eyebrow, not knowing who she is. I grin.

- Time Skip -

We pull into Tori's driveway after a car ride full of almost complete silence. The only noise was the music softly playing and the patter of rain on the windows. I stop the car and unlock the doors. Four jumps out his door and runs over to open my door for me. That probably made him hurt even more. I smack his head playfully and then I walk out the door.

I knock on Tori's door once before immediately coming in. I only knock because Four's there.

"Tori!" I call.

"Who's there?!" She yells back.

"Who do ya think?! I have company!" I yell.

"Oo! Can I guess who?!" I roll my eyes.

"Sure."

"Chrissy?"

"Nope!"

"Will?"

"Nope!"

"Caleb?"

"Nope!"

There is a moment of silence.

"I give up! Who?" Tori yells.

"Captain Annoying!" I shout. Tori sprints to the top of the steps. Her eyes are wide and her mouth agape. Four is obviously bewildered. Tori runs down the steps and gapes at me. Then she gapes at the very awkward looking Four. Then back at me. This repeats four or five times before I put a stop to it.

"Tori, stop. You're scaring the poor kid." I say. Four tries to say something in response to being called a kid but I shush him. Tori nods.

"Let's heal him." Tori announces.

- Time Skip -

Four is sprawled out on the kitchen counter looking terrified.

"Don't worry, Tori's got a quarter of her medical degree!" I say. This doesn't seem to make any difference in Four's feelings about this. Tori comes back into the room carrying a first aid kit and a pair of scissors. Four bolts up suddenly.

"Actually, you know what? I think I don't need any treatment! I'm feeling a lot better!" Four says getting up and backing away from Tori slowly. Tori and I laugh.

"We were just messing with you! I'm just going to clean the cuts, bandage you, and give you some ice. Tris will assist me!" Tori says.

"I have no choice, unfortunately." I say.

Four lays back down and we get to work. I clean Four's cuts and Tori bandages them. Tori makes small talk. Suddenly, Tori's face lights up. Uh oh, it looks like she has an idea. Please don't embarrass me!

"Tris, I have to go to the bathroom! You keep clean Four's cuts. I might be a while!" Tori says and starts walking towards the bathroom. What was the point of that?! I got lucky! She didn't have a stupid idea! For the first time in forever she didn't embarrass me!

"Sit up." I command Four.

"Why?" He asks.

"Because I have to clean your back. Now sit up!" I say, more forcefully this time. He sits up.

I start cleaning the wounds on his back. Unlike when Tori was in the room, there is no small talk; just silence. I work like a robot; at a constant speed with no stoping. Four flinches every time I touch one of his cuts.

"I'm going to try again, who did this?" I ask.

"Still not saying." He responds. This annoys me.

"You know, that's really cowardly. You shouldn't be ashamed of admitting someone beat you up! That's stupid! Just admit they beat you up! No big deal! Nobody will think any different of you!" I shout. He turns around.

"Everyone will think differently of me! This could change my life completely! You don't know what you're talking about, Tris!" He shouts back.

"Yes, I do! Becoming unpopular doesn't change your entire life! It just changes your school life! I have news for you, being popular doesn't matter! We'll all just to off to college, graduate college, and then we enter the real world! And guess what? Being popular in high school isn't important in the real world!"

He glares at me.

"Maybe you shouldn't talk about things you don't know about, Tris." He says my name like he's spitting out poison. He turns back around.

"Maybe you shouldn't have so much pride." I retort.

Just then Tori walks in. I think she heard the fight. From then on we work in silence. After we're done Tori offers to drive Four home. Four turns down her offer and walks out the door. I share one look with Tori and then I run out the door after him. It's still pouring rain. I see Four a block away. I run to him. I tap his shoulder. He turns and faces me.

"Try not to get beat up by them again." I say. He raises an eyebrow. I wince. "Please, at least try." I say quietly. He nods then walks away.

Even if it's just a little speck, I think some part of me, somewhere, cares about Four.

I'M BACK SUCKERS! YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD GET RID OF ME?! NOPE! YOURE STUCK WITH ME! I would have updated faster except I've been too busy to write this chapter because I was re-discovering youtube (god, I love youtube) and avoiding/catching up on missed work.

My rip to Europe was cool, I went to Italy. Everyone else in my family wanted to shop and I was just like "FOOD! HISTORICAL PLACES!". Yeah, I'm the odd one out in my family. It sucks. Oh, and I had to share a bed with my sister. I hate sharing a bed with her, she spins around in her sleep. And I don't mean rolls, she spins. Like, her feet end up on the pillow.

And we finally won a game today! I don't know why it took so long, we have a really good team! But still, we won! Yay!

170 reviews please!

QOTD: Have you been out of the country that you live in?