Dawn was pushing through the darkness of night when she woke up,body shaking. In her dream Tobias had called out to her,pleading with her to save him. Thick tree roots had kept her tied down to the spot on which she stood,helplessly watching as he died.
Her eyes felt puffy,sore,and itchy,as they always did when she fell asleep crying. It hadn't happened since sophomore year of college,when they'd gotten into a fight that ended with him slamming the door to their apartment. Even then,it wasn't to this extent.
Soft footsteps came down the staircase and into the kitchen. She turned to see Christina standing at the doorway,eyeing her cautiously. Tris gave her a weak smile and poured her a cup of coffee.
"How are ya holding up?" Chris asked gently,laying a tanned hand on her arm. She only shrugged in return,not sure how to answer. If there was even an answer.
"The police are supposed to call me when he's ready" Tris told her,wincing at the slightly-hoarse tone of her voice. For a moment,there was a heavy silence,before Chris came around the table to give her a hug. A hug she desperately needed and wanted.
An hour later,Will came down the stairs,yawning. He nodded to the girls while he poured himself a cup of coffee. Tris gave him a shaky smile in return,for fear of crying more if she said a word.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They'd met when they were a year old,two chubby babies plopped together in a playpen. Although their inital meeting had been rough(the story went that she'd thrown a lego at his eye),it hadn't taken long for them to become best friends. It was her mom that Evenlyn Johnson had confided in about what really went on behind closed doors.
In high school,Zeke,Tori,Marlene,Christina,and Will had been added to their previous group of two. He'd loved their little group,but she was the only one he trusted. Proven by the fact that she was the only one who knew-and had permission to use-his real name.
It hadn't been until senior year of high school that they'd finally gotten together. He'd asked her,via a note attached to a rose,if she would attend prom with him. She'd accepted with a blush high on her cheeks.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Later that afternoon,a knock sounded on the door. She hastily opened it,only to see Evelyn standing on the front porch. Quickly she ushered her into the kitchen and sat her down at the table.
"Any news?"Evelyn asked,eyes weary. Fine lines creased around her mouth,the effect of aging. Under her eyes lay a bare hint of dark circles.
She was lost for words,unable to tell the woman in front of her that her only son was dead. Gradually,fragments of sentences began to string themselves together in her head. Tris reached out and clasped her pale hand tightly.
"They found his body,down by the river" She breathed,staring into dark eyes. Then,like a waterfall,she fell into the older woman's arms,sobbing into her shoulder. Hours passed while the two women cried,for the son and husband that would never walk through their doorways again.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Zeke woke harshly,startled by the sudden ringing his cell phone. Hurriedly,he answered it,heart pounding with fear.
"Zeke?" Tris asked.
"Yeah? Any news on Four?"
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. This was the hardest part. How do you tell someone their loved one is dead?
"They found his body...down by the river" She informed him,tears welling up.
He laughed uneasily,voice unsure "Well he's alright right?"
"He's gone Zeke."
Those words would haunt him for the rest of his life.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Make sure to review.
MrsTobiasEaton:Unforunatley,Tobias will stay dead for this story and where I forsee it going. Great idea though.