Tris pov:

I wake up the next morning feeling tired, after all, I only got a few hours of sleep last night. I feel the bed shift beside me, and look over to see Tobias sleeping with his thumb in his mouth. I silently laugh to myself and grab my phone off of the nightstand. I quickly take a picture.

During all of this, Tobias didn't wake up, so I decide to play a little prank on him. I get up quietly, trying not to move the bed, and grab a bucket from under the bathroom sink. I fill it with cold water from the tap and to top it off, empty a tray of ice cubes into the bucket.

Natalie comes downstairs while I'm dumping the ice in and just shakes her head at me, chuckling slightly. I walk up the stairs and quietly tiptoe into my room, checking to make sure Tobias is still sleeping. I quickly set my phone up on my dresser to take a video. Sneaking up to the bed, I go around to the side Tobias is sleeping on and dump the water on his head. He shoots up out of the bed and looks around as I laugh. His eyes finally land on me and he grins at me.

"You know what I could really use right now? Why don't you come on over and give me a hug?" Tobias says, slowly standing up. I back away slowly towards the door.

"No, absolutely not," He starts moving towards me, "Tobias don't you dare touch me while you're soaking wet!" I scream as I run out of the room and down the stairs.

I hear heavy footsteps behind me and I turn down a hallway I've never been in before. The footsteps pass the door of the hallway and I let out a breath. I wait a couple more minutes, until I hear the shower turn on, to exit the hall. I make my way to the kitchen for breakfast but am stopped when I see a picture of my father's face on the TV screen.

I walk into the room and sit on the edge of the couch, listening to the news report involving my father.

"Marcus Eaton, the mayor of our city, has been charged with child abuse against his daughter, Beatrice Eaton." At this, a picture of my face pops up.

"The police said that he had been abusing her since a young age, beating her with his belt, making her hang off rooftops, and locking her in closets. However, Mr. Eaton fled the scene when the authorities showed up. The police do not know where he is, but it is important that we find him, and fast. If you have seen him, please call-" I shut off the TV. Now everybody will know what happened to me.

I didn't feel the tears at first, but now they are pouring down my face. I have done everything to keep this a secret and now it's all out there for anybody to see. I curl up in a ball on the couch and cry into my hands. A hand places itself on my back and I jump. I look up and through my tears I can make out the face of Natalie.

"I'm guessing you saw the news?" She asks. I just nod my head.

"You poor thing, come here." She coos and opens her arms. I gladly accept the embrace and her arms warm me and soothe me. My tears soon stop, yet Natalie continues to hold me and rub my back. I eventually pull away, and wipe my eyes, removing the last bits of tears.

"I better get ready for the day." I say as I stand up.

"Stick with Tobias today, I can tell he really cares about you. I know this might sound weird coming from his mother, but give him a chance, he really deserves someone like you. I see the way he looks at you, and I see the way you look at him. Don't let your past plan your future." Natalie says, before leaving the room, leaving me stunned. I blush slightly and then leave the room to get myself ready.

I take a quick shower to wash the evidence of tears off of my face, and then get dressed in a black crop top, grey skater skirt, and a beige oversized knit cardigan. I decide to leave my hair down and do my regular makeup. I also grab my black Doc Martens.

I make my way downstairs and grab a small blueberry muffin. Tobias comes downstairs in the middle of my eating and grabs a small granola bar. We eat in silence until he asks if I am ready to go.

"As ready as I'll ever be. It's just, I've kept this a secret my entire life, and now everybody is going to know, just like that." I explain.

"Well, only the people that watch the news." Tobias says. I chuckle.

"You really don't know anything about this city, do you? The news is on in every household, pretty much across the state, in the mornings. You never know when a serial killer escapes, and you don't want to be that person. Ah, there's so much you need to learn. How about after school, if you're not doing anything, I take you through the city and explain the rundown of things here? You'll stop feeling like an outsider, I promise." I tell Tobias. He thinks, and then nods.

"That sounds great. It'll be fun to get out and explore this place, learn the ropes. I'm not doing anything after school either son it works out nicely."

I nod, and then we head out to his car. While we drive, I study him. I can clearly see the belt mark on his wrist because he wore a t-shirt, and it looks bad. It is red, and bruised, and there is a clear gash in the middle. He parks in a spot close to the front and proceeds to get out, but stops once he realizes I'm not getting out. He gets back in and shuts the door.

"Hey, it's going to be okay. So what if everyone knows, show them that it doesn't bother you. You are so strong, and so brave, I know you can do this." He wrapped his arms around me and I gladly returned it, happy for everything that he has done for me. I pull away and tell him we need to head into school. I get out of the car, and the police officers, Max and Fernando, follow close behind us. I forgot they were going to be watching us.

We walk into the school, Tobias' arm around my shoulder and the police officers behind us, watching everybody. The hallway goes silent when we walk in, and then the whispers start,

"She's the one that was abused."

"I heard her father was so ashamed of her that he tried to kill her."

On and on, the whispers and rumors spread, some bad, until I can feel my eyes water at their comments. Tobias notices, and proceeds to shout.

"Hey! If you have something to say, too bad! No one cares about what you have to say! Yes, her father abused her, no, that doesn't make her any less of a person than you. Just because you're jealous, does not give you the right to take it out on her! Now everybody, shut up!" The hallway goes back to its silent stares, and I blush, thanking Tobias. We head to my locker, preparing ourselves for the day.

As I am getting my books, I hear running footsteps behind me and a pair of arms lifts me off the ground and traps me in their hug. I whimper from the pain and they put me down, muttering apologies. I turn around, and Zeke is behind me, with Uriah and Christina behind him.

"Hey Tris, I heard about what happened. Are you doing okay?" Zeke asks me.

"Well, as okay as I can be with my abusive father on the loose probably trying to hunt me down and kill me." I say sharply. Tobias places his hand lightly on my back and I shrink back.

"Sorry Zeke, I've just been dealing with a lot of shit right now."

"That's perfectly understandable, just know that we are all here for you, and we will protect you no matter what." Uriah says, and Christina nods beside him. I pull them all in for a hug and whisper a quiet thank you in their ears, before resuming my place under Tobias' arm, and walking to class.

Hey, sorry it's been so long, life has been hectic and I haven't had any time to right this. I am sorry this is so short, I just felt like this was the right place to end it.

-Kara