CHAPTER SIX
TWO YEARS LATER – TOBIAS 13, TRIS 11
TRIS POV
We walk in the house from school. Tobias is really happy this afternoon, not that he isn't happy usually but today he seems happier. Mum and Dad are both home and Tobias runs up and says, "Mum I got an A on my computer exam."
"Oh sorry, I mean Natalie. Um well I," Tobias says.
Mum has a big smile on her face and she goes over and hugs Tobias, "Congratulations that is great news."
"Thanks," Tobias says. But now he seems embarrassed about his slip up and calling my mum, mum.
"Tobias it's okay. You can call me mum while we are at home. There is nothing wrong with it. It would probably be easier. Maybe then Beatrice will stop calling me Natalie," Mum says with a laugh. When I am upset I call my mum by her given name. I know she doesn't like me doing it but sometimes I think that it is kinder to Tobias. I know he misses his mum and I also know how much he loves both my mum and dad. So I think he would feel even more a part of our family if he could call my parents mum and dad.
And that is exactly what is decided. I can hear mum and dad telling him that he can call them mum and dad if he wants to but that he needs to make sure he still calls them Mr and Mrs Prior when we are out in public. They didn't like him having to call them that at home, they felt it was too formal and Abnegation and ever since Tobias moved in our house has been the furthest from Abnegation as they could possible make it. We all put on a good show when we have guests or are out in public but not at home. Dad even found a way to get a camera and although there are no photos downstairs we all have photos all over our rooms upstairs, even mum and dad.
Caleb walks into my room with Tobias following behind him. I have just finished my homework, thank goodness.
"Want to come out to the meadow with us?" Caleb asks.
"You hate playing in the meadow. Why do you want to go there now?" I ask. I am feeling very suspicious and I am wondering what Caleb is up to.
"I do. But I found this book at the library and I thought you and Tobias might want to have a read too," Caleb says. I look over to Tobias and he just shrugs at me, like he is as clueless as I am about what Caleb is really up to.
"How is a book going to want us to play in the meadow with you?" I ask.
"Beatrice just come and have a look. I bet you will be interested once you see," Caleb says. He turns on his heel and walks out the door. He has that I know something you don't strut that he always puts on after he has learnt something new. Ever since mum and dad let Caleb have books he has been almost impossible when he learns something. He wants to sit there for hours talking about it. Tobias and I have actually both fallen asleep on him more than a few times. Which we laugh about later but Caleb never finds it funny.
"Should we follow?" I ask Tobias.
"Why not? At least he is coming out to play," Tobias says.
I stand up and follow Tobias out of my room and into the unknown of Caleb's latest interest. I hope he has found something fun for us to read. Sometimes when Caleb is in a really good mood he will bring home something that he thinks Tobias and I might like to read. Also he does it so he can use our library cards because he has reached his limit on books he can borrow. I don't mind because I like to read I just hate going into the library because it is always full of Erudite kids and they always tease me when I am in there.
We walk out the back of our house and Caleb is sitting in the grass. "So all knowing Caleb, what have you got for us today?" Tobias asks.
I have to try not to laugh at Tobias he is really good at teasing Caleb but he always seems to do it in a nice way so that Caleb can't see what he is really doing. Tobias gives me a look to say shh.
"Well my favourite brother and sister," says Caleb, "I think I have finally found a book that you will both like."
"So what is it?" I ask.
He holds the book up with a title 'Self Defence for Beginners'. I run over and grab the book out of his hand. "Where did you find this?" I ask totally overexcited.
"It was in the library. You two are always pretending to be Dauntless, so I thought this could be a good way to learn something about it," Caleb says.
I open the book and start to flick through the pages and I can feel Tobias looking over my shoulder. Caleb takes the book back off me. "Hey," I say.
"So I thought I could read the book and then I could show you the moves and you two can practise on each other. I can be your instructor," Caleb says.
I look over to Tobias to see what he thinks and he just does his usual shrug. Which means he will give it a go but that he can't promise he will like it. It probably means that he is going to hate Caleb showing him what to do but he also has that spark in his eyes when he is excited.
We stay outside for hours with Caleb explaining what we need to do, if we get confused then he lets us look at the pictures. I am totally loving this and I think Tobias is having fun too. I think Caleb is enjoying himself too, it is probably the only time we have come out here together and all three of us have been playing together since we were really little.
"What are you three doing?" I turn to see our mum has come outside. She must be home from her volunteering duties and we haven't started getting dinner ready.
Caleb starts a big explanation about how he found this book and that there are lots of others in the library like it. He tells her how he has been our instructor and that we are starting to get really good at the moves. I don't think I have ever seen Caleb this excited about playing with Tobias and me. We have had a really great afternoon.
"Okay well I am glad you have all been enjoying yourselves this afternoon but I need you to come inside and help with dinner," Mum says.
We walk inside laughing and talking just like we always do. If other families in Abnegation could see how we are acting we would be in so much trouble. But it would be worth it, ever since Tobias came to live with us it has been different. A better different, it almost makes you want to stay here forever. But I also know that it wouldn't be like this if Tobias hadn't had to go through such horrible things for us to all get here.
I still feel sad sometimes when I think of what he went through. Whenever he sees Marcus we are guaranteed that he will have a nightmare that night. It has never got any better, sometimes I wonder if it ever will. It doesn't help that when we are in public Marcus puts a big show on for all of Abnegation to see. When this happens Tobias can have nightmares for days.
Sometimes I sneak into Tobias' room when we are going to bed. Usually if I am with him he doesn't have any nightmares or I can wake him up before he wakes the whole house. But I can't always do that so more often than not we are all awoken with Tobias's terrifying screams.