CHAPTER EIGHT
TRIS POV
I finish helping Caleb and dad clean up and I am about to walk upstairs when dad stops me. "Beatrice I think it would be a good idea if you stay with Tobias until he falls asleep tonight. There is a big chance he is going to have nightmares after what happened at dinner," dad says.
"Yes dad I will," I say. I walk up the stairs and I go and change into my sleep clothes. They really aren't that different from what we wear in the day time. I'm sure if someone from another faction saw me in them they would just think they were our everyday clothes. I wonder what is like to wear different clothes. I won't ever find out unless I transfer. I see the clothes the Dauntless wear and I don't know if I could ever be that brave to wear what they do. But at the same time if I was to transfer that is where I would like to go.
I knock on Tobias's door and I hear him call come in, so I walk in the room and see that he is already in bed. I turn off his light and walk over to his bed.
"They sent you to make sure I don't wake the whole house with my nightmares tonight did they?" he asks as I sit on the floor beside his bed.
"Yeah, they just want to make sure you are alright," I say.
"I know," he says. "I don't blame them; I would hate to be woken by my screaming too."
"Are you going to sit on the floor all night or do you want to get under the covers?" he asks.
"Under the covers," I say and I get up off the floor and hop into bed. This is the only time that I like that I am tiny for my age. Tobias is growing so quickly we hardly fit in his bed any more.
We just lay there in silence, we do this often. It has taken Tobias awhile to get used to having so many people around and I know he likes his quiet time. So I just lie here and hope he falls asleep soon and that the nightmare that is Marcus doesn't visit him tonight.
I can hear mum and dad getting ready for bed. The walls aren't thick in our home and you can hear what is said if they speak loud enough. Then I hear dad say, "do you think there is any chance he has changed?"
I feel Tobias tense up next to me and I grab his hand and hold it as tight as I can. Trying to reassure him that it is going to be okay, even though I'm not sure if it will be.
"I don't care if he thinks he has changed. I don't care if his step mum is from Dauntless and could protect him. I am not letting Tobias back into that house, I will not have him living in fear of his life. There is nothing anyone can tell me I just won't let it happen. You know I went and saw Hana. You know what I have. I will use it if I have to Andrew," mum says.
I feel Tobias start to relax again.
I hear my dad laugh a little and then he says, "yes I know what you have Nat. I also know that I don't like that we have that in our home. But I understand why. I couldn't imagine Tobias not being here anymore. It would be like losing one of our own now."
Tobias sighs and I say, "go to sleep Tobias, everything is going to be okay."
"Yeah," I hear him whisper back to me and it isn't long before we have both fallen asleep.
It's Saturday today which means no school. Tobias, Caleb and I are our in the yard practising our self defence moves. We are starting to get really good at it, even Caleb has been having a go. But Tobias is really good at it, it is like he was made to be Dauntless. He has such good coordination; I sometimes wish I had it because I can be so clumsy at times. Which just makes Tobias and Caleb laugh at me.
"You're all getting very good at this," I hear my mum call out as she comes outside and joins us. "Now we all need to have a chat about what volunteer work you are all going to do. Now that you are eleven Tris you all should be doing some sort of volunteer work."
"Ergh," I groan.
"It's not that bad Beatrice and you will be helping others. Now I have been able to get you Caleb a position working in the government building with your father. I thought this would be the most interesting place for you. Tobias you are going to the distribution centre, if you do want to leave Abnegation and transfer to Dauntless then you are going to need to build up some muscles. So there is a lot of lifting involved and I think that is where you are best suited. Now Tris you get a choice," mum says.
"I do?"
"Yes honey you do. Now you can either help me feeding the factionless or you can go with Tobias."
"I'm going to go with Tobias mum," I say. I want strong muscles too. Then I will be stronger and if I want to choose Dauntless I will be ready. But I don't know if I want to go to Dauntless, I like Abnegation as well.
"Okay well you will start next week. I need you to all do two afternoons after school. Now show me some of these moves Caleb has been teaching you and I will show you some of the things I learnt when I was living in Dauntless," mum says.
We stay outside for hours with mum showing us how to punch properly and using the moves that Caleb has shown us from the books he has been bringing home to block the punches. I had so much fun and I think Caleb and Tobias did too. I think every muscle in my body is aching from all the activities today. We don't usually stay out here doing this for so long but with mum our here with us we didn't want to stop.