Chapter 40:
TRIS POV:
My father is waiting outside his car once Tobias and I finally arrive back at my house, speeding down the street, me constantly glancing his way to make sure he's still conscious. Tobias stared at me to whole ride home, his gaze never wavering until we made it to my house. I open my car door, rushing over to his side though my dad has already throw the passenger door open, beginning to lift Tobias.
Tobias stubbles a little, attempting to help my dad out in carrying him, though he ultimately fails. I take his other side, the same side of me that's already soaked in his blood, being to get drench once again.
My dad holds Tobias up as I pound on the door, wanting to scream in frustration, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I look back at Tobias's unfocused eyes. Finally my mom open the door, taking in a sharp breath of air before moving out of our way quickly.
"Mom, we need your help cleaning him up, and I'm not a doctor, but I think he needs stitches." I say, my arm laying gently on his back, still supporting him from his armpit.
"Okay, here," she gestures towards our kitchen island, the countertop only holding a few glasses and plates that she quickly clears off, "Lie him down on top of this, his back facing up."
My dad and I do as we are told, Tobias groaning as our arms slide off of his shirtless body, opening his wounds up to bleed a little more. Tobias's body is too tall for the table, resulting in his shins hanging off the edge of the counter, blood traveling down and dripping on the floor. I quickly grab one of the high top chairs and place it so that his feet and shins are resting on the chair.
"He has some cuts on his front too, just not as bad as his back." I explain, my voice sounding almost detached.
"Okay, thank you, Beatrice." My mother barely mumbles out as she grabs a pillow to support his head and then her surgical supply kit.
"Tris." I watch my name come out of his mouth, but it sounds nothing like him, his voice sounds strangled, and almost needy.
Despite the sound of his voice, I rush over to the side of his head the he's turned on, and I'm looking right into his mysterious, ocean blue eyes. They begin to droop a little, but once they catch sight of me they widen as much as they can with what seems to take a lot of his energy.
His eyes read every emotion that's tumbling through him, fear, panic, sorrow, guilt, pain, and, despite all his agony, when he looks at me, I see love. He's trying to tell me a silent message, which I had assumed before today where only something that I read in books, or saw on television, but as I look at him, I can understand what he is trying to tell me with merely a glance.
I'm so tired, Tris. I can't hold on much longer.
I can feel the burning behind my eyes, the tear building, causing my vision to become blurry. My hand moves towards Tobias, gently brushing his hair back, off his sweat ridden forehead before I leave my spot to go where my mom is standing.
"Mom, Tobias is going to pass out." I sound panicky, although I feel like everything is moving in slow motion.
"Let him, Beatrice, what I need to do here will be a lot easier for him and me if he's passed out." My mom tells me, not even offering a side glance as she attempts to stop his excessive bleeding.
I walk back towards Tobias head, dragging one of the stools with me, placing it in the spot I stood in before. When I get there, Tobias's eyes are half closed half open, waiting for my presents surely, because when I sit back in front of him, they automatically widen.
I continue to brush his hair back as I was doing before, then I speak softly, my voice cracking halfway through, "It's okay, Tobias. Let go. You can fall asleep, I'll be right here when you are up again. I love you so much, Tobias Eaton."
His eyes are filled with gratitude and love as he slowly mouths, I love you, too. Then the midnight blue fades away as he closes his eyes, giving into the pain that is surely taking over.
It's hour's later when my mother finally stops moving, Tobias's back completely wrapped up, blood barely seeping through the white cloth. My mom stands and walks over to our fridge, grabbing a ziplock bag and filling it with ice. She wraps the bag in a small hand towel and comes back over to where I'm sitting.
She reaches her hand out, placing the ice pack in my hand, "Place it against the back of his head and hold it there while I stitch the cut on his forehead."
I do as I'm told, scooting my chair over to allow my mother to pull up her own chair. I watch carefully as she pulls the needle through the skin on his forehead, pulling on it gently to put his skin back in place.
The more I look at him, the more my stomach turns, anger bubbling up leaving me wanting to burst, but my sorrow weighs it back down. His lip is split open, his face covered in more bruises than skin, the only thing that looks the same is his nose. I can't hold the back the tears as they begin to fall once again.
My mom finished her work, placing all the tools back in the box, then puts a white cloth over it, using tape to make it stick. She's run out of the good bandages, she has used them all on his back, and part of his front.
She spins in her chair so that she is facing me, her face more serious than I have ever seen it before. I can spot several worry lines that appear across her forehead as she stares at me.
"Beatrice, Tobias will be fine. It may take a while for him to get better but he will." She speaks softly, gently wiping my tears away though they are quickly replaced with new ones.
"I know, I just….It's hard for me to see him so hurt." I whisper so quietly I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't hear me, but she nods her head in understanding.
"I know it hurts. It will always hurts to see the love of your life in so much pain, but I want you to stay strong for him, Beatrice. He stayed strong for you during your recovery, you should be able to do the same."
I nod my head, attempting my hardest to stop more tears from running down my face.
"I'm done for now and I'm going to go make you something to eat okay?"
"Okay." I respond, keeping my eyes on Tobias as my mom works on cooking me dinner.
It's been a couple of hours, Tobias still unconscious, though he now lays on his stomach in my bed. I'm sitting next to his body surrounded in a comfortable silence, the only sound coming from the room next door where my parents talk-quite loudly I must add-about Tobias living with us until he turns 18.
My father, though he pitties Tobias, he doesn't think it is a great idea, while my mom is saying that she doesn't want him to go anywhere else. And here I thought we had already gone through all of this, and that the decision was made at the hospital….maybe…..no, please no….my mom must have told my dad about the pills….
My thoughts are interrupted by a grunt bursting from Tobias, his arms beginning to move as he squirms around a little bit. As gently as I can, I place my hand on his back, only causing him to curse quietly under his breath.
"Tobias, stop moving." I plead to him as he continues to attempt to sit up.
"Tris….what is happening? Where am I?" His voice sounds desperate for answers.
"You're at my house, after you passed out my mom stitched you up and we brought you to my room…." His struggle doesn't settle as he continues to try to get up so I decide to help him sit up even though he shouldn't, "My parents are talking about you staying here til you turn eighteen, though it sounds like my father doesn't want to budge."
Tobias stares at me with his big, ocean blue eyes, filled with guilt, "Tris, if your dad doesn't want me here I can leave. I'm sure I can find some place to live for a while."
I can see right through his lie, but I decide against commenting on it as we listen silently to my parents. It only takes another five minutes before I hear them quiet down and a soft knocking on my bedroom door.
"Come in." I say, allowing the person to open the door.
My mother walks in, walking straight over to me and holding out her hand, "Beatrice, your father wants to talk to Tobias alone, and now that he is awake, I think it's best for this to happen sooner rather than later."
"He can say whatever he wants to say to both of us….I not leaving this spot." I speak in a stern tone, glancing from her to Tobias, then to the doorway where my father emerges from.
"I told him, Beatrice. He's not as understanding of young love as I am. I'm sure he won't hurt Tobias but I still think you should let them talk alone." My mom emphasizes the alone, making sure it gets across to me, but still I shake my head, refusing to move.
I glance at Tobias, his face is unreadable though his eyes display his true concerns with this upcoming conversation that my dad is pushing on us as he walks in my room, closer and closer to us. My mom's lips straighten into a tight line as she stands up giving my dad a warning look before leaving the room without another glance.
The room instantly fills with awkward silence as I watch my dad struggle to find the correct words to say in this moment.
Finally he starts speaking, "You both know that I am not against your….relationship with each other, however, there are some….things that i'm not comfortable with. These things were just brought up to me yesterday as something that may be happening soon even though I doubt either of you are ready."
He takes a moment to gauge our reactions to his statement. Tobias is completely emotionless as where I feel like I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve. He takes a deep breath, about to speak again, but Tobias surprisingly interrupts him.
"Sir, Beatrice," cringe "and I will not do anything until we are completely ready for every aspect. The pills that she is now taking is more of a precaution as we have no idea as to when we will be ready for this huge step in our relationship. I love your daughter, Sir, and if you are worried that I would ever hurt her….it is near impossible for me to possibly do anything like I have done in the past again." He speaks with determination and seriousness as he talks about our relationship, causing my heart to melt.
His eyes drift from my dads to mine, holding my gaze until I hear my dad speak once again, "Tobias, you know I respect you for the man that you have become….but you've already hurt Beatrice more times than excusable….I'm not sure if this should even be a thing….you two, together, it's dangerous for not only you but for my dau-"
"Dad!" I interrupt, knowing that he is bringing Tobias and me down, "I hope you realize that no matter what you say that I will still be with Tobias. He is the love of my life, and I hope that someday we will get married and possibly have your grandchildren…." I can feel Tobias's stare burning a hole in the side of my head, "But, as for right now, all I want...no, all I need is your support. If it weren't for him, I would be dead a long time ago."
I can tell that dented my father's ego as he leans back in his chair, his face softening as he looks back and forth between Tobias and I. It's obvious that he is not our relationships biggest fan, but I know that if I can't have my father on my side as I dive into this relationship, I'm going to drown.
Finally after what seems like hours, my dad gives a curt nod, "Okay, but just because you are taking the necessary….things….doesn't mean you should do certain….things."
I return his nod still able to feel the constant burn of Tobias's stare on the side of my head, one that has not left since I mentioned marriage and children. I know that I shouldn't have said it, though I knew that that was the most efficient way of getting my father on the side of Tobias and I's relationship. My father stands up and walks out the door without another word, leaving Tobias and I in a silence that's not comforting nor awkward, just silence.
When I finally look at Tobias in the eyes, I don't see much but love and devotion, which surprises me enough to speak first.
"I know that this is a really shitty time to bring all of this up, with my recovery and now we have to worry about yours too, but everything that I said to my father was true." I say, letting the corners of my mouth lift up slightly at the thought of a little Tobias running around in the far future.
To my utter relief, Tobias grins, grabbing my face in both his hands and giving me a gentle kiss, attempting to avoid the split bottom lip, then whispering, "I hope that this image of our future will help us through our long recovery…." He takes a second, staring into my eyes before giving me another kiss, "I love you so much, Tris. I promise to never hurt you again, as long as I live."
So I didn't have time to revise this chapter so I hope it is okay, I just wanted to get it up because I really suck at time stuff and getting it done on the times I say it will be done. For that I am sorry. By the way, I couldn't remember if at any point in this story I mentioned their ages, so I'm gonna say right now that Tris is 16 (almost 17) and Tobias is 17 (almost 18) and that Tobias isn't two years older, he's barely only one year older than Tris.
Also, I want to let you guys know that there will only be one more chapter of this story, and then I am going to start my new one, a sequel to this one, the title, Love Happens. I love you all, you are amazing and every review encourages me more and more. Thank you for everything! One more chapter and then a sequel! Please review and favorite and follow!
~Divergent24-7