CHAPTER 38

TRIS POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hear murmurs around me as I begin to wake up.

My back is now aching from pain and I feel my hand in someone else's.

I quietly moan to myself and blink my eyes open.

"Hey honey." Mom is standing over me beginning to gently stroke my cheek.

"Mom." I say as my voice cracks.

It is so funny how you hold so much emotion with you through either the day, or the week, or anything really, but that one person always has the effect to let you spill your guts to them.

"Sweetie.... Don't cry. It's okay now. Life is better now." Mom whispers kneeling down to my eye level.

I nod and move trying to get comfortable, which only results in more shooting pain. I am just so smart.

"Hey..... Trissy." I see Tobias laying next to me with his hand on top of mine.

"Tobias...." I say trailing off, not knowing what to say.

Tori and Colby walk in the door laughing about something and they rush over to me when they notice that I am awake.

"Bea! We have to stop meeting like this." Colby smiles at me and asks me what my pain level is.

"I don't know. A lot." I say looking down.

"Do not be ashamed. You are the bravest person I know and you will get over this obstacle like any other." Colby says.

I smile and Colby begins to push me onto my stomach, so he can examine my back.

I whimper loudly in pain and mom and dad whisper soothing phrases in my ear.

"Okay, see we're done. Let's just unwrap this. Boy......" Colby says a few doctor terms and runs out of the room with Tori saying that he will be right back with medical supplies.

I sigh and turn my head away from everyone. I don't want them to see me. I just want to be free. Free of the pain, the suffering.

Tobias comes into my view and begins talking to me about, I don't even know what. I just ignore what he is saying and focus on his face.

"Is it bad?" I ask him.

"It's not good." Tobias says after a moment of hesitation.

"So it's bad." I state plainly.

"Not as bad as the first time, but pretty bad." Tobias says looking down.

"Okay, I'm back. Bea, you might feel the tiniest pinch ever. I'm just going to give you a little shot to numb all the pain. It's going to make you sleepy, okay? So, whenever you want to just sleep, it's normal." Colby says.

"Okay." I say and squeeze my eyes shut.

I feel the needle go in and come out and I breathe a sigh of relief. Not that bad.

"Tell me when you don't feel the pain anymore." I hear Colby say.

"So, how was dinner?" I awkwardly as Tobias.

"It was okay." Tobias answers and laughs.

"They had a chocolate fountain and this guy from school, he was there and he bumped into it and it spilled all over him. And then his mother came in and slipped in the huge puddle." Tobias says.

I giggle and squeeze Tobias's hand.

"I love you." I whisper so only he can here.

"I love you too." Tobias tells me with an answering squeeze.

"Colby, I don't feel anything anymore." I say with a yawn.

"Okay, good Bea. Why don't you shut your eyes and everyone get out for a while. That way I can fix you up and you can have a little nap." Colby suggests and everyone leaves the room.

My eyes close against my will and I swirl off into the darkness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TOBIAS POV~~~~~~~~

I go sit at the kitchen table with mom, dad, and Tori who begin talking about I don't even know what.

Eventually, one topic interests me.

"Natalie, Andrew..... I really like Tris and I know that she would probably live with you, but I would like to propose that she live with me because I know that you two might not like boyfriend and girlfriend together in the same house." Tori says.

Mom and dad look at each other and nod.

"Well, you seem like a very nice and respectful women and I think that that is a wonderful idea. We would of course run it by Beatrice of course, but since you live so close, I don't see any reason why not." Mom says with a smile.

At that moment, Colby comes down the stairs.

"How is she?" Dad asks.

"She's fine. I fixed her up and she is sleeping right now. You are going to give her this pill every six hours until next Monday." Colby says placing a pill bottle on the table.

"And that's it?" Mom asks.

"Well, one more thing. In a couple hours, she will wake up, just be tired, exactly like last time."Colby says.

"So she will soon be back to normal." Dad says.

Colby nods. "Don't question her too much right now. She will be very fragile and sort of emotional from the medicine, so I would suggest not going to school until Tuesday of next week. I can always talk to the principle of it proves to be a problem." Colby informs us.

We all nod and thank him and he leaves to get to another appointment.

"Tobias, how about you go home and sleep. You have school tomorrow." Mom says.

"Noooo." I whine. "Can't I skip tommorow. Please?" I ask hopefully.

"Yes, you can." Dad cuts off mom who gives him that 'oh really' look.

"Yes!" I say excited.

"How about you takes nap on the couch. It's already one in the morning. I can tell you when she wakes up." Tori suggests and mom shoos me out of the room.

I lay on the couch and just go on Instagram seeing what everyone's doing.

Uriah and Zeke have asked their followers which person has more talent. Most of the answers consist of Uriah because he told his followers that he would buy them a muffin at lunch tomorrow. Highly doubt it.

Christina and Will are out on a date, Shauna and Marlene are having a sleepover, and Lynn is with Peter and her soccer teammates having a party.

I quickly DM all of them even Peter because I don't want Lynn to kill me, to meet me at my house after school tomorrow for an important 'meeting'.

Thy all get back relatively quickly saying that they'll be there and asking why.

I just ignore the questions and fall into a deep slumber.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIS POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wake up wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket. I am currently on my side facing the door, so I can see everyone who comes in and comes out.

My back surprisingly doesn't hurt right now, just a dull throb. Must be from all of the medicine. I feel like I am on that everyday right now.

I hear voices beginning to travel upstairs, so I quickly close my eyes.

Don't ask why, just a natural reflex from Marcus.

Someone sits down on the bed next to me and gently pushes my hair behind my ear. I bet it's mom. She is really the only one who constantly does that.

I blink my eyes open and I was right. It is mom.

"How do you feel?" She asks.

"Doesn't hurt as much, I guess." I whisper.

"Well, that's good. Do you need anything? Food, water?" Mom asks anxiously.

"Can I just have water, please?" I ask and mom runs out of the room leaving me with Tori.

"I have a question." I say.

"Okay. Shoot."

"You know how you said that the cops found out about this and believed you and stuff? How did you get them to. When I had that trial they didn't." I say.

"Oh. Well you see, when you first told me about everything, I was so mad that someone would do that to a child that I found one of my hidden cameras that I keep just in case I need to protect the house, and I installed it in your house." Tori tells me.

I just stare with my mouth open.

"How? When?" I ask shocked that she would do that for me.

"When you were sleeping and how, umm one of the windows were opened so I stuck my hand in and placed it on the wall." Tori says with a smirk.

"Thank you so much!" I slowly sit up and hug her.

She laughs and makes me lay back down, telling me that I need rest, even though, I like just rested.

A few minutes later, Tobias runs in.

"Good, you're still awake."

Tobias lays down next to me as mom comes in with the water.

She gives Tobias a disapproving glance and he just ignores it.

"Don't ignore my looks buddy boy. I want Beatrice to rest and if you're talking to her the whole time, well that is not resting." Mom says.

"I promise I'll rest. We are just going to talk a little bit before." I say.

"Fine." Mom says giving up walking out with Tori.

"You're finally free." Tobias whispers.

"For now." I say.

"You don't have to go to school until Tuesday of next week. So lucky for that. Not everything else-" I cut him off.

"I know what you are trying to say. Don't be so worried around me. Gosh, you freak me out when you're all jumpy." I say with a giggle.

Tobias smiles and begins to play with my hand.

"Hey, I forgot to tell you. Football tryouts were a couple weeks ago and I made quarterback!" Tobias says excitedly.

"Congratulations!" I say with a smile.

"Do you like Tori?" Tobias asks.

"Yeah why?" I say slowly.

"She said that she would take care of you be like your guardian if mom and dad said yes." Tobias says.

"Did they say yes?" I ask.

"Well, they said that she seemed like a very nice and respectful women and that if you were okay with living here, then they would let you." Tobias says.

"So I might be living here." I say with a shrug. "Better then Marcus's and you are right across the street." I say.

Tobias nods. "You should get some sleep. I'll leave now because I know that I won't stop talking to you if I stay." He smiles at me and begins to get up.

"No please!" I practically yell and reach as far forward as I can to reach Tobias.

"Stay?" He asks.

I nod and he lays back down next to me. I quickly cuddle against him and Tobias places his hand on mine.

He would normally wrap his arm around my waist, but considering my backs state, that isn't a good idea.

I slowly begin to drift off, close to Tobias and my real caring family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TOBIAS POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She falls asleep in my arms. How did I get so lucky? She is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

After a few moments, mom walks in again and smiles when she sees Tris so small, wrapped in my arms.

"Caleb is here. He finally made it. It's raining really hard out there." Mom whispers.

As if on cue, Caleb runs in and goes to the end of the bed.

"Was it bad?" He asks cautiously.

"Not as bad as the first time. But pretty bad." I whisper.

He nods and sits next to Tris on the other side and gently plays with her hair.

"You're good for her, you know." Caleb says softly.

"What?" I ask.

"You're good for her. Like when we were back in New York, these kids at school would make fun of her, call her names, but it wasn't just mental bullying. There was some physical bullying, too. I remember the first time it had happened, this kid Drake. He came up to her and basically shoved her against the lockers. He called her names, names that the others who were crowding around them would here and repeat. He punched her in the face again and again. She had blood coming out of her mouth and nose, but she didn't fight back. She couldn't. Marcus had beat her pretty bad last night." Caleb stops for a breath and then continues.

"Her friends had come out of class and seen what was happening. They ran for a teacher and a few came running back yelling at Drake to stop. He didn't until they pried him off. The second he let go of her, she feel limp to the floor. Her face was a disaster. Bruises were starting to show. It was awful. One of her favorite teachers from that school actually picked her up and ran to the nurses office with her."

"Man." I take a deep breath.

"I wanted to help her so bad. But Marcus he told me that if I went near her, talked to her, helped her with anything then I would pay. That I would pay real bad. I was only allowed to bully her. He made me. I was such a coward." Caleb looks down ashamed of himself.

I don't say anything. Caleb is a coward for not standing up for her. He knows about the home situation and still doesn't take action to help his little sister. What is wrong with him?

I am about to say something when all of a sudden, Tris's breathing begins to increase.

"No, no. Tris! Just a dream. Just a dream! Wake up! Dreams aren't real! Wake up!" I shout softly so the adults won't hear. I lightly shake Tris, but it's not working.

"No, please no. Please!" Tris whispers tears beginning to roll down her cheeks.

"Tris! Please! Wake up!" I shake her again and her eyes finally open visible fear going through them.

"Shhhh...., it's over now." I say softly. She begins to cry and I pull her into my embrace.

"Don't cry, it wasn't real! I'm here now. Don't cry." I say soothingly.

She sniffles and looks at me.

"It was terrible. Just terrible." Tris gets interrupted by Caleb.

"Bea, does it hurt?"

"Caleb...... Not as much." She says after a moments hesitation.

He nods and says that he will be back.

As soon as he leaves the room, I speak up.

"It hurts doesn't it."

"No. What makes you say that?" Tris scoffs.

"Hesitation." I say quietly.

She just looks down and leans into me.

"I don't want any more medicine. All these people do is make me take pills and put stuff in my system. I want to be normal, not medicine numbing everything. And it's not just that. I have to sleep so much because of this. I can't be normal if I'm sleeping the day away. It's ridiculous." She says.

I nod understanding where she is coming from.

"Tell me about the dream." I whisper.

"Well, you can guess the plot." Tris says wiping a stray tear away.

"Just tell me. I don't judge. Please. It will make you feel better." I whisper.

Tris hesitates again, but eventually starts.

"I was in a dark room and Marcus was running with his belt towards me. I thought he was coming after me, but he wasn't. There was someone behind me. It was you, Tobias. You told me to be brave and that Marcus will never be able to touch me again. Marcus-- he was hurting you. But you didn't scream the entire time. You told me you loved me and that you needed to make a sacrifice, so that I would be safe. I was screaming for Marcus to stop, but he wouldn't. He... He killed you." Tris breaks into a horrified sob.

Tris continues to cry and I eventually pull away from hugging her.

"It was just a dream. I'm here right now and that is all that matters." I tell her.

"You don't get it, do you?" She asks through clenched teeth.

"What?" I ask.

"What if that was the future. I could totally picture you doing that for me. You can't. You just can't. Marcus could escape jail and kill everyone I love. He made that threat multiple times. You just don't get it." She yells.

Mom and Tori come running through the door with worried expressions on their faces.

"What's happening?" Tori asks.

"He doesn't understand!" Tris begins to sob again, this time into moms shirt.

They both look at me as if it's my fault.

"She had a dream. She thinks that it might happen in the future." I say.

"I know it will happen in the future! That's just the way the world works! It never goes my way! I knew this was too good to be true!" Tris yells at me.

Mom and Tori try to comfort Tris while I just get up and walk out. Tris won't listen to me. I would never leave her with Marcus alone. Never. Not if me and Marcus had a deal or a promise. Nothing.

I walk downstairs and grab a drink of water.

"What's going on up there?" Dad asks. He cant go upstairs because of his broken ankle.

"Tris had a dream that she thinks is the future. But, I wouldn't never do something so incredibly stupid!" I yell and go back upstairs.

Mom and Tori are in the bathroom getting a wet washcloth for Tris and when I go into the bedroom, what I see horrifies me.

HOW WAS THAT??? CLIFFHANGER!

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