Eaton

9. Consequences

Tobias p.o.v

The palms of my hands are numb and sweaty when I fumble for the keys in my bag. He's probably standing in there waiting for me to step inside and meet my doom. I think I might be just a tad bit paranoid. I turn the key and step inside, expecting to be instantly dragged in by my hair or neck. Instead, I am greeted by a fairly angry Will, standing in the middle of the living room. 

'What the hell were you thinking?' Did Marcus tell him too?

'I uh, well he started it'

'What are you, five years old? Listen to me Tobias, you might have ignored me about the Zeke thing, don't think I didn't notice, but you will listen to me on this one! I won't tell Marcus about this but you have to promise me that you won't do any more of these idiocies!' Understand?!'

I flinch back, I've never seen my uncle so furious. Upon noticing me flinch, his features soften and he lowers his voice. 'I'm only telling you for your own good'. For my own good, that's exaclty what Marcus says just before he starts hitting me with that God forsaken belt.  He realizes what he just said and starts to apologize 'I'm sorry Bass, I didn't mean to say-  look just, try to stay out of trouble okay? I, uh, I just worry about you, I mean what if Marcus picked up the phone? What if he finds out? You need to control your temper Tobias, I mean look at how it ended, you got in trouble and Eric just got off with a sympathetic smile. Sometimes, it's better to be safe than right, yeah? Next time just, I know this is hard but, just walk away. You can't afford to get in these fights Bass.'

I nod, knowing all too well just how right he is. 'I've got some homework to do Will, I'll be down in about an hour to get started on dinner, and uh Thanks, for everything'

'It's alright Bass, I'm sorry'

I smile at him and start up the stairs.

William p.o.v.

I want to help him, I really do, it's just he's so broken. He is a mixture of Marcus and I and that's the last thing I want him to be. I lived alone for a solid decade, with no one at my side but my neglectful mother who despised me, all for reminding her of my father's absence. She loved him, and he loved her. It's just the kids that were the problem. I don't want Tobias to have my life, and I most certainly don't want him to have Marcus' life either.

I needed to reprimand him, I did. He couldn't possibly risk his father finding out, all for some petty reputation. But I feel so guilty for yelling at him. What was I thinking?  for your own good. I know just how effective those words are. I remember my father saying those exact same words to me as a child. I can still hear him hissing them, with pure hatred in his eyes. I could hear him saying those words to Marcus through the wall, that was even worse then being punished myself. I take a seat and rub my sore eyes, I've been working all day, I can afford a short nap.

Tobias p.o.v.

I close off my last sum and pack my bag. Five o'clock, I have about an hour to prepare dinner, better to get started. As I make my way into the kitchen I pass a snoring William on the couch, if Marcus saw him...

No one can stop Marcus in this house. Not William, not Evelyn and most of all not me. He is the tyrant everyone fears, even Will, beneath all his charisma, is afraid of him. Everything he says is gospel and woe to the soul who does not do as he says. I fill a pot and start to boil some water as I think. I risked a lot today, getting into that fight with Eric, but I don't regret it. People like Eric, people like my father walk around believing that they own the world. They believe that everyone is inferior to them and make sure that everyone knows it. I place some pasta in the pot. They need to be taught a lesson and while I am fully aware that there is absolutely nothing I can do about my father at least I can stop Eric. Picking on the weak doesn't make you a man. Standing up for them does. William, for example, he has my respect and my love. Even though I may not listen to him all the time, I still regard him as one of the few people I trust. Scratch that, the only person I trust. My father, on the other hand, has my obedience. But I will never respect him, and what's it worth building an entire empire when at the end you have no one left at your side to enjoy it with. I cut up the tomatoes. I start to think back to just before the fight. Back to all those kids Christina had introduced. Back to Beatrice. I think about her smiler, her blueish grey eyes, wild and taking in every detail at once. She has a certain light in them, a curious one. I did too, once, but fifteen years of living with Marcus, and you learn things. Things like how you should always hide your curiosity, otherwise you might risk being found out and, consequently, beaten. You also learn how you should always start cooking dinner at five p.m. regardless of whether you are done from your homework or not, because a full stomach is a somewhat calmer stomach. The pasta is almost done. You also learn your bed is to be made before you even leave the room in the morning. You can't do it carelessly, though, because if Mr Eaton finds a crease, he'll just pull off the covers again and yell at you while you redo it. I remove the water from the pot and take three plates out from the cupboard. Three plates, three cups and three forks. I haven't done this in six years, not since mom died. I take in a deep breath and hold it. stop thinking about her Tobias, it's been six years. You can't keep crying every time you think about her. I exhale and start to split the dinner in the pot into the plates. I'm putting them on the table as the front door opens. My stomach queases out of habit. 

Marcus p.o.v

I walk in and am  immediately greeted by son, who rushes out of the kitchen to take my coat. 'Hello, Sir'. He hangs it in the closet and I look around. William. He is working my last nerve.

'William, Wake Up!' He sits up straight, his eyes wide.

'Jesus Christ, Marcus. You scared the living crap out of me'

'Good, get up we're eating. Dinner is ready, right Tobias?'

My son, who was standing a few feet away grinning idiotically at the sight, snaps to attention. 'Yes sir, it's on the table.'

'Come on then. William, you're twenty seven years old for God' sake. Does it really take me yelling at you to get up?' I shove his shoulder, making him pick up his pace.  Tobias walks behind me with his head down. Something's up. 

I stop immediately and my son bumps into me. Lovely.

I  turn to face him. 'What did you do?!'

William replies. 'I slept for an hour, I'm sorry geez'

I've had a long day. I'm not in the mood for this idiocy right now.

'William, go into the kitchen' 'But-' 'Kitchen!' He walks off into and I turn back to Tobias.  

'I asked you a question, boy. What did you do?'

'Nothing out of the ordinary, sir' 

'Don't lie to me!'

'I, I'm not, sir. I promise'

I narrow my eyes at him, he's lying to me, I just know it. But I'm tired and hungry, and frankly I don't feel like dealing with him tonight. 

I turn back around and walk into the kitchen.

'Let's just eat' 

Tris p.o.v 

Dinner is, as usual, quite uninteresting for me. Given that my parents rarely let us speak during dinner. They 'encourage' us to let the adults talk at the table. We are also 'encouraged' to share our day whilst cleaning the dishes and clearing up. That way we all listen to each other, give each other enough time to speak and help each other clean up. I swear if they come up with more  encouragements which we can carry out together,  I will need a punching bag in my room. My mind wanders back to my day, at school. Tobias. He looked so angry when he was hitting Eric. I feel stupid for not having stopped him. To be honest though, I was too shocked by the fact that this quiet, seemingly harmless boy who sat with his back straight at the table, and addressed his father as 'Sir', was now pummeling Eric. It's incredible. I think of how he looked just a few minutes before. His blue eyes soft and observant. I think of how quickly his mood changed, how angry he got. He lost himself.

And maybe I didn't stop him, because I didn't want to. Maybe, a small part of me was enjoying the sight of Eric getting beat up, regardless of the fact that I had only just met him. And that makes me wonder. Am I just as bad? Is it really that easy for me to lose it too?

A/N 

Early update to make up for last time, and also I had a holiday and was in a writy mood. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed it and I'll see you next time.

xxx Rachele