Call Me Six

24: 'Missed Calls' -Tris

TRIS-

I wasn't working tonight. Harvey took one look at my bruised jaw and sent me home. "You should rest, Tris," he said, "I'll get Dana to cover for you tonight."

So now I'm sat, in my room; listening to Caleb lecture me whilst numbly watching my phone fill up with endless missed calls and texts. Who the hell would be so desperate to call me this many times? I thought as Caleb grew annoyed with the constant buzzing that interrupted his rant.

"Beatrice, turn that damned phone off!"

I complied, checking only briefly to see that I had seven texts and ten missed calls from an unknown number.

"You're grounded," he said, as if that meant he actually had any authority. "And if I ever find out that you've been skipping school again, I'll send you to boarding school." He turned to leave but stopped abruptly before saying, "I'll ask Will to get you an ice pack for your jaw."

Once the door was closed I flipped back into the soft duvet on my bed and just lay there for what felt like an eternity before Will's familiar face appeared in my doorway.

He didn't say anything. He merely walked over and placed the pack down on my nightstand before pulling me up into a tight hug; where I stayed; and sobbed.

"You have to stop this, Tris. Yesterday should be enough evidence of that."

"No-"

"Beatrice," he scolded playfully and held me out at arm's length whilst the pads of his thumbs wiped under my eyes - attempting to clear the tears and smudged makeup.

"Will, I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself, you know."

"No, Tris, I don't know that. And do you know why?" He didn't bother to stop. "It took five fucking people to try and pull Peter off of you today and all you did was stand there and take it. Were you on a suicide mission or something? You broke a kid's arm and nose back in Chicago but today you just stood there!"

I grit my teeth as I brushed his hands from my shoulders and rose, snatching my phone and bag before turning towards the window.

"I don't need anyone to protect me, Will."

"You're just being stubborn-"

"I'm being rational! Do you know how many fucking times people have let me down? You can't rely on anyone, Will. I can't get used to people helping me because then I'll expect it, and when they let me down, I'll be the one to get hurt... Again and again." I threw open my window and jumped down onto the garage roof - making a large thud that would surely alert Caleb of my evacuation. Although, I don't really care...

Marching down the street I watched as my phone buzzed back to life. I now had thirteen missed calls from the same person, so I - as any logical person would do - called them back. But the voice I heard was none that I had expected.

"Oh my God, Tris thank God you answered I didn't know who else to call..." The ramblings continued delayed on occasion by sniffles and sobs. "Please, you have to come to Saint Jude's hospital. I- I didn't know who else to call and you're the only one who- Oh, God, please can you come here?"

"Tobias? Is that you? What's wrong; why do I need to go to the hospital?"