Call Me Six

26: 'It's Okay' -Tris

TRIS-

When one has lived with my brother, Caleb, for a few years, you become very... Alert of his warning signs.

For example: the heavy pounding of footsteps, as he currently made his way up the stairs, signal that I'm in some deep shit right now.

The familiar roar of, "Beatrice!" further confirms my suspicion.

I launched up from bed, startled by my own sudden awakening and started shaking the sleeping boy beside me whilst firmly keeping my hand over his mouth so he wouldn't make a noise.

"Tobias," I hissed under my breath the second his eyes shot open. "Hide in the bathroom now."

"But-" I shushed him and glared before he nodded quickly and scampered away, just as my door was flung open. Shit, I thought, Caleb finally got a key cut. Maybe he isn't so stupid after all.

He looked furious, his face turning a deep red as his eyebrows knitted together. I could hear Cara calling for him, the soft patter of her feet as she raced up the stairs. And Will's groggy voice as he cursed at the loud and rather early start to the day.

They both appeared in the door - their heads peeking over Caleb's shoulders.

"Good morning," I said and threw in a smile for good measure. "Something smells nice; are you making waffles?"

To be quite honest, I couldn't smell a damn thing apart from the remnants of last night... Which is probably why an angry bull is stood at my door right now.

"Beatrice, you're seventeen. Although I don't approve of it, you are legally allowed to whore around and sleep with a bunch of retards, but, must I remind you that drugs are fucking illegal and you put me- us at risk by possessing them! I told you what would happen last time this happened but not for a second did I actually believe that you would be so stupid as to do it again!"

It all fell silent. No one dared to say a word as we waited for his next explosion.

"Get out."

"Caleb!" Cara shrieked and shimmied her way through to door to stand in front of him. "You can't just-"

"I said get out!"

It was manic. Cara was trying to desperately change his mind. Will stood there in shock as he watched the argument unfurl. And I... I was sat there; not knowing what to do as my own brother made the decision to be rid of me.

"You fucking whore! Get out of my house! Mom an Dad would be so disappointed in you right now, Beatrice, you have no idea how disappointed they'd be in you."

"Well they're not here, Caleb! They're not!" I couldn't help it... The screaming match grew too much and I started to sob.

Not once did I cry when they first died. Not when I heard the news. Not when we were at the hospital. Not at the funeral.

It was all so sudden. One day they were there; the next, not. There was no time for grieving.

"Shut up!" He screamed, "Shut up, you stupid girl!"

His hands were around my wrists, shaking violently as he continued to shout.

I wanted to scream... Tell him to stop but I couldn't. I could only watch. Watch as Cara ushered Will away - him running quickly whilst fumbling to dial a number on his phone, and she trying to rip Caleb from me.

But suddenly, a pair of strong arms latched around my waist - easily freeing me before pulling me into the familiar warmth of his strong protective chest.

"It's okay," his hushed voice whispered, somehow audible above the noise.

He just walked, carrying me effortlessly out of my room, down the stairs and out the front door. He didn't stop. Tobias just continued to carry me down the street as I curled tighter into his strong grip.

"It's okay," he repeated; and I believed him.