Call Me Six

33: 'Radley' -Tobias

TOBIAS-

So... Apparently a lot can happen when you miss three weeks of school. A Thursday morning, the sun is out, hoards of teenagers flood the front of the school, police cars pulled up outside and the charming, young, Geography teacher who goes by the name Radley getting escorted out the front doors.

What?

The scene was so chaotic that I didn't even realize that the Pedrad twins had run up to me and the tallest, hanging lazily on my shoulder. Both of them were gibbering on about something that I was too dazed to comprehend.

"Just- Shut up for a second!" I shouted, silencing their gibberish. "Can one of you please tell me what the hell is going on?"

They share a glance before Zeke begins to explain, "Radley's been fired and is on his way to the police station-"

"I gathered that but why?" By cutting him off I receive a glare and an 'are you fucking serious' eye roll.

"As I was saying... Mathews apparently saw him and Tris like making out and shit in his classroom at break last week and told the principle. So he was given his notice and was supposed to be leaving tomorrow but it turns out that he's got previous records of having sex with minors."

I was shell-shocked... She wouldn't have, I thought. Tris wouldn't have slept with Mr. Radley.

"Minors?" It was the only word I could utter.

The disgust crept into every syllable as Zeke said, "Apparently the youngest was thirteen."

"But- Why the fuck was he not sent to prison then, then?!"

"I don't fucking know! All I know is what I've told you and that apparently Radley isn't his real name. Ashley Spencer - that's his name. And he's not from anywhere near here. His stories of attending this shitty school were complete and utter bull."

The sirens from the police cars blared and the parking lot cleared. The principle, a woman in her late forties appeared at the entrance to the school. He grey hair was tied in a neat bun and the grey skirt suit was crumpled from where her hands were fiddling with the hem. "The buses have been called, and your parents notified; school is canceled. Lessons will resume per usual on Monday unless otherwise notified."

~

I couldn't help it. I couldn't stop myself. My fist kept pounding at the blue door until eventually, a confused looking Will answered - with an even more confused Christina at his side.

"I need to talk to Tris," I said, sidestepping both of them and not waiting for an invite before charging up the carpeted stairs. "Tris?!" I called, my feet clumsily skipping steps - taking them two at a time. "Tris, it's me; Tobias."

I finally reached the door to her room and knocked - a lot less distressed that previously - before flinging the door open.

Her small body was spread out on the pink duvet, her blonde hair gathering in pools around her head. Her eyes were closed - I couldn't tell if she was sleeping or not. The cord from a pair of earbuds ran from her neck to hip and up her arm to her hand that cradled the silver device. She was wearing a large grey T-shirt, that's my T-shirt... and a pair of blue boxer shorts, I swear they are also mine... and because it's cold, over-sized pink socks with unicorns on them cradled her small feet, keeping them warm.

"Tris," my voice was so hushed. Subconsciously, I feared to wake her. So, I did the logical thing... Take off my shoes and jacket, and join her on the bed.

She didn't wake. Her breaths stayed even the entire time. Even when moved her outstretched arm slightly, she stayed sound asleep.

I could feel my eyes growing heaving; my breaths evening out; her comforting warmth that I'd missed so dearly in the few nights she was gone.

"Why? How could you be so stupid, Tris? A teacher? If he hurt you I swear to God I'll- I'll- I don't know what I'll do but fucking hell, Tris.

"I love you."

"Tobias?"

It's like I caught fire. Every cell in my body started panicking.

Did she hear me?

Was she awake this whole time?

Fuck sake, why am I such an idiot?

"Tobias, is that you?" she mumbled, pulling the ear buds free and rubbing her eyes lazily.

"Yeah, yeah it's me." Thankfully, my voice didn't shake like crazy during those perilous few words.

She hummed in response, stretching slightly before curling into me. "I thought I heard you come in... What do you want?"

I want to know if you're okay. I want to know if he hurt you. I want to know you're safe. I want to know why you chose him. I want to know why I'm so afraid to tell you the truth. I want to know what was going through my mind when we were back in Chicago. I want to know if there's any chance that my delusional fantasies of you ever forgiving me will come true. I want you to know that I love you.

"I was just making sure you were okay... Zeke told me what happened."

"Well... I'm fine. Now go to sleep," she said as if one of our teachers, a man she had kissed was not just taken away by the police earlier today for raping a minor.

She was so confusing... Her calm manner when such chaos had involved her a few hours prior.

"Did you... Did you know?"

"Did I know Radley was such a perverted, sick-minded, moral-less, poison of a man? Yes."

"Then- Why did you do it, Tris?"

"It was time for that arsehole to pay for what he did; apparently child molesters don't survive that long in prison." And with that, she fell asleep, cradled in my arms as my mind ran wild.