Fighter

// three \\

Mr. Eaton requested deliveries made specifically by Tris three more times in two weeks. Today would be the fourth. Tris didn't know what the hell he was buying that was so urgent that she had to deliver immediately at his request. That is unless Tomas the chain, highly approved grocery store was selling drugs.

The bad part about this Friday, however, was Mr. Eaton did not request an urgent delivery until just about eleven thirty. Tris was rushing the somewhat normal process now so she could get her little Lyle off of the bus.

The delivery this time was a small light one, and all though she was panicking about time, the extra cash she had collected as tip had helped put down some money on some of the loans she was drowning in which she could not reject. But, she always put majority of the money aside for groceries and her babies. While the loans needed to be paid off so they didn't become heavier with the added interest and the bank didn't foreclose anything, Tris could die in the debt for all she cared. She need to care for her family first.

Mr. Eaton looked up from his computer, his lips turning up just the slightest before going back to the same blank expression as before. "Ms. Prior, just set the box on the chair as per usual. What do I owe you today?"

"Seven forty seven, Mr. Eaton," she said politely.

She had looked him up on the internet that first day after the delivery. He seemed to always be hooking up, but nothing seemed to ever last. There was lots of news about lawsuits for him cheating and stupid shit like that, but otherwise he seemed like the cliché playboy.

"How about as your tip today I take you out for some lunch?"

She glanced at her watch. It was nearing one thirty and she really needed to head home. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I have to get my son off of the school bus. Maybe another time." Or never, she huffed. Four kids equalled sacrifices such as no dating unless extremely serious. She didn't want her kids getting the wrong idea.

"Here's eight dollars. Goodbye," he spat, shoving the money in her hands.

She stuck her nose up in disgust, realizing the deliveries and tips we're all because he wanted her to be his flavor of the week. Asshole.

She made it home just as the bus arrived, and she couldn't help the genuine happiness she felt. While she didn't have much, she had her four kids and she had made no better decision than to adopt them.

"Lyle, how was school?" she asked, pulling him in for a hug. He was getting so tall.

"It was great, Trissy. I made a pink bird for Stella."

A few hours later and they all sat at the table with a hot chicken pot pie casserole steaming in front of us. She served the kids before blending the food for Evie. Store bought baby food was gross and expensive.

"Did you tell your brother thank you for the craft he made you, Stell? That was very nice, wasn't it," she grinned, blowing on the tiny spoon for Evie so she could eat.

"Yeah I made him picture too but it is not finished."

"Oh, it's not? That's too bad," she chuckled. "Maybe tomorrow I'll help you add some glitter to it since we know that's it's Lye's favorite."

Milo chuckles from where he sat quietly eating his dinner. He never talked much, except for when he was only around Lyle.

"How was your day, Lo-Lo? I heard you helped Stella with her handwriting homework at Tori's." Stella was the one who gave him that nickname and it just stuck.

He perked up, "She couldn't do the letter 's' so we drew snakes to help," he grins. He was such a big brother.

Tris always looked forward to eating dinner together as a family.