Divergent High: A Love Story

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve:
I sigh and walk down the sidewalk back home. I shove my hands in my pockets and stare intently at my shoes.
I'm so glad it's Friday. I need a break. I'm glad Four and I are close, but I'm dying to ask him about that kiss in the pool last week. He hasn't said anything about it and it's worrying me. Maybe he regrets it?
I push the thought away. I do really like Four. I don't need my heart broken, if that's what they call it.
I walk up to Four's house door. I told my mom I would he hanging out with him after school, she seems to be getting more fond of him each day. I smile, that's a good thing.
I nervously raise my hand to knock on the door, I have a bad feeling about this. I knock once and the door swings open.
"Tris!!" Four says brightly with a smile.
I give him a small smile back, "Hey Four." He steps aside and I walk inside.
He takes my hand and starts leading me to the living room. My heart skips a beat. He's holding my hand? My hand?! Tris, come down. I take in a shaky breath.
"My dad's not home, so I thought we could watch some movies and junk. I love scary action movies, what about you?" He asks excitingly. I smile and nod. I love how energized he is.
He plops down on the couch and turns on the movie. I sit down next to him. I sit just far enough away so I'm not touching him, but not too far to seem like I'm avoiding him. I don't know if he wants me to get close or not yet.
He looks over at me with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, come on," he grabs my waist and pulls me towards him. "I don't bite all the time." He smirks.
I blush a little. Why am I acting so shy? Come on Tris! He might actually want you!
I make a brave move and rest my head on his shoulder. He squeezes me tight around my waist and I close my eyes. I feel his warm breaths tickle my skin. It makes a warm bubbling feeling arise inside of me and I sigh.
"I hope you know I didn't ask you to come over just so we could watch a movie," he says quietly.
I open my eyes and pick my head off of his shoulder to look in his deep ocean eyes. Oh his eyes...
"Tris..." He says looking away. "I... I think I really like you." He looks at me searching for an expression on my face.
I smile, "I know I like you Four..."
I shakes his head, "Don't call me Four. Call me Tobias from now on, Okay?"
My eyes widen. Tobias? That name sounds is familiar. Wait, Tobias is a name from a newspaper I read once. A child was thought to abused in his home by his dad and they had to move several times to escape rumors and news reporters.
"Four- I mean Tobias, w-why did you move here?" I ask cautiously.
He expression turns sad and defeated. He sighs and stands up. I quickly stand up as well and he turns his back towards me.
"Tris... I need to show you something." He says so quietly I almost didn't hear what he said.
He quickly pulls off his navy blue t-shirt to reveal his back.
I gasp and cover my mouth with my hand. The rumors were true. His back is covered in white scars. I reach out my hand and skim over the scars with my finger tips. The lower down his back I go, the deeper the scars get. Tears start to stream down my face and I let out a cry but quickly cover my mouth.
Tobias turns around and looks at me sadly. He takes my face in his hands and wipes my warm tears away with his thumbs.
"Shh, don't cry," he says softly. "He rarely beats me anymore, I've been able to stand up now, since I'm stronger."
"This isn't fair!" I yell in frustration. "He shouldn't be allowed to hurt you! Why didn't you call the police on him?! He hurt you!" I start to cry uncontrollably. Why did he stay with that-that monster?! How could anyone do that to him!?
Tobias embraces me in a hug and my cries get muffled by his shoulder.
"Tris, you must understand that if I turned him in, I'd have no family left. My mother is gone. I don't have any other family." He says quietly. "I've moved schools so many times. I've changed names so many times, I don't even remember how many times I've had too."
"Why?" I ask through deep breaths.
"Because since my dad works through the government, people started making connections about Marcus abusing his son. Rumors started going around schools I was going too. Each school I go to the same rumors start popping up again. But once I move, the rumors seem to go away. So my dad keeps his job." He sighs. "I wish I didn't have to be hidden all the time. But the good thing is is that he's gone most of the time."
"I'm sorry Tobias, I wish I could help..." I say genuinely. I didn't know how I would help, how do you easily solve a situation like this?
He shakes his head, "no, I'm fine. Once I graduate, I'm moving away from that devil of a father."
I nod understanding his plan. He must get away as soon as possible, I hope.
We just have to keep rumors from spreading. If that's even possible.