Divergent Powers High

Chapter 17: Memories Can Haunt You Forever

I pull into the parking lot, next to Tobias' motorcycle, and latch my helmet onto the handle. My snow white hair falls down to my waist, waving gently. Christina wants me to cut it, but I'm apprehensive about it. Change could be interesting, especially to see the reaction from everybody who knows my signature look. The whole semi-permanent white hair is already abnormal from the familiar, so maybe cutting it wouldn't be too drastic. 

"Six! I promised I wouldn't look at the cheer list, but we've got to go see it!" Christina yells at me, running to my motorcycle. 

I swing my bag up onto my shoulder, "Let's go, I'm excited to say I told you so." 

She laughs, throwing an arm over me, "If only I were that confident, cockiness doesn't always guarantee you'll get a perfect." 

"I think I'll be captain, just you watch!" 

We run over to the girls locker room, where the other's who tried out are crowded around the sign. I see Marlene and Shauna cheering, guess they got on the team. When the other girls spot me, they clear a path so I can get through. My eyes carefully scan the words.

2018 Divergent Fira's Cheer Squad

                Captain: Six Prior

      Co-Captain: Christina Kravitz

"Hah! I told you! You owe me two hundred bucks loser!" I cheer, dancing around. 

Christina groans, grabbing the money from her wallet, "You are such a sore winner!" 

Lynn walks over, "Congrats Six, Lauren, Mar, Shauna and I all got on. I think the only one's who didn't make it were Nita, Thotty, Cara, and Tessa." 

I grab what seems to be all of Christina's pocket cash, "I was just in it for the money!" 

Lynn laughs, punching my arm, "Because why else would we be doing this?" 

Lauren throws an arm over Lynn's shoulder, "Don't forget, because your beautiful girlfriend told you to."

"That too." Lynn laughs, kissing Lauren on the cheek. 

I roll my eyes, "Lynn would've killed all of us for making her try out. It's only because Lauren is here, she'll try out for her lady."

"Why else would I?" Lynn chuckles. 

"Being with your friends? Having a team?" Christina throws the options out there, but Lynn purses her lips. 

"Stop with all that...banter-"I begin,

"Banter? Who says banter?" Marlene snickers. 

I groan, "It's just an English vocabulary word, shut up. We need to get to Mr. Eaton's class."

The girls follow me through the hall, headed towards perhaps the worst teacher at DHS. As soon as my feet meet the carpet of the classroom, there's an immediate tension in the room. It's not stares at any of my friends, or me for that matter, but just between Tobias and Mr. Eaton. 

I slide into the desk next to him, and kick his leg, "What's with the staring contest?" 

He puts on an obviously fake grin, "Nothing, we just got into...an argument yesterday."

I lean over, throwing an arm over his shoulder. Tobias almost hisses, wincing as my elbow hits his back. "You okay?" My voice is drowning in worry, and that's honestly what I'm full of after seeing such a pained reaction from a small movement. 

He grimaces, "I-I'm fine. I just need to go to the bathroom." There's no hesitation for him to launch out of his seat, rushing out into the hall. 

I don't bother to grab any of my things still in the desk, I just run straight out the door. 

"Prior, class is about to start! Get over here!" Mr. Eaton yells through the hall. 

I turn so I'm walking backwards for a few seconds, "I'm kind of busy, if you can't tell!" 

"I don't care! Get back here!" He shouts, catching the attention of many other students roaming through the halls.

"Kiss my ass!" I coo, flipping him off quickly with both hands. 

Mr. Eaton grumbles, turning back into the classroom. I run faster to catch up with Tobias, who is now in the guys bathroom. My fingers grasp the doorknob, hesitant for the sole reason it's the guys bathroom, but then there's a realization... I don't care. 

So, ignoring any apprehension, I jiggle the knob, only to be met with the door being locked. 

"T-Four, what's wrong?" I ask, ear against the wooden door. 

"I told you, nothing!" He hisses, in the all too familiar form of avoidance. 

I close my eyes, focusing for a second, and teleport into the bathroom. Nothing could've prepared me for what I'm now witnessing. His shirt is off, and throughout his back, are marks that seem to be engraved in my memory. 

Whip lashes. 

They are all old and new alike, some with fresh blood, some that have long faded into unattractive scars.

"He abuses you." The information almost feels like it's being withheld from fully taking an impact. 

"Damn it Bea!" He sighs, dropping the gauze in his hand. 

Tears begin to pour from my eyes, "He abuses you." As if saying it again could lessen the effect. 

It hits my body like a tidal wave, like every unpleasant memory in my life drowning me in one moment, "He abuses you! He hurts you!" I wail, my body beginning to shake. Tobias grabs my arms, but I quickly tear them away, "You're going through all of this, still, and you didn't tell me? I was treated like that for years, I went through the exact same thing, and you couldn't think to admit something like this?" 

"Bea, I'm sorry. You're already stressed, and I sure as hell don't need a pity party." He admits, his voice almost starting to become cold. 

I back away, ugly sobs escaping from my body, "H-he whips you. He harms you, and he is just like Andrew. An awful excuse for a human being."

My breathing begins to quicken at a rapid pace, every thought passing through my mind jumbling in a muddy puddle. Tobias grabs me, holding me close. I should be holding him. I should be telling him everything's alright. 

Somehow, that just makes it worse, because instead of the comforting scent of my boyfriend, it smells like blood. Just blood. My vision begins to dance with spots, creeping in from the edge. 

"Tris, slow your breathing, you are going to pass out." Tobias instructs, pushing me away. 

I shake my head, wheezing, "I'm going to call the police! I'm going to help you."

He holds my wrists hard, "Beatrice Prior. Calm down. I'm okay, it's okay. I've dealt with this for ten year-"

"Ten years!" I scream, tears pouring from my eyes again. 

He throws his head back in frustration, fingers rubbing his temples, "Tris, you don't need to call the police, I've got this handled."

"Well apparently you don't." I spit, my words coming out much harsher than I anticipated, "I can't let you live in a house like that!" Each breath is shorter, lacking the full amount of oxygen my lungs are craving. 

"I have a plan, I swear." He insists, keeping his breathing steady to try and calm my own, which doesn't work. 

My chest begins to almost hurt, struggling to take in a breath. There's a second where I almost feel like I'm floating, before my muscles let go. My body collapses, completely overwhelmed. I let it, and pull my mind into that feeling of nothingness.