Waiting Four You

Chapter 7 (Tobias)

"What did my son do to you, Tobias?"

The anger in his voice scared me in a different way than when Marcus was angry. This anger was deeper seated and almost riddled with hate, but I could at least tell that it wasn't directed at me.

"I'd rather not talk about it," I reply.

Zeke looks at me with a strange expression that I can't quite read while Beatrice grabs my hand and squeezes it tight.

James looks at me as if he's trying to pull the answer from my face, "Perhaps this is a discussion for another time, Four, but I will talk to you about it at some point." He turns to Natalie, "Have you spoken to your brother yet?"

She glances at Amar before looking at James, "Where would I even begin? The last time I saw him he was four and Caleb was nearly two weeks old."

"Your daughter will be joining us in two years," James patiently reminds her. "Don't you think she will want to know her family?"

Natalie looks over at Amar again and this time she doesn't look away.

"Amar Wright," she begins, and I recognize the last name, but I don't know where I've heard it before. "How much do you remember about your parents?"

"They died when I was young. I don't really remember much."

"The day before I chose Abnegation, my father divorced my mother for a younger woman. He never visited me until the visiting day after you were born. They visited every year after, but my mother was the one who came to me one year to tell me of the horrible accident. I offered to raise you along with my own children, but she told me that your grandparents were taking you in."

Amar is speechless opening and closing his mouth as if nothing that comes to mind is the right thing to say.

"Apparently tonight is one big family reunion," Zeke offers helpfully easing some of the tension. He comes around the table and pulls both Beatrice and I into a hug.

His words seem to lighten the mood considerably, and Amar even gets up to go hug Natalie who seems relieved.

Natalie checks the time and I realize that unfortunately, it's time for Beatrice to leave. I walk with them all the way to the exit to the Pyre.

"I'll wait by the bus to give you a chance to say goodbye."

Natalie walks away, and I take Beatrice's face in my hands, "You're going to come back next year too, right?"

"Do you really think I would miss the chance to see you again? Even if it's only for one day?"

She closes the gap between us to give me a gentle and sweet kiss that promises more to come, but I'll have to wait an entire year for that. I'll be alone again for a year.

"I'm glad you have good friends to keep you company until I get to come back."

I smile hoping that she doesn't see the anguish behind it at the prospect of being without her, "I'm sure they'll do all they can to keep me busy."

"You should tell James," she says abruptly. "He needs to know what happened. James took the time to tell you about Marcus's past, you should tell him about yours."

I know she's right, but I don't like talking about it. I don't like verbally admitting to how much my father terrifies me.

Instead of answering, I kiss her again and wave her off hoping that the next year will go by faster than I think it will.