Tobias and Beatrice

Chapter 11

Beatrice's POV

I woke up to the sound of my annoying brother jumping on the bed. "FIRST DAY OF EIGTH GRADE WAKE UP!"

I groaned and shooed him out my room so I could get dressed. I put on light washed skinny jeans, a black flowy tank top, my black and white converse, and I curled my hair. After breakfast and brushing my teeth, Caleb and I hopped in the car as our parents drove us to school.

"Have a good day Beatrice!" They called and I walked through the doors and went to the billboard to find my first period. Hopefully, I have most of my classes with Toby, Zeke, and Uriah.

There were lots of kids in the halls and checking their first period. I recognized a few from elementary school. I finally was able to push my way to the front and found my name. My first period was English.

After the crowd died down, everyone headed to their classes.

Somebody picked me up from behind and twirled me in a circle.

"Toby!" I squealed, already knowing it was him.

"Hey Bea! Did you find your first period?"

I turned around to look at him. He wore a black short sleeve shirt, jeans, and converse.

"Trying to twin with me?" I tease.

"Ha ha funny." He rolled his eyes.

"You look good." I laughed and punched his chest.

"What's your first period?"

"English."

Tobias slipped his hand into mine and pulled me around through the hallway.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"English."

"Is that even your first period?"

"Duh."

Our hands swung back and forth as we entered the classroom, scanning the room for seats next to each other. Our teacher, Mr.Bays, passed out our schedules.

"Give me that." Tobias plucked the schedule out my hand and a grin appeared on his face. "WE HAVE ALL OUR CLASSES TOGETHER!"

I giggled. "Yes! That's great!"

At lunch, we found Zeke and Uriah.

"Zekey! Uri!" I ran and hugged the two brothers.

The four of us grabbed lunch and claimed a table. There's six periods in the day and I have second with all the boys, third with Zeke and Toby, Fourth with Uriah and Toby, fifth with everyone, and last with Toby.

"I saw the three Pansycakes." Uriah said.

"Seriously?!" I groaned.

"Yeah they act like they own the school." Zeke rolled his eyes.

After finishing lunch, we went outside to the courtyard where everyone goes out after lunch for twenty minutes before going back to class. The four of us sat on a bench in the shade of a tree and pointed out kids we know from elementary.

"Hey Tobias." An annoying voice said behind us.

We turned and saw... ugh Kayla.

She looked at me and sneered. "Beatrice."

"Kayla." I spat.

"Have you reconsidered who you like better?" Kayla smirked down at Toby.

Tobias frowned and opened his mouth but I clamped my hand over it. "Tobias is my best friend, not yours! You need to get over it and move on. After years of trying to unsuccessfully change that, you should give up cause it's never gonna happen."

Kayla's mouth was open in shock and Zeke and Uriah ooh'd. She stormed off and I huffed, crossing my arms.

"You just burned Kayla to crips." Uriah gaped.

"Good." I glared at the floor and Toby put his arm around my shoulders.

"Don't be upset. You know I'm always gonna pick you over anyone else."

I pecked his cheek and we walked to class.

~*~*~*~*

Tobias' POV

When I got home from the hideout with Bea, I tiptoed across the room to avoid waking my dad up. He's been getting drunk lately, and always yelling at me and my mom.

I accidentally hit the corner of a table and cringed, hoping the sound didn't wake him up.

"TOBIAS!" My dad screeched, stomping over to me. "Where have you been?! It's eight o'clock!"

"I-I was-" I stammered and he shoved me against the wall and I gasped.

He's never been abusive before.

"Take off your shirt and turn around." He snapped.

I obeyed and turned around. He undid his belt and growled. "This is for your own good."

I felt the belt lash onto my back and I cried out in pain. When he was satisfied, he pushed me away and I scrambled up the stairs.

I looked at the whip marks in the mirror and winced, turning on the cold water to numb my back.

How could he do this to me?

~*~*~*~*

The next day at school, my back was flaring with pain, but I tried my best to cover it up so nobody asks anything. I could just lie about it anyways, it's not like anyone can tell. Zeke and Uriah didn't notice at all, not surprised since they're so oblivious to everything. If they didn't notice Bea wouldn't either, except she's not as gullible. She's smart and perceptive, but she won't notice.

Boy was I wrong.

"Hey." She greeted me with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi." I hugged her.

Her arms wrapped around my waist and her palms pressed on my back. I flinched, hoping she wouldn't notice.

"Are you okay? You seem off." She pulled away and I looked into her blue-grey eyes.

I never told a lie to her, but Marcus threatened me that if I told anyone, he would kill me and my mom. And the person who knew about it. I loved Bea too much to ever put her in harms way.

"No I'm fine." I faked a smile, but she frowned.

Why'd she have to know me so well?

"Don't lie to me Tobias."

"Bea, I promise I okay." I kissed her forehead and smiled.

Her frown didn't leave her face though, and her eyes still showed she was still unconvinced. I could tell she was getting upset.

"Hey," I pressed my forehead to hers. "I love you Bea."

She pursed her lips but responded. "I love you too Toby. Promise you're alright?"

"I promise." I laced our hands together. "C'mon, lets get to class."