Tris pulled into her mom's house at exactly 8:04AM. Work had been hell, and she had needed to stay longer. She was beat, exhausted, and overwhelmed with the night's events. Her only desire was to strip herself of her scrubs and crawl into bed, closing her curtains, and hibernating beneath her comforter.
However, the driveway not only held her mom's car, but also a familiar silver truck with a familiar logo. Her heart woke up a little from its fatigue and she considered for a moment what Tobias could possibly be doing at her home. She stepped out of her Jeep, smoothed down her wrinkled scrubs, and clutched her bag and keys tightly. What did her hair look like, she thought. Her make-up? Totally gone, that she knew. The night's eyeliner was probably rubbed off, she'd be lucky if some of her mascara was still holding on. She ran a free hand across the top of her pony tail, trying to smooth some of the escaped strands and then stopped. She clutched her keys tighter and reminded herself that impressing Tobias was of no matter to her. She rolled her eyes and opened the door.
Inside the house, Tris could hear their voices at the back in the kitchen. She knew she needed to drop off her lunch box and coffee mug, but her feet resisted. She leaned against the closed door for a second before taking a deep breath and trudging to the kitchen.
Her mother and Tobias were standing at the counter facing their backyard. Tris took in his appearance, slim khaki pants and a black tucked in polo shirt with a logo matching the one on the truck. He looked grown-up, so different from his usual black t-shirt and jeans.
"Hi sweetheart!" Her mother smiled wide. Tobias turned and smiled too. "How are you? How was work?" Her mother came to her and hugged her amidst her barrage of questions.
"Good. Tired." Tris replied softly. Natalie Prior turned back toward Tobias.
"Honey, this is Tobias Eaton, Marcus's son. He said you two went to high school together." Tris nodded and pursed her lips together before offering him a tight smile.
"How are you Tris?" He asked.
"Good." She replied. She tried to be distant, unaffected from his presence in her house. But she was unnerved.
"Tobias is going to supervise the addition to the house. Marcus planned on doing it, but then he had to have surgery, so Tobias is here." Natalie smiled. "I can't wait!" Tris grinned at her mom's enthusiasm.
"When?" Tris asked.
"They'll start soon, tomorrow morning." Tris nodded. It crossed her mind that now she would definitely get no sleep when she came home from the night shift. "Oh no!" Natalie said suddenly. "They'll keep you up." Tris swallowed and smiled at her mom. She glanced at Tobias, who also seemed concerned. He had been studying her behavior for a while now; Tris could feel his eyes on her the entire time.
"No worries, Mom. I'll just crash at Christina's. I only work a few days a week. It'll be fine." She reassured her mom. Natalie turned to smile at Tobias, excited for construction to start. "Well, I'm going to head to bed." Tris started. "Nice to see you again Tobias." She added.
Tris peeled her scrubs off slowly, aching from her night. Tobias ran through her mind. He seemed to be everywhere: parties, work, and now her house. She wondered how she was going to manage seeing him every day.
It had been a week or so since Tris had seen Tobias. She had been spending her days crashing at Christina's, catching up on sleep while Tobias worked at her mom's house. She was trying to avoid him because the feelings resurfacing were scaring her. While he had certainly hurt her, she didn't understand her feeling to want to be near him. He drew her to him, and when she did see him, she couldn't help but catch a glance here and there. Avoidance was clearly her only option.
She walked down the hallway of the hospital checking her list of patients for the night. Marcus Eaton was on her list. She sighed and went to his room.
"Hello Mr. Eaton," Tris greeted pushing back the curtain. "How are you tonight?" Marcus sat up in bed, and Tris noticed Tobias in the chair next to his father. He had been flipping through a magazine and now perked up at her arrival.
"Tris, how are you?" Marcus said with a smile. "You remember my son?" Marcus gestured to Tobias. Tris nodded.
"Hi Tris." Tobias said. Tris smiled at him. She reached for the blood pressure cuff and started to take Marcus's blood pressure. No need to engage Tobias any further, Tris thought. Keep it simple.
"So Mr. Eaton, how have you been feeling today? Anything I need to know?"
"Nope. Feeling great." He replied.
"Did you go for a walk today?"
"Yes ma'am." Tris smiled. "How is my son doing over at your house? Staying on track?" Marcus asked.
"Dad." Tobias started. Tris listened to Marcus's heart rate, but smiled at Tobias's burgeoning embarrassment.
"Good," She replied taking the blood pressure cuff off. "My mother is very excited." Marcus nodded.
"You'll let me know if he isn't doing well." Marcus added. "My company has a very high standard." He glanced at Tobias. "I know my son has been doing construction for a while, but you never know what those Californians do." Tobias rolled his eyes and slumped in his chair. Tris nodded. She remembered this side of Marcus. Tobias had been slow to share his family life with her at the beginning, but through bits and pieces he had explained his father's over expectant standards and military-like attitude. It had given Tobias little room to express himself as a child, and even more little room for his mother to survive in the marriage. Tris hadn't known he went to California though, that was casually left off the note he had left behind. She only knew he went somewhere to be with his mother. Somewhere far away from her.
"Sure Mr. Eaton." Tris sent a glance to Tobias, who looked to be annoyed. "Now you tell me if you need anything tonight, okay?" Marcus nodded. "I'll be around to check in. Have a good night." She waved goodbye and disappeared out of the room.
Later, Tobias approached Tris at the nurse's station on the way out. "Hey." His voice was deep, gravelly. She could tell he was tired. He leaned onto the counter crossing his arms.
"Hey." She said with a deep breath. She took a moment to look up from her paperwork, trying to not seem to eager or nervous at his presence. "Your dad is definitely doing better." Tobias nodded in agreement. She looked up at him expectantly, and she watched him tilt his head to crack his neck. He was nervous about something, she thought as she watched him shift his weight.
"He certainly hasn't changed." Tobias said looking away from her. Tris watched him struggle with his father's words. He stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets. Tris saw his jaw clench and a slight shake of his head.
"Sometimes people don't." She offered up. He turned back to her, his eyes boring into hers. She bit her lip, hoping he didn't consider it to be some double meaning. She hadn't intended for her words to show that he hadn't changed. Well, she actually didn't know if he had changed. She started to correct herself, but he stopped her.
"Listen, I'm throwing a little party up at the lake house," He paused. "I'd like for you to come." Tris looked away and fiddled with her stethoscope. He continued, watching her fidget. "I know that lake doesn't have the greatest memories, and I don't want you to be uncomfortable, but I just-"
"It's not that Tobias," She interrupted. She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. How could she tell him that it nothing to do with the memory of his abandonment? That the lake's positive memories did not outweigh the one negative? How did she tell him her fear was him? Not the house or the lake or their friends, but him alone? He sensed her hesitation.
"It's okay if you don't," He conceded. "Have a good night Tris." He said quietly and turned away defeated. She watched him walk, his shoulders still squared, his jaw knowingly clenched. He wouldn't have admitted his defeat to her, not Tobias. He would get on the elevator as if she hadn't affected him, and that alone tore Tris up. The question was not in if she wanted to attend the party, but rather if she could stand to be in a situation in which she was close to him. Could she be in that environment again? The one which held such great memories of their relationship and one memory of him leaving her? She shook her head and looked away from the closing doors of the elevator. Somehow Tris would need to reconcile the feelings that had flooded back into her mind and heart since Tobias's return.
That Saturday night, Tris studied herself in the mirror at Christina's apartment. She had decided, although warily, to go to the lake.
"You look fine!" Christina encouraged. "Hot actually." She said with a wink. Tris viewed herself in the mirror. She had chosen short jean shorts, probably too short now that she was looking at herself. She tugged on the white crop top she wore. At least it didn't show too much of her stomach, but her three black birds tattoo could be seen from the round neck.
"I think this too much," Tris said. Christina frowned.
"Throw on some Keds and let's go! Uriah is waiting." Tris groaned. "I'm leaving you here if you take one more second!" Christina yelled as she walked out of the room.
Tris had to control her breathing as she walked up the stepping stones of the Eaton lake house. Her heart was racing as each memory of her and Tobias's time together there flooded her mind. Tris took in the sight. The home was small, cozy, with a big wrap around porch all trimmed in white. Tobias had said his mother had decorated it. He had lived there when they were in high school too since he didn't get along with Marcus. The greater the space the better.
When they arrived it had already been dark, the sun setting off in the distance. Christina and Uriah were already heading around back to the gate and Tris followed slowly, taking each step of the stone path with care. Nothing changed. The backyard was still as wide as it felt then, and it faded off into a dock that stretched out in the darkening water. Tobias's tree house still rested in the oak in the corner. The red shed idled on the other side. She saw her friends gathered around, eating, getting drinks, and she felt suddenly exposed. She headed after Christina, glancing around to see where Tobias was.
Christina and Uriah were getting beers, and she joined them. Eric was handing out drinks, and he slid his hands easily around Tris's waist, drawing her to him in a hug. She spotted Tobias over his shoulder and saw his eyes darken. She pulled back and took the beer, smiling at Eric in the process.
For the most part, Tobias stayed away from Tris. They had greeted each other early on in the evening, but he had kept his distance. However, Tris could tell Tobias was busy watching Eric flirt with her. She could also tell it was grating on his nerves. His jaw had been clenched, one hand shoved into his pocket, probably in a fist and the other wrapped tightly around the neck of more than one beer. She just tried to breathe and keep Eric at bay. Even when dancing, Eric stayed close to her, his hands often finding their way around her waist, drawing her near. Tris knew Tobias was watching and she only wanted to be free of his gaze. It burned a hole in her; it made her uncomfortable. If Tobias was anything, it was protective, sometimes to the point of jealous. Her being with Eric, whether innocent or not, would leave him angered.
Now Tobias sat in an Adirondack chair around the fire across from Tris. Eric was right next to her, drunk and making a fool of himself.
"This was a great place to bring girls! Right, Tobias?" Eric asked. Tris watched Tobias sip his beer and then lock eyes with her. She waited his response, waited to hear what he had to say about all the girls he brought to the lake. She hadn't know that she had truly been the only girl he had brought here, at least as a girlfriend.
Tobias nodded at Eric. "You could always count on Four to provide the best parties with the best girls!" Eric raised his beer and some of the other older people cheered with Eric. Tobias only smiled. Eric leaned forward and put his hand on Tris's thigh. She looked down at it, its weight foreign and bizarre to her. "You know," he started, slowly and quietly. "The sunrise is beautiful on the lake in the morning." She could see the insinuation in his eyes. She looked over toward Tobias out of the corner of her eye. He was leaning forward in his chair, his hand gripping the arm rest of the chair as if he was ready to jump up and stop Eric. Tris swallowed.
"I bet it is," Tris said with a smile. She picked up Eric's hand and put it back on the arm rest. "I'll be right back." She got up to use the bathroom. Tobias didn't waste time following her.
Tris wound her way through the hallway toward the bathroom. She opened the door to the bathroom, and felt his hand on her forearm, the familiar heaviness of his hand, the roughness of his fingers, which clasped her arm gently. "What are you doing?" She said whipping around. It was Tobias. Tris could tell from the darkness of his eyes that he was upset.
"Don't tease him Tris," Tobias warned.
"What are you even talking about?" He sent her a pointed look. "Eric?" She said in disbelief. "You think I'm encouraging Eric?" Tris rolled her eyes. "You're an idiot." She turned back the bathroom and he tightened his grip. "Let me go, Tobias." She said turning back to him. "You have no right to say anything to me!" She felt her voice starting to rise and her control loosen. "None," She said sharply. His eyes changed suddenly and they dropped from her own to her neck.
"The necklace," He said quietly. He stared at the small chain around her neck. A delicate "T" hung suspended between the chains, to the left of the hollow at the base of her neck. Tris reached up and touched it, feeling the familiar cool of the gold in her fingers. "You're wearing it," He said simply. His eyes went back to hers and she could see they were softening.
"Yes," She said. Her heart was pounding. "I made a promise to never take it off. Unlike some people, I actually keep my promises." She saw his eyes drop, his head start to fall, and she knew her sharp words had hurt him.
"Tris." He reached for her and she put her palm up to stop him.
"Don't." Her voice was solid, commanding. He backed up and let her go into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
The intensity of the situation exhausted Tris. She stood in front of the mirror and viewed her face. The light made her eyes look drawn, and she could see the pain from their encounter written all over them. She saw the necklace in the mirror and immediately her fingers went to it remembering the exact moment he gave it to her.
They had been laying in his full-sized bed in his room at the lake house. He was on his side, arm propping his head up, smiling down at her, as they laughed about skinny dipping in the lake the night before. She was holding her stomach from the hilarity of his jokes, and he suddenly held the chain before her. She stopped and sat up.
"What is that?" She said.
"It's for you." She took the necklace and held it in her palm, running her index finger over the chain. She looked up at him. "I wanted to do something nice for you, I guess." He seemed unsure. He continued to ramble. "The "T" is for us. "T" for Tris and "T" for Tobias. This way no one will know I gave it to you." She was silent. Tobias studied her face, her brow knit as she viewed the necklace. "Do you like it?" He asked. Tris nodded and smiled.
"I love it." She reached up putting her hand around his neck and drawing their lips together. She kissed him softly. "It's beautiful," She said when they pulled away. "Put it on me, please?" She turned her body and his calloused fingers brushed back her hair, and touched the sensitive part of her neck. She felt chills run down her spine. He clasped the necklace and sealed it with a light kiss. Tris turned around to face him.
"Never take it off?" He asked brushing back her hair from her neck. Tris nodded. "Promise?"
"I promise." She said reaching up to kiss him again.
Now, Tris wiped away the tears running down her cheeks as she thought of the memory. The moment she knew in her heart they were truly each other's. She had never expected him to disappear, leave her without any contact, but he had, devastating her completely. Tris quickly splashed water on her face and readied herself to leave the bathroom. She looked in the mirror one last time. It wasn't right for her to be here in this house, not with so much still hanging between them.
A/N: I do not own The Divergent Series.
