Chapter 2
For the past week, I have been sneaking outside hoping to run into Tobias. The more I think about him associating with the Factionless the more I wonder why. The average Abnegation would help the Factionless, but not speak openly with them in a far off place, one that is separated from the main road.
Why would Tobias put himself at risk? Someone could catch him and accuse him of being disloyal to Abnegation, that would make him a misfit.
Could he be Divergent?
I shake the thought from my mind, there has to be a logical reason as to why he was out there among the Factionless. I walk outside, lazy in my way of staying hidden. No one will catch me, except Tobias. I lay down in the grass, waiting. Maybe he won't come tonight, he hasn't all week. Maybe the one time I saw him was an odd coincidence.
I shut my eyes, feel the crisp wind blow my hair into my face, a laugh bubbles from my throat.
"What are you doing out here, Beatrice?"
My eyes open, "Tobias." I sit myself up on my elbows.
Tobias looks down on me, "you should go back to the dorms. You could get in trouble for this."
"I could say the same to you."
"Really?" Tobias raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms. "Stand up."
I stand, step back and look up, "why were you in the Factionless."
"I wasn't."
"I know it was you. I saw you. It was on the first day of initiation. What were you doing there?"
Tobias stares at me for a while. The silence between us heavy, did I make a mistake in doing this? Tobias glances around and takes my arm, dragging me further away from the back door and towards the empty field behind the building. His grip is tight, stronger then I expected. "Let go of me."
Tobias stops and releases his grip on my arm, "what do you know about me?"
"I know you were in the Factionless."
"Beatrice, " Tobias scratches behind his ear, "have you told anyone?"
"I'm not stupid. I didn't tell anyone. So why were you over there."
"That is none of your business," his tone stings. I am being chastised. "Why were you over there anyway. You were supposed to be with your initiate class."
"Well, you were supposed to be...doing whatever it is you do. So tell me, what is going on?"
Tobias presses his fingers to the bridge of his nose, "Beatrice! This is dangerous."
Is he talking about Divergence? Fear begins to wrap around me, I decide to play stupid, "I don't know what you could possibly mean."
"Yes you do. You and I both know we weren't supposed to be in that area of the Factionless. We are both putting ourselves at risk even having this conversation."
I stare at him, wide eyed, has he figured out my secret? I feel like DIVERGENT is labeled on my forehead, if Tobias can see it who else can. I swallow the lump in my throat, I drop my voice, "you know?"
Tobias runs his hand through his hair, "of course I do. When I caught you out here the first time I suspected something. But now...Just go back Beatrice. Don't tell anyone we had this conversation."
"I'm not an idiot! I know that..." I wonder if this means Tobias is in fact, Divergent. Does he understand who I am? Does he have answers, I open my mouth to ask, but the look in Tobias eyes tells me that wouldn't a smart decision. There is something dangerous, wild, in his eyes. Unstable, I wonder if it is in my eyes as well.
"Go Beatrice."
I walk a few paces away, I need answers. I shut my eyes, he hasn't told anyone about me being here. He is warning me, maybe he can be trusted. I decide to be brave, I spin on my heel and walk back to him, "I want answers."
Tobias cocks his head back and stares at the moon, "Beatrice..."
"I want answers. And you are going to give them tome." I keep my tone serious, authoritative.
"Meet me back here in two hours, when you are sure, absolutely sure no one else is awake. Be careful, okay? And bring your jacket, it gets cold at night."
I smile, "thank you."
I wait outside in the field, wrapped tightly in my jacket. I feel small excitement and dread at the thought of getting the answers I want. I'm not sure I want to know exactly what I am, but I also don't want to remain clueless as to why I'm dangerous. I hear a footsteps behind me, I turn to Tobias and tuck a lock of my hair back.
"Let's walk." He walks ahead of me, his stride long. I have to make up a few steps to keep up with him.
I begin to toss questions at him, but he puts his hand up, "wait."
I keep silent until he stops and sits down in the grass, it is over grown here. Covering my head and concealing most of Tobias. "Will you answer me now?"
Tobias nods and rests his elbows on his knees, "Beatrice, you realize that you can be killed for who you are."
"Yes."
He nods, "I don't have many answers."
"Are you one," I lower my voice and glance around, saying the word Divergent out loud seems more dangerous then when it's said in my mind, "Divergent?"
Tobias looks at me, "my results were Abnegation."
"So was mine. So what was your result really?"
"Abnegation."
"So you aren't one?"
Tobias shakes his head, "not exactly."
"What does that mean?" I sigh, "Tobias, I'm alone here in Abnegation, if there is someone out there like me, I want to know."
"My results were Abnegation, but the woman who administered my test knew I was different."
I nod, "are we safe here?"
"In Abnegation?"
I nod. "Yeah, Abnegation."
Tobias shrugs, "we are safer here than we are in Dauntless or Candor."
"Why?"
Tobias smiles, "Candor puts us under simulation, we are forced to tell the truth. I think that definitely qualifies as a danger to us."
"And Dauntless?"
"I don't know much about their initiation, but I know it involves simulations."
I twirl a piece of grass between my fingers, "does Initiation get any...more interesting?"
Tobias laughs under his breath, it's deep as if it came from somewhere deep within, "no."
I groan, "really?"
"Yes, it remains the same."
"Where do you work?"
"You are asking a lot of questions."
I shrug, "now that I know you aren't a strict Abnegation, I might as well get out my selfish habits. So where do you work?"
"I watch the computers in Abnegation."
I nod, "is that fun?"
He shrugs, "it's easy. I'm good with computers."
"Can I stop by?"
He looks at me, "why, am I that likable?"
"No, you are real approachable. You know like a bed of nails."
Tobias smiles, "I could say the same to you."
"So is that a yes?"
"Sure, no one is ever in there anyway."
I nod, "good, I can't sleep sometimes. Usually I come outside, but since you are here, I might as well go to you."
Tobias nods and stares at the stars above us, "so, Beatrice?" I can tell he has a question ready for me.
I shake my head at my name, "it's a boring name."
"What?"
"Beatrice, my name, it's boring."
"So change it."
"To what?"
Tobias shrugs.
I lean my head back, "I don't know, what do you think?"
Tobias thinks for a moment, "Bea?"
I scrunch up my nose and shake my head. Tobias tosses his head back and laughs, "guess not...Hm, so no Bea...How about Tris?"
Tris, "I like that."
"Okay, then Tris it is."
I sit next to Tobias staring at computer screens, this is the third time I have been in there this week, I wonder if we are breaking any rules by doing this. "Are we friends now Tobias?"
Tobias looks at me, "I don't have friends."
"No one in Abnegation does. No one knows each other well enough to be friends. So are we friends?"
"Do I know you well enough?"
I shrug, "I don't know. Friends know simple things about each other. What is your favorite color?"
"Blue."
I nod, "like what shade of blue?"
"An icy, clear blue. It's a refreshing color. What is yours?"
"I don't know if I have one. It's definitely not grey. Ask me again tomorrow, I will have an answer. What is your favorite food?"
"Chicken and peas." Tobias laughs and glances at me.
"You are kidding! Mine too." I laugh softly to myself, "I always wanted to have dessert."
"Dessert?"
"Yes, like that chocolate stuff I always heard the kids at school talk about when I was little."
"Chocolate?"
"Haven't you ever wanted some Tobias?"
Tobias leans back in his chair. "I never thought about it."
"You should, it seems very delicious. I also want to try something decadent. Like really rich and sweet." Tobias smiles at me and stare for a while, I look over, "what is it?"
"We are friends, Tris."
I break into a grin, "on that note, I will go back to my dorm and go to sleep."
"Really? I tell you we are friends and you just pick up and leave."
I stand and brush myself off, "I will see you tomorrow, friend."
Tobias rolls his eyes and walks me to the door of my dorm, "you be careful, Tris."
"You too." I begin to bow, but Tobias shakes his head, he tentatively offers his hand.
"Friends shake hands, right?"
I glance at his hand, and slowly put mine into his, "yeah, they do." It's awkward for both of us, and when we let go, we glance around waiting to get into trouble from someone for having physical contact. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Tris."
Review hope you like how this is going. I feel more confident in it.
