Chapter 3
Tobias
I wake up to the alarm at 7.30 am. In one and a half hours Tris will make her choice. Is it possible that I'm as nervous as she is, if not more? I decide to go visit her before. I take a quick shower and then I leave for her apartment. I knock, but she doesn't answer. I turn the doorknob and it's not locked. She really should lock it. I look around to see if someone's around. Zeke stands further down the corridor. He smirks at me, but I ignore him and walk in. I see Tris lying in her bed sleeping. She looks peaceful. I sit down on the chair next to the bed and watch her. She mumbles something in her sleep and I wonder what she's dreaming. After a few minutes she opens her eyes.
Tris
I see someone sitting across the room. The word someone scares me and my first thought is to run, but when he starts to laugh, I realize it is just Tobias.
"Tobias, how did you get in?"
"You know you shouldn't make a habit of not locking your door?"
"I forgot," I say and sit up.
I put my feet down on the cold concrete floor and wrap my black robe around my shoulders. He smiles and walks over to me.
"Good morning," I say and wrap my arms around his neck.
He hugs me back. "Just one hour left."
"Yeah." I pull away. "I have to go and get ready." I turn around but he grabs my wrist and pulls me back. "Tris." He looks into my eyes. "Whatever you choose today, we'll be okay. There is no right choice. You choose what you want to and I'll support you no matter what. Okay?"
"You're pretty great you know that?"
He smiles. "Now go get ready. We don't want to be late."
"I'll go in first," he says when we reach the dining hall doors.
"How long do you think we'll have to hide this? Us?" I say.
"I don't know. For a while, I guess."
"Yeah... You go in first. I'll wait a few minutes. What time is it?"
"It's 10.52 am. You can do this Tris."
8 minutes to go, then, it is time.
Tobias
I walk over to Zeke who's standing next to Eric and Max.
"Hey man," he says when he sees me. "What's up?"
"Same old," I say, knowing he saw me this morning going into Tris's apartment.
"How's Tris?"
I cast an eye at Eric and Max. They're looking in another direction. "She's fine, despite the circumstances."
"And those are?"
"Really?"
"What? Just making conversation."
"Then don't ask me about Tris." I grab his arm and drag him away from the crowd. "Listen, Tris and I've been seeing each other for a while now, and we're good. She's the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. I'm not going to let you and your careless non-keeping secrets big head ruin that for us. Tris can't afford that right now. We will tell everyone, she just needs to settle down here in Dauntless first. You keep your mouth shut or I will make you regret it. You got it?"
First he just stands there, looking a bit embarrassed. He probably didn't expect me to say all that. He scratches his neck, like he always do when he feels like he's done something bad. "Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was such a sensitive subject. I won't mention it again." He looks down. "Just know that I'm sorry and that you can come and talk to me about it if you need any advice."
I can't help but smile. He doesn't show this side very often. He notices me grinning and realizes he has to lighten up the situation. He puts his hand on my shoulder. "Besides, I'm more experienced than you."
I bat his hand away. "You we're so close. So close."
Tris
When it's 10.55 am, I walk through the doors. I don't see Tobias. I want to talk to him before I make my choice.
"Tris!" Uriah sneaks up behind me.
"Uriah, hey. Have you seen To…um…Four?"
"Last I saw him he was with Zeke by the stand, next to Eric and Max."
"Thanks."
"Hey Tris? Have you decided what to choose?"
"I think so, you?"
"Yeah," he says, but I can sense the nervousness in his voice. Then he leaves.
Uriah was ranked second, after me. I'm guessing he's going to chose instructor for the dauntless born. It would fit him perfectly. I know what I want, but I need to talk to Tobias before. Then I spot him across the room and he is talking to Zeke. Just as I'm about to make my way over to him, Eric calls my name. He's pointing at the other ones standing to his right. Christina waves at me and Will stands next to her. They're holding hands. I wave back, but keep my eyes on Tobias. He's still talking to Zeke. It's to late to talk to him now. I walk over to Christina, Will and the others. We line up, myself in the front. The three people standing last in the line I don't recognize. After me it's Uriah, then Lynn, Marlene, Peter, Will and Christina.
"Everybody listen up," Eric yells. His sharp voice fills the dining hall and the crowd goes silent. "It's time for our new members to choose their new profession. First up, Tris."
People start to applaud and cheer as I walk up on the stage where Eric and Max are standing. I feel my heart beating inside my chest and it's all I can focus on. Then my eyes meet Tobias'. He smiles. I try to smile back, but it's hard to feel like smiling right now.
"You ready Tris?" Eric asks me when I reach him. I don't answer.
I look out over the crowd. They're all quiet now. My heart beats even faster. This is it. I take a deep breath as my lips form the words; "I choose…"
See ya'll soon. Be brave! -s
