Chapter 9:
Tris POV
Today is the rehearsal for the wedding. My wedding... I'm getting married... I'm getting married tomorrow...
This is not how I dreamed my wedding to be. But, somehow, I feel... okay. No, not just okay... I'm... happy. The feeling is almost hard to recognize. The last time I felt it was that night at the zipline.
We decided our wedding should be a private event. Just Tobias and I. And if it was up to us, we wouldn't even have a rehearsal, but somehow Christina found out and made us make sure not a single thing goes wrong. That's Christina, and there's nothing you can do about it. We did, however, make sure Christina doesn't tell anyone about the plans so nobody would "surprise" us by showing up. We want a simple wedding. Just the two of us.
I get out of bed slowly, wincing as I stand up. I am so far along now that I can barely see my toes, and moving hurts. I take small steps to the bathroom and find a note from Tobias. All it says is Be Back Soon. I sigh. It has been a few months since he and I sat down and had breakfast together. I know he is busy, but sometimes I wonder if he is trying to distract himself from everything that's been going on. I wouldn't blame him. I am, too.
The rehearsal isn't until this afternoon, and, suddenly, I'm exhausted. I know its not a very good idea, but I walk back into the bed and lay my head against the pillow.
I'm just about to go to sleep when there is a knock on the door. I barely have enough energy to say Come in but somehow, I manage.
Christina bounces in with way to much energy for this time of day. What time is it anyway? I look over at the alarm clock by the bed. It says 10:00. Whoa. I'm sleeping way too late.
Christina grins and comes to sit by the bed. "Tris. You gotta get out of bed. Rise and shine. Greet the day! Tomorrow is your wedding!"
I groan, turn so my head is facing away from Christina, and pull my sheets up.
"Not acceptable, Tris. Not today. If you don't get up, I'm gonna pour ice water on your head!"
"Christinaaa," I whine like a little kid. I close my eyes and try to go back to sleep; maybe when I open them, I'll be alone again. After two seconds, I'm suddenly wet and freezing.
Page break
Tobias POV
"Congratulations, Four!"
"Hey Four, Congrats!"
"Congrats, Four!"
All of these comments follow me down the hallway. I turn the corner and people are patting me on the back. Suddenly, I have the instinct to run as far away as is possible. Or yell. Or close my eyes. Or all three at once. The walls are closing in on me like they did in the simulations.
I shake my head. Relax, Tobias. I am used to being feared, and respected in the hallways. This is so different, and I don't know how to react. I need to clear my head.
My feet move without my permission and suddenly I'm at the net. I haven't been here for 2 years. Two years I have known Tris. Two years I have loved her.
I put my hands on the metal holding the net, and hoist myself up, flipping over so I land on my back. Staring up at the blue sky, so bright, I am blinded for a second. I almost forgot what the sun looked like, I haven't been out of the compound for so long. I have been too busy thinking. I have been thinking too much.
I lay there for what seems like hours. Suddenly, I feel like I am forgetting something. I look at my watch and see that it says 2:00
Why is that time so familiar to me?
Oh.
The rehearsal starts at 2:00.
I don't think any more, I just flip back over the side, and sprint.
As soon as I get to the chapel, I see a worried Tris standing in the aisle.
"Where have you been?" She asks me.
"Tris, I'm so sorry I'm late," I say, gasping for air. "I lost track of the time."
"I was worried."
"Tris..."
"I know I shouldn't worry. Its just that-" she pauses, searching for words.
"I'll always be here." Where does she get the idea that I'm going to leave her? Oh yeah, I haven't exactly been there for her recently. I've been leaving early and coming home late, but I need to get my mind of things. There's so much stress, and it's a lot to handle.
"I wouldn't blame you," she says after a while.
"What?"
"For having second thoughts. This is a lot of pressure."
"Tris. Stop that." I say, "You need to stop putting yourself down like that. I love you. I love you so, so much and I am never going to leave you. Never. Okay?"
"You haven't been home-"
"I know. It's just that sometimes, I get overwhelmed with how fast everything is moving. I can't handle it. But I now realize how stupid I've been, we are in this together. And I know you must be feeling the same way." I know, from the way she reacts when someone congratulates her about the baby. I can tell from her expression before she goes to sleep. And I know because I feel the same way.
Tris looks up at me. She is really beautiful, and I have no idea how someone like her can doubt herself so much.
"I love you," I say, because I think she needs to hear that fact again. "I love you so much."
She smiles. "I love you more."
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We do a walk through of the wedding ceremony. Make sure the music is good, the decorations are nice, stuff like that. I think this rehearsal is all a waste of time, but Christina can make you do things you will never imagine. She is more persuasive than she looks.
We decided to do a different wedding than most Dauntless. We decided to do the ceremony Abnegation style. That's part of the reason we are having a quiet wedding, we don't want anyone to think that we don't hold the praise "faction before blood" in low regards. We are still doing Dauntless decoration though. The chapel is covered with black hearts and shining tinsel. It's quite beautiful, and I know Tris loves it as well.
When we get to the part where we practice the vows, I let Tris go first. "Tobias Eaton," she says while she grasps my hands and looks into my eyes. Gosh, how lucky am I to be marrying the most beautiful and strong woman in the world. "From that day you pulled me out of the net-" She stops talking. Her eyes get huge. And she lets go of my hands.
"Tris?" What's going on? She clutches her stomach, gasping for air. "Tris!" I look around for help, but we are alone. Suddenly- I can't breathe either. She sinks down to her knees, and I immediately pick her up and run. Half way to the hospital, I slow down. My arms are shaking and I can barely breathe. I'm panicking, and Tris weighs more now that she's pregnant. I almost drop her, my arms are so tired. But she's screaming and clutching her stomach. I know that if I let go of her, she will not be able to walk. So I keep running.
I'm terrified, and I hate the feeling. And the worst part is that I have no idea what's happening. Is she going to be okay? She can't be giving birth, it's only been 8 months.
I need her to be okay, I don't know how I would go on without her.
I finally reach the hospital and yell for help. I don't even know how I managed to get words out of my mouth. The rest is a blur. But I never leave Tris, I never let go of her hand.
(Page Break)
Tris' POV
It finally stopped. I don't know how long I've been in the hospital, but it feels like months; it feels like years.
I sigh with relief and let go of Tobias' hand. I didn't know how hard I was squeezing it until I relax the muscles in my arm. Tobias grimances and nurses his hand. It seems like I might have broken a bone in it, but he says nothing. He takes his other palm and wipes the sweat off my brow, pushing the hair out of my face as he does so. He kisses me on the forehead, and goes to get the doctor.
I wish he had stayed with me, but I know why he left. We need to know what that was, since neither Tobias nor I was paying attention when he came in at first. I know he said something, but I don't know what.
After a long time, too long, Tobias comes back with the doctor.
The doctor says that this was just Braxton Hicks contractions; fake contractions. If this was fake, then how are the real contractions going to feel? Tobias always says that I am strong, but I feel as if a gust of wing could break me.
Tobias takes my hand in his and laces his fingers with mine. Neither of us break the silence until I remember that his other hand may be broken, and I ask the doctor to look at it. I swear, sometimes I don't know my own strength.
A/N: Okay guys, here is an extra long chapter for you guys! It's to make up for the fact that we are only posting on weekends now:(. But it's okay! The real wedding is in the next chapter! Yay! Thanks for reading guys, write your thoughts in the reviews please! You guys are awesome! Have a magical day! :)
-primpriorpotter :)
