Chapter 9

TFIOS, anyone?

And yes, this is partially based off of a movie called Chasing Liberty. Please don't give me any crap about stealing or taking this idea, because my story is actually pretty different.


-Amsterdam, Netherlands-


Tris and Tobias arrived in Amsterdam at 6 A.M. They just got off the train there, and Tris immediately started going toward the direction of the Anne Frank House. She was just going off of the pamphlet she'd gotten on the train.

"Are you sure you know where you're going?" Tobias asked unsurely.

"Positive," she said, then bit her lip.

She only know French, Italian, and English, obviously. She only knew French and Italian because of her mother's political affairs, but no Dutch. Dutch was the national language of the Netherlands, and Tris had absolutely no clue what anything meant.

"Er… Do you know Dutch?" she asked, chuckling.

He laughed. "Absolutely not."

She sighed. "I'm trying to figure out the address. Help?" she asked.

He leaned over her shoulder. "Well, it looks like we're on Keizersgracht. We need to make a right on Leliegracht, then left on Prinsengracht. Then we're there."

"Too many 'gracht's, dude. Why can't the world just have one language? It'd make life so much easier."

"That's actually a pretty good point there," he chuckled.

She shrugged and dramatically flipped one of her pigtails over her shoulder, as if she were all that, and said, "I know."

They arrived at the Anne Frank House at 6:30 A.M.

"What?" Tris exclaimed. "They don't open till nine!"

"There's a café across the street, maybe we can chill there for two and a half hours. I don't know about you, but I need a freakin' coffee."

Tris groaned. "Fine."

So they walked across the street to the café that had an incredibly weird Dutch name and ordered a coffee for themselves. They sat down at the table that had just two seats. The waiter quickly brought out their drinks, and Tris thought Tobias had an evil look on his face.

"Tris. I have an idea."

Her eyes widened. "You look villainous. I don't like it."

"I'm not up to no good. I just have an idea I think you'd like. C'mon." Tobias stood up, leaving Tris alone at the table. She quickly followed, coffee in hand, and found him outside.

He led her over to the canal and raised his arm to canal man, hailing him.

"Tobias, I need to save my money. We've still got London, Dublin, and then back to Paris."

"I've got this covered," he said, smiling.

"No way. You've paid for so much—"

"Tris. Stop talking. He's already pulling over to us."

She just sighed. Either this guy was rich, or someone supplied him with money. Either way, he had money.

She and Tobias were the only ones on the boat besides the driver.

The driver started to steer boat, leaving Tris and Tobias to each other.

"I wish you'd let me pay," Tris said.

"Oh, stop complaining. Isn't this, like, every girl's dream?"

She smiled. "I guess. But I don't like to consider myself a part of the large population that is normal. Plus it's much more romantic in Venice," she pointed out. "At least I thought it was."

He nodded. "Yeah. It's because it was dark out."

"Well, that," she chuckled, "and that fact that you kissed me."

"Minor detail…," he said, scratching his jaw.

She laughed, but said, "Are you okay? You seem kind of… blah. I don't know. What's on your mind?"

He shook his head and looked at the water. "Nothing."

"You are a big, fat liar. Tell me."

He sighed. "I've just been thinking."

"About…?" she pressed.

"How we only have today, London, and Dublin," he said with a shrug. "Just kind of depressing to think about."

"I know," she said. "But we'll spend a day here, two in London, if that's all right with you, and then a day in Dublin. Then we'll see a little of each other in France at the festival. Then I have to go home. And maybe… there's still KCL…"

"And what are the chances of you actually contacting me?"

Tris rolled her eyes and sighed. "Obviously I'm going to try."

"Doubt it," he whispered.

She was somewhat angry at him. "Why do you say that?" Tris asked.

He just shook his head, clearly stating he wasn't going to tell.

"Whatever," she said, then turned toward the ferryman. "Say, don't you get a lot of business the summer? Or is today just slow?"

"Today is national holiday," the man said in a Dutch accent. "Everything closed."

Tris's mouth dropped. "So all the museums… the zoo?"

He nodded.

"You've got to be joking."

"I do not kid."

"Oh my god," Tris mumbled.

"Looks like we're going to London today," Tobias sighed.

"Wait," said Tris. "I have another idea."


"No fucking way," Tobias said. "There's no way I'm doing that. You know how I feel about heights."

"Tobias, please? We can be in a double."

He paused. "You can do that?"

"Yeah. Pleasssssse?"

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Bloody hell."

So they got strapped in to the straps on the bridge stood on the other side of the bars.

"I can't believed you talked me into this," he whispered to her because their faces were so close. The double cords made them extremely close.

"Oh, come on. Bungee jumping can't be that bad. I'm terrified too, if that makes you feel any better," she said in the same tone.

"Then why are you doing it?"

"Sometimes," she whispered, "the things that scare you are the most worthwhile."

Tobias breathed. "1… 2—"

But Tris jumped, taking him down with her, and she was half laughing and half screaming as she clung tightly to Tobias. They reached the very bottom, they were splashed with water from the river below them. They were swinging, but it was over.

And their faces were less than an inch apart.

"Hi," Tris whispers, causing Tobias to laugh.

"Cheerio," he said, all British-like.

There were unhooked from the bungee cord and went down in the water, and they both were laughing.

When Tris popped up from the water, she said, "That was awesome."

"I can't believe I let you do that," Tobias breathed as he swam over to her. "I can't believe I let myself do that."

Tris smiled him. "I guess we're both feeling pretty brave today."

"You make me brave," he said.

"You're brave all on your own."

"I don't think so. You do something brave. It's easy."

"I just jumped off a bridge. That was reckless, not brave."

"Then do something brave. Not reckless."

"Brave?"

"Yeah."

"Like what?"

Tobias smugly grinned. "Kiss me when I least expect it."

"You'd consider that brave?" she chuckled.

He shrugged. "Yeah."

"So I can pick any time to kiss within the timespan till France?" she clarifies.

"Yes," he said with a nod.

"Challenge accepted."

They heard the boat to come pick them up, and as it did, Tris couldn't help but think when she'd do it.

Tobias and Tris camped out with the other bungee-ers. The guy who owed the business had a bunch of his friends and invited us to come with since they had an extra tent. Since they hadn't bought their train tickets to London yet, they agreed.


They were sitting on some tree stumps away from the other, but still near the fire. She walked back from the fire with two s'mores in her hands.

"Hey," she said as she sat down next to him. "I got you one."

"Thanks." He took it from her and munched on a bite.

Tris took the two graham crackers apart and wiped some of the marshmallow on his face. She grinned.

"Just so you know," he said calmly, "that is extremely hot."

"Oh my god," she laughed guiltily. "I'm so sorry." She began to wipe it from his face. She discarded it into the grass.

Britt, Dutch girl and owner of the bungee business, walked over to them and handed Tris a tent.

"Hi, Four."

"Britt," he said, smiling over at her.

"So…" Britt nodded over towards her tent and looked back at Tobias.

"So, no."

She shrugged, sipped her beer, and walked away.

"For a guy who claims to be eternally alone," Tris said, "you sure do get a lot of offers."

Tobias sighed and looked at her. "And rejections."

Tris sighed too. She felt horrible because she knew it was directed toward her.

"You know what?" he said. "Maybe I will go talk to Britt." He stood and began walking there.

"No," Tris quickly said, stopping him by grabbing his arms. "Don't. You can't seriously be attracted to her."

"I don't know," he said, smiling. "I could see myself in the mountains living with little Hans and Gunter," he chuckled and started walking away more.

"Tobias, don't," she said.

"Why not?" He crossed his arms.

"'Cause… I don't trust her."

Tobias rolled his eyes walked one step more.

"Because I don't think she's remotely good enough for you either."

"Tris," he said, turning around. "Can ever just say what you really feel?" he asked exasperatedly.

She looked away toward the glistening river with moonlight bouncing off of it.

"That's what I thought," he said quietly, then walked away some more.

"Because I'm jealous as hell," she said to him. "Because I'd hate to see with Britt—I'd hate to see you with any other woman because not only did I adore kissing you in Venice, but in Prague too. You drive me crazy, but in a good way. And I am just so un-bloody-hinged just being near you," she finished.

Tobias slowly leaned toward her, and Tris put a hand on his cheek, whispering, "I can't kiss you."

He closed his eyes, frustrated. "Of course you can't."

"I would, but you'd be expecting it. So I can't," she said as she grinned.

"Oh, come on," he groaned.

"Sorry," she said. They were still close to each other's faces. "It'll come soon enough," she said simply.

"Time is going to go by so slow."

"It doesn't matter how fast you go, just as long as you don't stop." Tris pulled back and walked toward their stumps. She quickly set up the tent with Tobias's help after he snapped out of his daze.

They ate just one more s'more and went to sleep.

Tris woke up with her face nuzzled into Tobias's neck. She didn't recoil out disgust or fear, but just sighed happily and nuzzled it farther.

He woke up about fifteen minutes later, and Tris was still awake. When Tris was sure he was awake, she rolled over and smiled at him.

"Hi."

"'Ello."

"I wish I could kiss you," Tris said, smiling.

"You can," he said, chuckling. "I mean, I'm totally not expecting any kiss right now. Like, I'd be so surprised if you kissed me. Seriously."

Tris grinned and got up. Since she was still in her dress, she said, "Hey, I'm changing. Turn around."

So he did, like any respectful man would, without protest.

She couldn't stand all the way up because the tent was low, so she changed her into her red, long-sleeved shirt sitting down. She easily put on her black shorts then said, "Okay. I'm good." Then she started to put her hair into pigtails. She'd suddenly been doing that a lot more often since Tobias had mentioned it on the train to Berlin.

She sat down and gathered her things into her drawstring bag. "We should get going, probably. I want to get to London ASAP. I'm crazy excited."

He smiled and sat up, shirtless. "It's gorgeous. You'll love it." He put on his shirt and gathered his things. "All ready?"

Tris nodded.

"It's nine o'clock and it takes about nine hours to get there. If it's alright with you, we can just stay at my mum's house tonight."

They stepped out of the tent. "Taking me to meet your mom? That's a pretty big step in our relationship," she teased, nudging him.

"We're in a relationship?" he asked as he smirked.

"Anywayyyy," she said, changing the subject, "what've you got planned for me in London?"

"Well, first—"

"Aw, are you guys leaving?" someone shouted.

They turned to see Uriah and Britt. Britt was the one that had shouted.

"Yeah," Tris said. "We've gotta catch a train to London. Thanks for everything."

"No problem. Have a good one," she said.

"Group hug?" Uriah asked.

"No way," Tris and Tobias said at the same time.

When they arrived at train station, they bought the tickets that left for 10 A.M.

"There's this thing called Eurostar," Tobias said. "It's an underwater tunnel from France that crosses the English channel to London. It's amazing. First we have to go south, leave the Netherlands, go through Belgium, then get to the point where it begins to get underwater, which is in France. You'll love it."

Tris smiled.

Next thing they knew, they were boarding the train.

"All passengers to London, England, we are leaving Amsterdam, Netherlands, at 10:02 A.M. ETA to London: 7:14 P.M."