After morning training, I follow the other initiates up the steps for lunch. I haven't spent as much time with them as I probably should have, so I know that that's something I need to start working on. If I spend too much time away, someone other than Peter is going to get suspicious and I don't want to have to worry about lying to people that I actually care about. They've been talking about training and how people keep moving up and down in rankings and some of us are actually doing pretty well. Unfortunately that doesn't include Al. He hasn't really moved much. Everyone's names on the boards keep moving all around him, but his name has been almost stationary. I wish there was a way to get him to focus and better, but maybe this just isn't something that comes naturally to him. I wish he could get one on one training that I'm getting, but part of me things that I shouldn't even be getting training. It's probably against the rules.

"Peter's insane," Christina says, her voice coming out in a hiss. "Did you see the way he and Molly were fighting each other?"

The mere mention of Peter's name makes me straighten up where I'm sitting. I'm not quite sure what he knows...or even if he knows anything at all. But the possibility of him knowing something about me and Tobias makes me nervous. I wish that it didn't, and I wish that I knew I was for sure safe here. But I'm not. So it makes me nervous to the point where I need to start watching how much time I spend away from the group. And how often he and I talk. Or the amount of time he holds my gaze for. I need to keep my distance from Tobias, even if I really don't want to. If Peter has started to notice things, then how long would it take for anyone else to realize what was happening? I'm getting better. I've been moving up in rankings and maybe that's part of the reason that Peter has been watching me so closely. Is he worried that I'll somehow surpass him and Uriah? I've gotten pretty good over the past week, but not that good. There is really only so much someone can learn in the amount of time that I've had to train. And it's nowhere as good as Uriah. Even if I'm moving up, Peter's name has barely moved. He shouldn't be worried, so why is he?

"I need to try to stay away from Peter," I say. "For as long as humanly possible."

Christina looks over at him. "He has been bothering you a lot lately," she says. "Maybe he's an ass because he likes you."

'He doesn't like her," Al says quickly. "Right?"

We look at him and I see that same look I saw in the Pit in his eyes. Is it hurt? Or it is jealously? If it's jealously, Peter's not the person he has to worry about. I have to force myself to look at someone else.

"I mean, it's possible," Will says. "Maybe he just doesn't know how to say anything. Could be the way that he was raised."

I hold out my hands and shake my head. "Please," I say. "Stop."

Chris grins. "What? You don't like the attention?"

"Not from him, I don't."

It's at this point when Tobias sets a tray down next to us and begins eating. I do a quick glance around the room. There are plenty of empty tables. I wonder if anyone else will question why he's sitting next to us instead of alone. But I have a feeling that it's because he wants to eavesdrop of our conversation. And I don't blame him. If I had walked by and heard what we were talking about, I would have wanted to sit down too.

"Four, you're a man," Chris says.

He raises an eyebrow at her. "Tread carefully," he says.

"I just mean that, you're a man," she says. She shakes her head. "Hang on, I'm getting there."

He takes a bite of bread, his eyes on Christina's face, waiting for her to continue. I turn to look at her; we're all looking at her now. Where exactly is she going with this.

"Tris is a pretty girl, wouldn't you say?" she asks.

He coughs. "I probably shouldn't' answer that question, as I am your instructor."

"Please just answer the question."

He sets the bread down and turns to look at me. I don't look at him and I feel my face start to redden, but I feel his eyes studying my face.

"She's kind of plain, but I guess sort of pretty in a way," he says, looking back at Christina. I feel my neck burning and even though I had told him to his face that I knew I wasn't pretty, hearing him saying it out loud was a little harsh. I feel a tension in my chest and I want nothing more to run, down into the cold basement. "Now what?"

"Well that's rude," she says. "But whatever. You say sort of pretty, maybe Peter thinks differently. So imagine that you're Peter, and if you think she's pretty, wouldn't you tell her? Because I think he's being a coward by not saying anything to her."

He narrows his eyes. "Saying anything about what?"

"We all have a theory that he has a thing for her," Will says.

"For the record, I don't," Al says quickly.

I swallow. "Also, I refuse that theory," I say. "Like I absolutely refuse it."

Christina narrows her eyes at me. "You don't get a say in this theory," she says. "Not when it's about you."

I groan and bury my head in my hands. "God I hate you."

"Well," Tobias says clearing his throat. "I am a man, as you so kindly pointed out, but I think that if a guy likes a girl, whether or not she thinks she's pretty, he should tell her how he feels. Even if he's afraid she doesn't feel the same way. Because in Dauntless it's about bravery. And if the guy can't say anything, then he doesn't deserve to be with her in the first place."

No one says anything. I keep my head in my hands because now my red cheeks are for a completely different reason. Plus it's to hide my smile. Because Tobias had just said was what he did. What we did. And I know that I shouldn't love the way it makes me feel, but I can't help it. Tobias makes me happy. But maybe that's not the most important thing here. Surviving is the most important thing. Because what good is having someone to be with if you can't even see him anymore?

"Wow," Christina says. "That's…that's a really good answer."

"Thanks," Tobias says. "Now, don't be late for training. We're shooting up on the roof right after lunch. You have twenty minutes."

I hear him get up and even then I don't lift my head until I know that he's out of the room and I look at them. "You guys shouldn't have asked him that," I say. "He's our instructor."

"He's also honest as hell," Christina says. She turns to the boys. "Well you heard that. Be honest. Tell the girl you like how you feel…you never know what it'll get you."

I can't help but smile. "I'm gonna go," I say.

"Where?" Al asks.

"Just for a walk, stretch out my legs," I say. "I'll meet you guys up on the roof."

I grab my tray and take it to the trash before leaving the cafeteria and taking the stairs two at a time to get to the roof. I open the door and I smile when I see Tobias standing there. He looks up at me, an annoyed look on his face.

"I hate your friends," he says.

I laugh. "Trust me, back in that lunch room you were not alone."

"So they also think that Peter likes you," he says. "Well, except for Al. But that's only because he likes you."

"Yeah and now he's going to try to make a move," I tell him. "All because of your…really great advice."

"Ah jeez," he says. "I was just really trying to make up for the fact that I called you plain. I didn't want to, because you are definitely not plain to me."

"About that," I say.

He narrows his eyes at me. "Why don't I like the sound of that?"

"Because it's kind of bad news."

He folds his arms across his chest. "What's wrong?"

I take a breath. "I think that we should maybe take a break."

"You're breaking up with me?"

"No!" I say quickly. "I just…Peter's already suspicious. How long is it going to take for someone else to realize how much I enjoy it when you smile at me."

"Oh I'm not smiling now," he says, his voice harsh.

"It's dangerous," I say.

"No it's not."

"You say that but it's not your spot that you're risking. I could be kicked out."

He lets out an angry breath and runs his fingers through his hair. "You're kidding right?"

I swallow because I can feel the sting behind my eyes. "Believe me, I don't want to do this."

"Then don't." His voice cracks on the last word.

I close my eyes and I am embarrassed when I feel a tear on my cheek. I reach up quickly to wipe it away and open my eyes to look at Tobias. I swallow. "How long until initiation is over?'

"A month."

"That's not too bad, right?'

"You're serious."

I chew on my lower lip. "I understand if you don't want to wait a month. If you want to, I don't know, find someone else to entertain you while I'm training."

He stares at me, shaking his head. "You think this is about me not having any entertainment for a month?" he scoffs. "God, Tris. Do you really not know how I feel about you?"

"I'm trying to make this easier for me."

"By making me out to be some sex crazed monster?"

"You're not a monster," I tell him. "I just…you're older than I am."

"Haven't we already talked about this?" he asks. "I am no more experienced than you are. I just want you, Tris."

I run my hand across my face and shake my head. "You…are far better than you should be."

He takes a step toward me and takes my hand. "If you want me to back off, I'll back off. But I will not let you cut me out of your life for the next month. We'll be safe and we'll be careful. I can't not talk to you like this for four weeks."

I look up at him. "You're really not going to let me go, are you?"

"Not a chance in hell," he says, with a slight grin.

I sigh and shake my head. "Okay. Fine."

"Does that mean I can kiss you?"

"Yeah, I guess so," I say with a smile.

He grins down at me and pulls me up against him, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.

"Don't you ever forget how important you are to me."

"I won't if you won't," I say.

'Deal."