I AM SO SORRY AND PLEASE DO NOT HATE ME.

I don't want to list all my excuses for not updating, but I'm back. Thank you to those who were concerned about my well-being – you know who you are ;) I am pleased to announce I am very good, and writing continues to be a therapeutic process for me.

Concerning update schedules, I don't think that it is likely I am going to be updating as much as I had originally planned. So I'm thinking about once a week now? Of course when I have a good day and therefore am able to write more I will update it, but currently I'm aiming for once a week. This is more of a filler, but next chapter will be in Tobias POV to 'explain'

Anyway, thank you for sticking by my story and I hope you enjoy!

10th August

Tris POV

"Urgh, you guys disgust me" I hear, followed by the heavy pad of footsteps along the tiled floor of the kitchen. As I turn I'm met with the half-dressed, half-asleep state of none other than Uriah Pedrad. I laugh quietly trying to suppress the smile which is forcing its way upon my face. I haven't actively told Uri of my 'situation' with Tobias, but judging from all the looks we've shared and comments he's dropped into conversations over the past month, I'm sure he's cogged on. I return to Tobias' side at the hob continuing to prepare breakfast. He nudges me with his hip, raising an eyebrow at Uriah sitting behind us at the island. I just shrug, setting the freshly cooked plate of pancakes on the table. Within 5 minutes I hear thudding from upstairs soon followed by a loud shout from Zeke, "Do I smell pancakes?" he shouts as he falls down the stairs.

"Oh, it's you too" Zeke sighs as he plops into a chair at the island. I quickly take Zeke's plate, now full of pancakes and syrup, away from him, with a questioning look. "What was that?" I ask him, putting my hands on my hip, staring him down. He hesitates, looking terrified. I feel a strong arm wrapping around my waist, and I soon feel Tobias' lips against my neck. I turn my head to find Tobias' deep blue eyes staring right back at me, with a slight smirk playing across his lips. It's amazing how lost I can get in those big blue eyes of his. "You're kinda scary" He whispers in my ear, looking towards Zeke who is now mock puking with Uriah in the corner.

"Guys, back off the lo-woaaahhhhh" We all turn to the stairs where we find everyone lined up, being blocked by Caleb, head in his hands, stopped dead in his tracks. Susan whispers something in his ear, and he shifts to the side allowing everyone else to file past him. As Chris comes through to the kitchen she winks at me, nodding to Tobias' and I's current position. The room falls silent as Caleb enters into the kitchen. He plays the 'fatherly' card for not just me, but all of us. Yes, he's one of us and we can have a laugh with him, but when it comes down to it, Caleb is the one in charge. He's got the final word, the responsible one. I hold my breath, waiting for his verdict.

"Just not first thing in the morning, please" He sighs, after taking a large gulp of freshly made coffee. The kitchen erupts in cheers, and Tobias softly kisses my cheek, squeezing me in his warm embrace. Soon all of the food Tobias and I prepared was gone, eaten by all 10 of us.

Over the past month Tobias and I have slowly adopted cooking duties, for the whole house. Not that I mind, I love the alone time with Tobias. Apart from him driving me too and from work, we don't really see each other that often, so it's reassuring knowing that I have this time alone with him, guaranteed.

"So what are we doing today?" Shauna asks us all, every Saturday morning we sit down like this, together and we all co-ordinate our plans. I like it, it makes me feel like we really are a family, not just house mates. I notice Caleb staring at Tobias, and I feel hid do the slightest of nods, only I could feel because of our proximity to each other.

"I need Four's help with some work stuff today, sorry Bea" Caleb adds, winking at me. I don't quite believe Caleb, he does this thing with his eyes when he's not telling the truth, only a sister could recognise after years of living together. I nod anyway, looking at Tobias for reassurance of this fact. I can tell by his face that there is definitely something they are doing, so much for doing 'work'.

After we all announce our plans for the day, I go upstairs to get ready for work. I got a text from Tori, asking if I would possibly be able to work today seen as she's low on staff. Seen as everyone else has plans for the day, and Tobias and Caleb are booked up doing whatever, I figure I might as well go into The Pitt, besides, I love it there anyway.

I hop up the stairs, happier than usual on a Saturday morning. As I allow the hot water to massage my upper back and head, I close my eyes, allowing my head to clear. Soon enough, Tobias' face finds its way into my day dream. After our date last weekend we haven't had that much time to discuss things. Of course we've had our evenings and morning car rides, but the topic of what exactly we are just hasn't come up. Despite that I find my mind constantly wondering back to him. When I'm working, or trying to sleep or even in mid conversation, Tobias is always there. Either his face in my head, or me reminiscing the feeling of his hand on my waist, the soft touch of his lips against mine, I just can't escape him. I smile as I hear his words, bouncing around my head as they have done for the past week, slowly driving me insane with anticipation. When will you be my girlfriend? I'm not sure if he meant for me to hear him, but it still sends shivers up my spine every time I re-live it. Of course, I know what my answer would be if he ever asked, but I doubt that he would. I mean, look at him. He's like a Greek god, and I'm just me, plain old Tris. I know we shared a few moments on our date, but I can't help but think that that was all it was, just moments.

I step out of the shower, into the steamy bathroom, realising that I actually spent way too long in there – good thing we all pay the bills. Shit. I whisper under my breath upon the realisation that I did not bring my clothes to the bathroom. Chris was using ours, and Will said it was cool to use the one which is technically meant for him and Tobias. I wrap my big fluffy turquoise towel around my body, juts under my armpits and open the door, allowing all the steam to escape in one big cloud. I try to pad across the landing as quickly as possible, heading straight towards Chris and I's door. Suddenly I find myself abruptly stopped, by a firm, warm wall. I cross my arms to keep my towel from slipping off, which means I have no means of rebalancing myself. The wall suddenly sprouts arms and swiftly catches me, preventing the possibly compromising situation. A the steam clears I realise the so called wall was none other than Tobias. As I make eye contact with his blue eyes, I look down almost immediately trying to hide my blush.

Well this is just great. I think to myself. He probably now thinks I'm some unobservant clutz, who can't walk in a straight line. I feel his hand softly go under my chin, trying to coax my face up to meet his. Eventually I give in, looking up to find his lips in the shape of a smirk, slowly turning into a smile.

"Are you okay?" He asks me, voice full of concern however at the end I detect a slight chuckle. Great, now he's laughing at me too.

"Mm, yea-I I uh, wasn't looking where I was going" I stutter out, trying to desperately get out of this situations as quickly as possible. There's him acting like the knight in shining armour, and hears me just standing here gormlessly in nothing but a towel. Before he has another chance to speak, I push past him heading for the door, wishing to just escape.

TimeSkippyThing

"You go Tris, I can finish up here" Tori says at just going on 8:00. We had a fairly busy day here; I barely had 5 minutes to myself, that's why I was here so late. I thank Tori and quickly start walking through the main part of The Pitt. Its only 8:00 so I didn't expect there to be many people around, yet. Most of the drinking and fights start later in the evening.

Just as I'm opening the back door, to head out to the car park, I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder. I turn around, startled, to find Peter laughing at me, menacingly. "Relax stiff, I mean you no harm" he says with a gleam in his eye, obviously lying.

"What do you want Peter? I can kick your ass again if you like?" I say, reminding him of our last interaction. For a very brief moment I see anger flare across his face, but just as quick as it came it goes, his calm façade in place again.

"I just wanted to know if you would be participating in the faction games." He asks, completely feigning a sweet innocent voice.

"What the hell are the faction games?"

"Oh, you mean your little boyfriend didn't tell you?" He mocks, putting his finger under my chin, in a patronising way.

"Don't touch me" I hiss, jerking away from the contact. "Tell me what you're talking about, or I'm leaving"

"Oh, they are just the annual games. Nothing to be worried about. You just take the test, and then do the challenges. The team that wins is crowned, and a party is thrown in their honour."

I blink amazed at all this knew information. Why didn't Tobias mention any of this? I push past Peter's arm which was blocking the door and get into my car, slamming the door. As I drive I think. Why wouldn't he tell me? Is he ashamed? Am I nothing, just a date that went wrong? Questions flood my mind all the way home, right up until I park in the garage. After I've took a few minutes to organise I notice all the other cars are here, I'm the last one home. I admit I'm not surprised.

When I walk through the door I am attacked by Chris and Uriah, trapping me in their huge embrace, both shouting my name with a cry of, relief? "Woah" I say, trying to escape the entanglement of limbs. Once I'm freed from the embrace I'm bombarded with questions, not hearing any of them. I sigh, exasperated, "Shut up" I shout silencing them, and turning to look at Chris for an explanation.

"Where were you?" she says to me, almost accusingly. "We all left you a ton of messages and called you, but you didn't reply" she explains.

"Oh, my phone died, sorry" I say to them waving the blank screen of my phone.

Just then I see Caleb come bounding down the stairs asking if I was back. I wave at him from my position at the door way, and his eyes gleam excitedly.

"We have a surprise for you" he states, explaining why he looks so excited, like a kid on Christmas morning.

As I follow him up the stairs I question the 'we' and he just gives me a knowing smile, refusing to answer. Once we get to the first landing the floor he sleeps on, he stops me and picks up a scarf I recognise to be Susan's from the banister, obviously previously planted. He proceeds to tie it around my eyes, preventing me from seeing. "Caallleebbb" I protest, but he just tells me to shut up.

He takes me up the second flight of the stairs to the floor that I stay on. I hear a muffled whisper, and realise there is someone else here. He then proceeds to guide me to another stair case, however its different from all the others in the house, and definitely wasn't there this morning. I walk up the stairs slowly, allowing Caleb to guide my every movement, cautious of what is happening. As I get higher up this mysterious staircase I start to recognise the smell of paint, and am even more confused. When the stairs finally end I feel a hand wrap around mine and instantly recognise it as Tobias'. Oh, he must be the second voice.

I hear Caleb give the word to give me my sight back, and the scarf falls away. I blink trying to adjust to the lighting in the new, mysterious room. When my eyes focus I cannot believe what I see. I turn around to find Tobias standing behind me, waiting. I run to him and bury myself in his embrace.

"Yes"

Hope you enjoyed ;)

-Gem