AN: so I'm back ! Thanks for such a positive response to the last chapter! It truly means a lot! The positive feedback has really motivated me to write another chapter again for you guys. I can't believe that I've reached double digits in chapters! I couldn't have done it with all of you so thank you for that! But anyways here it is!

Disclaimer: I am not Veronica Roth nor do I own any of her amazing characters :)

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Tris POV

I walk to the training room with Christina with an extra verve in my step today. I guess my talk with Tobias last night really just opened my eyes and reassured me that whatever happens we'll get through it together.

I see Christina shaking next to me, so I decided to reassure her. "Hey Christina, you're going to do great today, I know you will!"

She smiles weakly, "thanks Tris, so will you. You're like a natural at this kind of stuff. To be honest I never really expected it out of you."

"Well thanks, I guess"

Just then Al and Will walk up. Al puts his arm around my shoulders, and though it may seem like a friendly gesture, I know it's not. I shrug his arm off and turn to watch Eric who is explaining the instructions for today. Out of the corner of my eye I see Al's face drop but, what can I say he needs to know now before his attachment gets too deep.

I'm drawn out of my thoughts by Eric's voice announcing our pairings for today's fights.

" well as you intiates know there is an odd number of you, so normally that means someone would sit out, but we wouldn't want anybody to feel left out know would we?" Eric says with a smirk

I inwardly groan when he reveals the match-ups :

Al vs Will

Edward vs. Peter

Christina vs. Myra

Molly vs. Drew

Tris vs. Four

I feel like I just want to up and run out of the room,but that wouldn't be the dauntless thing to do. I don't know how I'm going to fight Tobias. I mean sure we fought when we both were training to become dauntless but that was awhile ago and it was just child's play.

I hear Four speak up," Eric, I don't know if that's such a good idea, I mean she's just an intiate and isn't ready for my kind of experience. I wouldn't want to hurt her."

"Four stop making excuses we know you don't want to fight her because you have feelings for her."

"Oh my God I already told you that was complete bull!" He says exasperated

I cringe, I know it's not true but it still rough to hear. "Well than Four, if it's not true you wouldn't mind going first and showing the intiates how it's done."

I see Four's Adam's apple bob up and down when he gulps heavily. "No, no problem at all." He says as confidently as he can as he steps onto the mat.

I'm fixated on the whole exchange going on before me that I almost don't hear Eric yelling at me to come to the mat. Although I'm trying to look brave, I'm shaking like a leaf there's no way I could ever beat Tobias.

"Oh and Four, don't go easy on her, wouldn't want to get beat by a girl now would we." He laughs and in that moment I wish Eric was the one in the ring, so I could punch him in the face!

I look into Tobias's ever assuring azure eyes. I see him mouth ' I'm sorry' and nod understandingly and we begin the fight.

The beginning is not to bad and I'm able to get some pretty good shots in but then after awhile I get tired and Tobias is able to get in more punches. I feel blood begin to trickle from my nose. About 15 minutes in I feel like I'm about to pass out but I have to keep going. Finally after one more kick to the stomach, I look up to Tobias and see him say 'concede'.

Im able to choke out just loud enough to be heard,"I concede! I concede!"

"Okay intiates follow me!" Eric yells as he drags me to my feet and pulls me out the training room.

I hurriedly look back just in time to meet Tobias's panicked eyes. When we finally reach our destination, the chasm, I feel myself being pushed out over the railing. I scream and am barely able to grasp onto the cool metal railing.

"Intiates! Learn from this lesson, I don't care who your opponent is or what they're skill level is or how injured you are. You NEVER CONCEDE! Do you understand, so listen up stiff as a punishment you have to hang over the chasm for 5 minutes and if you don't then you're out."

Tobias speaks up in my defense. "Eric it takes someone who is truly brave to admit their weakness and concede. You're being ridiculous!"

"That's what the old dauntless believed, but it's the new dauntless now and I'm a leader so what I say goes."

"I can't believe you!" Tobias yells

Eric is about to counter Four, when a scream slips from my mouth as water sprays from the chasm onto my back, making the metal railing even more slippery.

" you know what Eric you're a pathetic excuse for a dauntless" Tobias says as he climbs over the railing and takes hold next to me.

"Four what on earth do you think you're doing ?! Get back up here now!"

"No. I'm doing what a true dauntless would do. Not the dauntless you have in you're crazy imagination."

It's been 3 minutes and the two minutes left still seem like a lifetime. I look over at Tobias and he nods reassuringly.

'I love you' I mouth.

'I love you too' he mouths

Even though he just said he loved me. His actions speak so much louder than his words. He is risking his life just so I don't have to go through this alone. I couldn't ask for a more brave, selfless, loving, and caring boyfriend.

In the final minute I hear Christina start cheering us on, "c'mon Tris c'mon Four!" Al and Will join in despite Eric's protests.

When Eric finally calls that the five minutes are up Tobias swings back up off the ledge, and then he pulls me up as well. We're standing chest to chest and staring into each other's eyes. The silence in the room is defeaning but I barely notice it when I'm looking at him.

In that moment with all eyes on us, I decide I can't keep up the charade not after he risked it all for me. I can risk it all for him. I gently step up on my tip toes and kiss Tobias on the lips . With that kiss everything that has just happened melts away and it's just him and me.

I don't think I ever would've pulled away, but when I heard Max's deep booming voice call from behind me, I don't think I could've pulled away faster.

"And what in the world is going on here?!"

Oh crap! Is all I can think

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A/N well that was chapter 10! I hope you all enjoyed it!

Feel free to leave comments and reviews. They're greatly appreciated

~ forever the girl on fire