Chapter 21

After a late and light breakfast, both Tobias and Tris got ready for the lunch outing with her friends. Tris was braiding her hair in the mirror, she decided to dress casually today, skinny jeans, tank top and cropped leather jacket. Tobias stepped out of the walk in closet, dressed in tight T-shirt, hugging his muscles in the right place, dark blue jeans, and he put on a hoodie. Both of them had their sneakers on.

"You ready?" Tobias asked, heading towards the stairs.

"Yep." Tris replied, taking one last look in the mirror. As always, she kept her make-up light, with a thin foundation, lip gloss and mascara.

Once they were down in the basement carpark, Tobias spoke, "We're taking your car today."

Tris fished her car keys out of her bag to hand it over to him. Once they reached the car, instead of going over the driver's side, Tobias went over to the passenger's side. "You're driving." He said with a small smirk.

Her eyes widened. With a groan, she unlocked the doors. "This is about what my friends said yesterday, isn't it?"

Already seated in the passenger seat, Tobias smiled. "Maybe."

Tris started the car, and steadily backed out from the parking spot. She drove slowly to the mall, what should have been a 15 minute drive took almost 45 minutes instead. She didn't dare utter a single word during the journey, trying not to ruin her concentration. Tobias chuckled at her, and when he tried to switch on the radio, his hand was slapped away.

Once she had parked the car into the mall's parking lot, she sighed with relief. "OK Tris, you passed." Tobias grinned at her.

Tris laughed, and together they made their way inside the mall to their meeting point with her friends.

The girls squealed and hugged each other when they met. 'They just met each other yesterday, is this how they are each time they meet one another?' Tobias thought, his ears ringing with the loud squealing going on in front on him. He stuck his hand out to Uriah, instead of taking it, Uriah started to jump and squeal mimicking the girls. He inched towards Tobias for a hug, but Tobias pushed him off with a hearty laugh. The girls also broke into laughter, but they are used to his antics, he had always been the joker of the group.

"Starting the party already without me, huh?" Tris heard a familiar voice coming from behind her. She turned and saw Peter smiling widely at all of them.

"Oh my God, Peter! I've missed you!" She exclaimed, before enveloping the young man in a big hug. He quickly returned her hug, and Tobias did not miss Peter leaning his head into hers, and taking a whiff of her hair. Tobias clenched his jaw, and took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, while repeating the phrase "They're just friends" inside his head.

They released each other, and Peter went on to hug the other girls. Tobias took this time to study him from head to toe. 'He definitely likes her more than a friend, though. However, I can definitely take him on in a fight.' Tobias thought and smirked to himself.

"So where to? You guys decide, it's my treat for bailing out on all of you yesterday." Peter spoke up. His eyes kept on going over to Tris' direction, this was the girl that had invaded his dreams for the past 4 years. Tris realized that Peter kept looking at her, and she grew more and more uncomfortable.

"No, it's my treat today. To make it up to you guys for not being able to attend my reception." Tris replied.

"What reception, Tris?" Peter asked, the grin never leaving his face whenever he looks at her.

Tris took a deep breath. Better let him know sooner rather than later right? "My wedding reception. Peter, let me introduce you to my husband. This is Tobias Eaton. Tobias, this is Peter Hayes, one of our good friends from UK."

It was only then that Peter realized the tall, good looking man standing by Tris' side.

With widened eyes, he asked, "So that's why you had to come home early? To get married? Seriously, you're married? Uriah, is she serious?"

Uriah nodded his head. Peter looked down and shook his head. He looked up again, spotting a fake smile on his face. "Sorry, I was just shocked. Tobias, is it? Nice to meet you. And congrats on the wedding." He held out his hand to Tobias, which the latter took with a nod and a small smile.

"So, what are we having for lunch? I'm hungry." Marlene piped up. It was at this moment that Tris was truly thankful for her best friend's chatty mouth.

They decided on a small Italian restaurant, it looks cozy and family friendly. They were chatting animatedly while waiting for their food, Tobias kept quiet at Tris' side, as he felt like the outsider, and just continued listening to them.

After the food arrived, they started sharing on what their plans are. Lynn will be moving back to her hometown in Seattle, where she got a job for her uncle's company. Marlene, originally from Boston, had decided to stay in Chicago permanently, to be with Uriah, despite her parent's pleas for her to come back home. Uriah has already gotten a job as a software developer with his degree in Computer Science. Peter is still job hunting.

"So Tris, when will you be moving to New York to start your dream job?" Peter asked after swallowing his food.

Tris dreaded having to answer this question, but she knew it would come up, especially from Peter. "I turned down the job, Pete. I got married. My life is here now." She answered carefully, grasping her spoon hard and tried not to look at him. Tobias furrowed his eyebrows, not understanding what they were talking about.

"Are you telling me that you turned down the freaking United Nations? Tris, that has been your dream job since our freshman year! You finally got the job as an interpreter, and you turned it down?!" Peter exclaimed. Their other three friends keep quiet, already knowing beforehand of Tris' decision. Tobias eyes widened in surprise, he did not know that Tris had turned down a job to marry him, not just any job, but her dream job.

"Peter, quit it. My husband is here, his company is here, and both of our families are here. I have already made my decision. Now, drop it." Tris replied sternly, and received a nod from Peter in response.

Tris had no more appetite after that, and kept silent during the rest of their lunch. Tobias was also quiet, lost in his thoughts. Once the bill came, Tris took out her card, but Tobias was not having it. He gently pushed her hand away, and handed over his own credit card instead.

After bidding her friends goodbye, they walked side by side to the carpark. Tris was still looking sullen, and he felt an overwhelming desire to comfort her. Tobias captured her hand in his, and gently rubbed circles around her knuckles. "You OK?" He asked.

"Yeah…" Tris breathed out. Her mind was muddled with thoughts, at that moment, she was second guessing her decisions.

"Give me the keys, I'll drive back." Tobias decided that once they're home, perhaps it's time for them to have a long talk. He's needs to know why she gave up her dream job to marry him.

AN: Sorry for the long wait, I had a crazy week. Slightly shorter chapter, sorry for that as well, my toddler had a hard time falling asleep tonight, and I could only work on this after he sleeps. It is now 1.30am, and I have to work tomorrow morning. Special thanks to leek812 for the amazing ideas and feedback, I had used one of yours that I really loved in this chapter. Enjoy! =)