(A/N: Yes, what I said on my other story is true. This story will be coming to a close by Chapter 35 at a maximum. It'll be a finished ending, not just discontinued, don't worry! Don't worry though, I will most likely do a sequel of them on summer break, but if I don't, I'll focus on one shots. Sorry this is short, but it's good, I think so.)
Tobias POV:
I'm breathless when she steps forward, from around the corner. I had a complete blank last night when I realised that it was Valentine's today and I had gotten nothing. She's a better girlfriend than I ever imagined, she's perfect. I love her. It's a strong statement, she's my first girlfriend and we both agreed that it would be going too serious too fast to say I loved her, but I want to. Tris is perfect, intelligent and beautiful in an unconventional, natural, strong beauty kind of way, with good morals and kindness and she makes sacrifices for me...and she's just amazing.
Even though I'd never tell a soul that, except maybe Tris herself. I'm so tired of the Four persona, I just want to drop it, and be the Tobias Tris knows, the one Zeke and Uriah and Shauna know from when I'm at home with them, but Four and Tobias are two separate parts of myself, and I think keeping them separate is the best for now. It was difficult to open up to Tris as it is, because even though I trusted her, my past is a part of me I want to keep away. I just want to put it in a box and shove it somewhere I can never find it and focus on the now, and my future.
Tris showed me different. She showed me that even if I hate my past with every fibre in my body, I have to remember it made me into the person I am, and Tris seems to really like me, so I must be doing something right. She's opened up to me too, especially in our late night phone calls. She tells me loads, about how she used to feel a pressure from her family to be the perfect Abnegation girl, but now she doesn't because she's just gone out and become herself.
I know Tris isn't one for over the top, fancy gestures, so I've gone simple for Valentine's. I got her a nice bouquet of those rainbow roses she really likes, and I'm taking her to the meadow downtown tonight. She's always mentioned how she loves to look at the stars, so I'm going to take her there and tell her I love her. It's three words, eight letters, it's simple, but it means so much. To her and me.
I look at her again, trying not to let my jaw drop, but failing. Her dress is beautiful, her make-up is beautiful, she's just gorgeous in every aspect of the word. She could totally be a model, but I'm biased. Other guys would notice how her nose is kind of long, how she's short and how she doesn't have a lot of curves or tan or piercings, but I like her as she is. A lot.
She's recently really gotten into baseball, and damn, she can really bat. When she first said she wanted to go to tryouts, she was majorly nervous, thinking she wouldn't be able to do it at all, but they fired ten balls at her from the machine thing they have on the field and she hit nine of them, dead on. She's one of the team's best players now, and whenever I tell her how great she is and how proud I am, she just shakes it off and says it's thanks to me and my support that she's even on the team, because I told her to go for it. I'm not really a baseball fan at all really, I'm much more of an American Football or soccer kind of guy, but I go to all her games.
We walk into school together, our hands intertwined. I can hear Christina and Marlene making aww sounds behind us, but I don't notice. I'm just focused on the scowl on Nita's face, and how Tris sees it, but just smiles at her and keeps walking. When we get around a corner and out of Nita's death glare, we both laugh. I'll admit, Tris has had to deal with her fair share of bitchiness from other girls at our school after we started dating each other. Or "seeing" as they put it. Everyone thought we'd be broken up by the end of January, but we're 6 weeks into our relationship and I haven't even thought of leaving her. I'm enjoying this too much.
When we get around the corner, and out of the eyes of everyone else, I kiss her pretty forcefully, though I'm trying to be gentle. She lets out a tiny gasp of surprise, but kisses me back, looping her hands around my neck as mine go to her waist, we kiss for quite some time, at one point even using our tongues briefly, but I get that for Tris, even frenching like that is a lot for her, it's a lot for me too. She looks red and kind of stunned when I pull away, but I just laugh. She laughs shortly too, more out of disbelief.
Just before we head into homeroom, I slip her the letter and bar of chocolate I know she likes, trying to be discrete, but unfortunately, almost the whole room sees me do it and suddenly everyone wants to know what I've written her. Not to worry though, I have the sweetest and best girlfriend ever who ignores them, puts both of them in her handbag and sits down, like normal. I told you, best girlfriend ever.
When we leave to go to our first class, I didn't even notice Tris had read the letter, but she has and she hugs me tight when we get outside. I didn't really think much of it, I'm not really the romantic in this relationship. She isn't either, neither of us is, we just try to be romantic where we can. I'll admit, neither of us does much in that regard, but I like it as it is. It's natural and even though we've been dating just six weeks, every day I spend with her is a good day. Even if it's a bad day, the time I spend with her is the highlight.
"It's so sweet. Thank you Tobias. I didn't know you were so romantic!" she giggles, and for a moment I see through the tough facade she puts up, I see through the Dauntless, strong, brave side of her, and I see that underneath, she's just a normal girl who's gentle and kind and honest and intelligent and peaceful. For the first time, I see that the factions aren't entirely a good thing. No other school in America is like ours, and even though it's meant to be ahead of its time, I don't know so much anymore. When I look at Tris, I can see her in any of the factions, even though for decades we've been told that this choice will influence our lives, I still see Tris being very similar no matter the faction she is in.
She really seems pleased with the letter, because she keeps reading it over and telling me her favourite parts, but I only catch part of it. I'm too entranced by this wonderful girl who let me into her life, and somehow managed to let me let her into mine. The letter is much more of an honest, Candor type of spill than I'd like, and God knows how much I would be mortified if anyone else ever read it, but I know Tris, and she'll keep it between us.
Dear Trix,
I really hated you when we met. Like, I really detested you, but I've quickly learned that you're the most clever, kind, brave, beautiful and amazing girl I've ever met. If it wasn't for you I'd still be the jerk I am around strangers, but because of you I've learned to accept myself. I feel like a better person because of you, and even though that sounds sappy and really unlike me, it's true.
Not only that, you've welcomed me into your life with opened arms, and showed me that you don't have to change or do anything to please others, you just do what you like and don't care what others think, if you mean to or not. I've started doing that more myself, even though it's difficult, and it's all because you, whether you know it or not. I know we said we were going to be relaxed and just take things slow as a couple, but I've never been so close to someone as I am with you. You're flawed, and to me that's better than flawless.
-From, Tobias
I didn't sign it off with love, because I'm going to tell her that I love her tonight. I understand that she's 14, and maybe it will be to much for her and she won't say it back, but I think she will. If she doesn't, I won't be hurt or offended. It's entirely her choice, and I know she won't lie or say she loves me even though she feels like that's too much for her. She's too strong and stubborn for that. She'll tell me the truth.
By the time lunch rolls around, we're the talk of the school once again. I hate gossip, I really hate it, but I'd take gossip any day over what happens. It's Nita, not one of her jealous friends who approaches Tris when she's standing in the middle of the yard, just talking. I'm on the other side with Zeke, so it takes me a moment to see what's happening, but Nita's loud enough that in a few seconds, Tris has been called every insulting word I know of, and I'm not going to say what they are. Tris doesn't look fazed, but I can tell that being called some of those things does make her become self conscious. I'm just about to tell Nita to back off or literally report her for bullying or something, but then her words turn into threats.
"Fight me, right here right now. You know this thing you have with Four is only temporary!" she exclaims, and when Tris takes a step back and doesn't fight her, Nita grabs her hair and pulls her to the ground. I panic. Tris can fight, but as hard as she tries she's no pro and against Nita and her rage, I'm scared for her. Within seconds of that hair pull, it seems hundreds of people are making a circle and chanting fight. I try to push through, but the 6th graders are stubborn and don't move, too entranced in the fight to notice that it's me trying to push through.
In the seconds it takes for me to push through them, I hear Tris scream and cry out. I see her and Nita roll across the floor, Nita slapping and punching and kicking her legs, managing to put her weight on Tris' stomach, crushing her to the floor. What I notice is that Tris doesn't fight back, she simply holds her hands in front of her face in self defence. It's the right move. Nita will get suspended for this, but Tris won't get even a detention. She's smarter than people assume. I shove through the crowd after what feels like an eternity, but was more like fifteen seconds, and push Nita off quickly. She doesn't protest, she seems stunned I'm even near her, but instead stands and smirks, as if she's waiting for applause or praise.
Tris lies on the floor, crying silently and wincing. Her nose is bleeding heavily, her lovely dress is covered in gravel, but thankfully not torn, and there are already bruises forming on her pretty face. I pick her up silently and help her to the first aid room. I would stay with her, but there is too much anger coursing through my veins for me to try. I'm not going to fight Nita, but I'm sure as hell going to get her suspended at the least, but I hope expelled.
