Tris examines her copy of 'Gatsby' closely. How many times has she read this book? The cracked spine, crinkled pages, and slight tear in the back cover would indicate at least a million. She sighs, thumbing through the pages, her eyes scanning the words that she's practically memorized by heart now.

It's the day before she leaves for college, and she's had this eerie feeling in her stomach all week. She finds it equivalent to a gaping pit in her center, that anything could fall through. She's not just nervous for college– she's terrified. But that's not necessarily what this feeling is about.

Ever since she and Tobias have returned from Brazil, things have been wonderful, but busy. He's fast at work on the opening of his new gallery, and Tris is fast at work mulling over her impending future. This is what she wants right? It's what she's always wanted. Then why does it feel like she's doing something so, so wrong?

Running a hand over her face she gently slides the book into her travel backpack. She knows she'll need it with her on the plane, if not for reading, then just for a familiar comfort. Taking a look around her room, she can't believe her eyes.

The place where she's grown up, the only place she's ever known is now half empty. Her room was always a type of safe haven for her. A place where she could come to escape the noise, to take off her mask and not have to play a part anymore. But now that's all changing.

Her mother would want her to organize everything for her journey so that the doorman can easily pack the car for her tomorrow, so that's what she does, lining up her suitcases by her room door. This is the end of an era, she thinks to herself. This should feel ultimate and final, like she's exiting this chapter of her life, but something still feels as if it's incomplete.

Her mind takes her back to a conversation that she and Tobias had the other night, sitting side by side on the fire escape of his apartment while they admired the city lights.

"You know what I'm realizing?" Tobias asked, his thumb running gentle circles over her own.

"What?" Tris replied, shivering at the contact, and burrowing herself closer to him.

"The present doesn't really exist. Everything is just a moment… and then it passes."

Tris's eyes tracked the blinking light of a plane in the night sky as she came up with her response. "So, what does that mean then? That everything is just the future?"

"I don't know. To me, life has always been about waiting. Waiting so long for something to happen, and either it doesn't, and you still have to wait, or it does, but in the end it's just a bunch of little moments."

"Do you still feel like you're waiting for something?"

"I guess, yeah, I kinda do. Life has been… amazing lately. And even though I have all of this, I just… I know that it's not it for me."

"Well, yeah, of course it's not it. You're 20 years old."

"Do you think you're finding your it?"

"I don't think so… I don't know. I think that… the future exists. It's just that the two of us haven't really found out how to get there. It's hard work, but I think we can both do it."

Something crossed over Tobias's expression quickly, passing as soon as it arrived before he responded, "Yeah. I think you're right."

Tris didn't really want to consider the implications of her statement just then, so she leaned in, crushing her lips to Tobias's, trying to hold on to all the moments that pass by. With his nose sliding against her own, and his hand dancing up the back of her shirt, she told herself that this was right. The cool summer night air kissed their faces, and Tris kept saying to herself that this is where the two of them were meant to be. But she didn't know if she was affirming it, or merely hoping.

A few days later, Tris finally lets her brain consider what that conversation could have led to that night. She and Tobias both have their own versions of the future that they need to find. Is it really going to be easy doing that with the two of them thousands of miles apart on top of that? Can they really discover whether they should be a part of each other's developing lives when they will go months and months without seeing one another? When Tobias has a successful job in Illinois that he can't leave, and Tris is starting school for 4 years in California?

It feels like a stab to the heart for Tris to think about, especially with her leaving tomorrow, but it's something she has to do. She wants to know that she's doing the best thing for both of them, and she can tell that this subject is something that's also bothering Tobias as well, but the both of them have been too afraid to face it.

Sighing, she shuts the door to her room.

"So, you're all packed?" Tobias asks Tris as he lets her in through the door.

"Yep." She pops the p, looking around everywhere except at him, trying to soak in the last time she'll stand in this apartment. Just for a while, she tells herself, though she doesn't know if she believes that.

She smiles faintly to herself, remembering the first time she stood in here, when Tobias was drunk off his ass after that dinner with Hana. She thinks back to how his inebriated words made her heart flutter, but how she was so sure that they weren't serious. She's so glad she was wrong, though. If there's one thing that Tris is sure of, it's that no matter what the future has in store for them, their paths were meant to cross one another's when they did.

"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Tobias interrupts her thoughts, gently lacing his fingers through hers, pulling her to look back at him.

He's so handsome, his usually near black hair is a shade lighter due to being out in the summer sun, his cobalt eyes flicker mysteriously, almost shining against his bronzed skin.

"Just trying to make the most of my last day, and being in this apartment with you," she answers truthfully, pulling her body closer to his and tucking her head into the crook of his neck. This feels right to her… maybe they can just stay in this moment forever, and ever.

Tobias scoops his arms around her waist, holding her tightly to him. "I'm really gonna miss you, Tris," he breathes, giving her a tight squeeze as he says the words. They're a given… but why does the way he's saying them feel so final?

She looks up, tracing the outlines of his face, trying to commit them to her memory, before leaning in and fitting her mouth to his. They kiss slowly and languidly for a few minutes, the both of them trying to sink in the feeling of each other's presence.

Tobias is the one to pull back first. "Why don't I get you something to eat?" He asks gently.

Tris nods, swallowing tightly as she follows him into the kitchen. "Are Zeke and Shauna around?" She asks, taking a seat at one of the island stools.

"Uh, no, they're out with Hana today."

Tris tries to fight her disappointment. All of her friends saw her off at her going away party last week, but it would have been nice to say goodbye to Zeke and Shauna one last time.

Tobias places a small bowl of peanuts in front of her. "They told me to tell you goodbye, though, and good luck." He shoots her a small smile as she dips her hand in the bowl.

"So, how have things at the gallery been?" She asks him in between swallows. She didn't realize how hungry she was. In the midst of all of her nerves, she completely forgot to eat since her breakfast this morning.

"They've been well, and we're excited about opening the new one… it's very time consuming, though. I-I wouldn't be surprised if I'm somewhat AWOL these next few weeks." He doesn't look at her as he says this, and Tris feels something in her stomach flip flop.

"Tobias, I'm not sure that we can avoid this much longer," she says gently, hating the way his eyes instantly snap up to hers, the pain present in them. He's been thinking the exact same thing that she has. She feels something in her heart crack.

"You're right," he says after a few beats of agonizing silence. "But I still just want to keep avoiding it…"

"You'll be working in the gallery… I'll be starting all of my new classes and adjusting to being halfway across the country-"

Tobias cuts her off, "Tris. Stop. Please." He moves around the counter to stand in front of her, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Just let me pretend for a little while longer."

Tris stares at him for a moment, and then nods, trying to fight back her brimming tears.

He leans down and kisses her so fully, so deeply, that she forgets how to breathe. And she understands it. This is a goodbye. She kisses him back so hard, she feels like she might break into tiny pieces.

There's desperation, and longing, and so, so much love between them as he gently moves his hands down around her thighs to pick her up, never breaking the kiss.

He carries her down the hall, and when they are right outside of his bedroom, he pulls back from her, thumbing away some of her tears that are falling down her face. "I love you, okay? I love you so, so, so, much."

Tris nods, sniffling heavily. This definitely isn't the mood she wants to set before lovemaking, but Tobias doesn't seem to mind. He kisses her forehead once, twice, three times.

"I love you too, Tobias," she murmurs. "That will never change."

He smiles sadly at her, and Tris sees his eyes watering a bit as well. Bringing their mouths together again, Tobias gently opens the door behind them.

Some hours later, Tris arrives home, smiling at her mother who is sitting in the living room, flipping through some work documents.

"Hey," she greets her softly, stepping out of her shoes and padding over the soft carpet to join Natalie on the couch.

"Hello, my dear. How was seeing Tobias?"

Tris looks down. "We broke up."

"What?" Her mother has set her papers to the side, staring at Tris, flabbergasted.

"We broke up," Tris repeats, trying to let it fully sink in, though she knows it's going to take a while for her to fully come to terms with it, even if she's seen it coming for the past week or so. And it's going to take her even longer to get over it.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, darling. Really, I am." Her mother grabs her hands and squeezes them comfortingly.

"It's okay, mom… it was a mutual decision. We both just knew that it wasn't going to work out, and with everything happening in both of our lives, it's not our time right now."

"Do you… need to let anything out?" Natalie asks, and it's all Tris can do not to laugh. Her mother is not yet well versed in the art of comforting her. But she's doing her best.

"I'm okay. Tobias and I had a long talk about everything." She got most of her tears out in his apartment, so she feels pretty barren for now. After they made love, they sat and had a lengthy discussion, mostly about things the both of them were already aware of, but needed to get out.

Tobias said he wanted Tris's college experience to start off as wonderful as possible, and he knows it wouldn't be if she was constantly worried about him and their relationship.

Tris said that she knows Tobias needs this time to focus on his work, and she doesn't imagine their relationship could flourish, or she would be getting what she needed if they didn't have time for one another.

They both agreed that later down the line, if things change for them, they could give it another shot. But Tris doesn't see that happening any time soon, and she's not even at college yet. There's a small part inside of her, the one that feels dependent on the love of another person, that's clawing on her insides, screaming at her to go back and tell Tobias that this was all a mistake. That they can figure it out.

But the more rational side of her knows it's not true. This is what needed to happen.

"Well, that's very mature of you," Natalie squeezes her shoulder. "And guess what? You've survived your first love. And you know what they say; the first heartbreak is always the hardest. It only gets easier from here."

Tris doesn't know if she considers this a heart break. It was mutually ended from both sides with no bad feelings. Of course, she's incredibly sad, maybe even somewhat devastated, but she feels that heartbreak comes with another type of anguish that she's not feeling– an inability to accept. And she's accepted this.

Though, she can't even imagine herself moving on from Tobias to anybody else yet, and she doesn't know what she'd do if she ever heard that Tobias was dating somebody new. Don't think about that right now.

"Thanks, mom," Tris smiles grimly, "You know what, though? I'm just… very hungry."

Natalie laughs. "Did you not have anything to eat?"

"No, not a lot." After the breakup, she took a walk for about an hour or so, trying to clear her head. She had the intention to stop somewhere for food, but her growing need to be back home won out.

"Well, let's order some pizza, and then put on the cheesiest chick flicks we can find." Natalie suggests, and Tris nods excitedly. This is exactly what she needs.

"Caleb!" Her mother barks at her brother, who is coming down the stairs. "Phone the nearest pizza place, order three large pizzas. Whatever toppings you two want. And you are joining us for movie night."

Caleb's eyebrows raise. "For Beatrice's last night?"

"Uh… that, and Tobias and I broke up." Tris says softly.

"Oh shit. Are you okay?" Caleb walks over, taking a seat on Tris's other side.

"I will be. Does that count?"

"Sort of." Caleb squeezes her hand, giving her a quick kiss on her forehead. "Your pick for toppings tonight, okay?"

Tris smiles, her first genuine smile all day. "The breakup card has its perks."

"Hell, yeah. Better play it while you can. Since you're only here for about 12 more hours."

Tris laughs, "Hand me the phone, asshole."

She calls the pizza parlor, and orders an extra pint of gelato too for good measure. She, her mother, and Caleb spend the next 30 minutes going over happy memories, stories, and the moments that have made up their past 18 years together. No, it wasn't a perfect time, or even an amazing time, but it was theirs.

When the pizza arrives, Natalie leaves the delivery guy a massive tip, before going to Netflix's specific section of Romantic Comedies and selecting the first one to start. The three of them spend the rest of the night together, enjoying each other's comfort, and Tris realizes that even though Tobias won't be in her life, she still has a lot of other love to be grateful for.

"Beatrice," her father envelops her in a tight hug. "Good luck, my dear. I'm so very proud of you." Tris tries to choke back her tears, because she wasn't sure if this would even happen; her father being there to see her off to college.

"Thanks, dad. I'll see you Thanksgiving," she says in almost a whisper.

He kisses her on the forehead and gives her one more hug for good measure. The entrance to the airport is crowded, yet as Tris looks around, she can't catch sight of the face that she so desperately wants to. Maybe he decided against coming. Tris wouldn't blame him.

She moves onto her brother next.

"I know fully in my heart that we're both going to dominate freshman year," Caleb states, folding his arms around her.

"That we are. I'm… sorry I won't be at Columbia with you. It just wasn't my dream."

"It's okay, Tris. I understand. While it would have been amazing to kick some Prior ass in NYC, I know you're going to be equally as amazing in SoCal."

She chuckles, "I really appreciate your confidence in me."

"Well, if you ever need a morale boost, you know who to call."

Tris smiles, standing up on her tiptoes to kiss her older brother on the cheek. "Same goes for you, you know."

And then there's her mother. Before Tris can make some joke to lighten the mood, she sees the tears spilling over her mother's eyes, and knows that she might lose it herself, so she quickly embraces her. "Thank you for everything you've done for me, mom." And she really means it, too.

Her mother lets out a choked noise. "I could have been better."

"You shouldn't think about that right now. I love you, okay? And I want to thank you for letting me do this. It means a lot. There are many perks that come with being Natalie Prior's daughter, but the one that no one talks about is that you get to have a strong and independent mother, who teaches you to be those things yourself. It's because of you that I'm ready for this."

"Oh, I'm so proud of you, Beatrice."

"I know... and make sure you say another goodbye to Maria for me, okay?" Maria is on her paid summer holiday right now, as she gets a week off once a year. She saved up enough for a quick trip to the East Coast, so she and Tris said goodbye last week. It was every bit as emotional and tearful as this goodbye right here.

"Yes, I will. Don't you worry."

Tris pulls back, wiping a few of her mothers tears as she does.

"The security line is long. You'd better get to it." Natalie gives her daughter a watery smile.

"Yeah… it's just…" Tris looks around the airport once more. He's nowhere in sight.

"Tobias?"

"Yeah. I thought he'd be here… But I get why he isn't. Maybe it's easier this way."

"I'll stop by his place on my way back, and tell him that you say goodbye, okay?"

"Yeah." Tris nods a bit too hurriedly, suddenly eager to get her legs moving.

"Bye mom, bye dad, bye Caleb."

They all say their goodbyes to her, smiling as she turns, wheeling her luggage behind her to the security line. This is it…

She's about 50 steps away when she hears, "Wait! Tris, wait!"

And try as she might, she can't help the idiotic grin that crosses her face at the sound of that voice. She turns to see Tobias running through the airport like a fool, dodging patrons left and right as he catches up to her.

"Hi," he says, breathless.

"Hi."

"I'm so glad I caught you."

"Yeah… I was beginning to think you weren't going to show–"

"No, no, it's nothing like that, I promise. Traffic was a bitch."

"Alright."

Now, Tris doesn't know what to do. It's not awkward per se, it's just empty. Thankfully, Tobias breaks the silence. "Um, here. This is for you. For good luck."

Tobias quickly places the miniscule object in her palm, and Tris opens it to see that it's a tiny keychain of the Sears tower in Chicago.

"Something to remind you of home. And everyone here…" Tobias bounces up and down on his toes nervously.

"Thank you, Tobias," she whispers, leaning in for one, final hug. She's semi aware of her family standing behind them, observing, but she doesn't mind. She's just glad to have this final moment with him.

She soaks it all up; the way his muscles feel through his cotton t-shirt, his deep scent that's unique to him only, his hands gently skimming up and down her back. Okay, Tris. Time to pull back.

She practically forces herself to do so, putting a good ten inches between them so she's not compelled to touch him again. She's trying to make this as easy on herself as possible.

"Will you ever text… or call?" He asks her.

Tris presses her lips together. "I'm not sure how wise it would be at the beginning. But maybe after we've both healed a bit," she murmurs. Truthfully, she'd love nothing more than to text him every hour that she's away at college, but that's now how this works, and they both know that.

Tobias nods in understanding. "Well, goodbye, Tris. And take care. I… well, you know."

Tris nods in full understanding. "Yeah. Me too, Tobias… Goodbye." She gives him a small wave, which he returns, and then physically makes herself turn around towards the airport security line. She lifts one foot in front of the other, and before she knows it, she's yards from her family, and Tobias, and already into the new life she's beginning.

Now, there's no looking back for her.

Fin.

Thank you all for your patience as you awaited this chapter. I am on spring break so I finally had time to write. Unfortunately, life is not like when I started writing here at the beginning of the pandemic with nothing to do. I'm now a full time student who is also working 20 per hours a week. It's busy. But I am trying my best. Thank you to everyone who continuously expresses their desires to see an update when I'm on long hiatus, you really do keep me motivated to write :)

And please, please, do not be too angry with me over the ending. It was what I had in mind since I started this story, since I wanted something a bit more realistic… That being said, I have two bonus/epilogue chapters mapped out for this story.

Depending on how many people express interest in reading them I will post them, and make it a top priority to do so in a timely manner, as I am free of any duties until Sunday, so let me know.

Thank you for all of the support these past few months. I have a new story coming up that will most likely make its way to fanfiction in April/May :)

-Kiki