I do not own anything, just my ideas!

Chapter 12

TOBIAS

I walk into the lunch room and it is bustling with life. I grab some food and head to my usual table. Most of the time, I am one of last ones to the table because the teacher in my last class is one of the football assistant coaches; he tends to keep me after to talk. I get there and one seat in particular is empty. It wouldn't be that strange because that seat is sometimes empty when I get here, but Christina is already here and Tris isn't. I look around and I see that half the cafeteria is looking at one thing. I follow their eyes and see Tris standing on a ladder, starting the mural.

It looks like she is painting a black background to begin with. I want to go over to her and just offer some help; anything to be closer to her. I would be lying if I said that I didn't mind all the people, mostly guys, watching her paint. I can't help it. Her hair is in its usual ponytail, but she wears a smock to guard her clothes. Even with that, she is so beautiful; with some of the stares, I am not the only one who thinks so, too. I just can't get her out of mind; especially since yesterday.

Since she sang that song, I can't shake the feeling that I need to protect her. I don't know if anyone else noticed it, but the song was so sad. What if that was what she feels? Hide my head I want to drown my sorrows. I can't help but feel that may be the reason why she shuts away from the world. I know she is strong, but some people may have, or they actually have, doubted her. It is hard to build up from being completely broken. She has to believe in herself before she can get better.

But that one line, the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had, it gets me. This can't mean what I think it does. I just can't shake it; I really need to make sure she is okay. I know what it is like to live in fear and to want every day to end before it starts. And I do not want her to live like that. No one should have to live like that. I can't just drop it and act like it is nothing, like it is only just an assignment she mustered up. I can't, because I like her too much.

I glance up and see she is trying to get down from the ladder, but she is holding a bunch of stuff in her hands and she's having trouble. Before I know it, I am by her side offering a hand. "Let me get that." I say as I point to the paint can and tray in one of her hands.

"It's okay, I've got it." She says not looking at me.

"Hey," I say more stern and she looks up slightly and I hold her eyes with my own, "you need help; let me help you."

She hands them over, giving me a nod and a 'thank you'. She eases down the ladder, now only holding some brushes and a few papers.

"If you don't mind," she says, "could you help me take some of this stuff to the storage room around the corner?"

"Not at all, lead the way." And we walk out of the cafeteria with eyes lingering on the two of us. She stops at the first door down the hall on the left with STORAGE written on it. We put the stuff away and she grabs a brown bag, which is probably her lunch, from the shelf. We walk back to the cafeteria and to our table.

"Thanks again, for helping. I figured I should eat at some point."

"I don't mind. Really, you need anything and I am there."

"Good to know, but don't hold your breath." She says this as we get to the table; everyone is laughing and I see Zeke lose some of his drink through his nose.

"Ewww..." says Marlene, "you got milk on my sandwich."

"I'll eat it!" Uriah says as he reaches over and tries to grab her sandwich. As he pulls back, he tries to grab her muffin too, but she smacks his hand and tucks her muffin safely in her lunchbox.

"Hey, don't even try." She tells him, "In fact, I think you and Zeke are conspiring to steal my food. You can have my sandwich, but do not go near my muffins. Or you will find yourself without a girlfriend."

"Okay, okay... I'm sorry. I will now and forever guard your food from milk spilling out of my brother's nose." Uriah says as he wraps an arm around her.

"You know, because we conspired together, I want half of that sandwich." Zeke pipes in.

"No way, man." Uriah responds as he shoves the sandwich in his mouth. Marlene rolls her eyes as everyone else laughs. And lunch continues this way, laughing and joking as we find new and strange ways to grow closer together.


Our school is big, really big. And we have a very supportive alumni who really like sports. Almost every sport is important to the school, but football is one of the biggest ones. The football stadium is the prime jewel of all the different facilities. Along the back of the football field is the Field House which is ground zero for all the sports. There is a state of the art Trainer's Room where athletes go for injuries and before and after practice for getting wrapped or ice or anything like that. On either side, we call them the wings. Partly because it goes along with the school mascot, but also because the girl's 'wing' is the left side and that is where the girl's locker room and they have different things over there for them. The boy's 'wing' is on the right and we have our locker room, a smaller version of the weight room from the main building, and a strategy room.

The basement is a different story. The ground level of the Field House runs along about half of the football field, and it is broken up into different sections. The basement, on the other hand, is just one floor under the ground, but it is not separated by any walls. It is one big floor that is used for a couple different things. But I just love the feeling I get in here, and I love the smell; dust, sweat, and metal. A lot of the time when the weather is bad and all the sports need to practice, there is not enough room in the gym. The basement is a nice to have as a backup. Or when you want to teach gun and knife lessons.

Tris should be here any minute now, and I have almost everything set up. Practice ended over thirty minutes ago, so the place is barren of all burly guys. Coach said it was fine to do some extra target practice afterwards without everyone else. The type of target practice, well that was left up to assumption. I have the targets that I use for throwing footballs set up on one side, and I put a little extra something on them so they won't get damaged. I have a table set up with some knives and guns. The guns don't have real bullets in them, they have plastic pellets.

I hear the door open from upstairs and footsteps as they descend the stairs. I see Tris materialize in the doorway, and I get this amazing feeling seeing her.

"Hey," I say, "I'm glad you came."

"Yeah, it took me a second to figure where I was going, but I'm here."

"I'm glad. Ready to get started?"

"As ready as I will ever be." She drops her bad on the ground next to the table and she, for some reason, distances herself from the knives. I guess we will start with guns. We both pick them up and I show her good stance and I teach her how I was taught. With the gun in both of my hands, I breath in, then breathe out, steading my heart and relaxing my body. With my next exhale, I pull the trigger and the bullet hits the center of the target and bounces right off, leaving a little dot of a mark.

She lifts her gun and mimics my moves, but her breathes don't get as relaxed. And it shows. Her bullet flies just outside the target, but it does miss. She lets out a sigh, and begins to do it again. The same thing happens, but she is stubborn enough to keep going. I walk up next to her and touch her back.

"You need to relax. You have a gun in your hands, but you are tense with it. Focus on your breathing and center on that target. Forget everything else just that target. Don't lose yourself in it, though. Stay steady, breath in, breath out, and fire.

I let go of her and she follows these instructions perfectly. I see her eyes narrow and her body relax more. Her breaths steady and she fires. The bullet does not hit the center, but it hits just outside the first circle.

"Good, now do it again." I tell her. She nods and lifts the gun and fires again. After a couple shots, she is hitting closer and closer. With each improving shot, her eyes light up with life; life that I've known has been in her. A spark that will form into a small flame, and grow into a fire that will eventually spill out. She has a fire in her, she just needs to let it spread throughout herself.

"Okay, you ready to move on?" I ask her. She hesitates for a minute and nods slowly. We place both guns back on the table and I reach for a knife. She lingers behind and does not grab a knife; I shrug it off and walk over so I am in front of a target.

I explain the fundamentals, but I do best through leading by example. I take my stance, and take my breaths. I pull my arm back and let the knife fly as I let out the air in my lungs. It hits the target perfect, like every other time. I do it a few more times, then I step back for her. I offer the knife in my hand to her, but she shakes me off.

"Not yet. I'm... not ready yet." Is all she says. Then she starts to mimic my moves, but without the knife. She takes a perfect stance, and pulls her arm back and brings it forward like she is throwing a fake knife. She does this motion a few more times and I can't help but feel a little puzzled. Why would she be doing this? What is wrong with the knives?

After a few minutes she stops and takes a big breath. She eyes the knives with a look of... fear, almost. Then, swallowing whatever is holding her back, she slowly makes her way to the table and grabs a knife. At first when she is holding it, it is flabby and weak.

"Are you okay?" I ask her. She nods, but her eyes are closed. Her breaths are deep and long. Then, her eyes open and that fire I know they can hold is spreading over her blue orbs. She is awake, and she exerts an energy so powerful, I can't help but feel like she is bringing me to life, waking me up.

She hold the knife more steady and takes her stance. She does the motion perfectly, just like before, and her knife flies to the target and hits the inner circle. It is not dead center like mine, but it is pretty damn good for her first throw. She does not throw as many knives as she did shooting bullets, but she doesn't need it.

Eventually, we start cleaning up. I look at my watch and see that it has been about and hour and half, but it did not feel that long. I want to stay here all night, but I know that is asking for too much. Tomorrow is Friday, which means a game. It doesn't take long to pack everything up, and we are walking out of the Field House, onto the football field, in no time.

"Thanks, for helping me out. You don't know the significance of what happened down there."

"You're welcome, but what do you mean. Does it have something to do with the knives?"

"Kind of... Let's just say I sort of conquered a fear, and it wouldn't have happened without you. So thank you, I mean it."

"I don't mind, I had a good time. And if it means anything, I wouldn't want to mess with you anytime soon; with your aim and boxing skills, you are more badass than you think."

"I'm glad, that's kind of what I want." And I walk her home, and for the record, the walk is not long enough. When we get to her house I remind her of the game.

"Yup, I'll be there, and be sure you do not lose, or else you will lose one whole fan. I don't think your fan section can take a hit like that." And something strange happens. We both laugh; like, really laugh. I am surprised she made a joke, and I am sure she is too. But none the less, she has opened a small part of herself, and I was the only one to see it, and that makes me feel fireworks in my stomach. She lingers a moment; then, in a blink, she in gone inside her home.


Friday's are the best, and not for the obvious reasons. Friday Football is what drives this place in the fall. And the excitement during the day carries into the evening. The team doesn't participate in tailgating, but let's just say, there is a reason people show up two hours before the game starts. And I've heard that Tori runs an awesome tailgate party in the parking lot. I can't help but wonder if Tris is in the parking lot right now, probably hidden away in a car drawing or something like that.

But right now, I have to focus on the game. Winning last week means nothing, we still have to perform tonight. I've been suggesting some of the stuff Tris and I have talked about to the others at practice, so we will see how they pan out during the game. We just have to win, mostly so I can keep her coming to the games. Part of me hopes that she will still come, even if we lose. All I know is when I think about her something inside me lights up and I am wide awake.

We prepare to take the field, and I can hear the crowd going crazy. The team is chanting and the energy is so high, I feel like my body can't stay still. We run on and if the adrenaline wasn't pumping before, it is now. And I love it. The last touch is the stadium lights. The Lights. That has to be one of my favorite things about playing night games, playing under the lights. I can't really describe why it gets me, but you know the feeling when it hits you.

As we do our field warm-ups, I look out to the stands. I see her, sitting there with Tori. My heart could literally explode out of my chest. I can't get a good look at her, but I will make sure that I see her after the game. And then before I know it, the game begins.

Nothing too special happens tonight; the team we play lost a lot of seniors last year and their replacements are sophomores and freshmen. By the time half-time roles around, we are leading by over 28 points. When we walk back onto the field for the second half, I see Christina standing next to Tris and Tori, talking. I wonder what's going on, maybe Christina is convincing her to stand with her in the student section. Maybe, hopefully, she is convincing Tris to go paint-balling with us.

The second half begins just like the first did, and the game plays out as predicted. We win easily, but it wouldn't have been as much of a slaughter, in my opinion, without using some of Tris' suggestions. We ring the bell and make our rounds through the crowd, but when I look up to where Tris was sitting, all I see are empty seats. Something inside me deflates, and I go back to the Field House.

When I walk out, I can see that the parking lot is sparkling with life; must be an after-game tailgate/party. I walk over and I see Tori working around through the crowd doing what she does best, entertaining. My heart skips a beat when I see Tris sitting in the back of a pick-up with some of the others from the lunch table in front of her playing corn hole. I pass over them and hop in the back of the truck with her.

Now that I am up close, I can get a better look at her. I am taken back a little, because she looks different. I mean, she looks the same, but there is a little something extra. She's wearing more makeup than usual; the black eyeliner snaking her eyes is hard to miss. And she is wearing a shirt that fits her body more that has the school logo on it. Her hair is down, and by the looks of it, naturally straight. It makes it look longer.

She looks up at me and her eyes spark up a little, and all I can feel is the butterflies racing in me. "You used my idea." She says.

"Actually, I used a couple, and you were right. I mean, you saw the game."

"I did, and you guys played well." She says as a small, warm smile takes form on her face, "Good news for you, your fan base didn't lose a member. Looks like I'll be coming to next weeks game."

"I'm glad, I like you seeing you in the stands, even if you aren't with the other students."

"Yeah, Christina tried to get me to stand with her, but I turned her down. She got me to wear the shirt, leave my hair down, and wear make-up. I was not going to cave in again."

"Well if it makes you feel better, I like the way you look; either way." A small blush creeps along her cheeks, but she gets herself back into check in a moment. Right then, Uriah comes over with a defeated look on his face.

"What happened man?" I ask, "Did the girls beat you again?"

"Maybe," he says, "but that's not the only reason why I'm upset."

"You've always been a sore loser, honey." Chirps Marlene.

"Mom pulled the plug on plans tomorrow." Zeke says next to him; he's sporting the same look.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," Zeke says, "We have to move paint-balling back to next weekend because our mom is making us do a family thing."

"Aww, I guess it's fine to move it back to next week." I look over at Tris, who has made herself shrink from the conversation. I can tell she is already thinking of a reason to not go, but I cut her off before she can think of anything solid.

"Won't you come? It's going to be a lot of fun." I tell her.

Christina hears this and adds, "Come on Tris, neither of us works next Saturday; please come."

She sits there and thinks, then she lets out a sigh and says, "Okay. I'll be there."

All of us give a little cheer and we get another game started. I give Tris a nudge and tell her, "You're allowed to have fun, you know." And I want to say she lets that sink in, because she ends up playing a few rounds. But she migrates back to the pickup truck and grabs her sketchbook, and I know she is drawing this game of corn hole.


Author's Note

I really hope you guys liked this one. I really liked writing it, but I did not completely spell check everything, so I apologize if there are any really bad spelling mistakes. And if you do not know what corn hole is, look it up. It is a really fun game that is very popular in the Midwest where I live. Please review or PM!

Be brave, everyone!