I do not own anything, just my ideas!

Chapter 38

TOBIAS

I know I am where I belong, deep down inside I am no longer lost.

I won't let you go, so don't let go of me.

I wanted something more, I wanted this right here.

The song plays through the speakers, and I pull Tris in closer to me. She has been wearing an unbreakable smile since we walked through the double doors into Prom.

All around the room and across the ceiling are different colored lights, flashing and giving the illusion of exploding. The theme is light up the night, and fireworks are a big part. They aren't so bright that the room seems lit up, but there is a soft glow.

The slow song quietly comes to a soft end and a familiar voice comes over the speakers. The DJ says, "Alright ladies and gentlemen, it is time to crown your prom court. First for your prince and princess."

The DJ begins to rattle off the juniors on the court. I recognize all the names, but I shout especially loud when they announce Uriah and Marlene as nominees. I made an effort to not make it on the ballot this time. I didn't want the attention, good or bad. It would just be better to stay low. And with the most perfect person standing next to me, I don't need to be a prince. I'm a king.

"And your prince and princess are... Uriah Pedrad and Marlene Lewis."

Our group begins to jump and clap for our friends. Well, now royal friends. The DJ continues to announce the senior nominees. I know most of them all, and I am not surprised to see the girl who is involved with every school club win queen, and her running partner win king.

The DJ plays the newly crowned royals' first dance. At first, only the two couples dance, but after the first verse, everyone else joins in. I hold Tris tight and pull her close as we sway to the song.

'Cause all of me loves all of you.

Give your all to me, I'll give my all to you.

Suddenly, the slow song changes to an upbeat anthem that sends the crowd into a frenzy. Everyone around us is jumping and pushed together. We are one mass, partying like we have nothing to lose. Turn down for what?!

And for a while, Tris and I build off the crowds' energy, dancing and laughing. But then that look glazes over her eyes. The dance floor has gotten more crowded and the heat of all the bodies are beginning to become too much. I know she hates crowds, and the look on her face says it all.

I lean down and reach my hand to her. Even with everything going on around me, I can feel her heart thumping through her palm. "Come on, let's take a break."

A relieved look crosses her face and we weave our way out of the crowd. As we exit the dance floor, a cool breeze braces us and I can see Tris calm down. Her breaths become easy again, and her eyes stop their rapid movements.

"Sorry," she says.

"You don't have to apologize for anything. You're perfectly fine."

She nods her head, but I know she is not completely content. I take both her hands in my own and bring them up to eye level. I say, "You don't have to feel sorry for yourself, or for me. We don't need the stereotypical prom; that's not how we do things."

She laughs. "What were you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that this boring ball room is stuffy and it is a beautiful night."

Without letting her take another second to think, I lead her by the hand out of the room and down some hallways. I've been in this hotel for a football event, and I remember there was some way to get to the little area in the back. In moments, we reach a back exit and walk out to a small garden.

Tris' eyes light up at the sight of the place. A small brick path lined with white rose bushes with glittering lights leads to a small gazebo. Vines, white flowers, and more small lights climb the walls of the gazebo.

"Did you know this was back here?" She asks.

"I had a hunch," I say. I turn from her and reach for the wall of the gazebo. I borrow a quick vine and freshly bloomed flower. I place it on her head. I take a step back and bow my head and reach out my hand.

She says, "What are you doing?"

"I'm crowning you princess." She gives me a funny look. "And I would love to me the first to dance with the newly crowned princess."

She still looks at me with skeptical eyes, but there is a warm smile on her mouth. We begin to dance, but she stops halfway through.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"There isn't any music."

"Wait," I say pointing out the walls of the gazebo. "Listen, there is music."

She turns her head. "Where?"

"All around you." This time, she closes her eyes. "There is a fountain with falling water, and crickets chirping away, and every once in a while you can hear the flutter of the wings of birds."

She closes her eyes. Her smile melts my heart and before she opens her eyes again, I slide into her arms and begin to dance slowly. She lays her head on my chest and I sway to the rhythm of her breaths and beats of her heart.

After a little bit, she pulls her head up and looks deep into my eyes. I could look into these eyes for hours. I have. I have memorized every detail in her blue orbs. She turns her body and stretches for her own vine. Tris then reaches to place it on my head. "What is a princess without her prince?"

I laugh a little and bring my mouth to hers. It's a soft kiss, and she pulls me down out of the gazebo in a second. We walk further down the path away from the building. When I look at her, she has her head pointed to the sky.

Normally in the city, you can't see any stars. But prom is far enough away that you can make out different constellations. Some of them are brighter than others, but that is kind of how stars work.

"I've always loved night skies like this. Ones with so many stars, you can't count them on your hands," she says. "In New York and Chicago, the lights of the city block the stars so I hardly get to see them. But there is one time when I remember that they were out every night."

"Where?"

"At the camp last summer. It was in more of rural area."

I don't know much about the camp she went to, only that is saved her when nothing could. It would not mean anything to indulge in it now. She stands only for a second looking at the stars, then she shakes whatever thought was roaming in her mind and walks to a bench along the path.

She sits and I join next to her. Immediately, we interlock our hands.

She sighs, "I just can't stop looking at them."

I can relate... I can't stop looking at her tonight, but I know she is still talking about the stars.

"What about them makes you like them so much?"

"They stand out so beautiful against the dark night sky. It's kind of a metaphor. Sometimes finding the light means passing through the deepest darkness, and the most amazing stars are the ones that shine brightest in the blackest of nights." She turns to look at me, "Sorry, I don't mean to seem so obsessed with them."

I lean and kiss her on the head. "You are absolutely perfect."

I kiss her nose, then right about her mouth, then her lips. This time, though, it isn't a soft kiss. I put my hand on her neck and bring her closer to me. My kiss is hungry, but in the back of my mind I know I have to be careful. But I also realize that Tris kisses me just as hard as I kiss her.

Her hands grip my arms, and I can feel the slightest shake that I know she is trying to hide. I begin to slow down, pulling her more and more into the embrace of my arms. She doesn't say anything. And she does not have to.

I glance down to my watch for the first time since we came out here. Prom ends in 30 minutes, and our friends are probably wondering where we went. When I look down to Tris, her eyes are closed and she uses my shoulder as a pillow.

"Hey," I say to her with a little shake, "the night is still young."

"Shhh," she replies with a small silence after. "Just sit in this moment. Close your eyes and really take a mental picture. Because if it were up to me, I would live in this moment forever."

I close my eyes only for a moment, and when they open, I keep them on Tris. We stay like this for a little, then she pulls herself up reaches a hand for me. We walk back down the path and back into Prom.


Author's Note

The songs used in this chapter were "I Won't Let You Go" by Snow Patrol (from the Divergent CD, big surprise) and "All of Me" by John Legend.

I know that this update is very very very overdue and I am so sorry it took so long for me to update. (I will say that I do post polls every once in a while to show that I am still here. And to see what you guys really like.) I'll be cliche and say I was crazy busy, but I won't bore you with my numerous activities. But I will say I recently celebrated an amazing 18th birthday, and I officially graduate in a few more days! Exciting stuff!

Be brave, everyone!


QUOTES

1). The sensation inside of me grow warmer and spreads out from my chest, down through my body, out along my arms and legs, to the tips of my being. –The Hunger Games, book

There is one (movie) quote in this chapter.