Chapter 15
FOUR POV
I drive in silence, mentally replaying the day from the beginning. How did it get so far off course, and then right itself? I am so focused on my own thoughts, I don't realize that Tris was talking to me. She touches my arm to get my attention.
I shake my head slightly and turn to look at her. "I'm sorry, Tris. I was lost in my own thoughts. What did you say?"
"It's ok. I was just wondering if you'd like to hang out for a little while when we get to my house? My dad will be home around 5:30 and we normally order pizza and watch a movie together. It has become our Friday tradition. Would you like to join us? If you don't have plans, I mean?"
Her voice is so tentative, I can't tell if she wants me to say yes or if she is worried I will say no. I am not sure how it would work spending an evening with my brand new girlfriend and her dad, but I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to spend time with Tris, especially when she has had such a hard day. "Sure, I'd like that. I'll send my dad a text to let him know where I'll be, but I have to be home by 10:30. He is strict about my curfew."
Her smile is beautiful, it lights up her entire face. I would do anything for her right now, to keep that expression in her eyes. I can't believe that she wants to be with me, even after the day she had. No one would blame her if she just wanted to be alone.
I wonder what Christina said to her, but I don't ask. I have a feeling she will tell me on her own, and I make it a practice not to ask people personal questions. I have too many secrets of my own to expect others to tell me all of theirs. I suspect the behind the scenes details will all come out eventually anyway. There are too many people involved to just let Chris off the hook without an explanation.
When we get to the house, I park out front and follow Tris to the front door. I stand by the porch steps and send my dad that text message while she digs in her backpack for her keys, then once again look around the living room when she bids me follow her inside. I marvel at how warm and welcoming the room is. Her house feels like a home, I don't know how else to describe it. Mine is just a place where I live. The difference is tangible.
A few hours later I feel much more comfortable than I would have thought possible spending an evening with Tris and her father. We couldn't decide on a movie so we ended up ordering pizza and playing dominoes at the kitchen table. I have never played dominoes before, which Tris promised to put on my list if we didn't play tonight. She is merciless, but Mr. Prior has been helping me with strategy and I am getting better. When we finish the game, which actually consists of 12 rounds of dominoes, I glance at my watch and realize it is already 9:00.
Tris noticed me look at my watch and she must have seen something in my face. "You have to go home soon, don't you?"
I nod and say yes. Mr. Prior starts to gather up the dominoes and says he will take care of the pizza plates and garbage if we want to go sit on the porch or in the living room before I have to leave. I glance up at his face, unconsciously searching his expression for a motive. Marcus has made me mistrust kindness but Mr. Prior just smiles at me and thanks me for being here tonight.
Tris kisses her dad on his cheek and thanks him for clearing up, then offers me her hand and leads me back through the house to the front porch. They have a swing that overlooks the side yard and the remnants of a small garden I have never noticed before.
Tris sits down on the wooden bench swing and tugs on my hand when I hesitate, "Come swing with me Tobias. It's not too cold out here to sit for a little while."
My hesitation has nothing to do with it being cold. I am searching for a way to tell her what is on my mind and words are failing me right now. I want to tell her how sorry I am that Christina went off on her, how sorry I am that it is my fault it happened. I don't sit on the swing with her. Instead, I crouch down in front of her and use my free hand to steady the swing and maintain my balance. I need to be eye to eye with her when I apologize, so she knows I am sincere when I say, "Tris, I never meant to hurt you or cause you any trouble. It was never my wish to be a threat to your reputation, or cause you the pain you must have felt today."
Her face softens and she smiles, she puts her free hand on my arm and says, "Oh Tobias, I know that. What Christina said to me this morning, turns out it had very little to do with me, and even less to do with you, or what she saw when we were in the lobby. You have carried this with you all day, just like I have, but I didn't give you any kind of resolution after I talked to Christina, and I am sorry for that. Come and sit by me until you have to leave and I will fill you in on everything."
I get up and sit next to her on the swing, my left arm stretched out on the backrest, and she scoots over to settle in close to me. I hold my breath at the movement, because I am still unused to such casual contact, but I wrap my arm around her shoulder and hold her against my side. I love the fact that she wants to be close to me. She leans her head on my shoulder and begins to retell the conversation she had with Christina after soccer practice. When she is finished, I fill her in on the talk that Will had with me in the publishing room, "Will actually likes Christina a lot, was planning to ask her out, and now he is worried that he misjudged her character after her behavior today towards you. While simultaneously feeling sorry for you, and worried that I thought he had been flirting with you, he now doesn't know how to go forward with Christina, if at all."
I feel better, for having talked, and knowing that she won't be at odds with one of her friends again tomorrow. My stomach has been in knots all day. Tris is quiet for a few minutes, her head on my shoulder feels so right, I just close my eyes and rest my cheek on top of her head. I push the swing gently with my feet and we just sit together in the chilly dark.
Too soon it is time for me to go. Tris walks me out to the jeep. I have my keys in my hand, but I put them back in my pocket because I want both hands free so I can kiss her. She wishes me a good night, and I tell her, "Goodnight Tris." But I don't move to open the door or get in the car. I don't want to drive away from her. It's ridiculous, because of course I have to leave her. I have to go home, I just don't want to do it yet. I wish I could pause time or rewind it and have a few more hours with her, in her warmth, before I have to go to my own cold house.
I step back up to her, she is standing on the curb, so she is about six inches taller than normal and her forehead is about level with my nose, only a slight dip of my head, or a slight upturn of her face and I can kiss her. I take both her hands and lace my fingers through them, palm to palm, and say goodnight again as I dip my head to kiss her. I don't care that we are out by the street and anyone could be driving by. I don't care right now, I just want to kiss my girlfriend goodnight. One more gentle but lingering kiss and I wish her goodnight again, and sweet dreams this time. She stands by the curb as I drive away.
ANDREW POV
The pizza boxes are in the recycling bin, the leftover pizza is wrapped up in the refrigerator and the dishwasher is running. Chores all done, I make my way upstairs to my room to call Natalie.
She picks up on the third ring. "Hello?"
Hearing her voice soothes me. "Hello Dear."
"Oh, sweetheart it's so good to hear your voice. I miss you."
I smile and sigh. "I miss you too Natalie."
"How was your week Andrew?"
I sit down on the side of the bed and look at our wedding photo on the wall as we talk. "I had a good week, and a really good time tonight."
"Oh? What movie did you and Tris watch tonight?"
"Actually, we couldn't decide on a movie we all wanted, so tonight we played Dominoes. Four was with us and he's never played before, so we ordered pizza and taught him how to play."
"Four was with you?"
"Yes. He and Beatrice, Tris, are dating apparently."
"And they wanted to spend their Friday night with you?"
"Well, they seemed to have fun too, it wasn't just me, I promise."
"I am sure they had fun, I'm glad to hear they are spending some time together. What do you think of the boy? Tris mentioned him when she was here last weekend."
"I have a hard time thinking of our little girl with a boy, romantically. Dating anyone to be honest, but there is something about this boy."
"What do you mean?"
"There is just something about him, Natalie. A searching but also a steadiness, I can't put it into words. Tris is different too, she smiles more since she met him, though she seemed tired today. I think the week wore her out."
"Where is she now?"
"They're out on the porch now. Four has to be home by 10:30 so we didn't have time for another game."
"You played an entire game? Andrew!"
"What?"
"Do you really think they wanted to spend their whole night with a dad in the room?"
"What are you talking about, Natalie? We had a good time. It felt like a family game night back when we were all together."
"I have no doubt it felt that way to you, and I am happy you enjoyed the evening, but Andrew, don't you remember what it was like to be a 17 year old boy with your girlfriend on a Friday night?"
"Of course I remember, but they aren't like that, Natalie!"
"Aren't they?"
"NO! We were much older...than...oh. No we weren't much older than they are now, were we?"
"No, we weren't, and you couldn't keep your hands off me when my mom turned her back. How do you think they felt sitting there at the table with you all night? You should have made some excuse and given them some time to be alone."
"They are alone every day to and from school, they have a couple classes together, and they had a running date yesterday. They have plenty of alone time as far as I am concerned."
"Oh Andrew, don't turn into the over protective father. You already said you liked the boy, and how nice your evening was. Don't work yourself up now. You said they're out on the porch now? I am sure you can trust them."
"Yes, I think I heard the swing chains creak a few minutes ago. Trust them, Natalie! They only met two weeks ago."
"Yes, they met because you arranged for him to drive her to and from school, and they're already a couple. Sometimes lightning just strikes. Don't fret about it Andrew. I am looking forward to when you and I can finish a quiet Friday night together on the porch swing ourselves. I'm also looking forward to meeting this boy. Tris is bringing him and some friends to the Festival. You and Caleb should come too. I miss you."
"I miss you too my dear. I will ask Caleb. I think he said he was coming to the house tomorrow to do laundry. I swear I only see him when he needs the washer!"
"That is perfectly normal and how it should be. He needs to be at school, meeting people and doing things there, not at the house playing dominoes with you and his sister. It will serve him well next year when he goes away to college."
"Beatrice seems to have made quite a few friends at school. She made the soccer team, and of course there is Four."
"MMHmm, she told me about some of her friends last weekend. I am happy for her. She didn't say anything, but I know it was hard for her leaving her friends here and starting over."
"Yes. I don't think I was attentive enough to her the last few weeks before school started. I was so focused on work, she was alone a lot of the time."
"I am sure she is fine sweetheart."
"You sound sleepy my dear, I should let you get some rest. I love you. Be safe and well."
"I love you too Andrew. We will be together soon."