Tobias POV
After the bombshell Uriah dropped on us about how they came back to life, we managed to calm things down by explaining to Tris, Uriah, Marlene, Will, Lynn and Al what we have been up to during these six years. Tris snuggles into my chest as if she was looking for my comfort so I immediately wrapped my arm around her to comfort her. She doesn't look at me but I do notice she is less tense, which gets me worried.
I'm about to ask her if she is all right but then my phone starts to ring. Now that's great timing. I mentally rolled my eyes while I carefully remove my arm from Tris not wanting to bother her. I grab my phone from my jacket's pocket; I look at the name and see its Johanna, I furrow my eyebrows not understanding why she would call me.
What could be the reason for her calling? Is Evelyn all right? Thinking that I quickly answered the phone in a slight panic.
"Hello, Johanna. Is everything all right?" I quickly say.
She tells me that everything is fine and that Evelyn is in good health but she did have a pulmonary attack but she managed to have her medicine. I manage to mentally calm myself knowing she is okay but it's not normal for having a pulmonary attack. Is her cancer getting worse?
"Tell Evelyn that I'll talk to her as soon as I get home about the attack." I warn Johanna so she knows my intentions as soon as I get home.
What she says next catches me off-guard; she wants to bring back the factions. This is crazy! We have lived at peace for six years, why would they bring the factions back? They were the reason why we got into a civil war.
"Why? There's no need to bring them back." I point out but Johanna insists that they are going through this and then she asks me to return home so we can discuss it. "All right, I'll be there in thirty minutes." I say and we both hang up after saying our goodbyes.
I sigh not knowing how to react to this. They want to bring back the factions but why would they do that? What provoked them to choose this?
I then feel a hand on my shoulder and I say Tris looking at me with a worried face. I then notice that my hands are clenched into fists, guess I didn't hide my nervousness for well. Good things the others didn't notice.
"Hey, are you okay? You seem tense." Tris says while looking at my eyes and rubbing my shoulder.
I stare into her grey eyes, her eyes are such a perfect fit to her face, her eyes are the most glamming factor of her beauty but she as a whole is beautiful. I give her a warm smile to calm her down; I don't want her to worry about me. There are more things for her to worry about than this.
"Yeah, I'm okay. But I need to go back home, Johanna called me asking me to go back. Do you want to come with me? Or do you want to stay here?" I say to Tris. "I'm coming with you." Tris hastily says with determination.
I quickly nod and we both get up. The gang immediately stops talking to each other as they see us getting up. "Where are you two heading?" Christina asks.
"I need to go back home, Johanna called me. Tris wants to come with me. We'll see you all another time." I reply. We exchange our goodbyes and Tris and I head to my car, which it's park not too far from the Ferris Wheel. We get in the car and quickly drive to my house.
It's quite a silence ride which surprises me because after what Uriah told us, I figured Tris would want to talk about it but I'm not going to force the issue, I don't want her to be uncomfortable. I slightly turn to the passenger seat and I notice Tris starring out the window. At first, I thought she was looking at the city but then I realize that she is just blankly starring, not really noticing what is passing by her.
I lace my hand with hers when I see it on the edge of the seat. Tris, thankfully, squeezes my hand that makes me feel better knowing she is still here mentally.
"Tobias, when you finish with Johanna, I would like to talk to you." Tris says slightly serious while changing position to stare at the windshield.
Her seriousness caught me off-guard. Before she was smiling and having fun with the gang and then suddenly she turns dark and serious. I put my hand back on the wheel while slowing down at a traffic light.
"Of course, but is everything okay? You sound very serious." I say while slightly turn at her so I can see her face.
She turns to me and she quickly changes her mood. Now she seems happier, this is getting weird. I then notice the light has changed so I continue driving.
"Everything okay." Tris hurriedly says which calms me down a bit. "I just really need to talk to you. If you finish with Johanna quickly, then we can have more time to talk." Tris explains.
I nod and continue driving. I'm somewhat glad that she reassured me nothing is wrong but her tone still has me on edge. Not because she might be mad, which I hope she isn't, but because it came out of nowhere. We finally reach my house and we quickly get out after I parked my car beside the house. We see Johanna at the entrance; she has her usual warm smile and invites us in.
"Hello to you both." She says to both of us as soon as we enter. She then turns her attention to Tris. "It's good to see you again, Tris." Johanna says warmly as she closes the door.
"It's good to see you too, Johanna." Tris says with a smile and then turns to me. "I'll leave to talk to Johanna. I'll be in your bedroom." She says and then she gives me a kiss on the cheek.
Tris hastily heads to my bedroom while I still have a stupid puppy-dog face that Johanna manages to snap me out of by snapping her fingers.
"Come on, Four, we can't lose time." Johanna says politely and guides me to the couch, which I quickly sit on.
I then notice Jack typing something on a laptop; he is in his usual Candor suit. He never got rid of it, which Zeke always made fun of because no one wore clothes from the factions anymore. Johanna turns her attention to Jack who seems to have finished with whatever he was doing and quickly turns off the laptop and gets up noticing Johanna looking at him.
"Could you please get Evelyn?" Johanna asks Jack which Jack quickly responds. "Of course, Johanna. I'll be back shortly."
He heads to Evelyn's room while Johanna and I turn our attention to each other. It's time to get my answers as to why they want to bring back the factions.
"So you want to bring back the factions, the question is why." I say as I see Johanna take a seat in front of me.
"I know that this is confusing, Four, but we're doing this because there are a lot of people who don't know their place in this world and that is a very big problem. Having the factions back will help those people find their place in this world. We have decided that everyone goes to the faction they were in before the attack on Abnegation. I will go back to Amity as their representative, Jack will go back to Candor as their representative and, since Marcus left his position as leader of Abnegation, we hope that Evelyn takes his place. Some things are going to change but the biggest change will be that Factionless won't exist anymore so everyone will belong in a faction but depending on how they do on their initiation; they will have specific jobs, responsibilities and limitations. The ones that were Factionless during the Abnegation attack can go back to the faction they choose and redo initiation." Johanna explains
I'm in shock at what Johanna just told me. I never wanted the factions to return after the war but the way Johanna explained why they were bringing them back makes sense. I can understand people wanting to find a place in this world but I never would have figured the factions would be the answer.
I'm about to say something to Johanna about the matter but I hear footsteps coming ever closer to the room. I turn to where they are originating from only to find Evelyn and Jack.
My face turns into a scowl when I see Evelyn. How could she not tell me? I'm sure they had been talking about this for a while and that's why it hurts, she didn't trust me. After everything, she still doesn't trust me!
"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask Evelyn with anger and betrayal in my voice.
I notice a change in mood in her but I'm not sure if it's for the good or bad. She then walks over to me and kneels in front of me. I take a good look at her and see that her eyes are droopy and that she is paler.
That pulmonary attack really took a toll on her; she never looks this sickly. Did something else provoke this attack apart from her cancer? I also notice that her face is filled with guilt and not with anger. Did I take it too far? No! She should have told me.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I was going to tell you when you return from the Navy but Johanna insisted on telling you now." Evelyn explains but it's not enough, she knew before this so why hid it.
"But you knew before so why wait. You know you can trust me." I insist wanting to make myself clear about where I stand which seems to affect her in a way. She cups my face with both hands and her face softens.
"I know, Tobias, I know I should have told you before but we all swore that we wouldn't tell anyone about this until we had everything clear. Is not that I don't trust you, is that we needed to keep it a secret so that way people didn't rise against us thinking this as a punishment." Evelyn explains whispering.
I'm not sure if I want to believe her, she is capable of manipulating people to her will, but I do notice some truth in it because she used my real name but without letting Johanna or Jack know. Her old self would have said everything without whispering, not caring if anyone knew my real name.
I sigh realizing I took things too far; I place my hands on her shoulders to get her attention and to calm her down not wanting her to drown in her own guilt.
"I understand why you waited but next time tell me. You know I can keep secrets." I whisper to her to reassure her that I do understand but that I am also trustworthy.
"I'm glad you understand." Evelyn says with a smile, I notice she slightly lowers her shoulders that makes me realize she was quite tense.
"Could you tell friends about the factions as soon as you see them again? We were hoping of sending everyone back to their factions within a week after we talked to the council." Evelyn says which I nod at in understanding.
The council was a group of people that governed the city and maintained contact with the Bureau, they did quite a good job keeping things in order and preventing uprisings. The council consisted of former leaders of representatives of the factions and few of them were members of factions that had a high position in the faction.
"Of course." I say and we both get up with me helping her noticing she's still slightly week. "By the way, I'll get you a doctor's appointment for tomorrow. Now I want you to rest, you need it." I explain and give her a hug. "I'm now going to my room, Tris is waiting for me." I say in her ear.
"All right, son. And thank you for uderstaning." Evelyn says in my ear and we both pull away. I cup her face with one hand and give her a slight smile. She smiles back and then I quickly headed to my room.
Tris POV
I'm now laying on Tobias's bed speaking with Caleb with the house phone. When I first heard the phone, it scared me so bad that I almost fell off the bed. I'm now looking at the ceiling with one of my legs bent and one of my arms underneath my neck.
Caleb is asking me if I want to stay at his home just in case I feel uncomfortable been in Tobias's home, which gets me confused and irritated.
Why would Caleb think that I would feel uncomfortable being in Tobias's home? Does he really want me all to himself? I always thought he would change after I saved his life at the Bureau but it seems that he isn't going to change.
"Caleb, I'm not a little girl anymore. I can take care of myself. Four is a good man and I don't need you constantly on my back." I say to him annoyed. I can hear him sighing in defeat, which makes me sigh in relief.
At last, I managed to convince Caleb that I don't need his constant protection. It was taking so long that I feared I was going to be talking to him for hours. "I will see you another time, bye." I say and hang up the phone.
I leave it on Tobias's bedside table and I rub my face with my hands in exhaustion. Caleb can be such a pain! He still treats as if I were a child! I trust Tobias with my life and I don't need him to be my personal bodyguard. I got myself for that.
I know it is weird for me to start living in Tobias's house just after coming back to life but I rather be with him than with Caleb. Caleb had been acting strangely since I discovered that I was in his house after I escaped that weird facility that Uriah talked about.
That last stament makes me wonder if Caleb is part of that facility. No! It can't be! He may be a coward but he isn't a torturer. He knows of my Divergence but he would never harm my friends or me for it. I do remember that he almost had me killed so Jeannine could have her answers but I could see he didn't like doing it.
I then get up so I can open the window to get some air, leaning against the frame; I look out at the new Chicago. It still amazes me how much it has changed since my last time here. My moment of thought is cut short when I feel a pair of arms wrap around my slender waist. I then enjoy the similar breath against my neck and I sigh contently.
"You okay, Tris? You seem stress." Tobias says against my blonde hair. I lace my fingers with his and we hold our hands together that makes me feel relaxed. "I'm okay, Tobias." I say calmly.
Then I remember that I wanted to talk to him about us so pull away from his embrace and turn to face him. "It's time for our talk." I say and I take him to his bed so we can both sit down.
As soon as we sit down, Tobias grabs hold of my hands again and looks at my eyes. Man, I can just melt by looking at his deep blue eyes. "So what do you want to talk about? I can tell this is very important for you." Tobias says.
I nod to confirm it to him and I take a deep breath to calm myself. I'm not sure how he is going to take this so I better be prepared for anything at this point. I know that I can trust Tobias but he is short-tempered so I have to be careful.
"How are we going to continue our lives together? I mean, I came back to life and I'm not sure if you love me the same way as you did. It has been four years, Tobias. Feelings can change even if you think they don't and I want to know if you still love me like you used to." I say trying to keep myself composed. I don't want to cry, I've cried enough.
Tobias remains quiet for a while which makes fear for the worst but then he cups my face with both his hands. His hands are so warm, they feel like fire and it makes me almost melt. It felt like if a stove touched a piece of ice.
"I know it has been four years but my feelings for you never changed. I could never move on after you died, as much as I tried I just couldn't. You affected my life in such a way that I just can't forget you. I love you, Beatrice Prior, no matter what." Tobias says and then kisses me before I can respond.
I can't believe what Tobias has just told me. He still loves me and that he has never moved on. I always hoped that Tobias went out with someone else after my death since he deserved better but at the same time, I'm glad he didn't.
I return the kiss while placing my hands on his cheeks. Tobias then lays us both on the bed and we pull away for air. We are both starring at each other, our eyes draining us of all our energies.
"I will always be here for you. I will never leave your side again." Tobias says which makes me smile. He's about to kiss me again but a knock on the door stops him from doing so.
Tobias sigh annoyed which makes me slightly laugh. "Who is it?" Tobias asks. "It's Jack. I'm sorry if I am interrupting anything, Four, but your mother has been sent to the hospital." Jack responds.
That answers makes us both sit up and quickly head to the door so we can get more answers. I never liked Evelyn back during the war but with the little amount of time I've spent with her after I returned, I can clearly tell she has changed and for the better.
Tobias opens the door to find Jack standing right outside with his usual composed face. I don't think I've ever seen him show any other emotion. "What exactly happened?" Tobias asked.
I could sense the worry in his voice, which doesn't surprise me. Jack sighs while running his hand over his black hair. I cross my arms over my chest so no one notices my quick breathing, my breathing speed has changed because of the tense atmosphere.
"We were all talking about what we were going to say to the council about the factions when Evelyn started to lose breath. Johanna and I tried to help her but all of a sudden she fell unconscious and Johanna quickly called for an ambulance. The ambulance just left." Jack explains which leaves Tobias and I quite shocked.
When Jack mentioned the factions, I left me quite confused but for now, I forget about it because it's not important. I'll ask Tobias about it later.
Tobias quickly snaps out of his shock and turns to Jack with a more stern face. "Take me to her, right now. I want to see her." Tobias says and Jack quickly replies. "That's why I'm here. Let's get moving."