Hey guys! I know my updates have been so inconsistent and I keep on having to apologize for it. :( Please just keep up with my story as I update. I can't promise any updates anytime soon but I'll work with the time I have! Enjoy the next chapter!
Tobias proposed that we go out today. I agreed but I made him aware that we had to talk.
I prep for our date by curling my hair into loose, blonde ringlets. Christina came over to help with my makeup. First, Chris paints concealer under my eyes and tells me I have no need for foundation. Christina then moves on and explains how she does my eyeshadow simply, fading light browns and pale colors into one another. They almost match my skin color, according to her. After, she draws on a small amount of liquid eyeliner that makes my eyes pop. She grabs a black mascara afterwards and layers it on.
"Are we done?" I ask her calmly.
She examines me from head to toe and nods her head cheerily.
"Thank the Lord." I mumble under my breath.
She shakes her head with a laugh and pulls me to the mirror. Earlier I put on a pair of jeans with a white patterned off-the-shoulder top but I wasn't aware that once my hair and makeup were completed that it would look so good.
A small smile makes it's way onto my face and I turn before she can see my reflection in the mirror.
"Ready?" She asks.
"I guess so." I laugh anxiously after my statement.
"It'll go well, I promise." Chris pulls me into a hug.
At that moment, my doorbell rings. Christina squeezes my arm and tells me she'll stay hidden until I walk out the door with Tobias. I'm glad to have someone who can be invested yet not obnoxiously involved in my relationship with Tobias.
I open up the door to a tall, dark haired man that is holding flowers.
"Hey!" I say.
"Hi, Tris." Tobias pulls me into a warm hug and hands me the bouquet of roses.
I thank him and then run inside to put them in a vase. As soon as I come back to the door, he grabs my hand and leads me to his car, a white Jeep. I don't know much about cars but I do know how much I love Jeeps.
We start to drive to our destination and he turns up the radio. We sing along loudly and nothing about the ride feels awkward.
After about fifteen minutes of driving, we arrive in front of a small yet nice restaurant. He pulls behind the building and hops out of the car. Tobias walks around the car quickly to open my door before I do. I grin at him and hop out of the car.
He walks straight towards the back door and I raise my brows at him, confused.
"What?" He says in response to my facial expression.
"We're going through there?" I point at the back door.
"Oh yeah. I know the owners. They let me come through the back as long as I visit every once in a while." He states.
"Is it necessary to go through the back?" I ask.
"It's easier. I don't like getting pictures taken of me while I'm eating and I'm sure you feel the same."
"Oh yeah... I forgot that you're kinda famous." I mumble sheepishly.
He just chuckles and brings me through the door. Inside is a bustling kitchen that Tobias walks straight through, nodding and waving at some employees. I follow him feeling a bit out of place. We get out into a decently sized room that has dim lighting and tables arranged neatly.
"T!" A man approaches us with a grin on his face.
"Hey Amar!" He greets him with a genuine smile, one that I don't see him use towards most people.
"Who's this?" Amar nods in my direction.
"I'm Tris." I introduce myself.
"Well, Tris, nice to meet you." He reaches out his hand and shakes mine.
"You too." I smile lightly.
"Are you Four's date?" He questions.
I look at Tobias to see if I'm allowed to answer but instead she answers for me.
"Yeah, she is."
"You must be one special girl. He never brings girls here." He winks at me then directs his attention to Four, who is currently glaring at him.
"Which table do you want?" Amar asks Tobias.
"I thought you'd know by now." Four teases.
"You know I already do." He leads us to a table secluded in the back.
"Thanks, Amar."
Amar nods and walks away.
"So I'm the first girl you've ever taken here?" I wiggle my eyebrows at him in a joking manner.
"Hah. Yeah actually you are."
"Why's that?" I question.
"I guess none of the other girls really made an impression on me." He states.
"...But I did?" I'm slow to ask.
"Yeah, you're different." He winks.
"I'll take that as a compliment." I laugh.
"It was meant as one."
I blush lightly.
"You know, you don't really seem famous." I ponder aloud.
"What do you mean?" He asks.
"I'm not really sure. You just seem normal."
"Would you like to elaborate on that?" He chuckles.
"Well when we talk I don't feel like it's superficial. That's one thing. Another is that like most actors seem conceited and self-absorbed but I've never seen you act like that." I reply.
"Well thank you. That's actually a really nice compliment." He smiles genuinely at me.
"You're welcome!" I grin back at him.
"So you said we have to talk?" Tobias questions almost nervously.
"Yeah..." I drag it out.
He raises his eyebrow at me, quizzically.
"Okay. So I know I said I forgave you about everything, but that doesn't mean we're going to automatically be okay. Don't get me wrong, I have feelings for you, but I'm not interested in all the attention that 'Four' brings." I let out my feelings to him.
"Are you saying that you don't want to be with me?" He hesitates to ask.
"No, no. It's not that." I reassure him.
"Then what is it?" Tobias almost whispers.
"Tobias, you have to know that I haven't dated or even been remotely interested in anyone for over a year. The idea of dating someone is overwhelming. The idea of dating someone like you is unimaginable." I state.
"Because I'm famous?"
"It's not that you're famous, it's what comes with it. Not only that, but you didn't even think to mention that you were." I tell him.
"Tris, I didn't tell you because the idea of being able to just be me felt so alluring. I didn't have to fake anything with you. I could just be Tobias, not some man from a romance movie that would hold me to unattainable standards." He explains.
"You hid your entire life from me! I understand wanting a break from all that, I do, but after you knew how I acted around you when you were Four, why did you continue to hide it after. I treated you the same when I knew you were famous. It seems like you just wanted to keep it a secret." I retaliate.
He places his hand on his temple and rubs the skin roughly, like he's trying to ease a headache.
"I couldn't figure out how to tell you. You're right, I did like that you didn't know, but that's not why I like you. I just couldn't find the time or place, and I was afraid to scare you away."
"That can't happen if we want to go any further. What if you just happen to forget to tell me something else, something big, and I find out? I would not give you another chance, just so you're aware. I know it's early and it's a mistake, but I just need to know that I can trust you." I slowly get quieter with each word that I speak.
"Everything that I did to hurt you was not intentional. I'll try my hardest to be honest with you, just be aware that I'm secretive and I don't trust people easily." Tobias says.
"I don't expect you to tell me everything. Everyone has their secrets. Just please don't hide something so big in your life from me, or something that could affect what's happening with us."
"I will try my hardest not to." He looks at me, promisingly.
"Same goes for me, so you can hold me to these standards." I tell him.
"So does that mean that we can try having a relationship?" He sheepishly smiles.
"I'll probably move slow..." I mumble.
"That's okay." He grins.
"Okay." I laugh.
"Well then, Tris, will you be my girlfriend?" He shows a small, hopeful smile.
"Yes!" I giggle.
The smile on his face brightens and stretches farther than I thought was possible. He leans over and mumbles 'thank God' before placing a light kiss on my lips.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! No PDA in my restaurant!" Amar walks towards us yelling at us in mock anger.
"Shut up, Amar." Four leans back over and kisses me again, just to spite him.
I can't stop the bubbles of laughter that slip out of my mouth throughout this entire occurrence. Tonight is a good night.