CHAPTER 16 - FIRE - PT 2 - TOBIAS

The dog kissed my girlfriend on the neck before I could. I know it's considered romantic to kiss your partner even in the most disgusting times, but I won't kiss Beatrice's neck for a while. Knowing Zeke and Uriah, they probably still haven't taken that dog to the vet to be checked for vermin. Like rabies. So I'll take my chances and try to stay alive.

Unlike Evelyn.

I wince at the thought of her name. Her closed casket at the funeral because Marcus made it very clear that no one was to see the body. Not even me. I push the thought aside. I can't think about my mother's death here in front of everyone or I'll go crazy.

"Are you okay?" Beatrice asks as we begin walking towards the Pedrad's backyard, Dauntless bounding and barking at squirrels. I shake my head ever so slightly and reach for her hand. Our fingers twist together and she gives my palm a squeeze.

We've been together for a week now. A week since Evelyn's funeral where I kissed her and a week since everything in our lives changed. No one in school is as comfortable around me as before. I guess running away for a few days really sets your ego.

But the gang acts like nothing ever happened. In fact, they have been more amitable and sincere since my return. I guess losing you mother makes you weaker amongst your friends. And then there's Tris.

She acts like death and disappearances makes you stronger. We have been meeting in the tree house in my backyard, the only place and time I really feel like myself. Not Marcus' scared son, not the school freak, not the weak group member. Tris just treats me like… me.

And I can never repay her for that little piece of sanity in my life.

We all to the enormous back yard lined and protected by hundreds of pines and oaks. On one side of the horizon the sun is setting in a red blaze. And on the opposite side of the skies rises the full moon. A mix of two worlds.

I can't decide in which light Beatrice looks the best. The red light of the dying sun makes her hair look bright and her features look more pronounced and beautiful.

But the moon on the other hand makes her pale blue eyes glow with a deadly light.

I hear another car pull up out front. Lynn, Marlene, Shauna and Al come bounding through a mess of bushes. Lynn looks different. By different, I mean bald.

"Lynn! Where the heck did you do to your head?" Christina exclaims, her eyes practically bulging out of her head. I don't blame her though. Lynn slaps her bare head.

"I donated it so people with cancer can have hair. Where's the fire?" she asks, like the case is closed. Uriah manages to peel his eyes off of Lynn's head and turns to Zeke.

"Do you have the lighter and gas?"

Zeke pulls out a gallon of gasoline and a massive lighter from behind the enormous pile of dead branches we will burn marshmallows over. Everyone takes a nervous steps back.

0

"Yeah! Go fire!"

Zeke staggers back to his chair. He carries a bottle of beer in his hand. I think it may be his third in the past hour. At least his parents are gone for the weekend and we'll have enough time to look for him if he gets too drunk and goes missing in the middle of the night. Uriah, who is not drinking, sticks a marshmallow on a stick and sets it over the fire. His eyes glow with the dancing flames. Everyone else it silent, enjoying the peace.

"We should play Truth or Dare," Zeke mutters. His voice is returning to normal.

Christina sits up on the lawn chair she lounges on.

"I'm up for it. How about you Uriah?" she asks.

Uriah shrugs. "As long as cake is involved."

Christina gives me a look.

I shrug, my hand still clasped with Tris'.

"Yeah. Okay."

Al raises his hand and waves it around like a little kid.

"I want to go first!"

Tris grins a little.

"Al: Truth or Dare?"

Al doesn't hesitate.

"Truth."

"Do you like me?"

Al goes completely still; like the question sucked something right out of his soul.

"A little," he mumbles. Tris raises her eyebrows. My hand tightens oh her's and she squeezes back gently.

"So you do like me? Or you don't?" she asks quietly. Al looks terrified, but he can't back out of this. The rules of Truth or Dare are quite simple: answer the complete truth and do the entire given dare. There are no "buts." Al mumbles something under his breath about "stupid rules."

"That's a penalty!" Zeke exclaims. Tris gives him an irritated look. "You can only ask one question to another person! Beatrice, you asked three questions!"

Zeke throws his empty beer can into the fire and it bursts into flame. Al on the other hand looks relieved that Zeke intruded on his turn of the game.

"Tobias!" Zeke says from across the fire, snapping me out of my stupor. "Truth or Dare?" I don't take any time choosing one.

"Dare!" I give Tris' hand a little squeeze. She presses back.

"I dare you to… I dare you to…" he leans down to listen to what Uriah has to whisper in his ear. I feel something twinge in my stomach. Zeke smiles and nods at his brother, turning back to the rest of us. His eyes lock on mine.

"Pull out your phone and open up your Facebook page. Then let me see your phone so I can post something on your account."

I slip my phone out of my pocket and bring up Facebook, log in, and hand the phone over to Zeke. He turns his back to us all and I can see his fingers jabbing away at the screen. A minute later, he turns around and hands the phone back to me. I nearly wet my pants at what he posted.

Looking to engage the services of a professional matchmaker.

He changed my status! I hear Tris laugh beside me. She read this? Oh my God.

"Good one Zeke! I love it!" she cries. "Everyone check this out!"

Everybody, even Zeke, pulls out their own phones to see my Facebook page.

It takes about three seconds for everyone to burst out laughing. My face reddens.

Lynn stops laughing and calls someone's name out.

"Beatrice!"

Tris wipes her laughter away and gives Lynn a look.

"Truth or Dare?" Lynn asks her.

"Dare."

Lynn considers for about three seconds.

"I dare you to sit on Tobias' lap the entire night and kiss him."

Well that is easy enough.

Tris stands up and I open my arms for her to fall into. She's heavier than I thought she would be for someone that small. I pull a blanket around my shoulders and put my arm around her so the blanket covers both of us. She rests her head against my neck and we sit there, waiting for the next person to go.

Lynn clears her throat. Tris gives her a look. Lynn rolls her eyes.

"You have to kiss him. Remember?"

Tris' cheeks turn rosy pink in the firelight and she turns her head to look at me, only to be met by my lips. Her hand curls around my neck and my arms tighten around her.

"Alright! Enough!" Uriah shouts. I pull away from Beatrice, craving for her to keep kissing me. But she gives me a glance before turning back to the others.

PART THREE COMING RIGHT UP...