Hey! I'm making this chapter two parts bc it is super long and i feel like the story flows better if this is spread out so... yeah:))


March 2016

Three weeks had gone by and Tris had seen Tobias four times. He talked to her about everything while she stretched and moved and worked on his leg. He played soccer, which she knew, and he was moving to D.C. in the spring, after he graduated, which she didn't know. He had no student loans because he was here on scholarship, and he roomed with his friend Zeke, who he had been best friends with since he was a kid.

She wasn't going to lie to herself, Wednesday mornings were her favorite at the clinic, and it had everything to do with him.

"I'm not kidding you, the student athletes are treated like royalty." Tris complained.

"Yeah, yeah. I've heard this speech before." Tobias waved his hand in the air, acting like he was bored with her. He wasn't, though. He couldn't imagine ever getting tired of talking to her. "Life is actually hard for me too, okay? Sometimes my food card doesn't scan right so I have to read the number out to the cashier." She rolls her eyes. He smiles. "And sometimes the private library is locked."

"There's a private library for student athletes?" She asks in shock. "What the hell?"

"Only for the major sports like football and soccer. But like I said, sometimes it's locked so I can't get in." He complains jokingly. Tris punches his arm and he laughs.

They talk for a little longer, Tris lingering on one of his stretches so he doesn't have an excuse to leave. But Tobias doesn't mind. Her hands on him make him feel something that he's never felt before and he could talk to her for hours at a time.

Eventually she does have to be done with him. And Tris isn't happy about having to wait seven full days until she gets to see him again. Apparently, he isn't either.

"Go out to dinner with me on Saturday." He says, leaning on his crutches, preparing to leave.

Tris' tries not to let her surprise show, but a smile creeps up on her face without warrant. "Okay."

He doesn't seem shocked with her answer, but he can't help but grin. Tris wondered how many girls he's been with and starts to feel the crushing weight of her slightness settle on her shoulders. But the way he was smiling at her, it made everything fade away. "I'll pick you up at six, then?"

Tris stiffened, remembering where she lived. If he found out where her apartment was, she would die of embarrassment. "I could just meet you. I live really far out of the city." She lied.

"You sure?"

She nodded.

He smiled again, and Tris found it contagious. She looked away after a while and he wobbled out the door, both of them grinning like idiots.


"I have a date tonight." Tris told Christina over the phone when she was getting ready Saturday afternoon.

"You do not. Don't lie to me, Prior."

"It's with Tobias Eaton, the-"

Chris interrupted her, "The Tobias Eaton? Like Soccer Protégée, Tobias Eaton? How did that happen?"

Tris nodded, feeling giddy. "Long story. No time. What do I wear?"

"Where are you going?"

"I have no idea."

"I think I left a pair of black jeans at your place once. And you know that white sweater you wore on new years?"

"Yeah."

"That. And your green jacket. You'll look nice enough, wherever you're going. I doubt he take you somewhere extremely fancy without warning you."

"Okay. Thanks, Chris."

"No problem. Have fun, okay?"

"I will."

And she did. They met up at some bar near the soccer stadium. Even though he was on crutches, he still made an effort to hug her and pull her chair out for her. He had almost fallen when he tried to sit down and she had laughed. It was awkward, too… at first at least. But he was charming and funny and the whole thing was so enjoyable she didn't want it to end.

"Where are you from?" He asked.

"North Carolina. I tried to get as far away from the south as I could."

Tobias smiled. "I don't blame you. I don't like to go down south unless I have to. I like North Carolina, though. It's beautiful."

Tris grinned. "When I was little, my family would take trips to the mountains and then travel to the beach in the same week."

"That's amazing."

"Yeah. I had fun. But my parents weren't pleased with me when I told them I was coming to Chicago." She admitted.

"I feel that. My folks were the kind that was never pleased. I haven't talked to my dad since I got here." He said with a frown.

Tris' heart ached for him. He was a senior, getting ready to graduate in a few months. That means he hasn't talked to his dad in four years. Tris' relationship with her parents was a shaky one, but she couldn't imagine not speaking to them for that long.

"What about your mom?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Died when I was ten. Car crash. Very sad."

Tris met his eyes. "I'm sorry."

He just shrugged, "It was a long time ago. Any siblings?"

Tris nodded. "One. My brother, Caleb. He's at Princeton." She said, rolling her eyes. "You?'

"Nah." He sounded casual. "But my dad went to law school at Harvard, so I know how you feel."

Changing the subject, she smiled at him. "When do you leave for Washington?"

He grins, all of the features of his face lighting up. "Two days after graduation. I'm so excited. They want me to just…pack up and start now. But I don't know… that feels wrong. I can't just quit school. I've been here too long to just throw it away. I've worked too hard, you know?"

Tris nodded. "That's coming up. Only a few months."

"Yeah. I'm going to miss Chicago, though. I grew up here. All of my friends are here. But D.C. is amazing. Have you ever been?"

Tris shook her head. "No. I missed the field trip in the eighth grade."

He gaped at her. "You have to go, Tris. It's one of my favorite cities in the entire world."

"Okay," She smiled. "I'll work on it."

He stared at her, a grin on his face.

She stared back. For a long time. Way longer than socially acceptable. But his eyes were so blue and he was so beautiful that Tris didn't feel the need to look away. Butterflies swarmed her stomach.

"When does your internship end?" He had finally asked her.

"Later this month." She said, not really focused on anything but him and the way his eyes watched her. "I'm hoping Tori will just hire me. She's been hinting at it for weeks."

Tobias smiled at her again. "I'm sure you'll get it. But I know my opinion doesn't really count."

"Why not?"

"I'm a little bias."

She glared at him jokingly. "No you aren't."

"So you just take all of your patients on dates, then?"

"Oh yeah." She laughed. "I've got the hots for the old woman that comes in after you."

He chuckles, adams apple bobbing. Tris swallows as she watches.

They continue to talk for a few more hours until Tobias looks at his watch, realizing the time: 2:47 AM.

He tells her. She laughs. "I guess we should go."

He nods. "I can drive you home?"

Tris hesitates, thinking the situation thru. Letting Tobias drive her home would mean he would see the area she lived in and she would die of embarrassment. But if she drove herself home, she doesn't even want to think of the possible things that could happen at this hour. Her pride or her safety?

"My car is here." She fought.

"We can get it tomorrow." He said.

Tris nodded, logic finally seeping in. "Yeah. Okay. Let's go."

The ride to her apartment was a quiet one. The heat was blasting from the vent and into her face; a relief when she first got in, but now was making her break into a light sweat.

She told him when to turn and where to go. She could tell he was growing nervous. She was too. The area was growing worse with each mile he drove.

When they arrived, Tobias didn't say anything. He just stared out the windshield, a scowl on his face. "This is a joke, right? You don't actually live on 60th?"

Tris shook her head. "Um-"

"I can't leave you here. This is one of the worst areas in the state, Tris."

"I know. I'm working on it. Hopefully I'll be able to move once the internship is over."

He looked over at her. His eyes looked black in this light, she noticed. "I seriously cannot let you get out of the car. I'll stay here all night it I have to."

"That's not necessary. I've been here for a year. I'll be alright." She reassured him, trying to reassure herself all the same.

"Text me when you get in." He whispered softly, staring at her.

She bit her lip. "Of course."

Again, they found themselves staring at each other without words to say. Time didn't seem to move for either of them. It took a few moments, but Tobias finally built up the courage to lean across the center console, brushed a stray hair out of her eyes, and press his mouth to hers.

It was chaste and quick, but it made Tris feel like she was floating and melting and burning all at the same time. With flaming cheeks and a squeeze to his hand, she exited the car and walked into her apartment building. Tobias kept his promise as he waited in the parking lot for her text. When he got it, he smiled. It read: I didn't get murdered. I had fun. Goodnight, Tobias.

His smile somehow grew larger. He gripped the steering wheel and leaned his head against the headrest, closing his eyes and wishing the moment would last forever.


The next afternoon, Christina and her boyfriend, Will, met Tris at the coffee shop near the clinic. Tris had known Will much longer than Christina did. She was the one that got them together. Tris and Will went to high school at the same time, and though they weren't close back then, they became great friends when they had almost all the same classes together their first year at Chicago.

"We have some news." Christina grinned, gripping Will's hand. His eyes were bright green, and his blonde hair shined in the dim lights of the café.

Tris narrowed her eyes. "You guys aren't pregnant are you?"

Will rolled his eyes. "Hell no."

"Just checking."

"I'm moving in with him." Christina grinned.

Tris smiled. "About time. Seriously, it only took what… two years?

"Shut up, Prior." Will smirked. "At least I haven't been single my entire life."

"Not true." Tris fought, " Ryan Green? Sophomore year?"

"He was three years older than you and it lasted like two weeks." Will cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Okay. Point taken. But I did have a date last night, William." She told him.

Will raised his eyebrows. "Did you?"

Tris nodded. "Yes. Want to try and guess who it was with?"

Will stared at her blankly as Christina squirmed in her seat. "I think Chris has a guess. Babe?"

"It was Tobias Eaton!" She squealed. Tris' face turned a dark shade of red as some people of the room looked in their direction.

Will's jaw dropped. "It was not." He chuckled. "How did you land that?"

"You know how he tore his ACL?" Tris explained.

Will nodded. "During the national championship. We lost because he wasn't playing in the second half. Who doesn't remember that?"

"I'm his physical therapist." She grinned.

"Doesn't that violate some kind of code to not like… fraternize with your patient?

"Fraternize?" Christina blurted. "Who still uses that word?"

Tris laughed as Will faced his girlfriend. "I do. Don't be mean."

Christina waved a hand in the air as if to say, 'yeah, whatever.'

"But anyways," Tris continued. "He asked me out randomly during his appointment."

"How did the date go?"

"Good. He drove me back to my apartment and complained about how I was going to get murdered if I didn't move out immediately."

"You are." Christina said. "Seriously. I've been telling you this ever since you moved in."

"I'm working on it. I've told you both that."

Christina nodded. "I know. We just worry about you."

Tris gave them a small smile. "I know. I worry about me, too."


IM SO SORRY THIS CHAPTER TOOK SO LONG okay my laptop is literally out of storage so whenever i go to microsoft word its super slow and for about two weeks this document was deleted BUT I FOUND IT AND PASTED IT INTO GOOGLE DOCS #blessed

anyways im super sorry

review!

-riley