CHAPTER 6
"Here, let me take that, Tris." Tobias offered me, taking the backpack off of my shoulders.
I roll my eyes at him. "Tobias, I'm able to carry it, it's only got a few pieces of clothes."
He placed it on the floor and sifted through it, "I just don't want you to exert yourself." He picked out a blanket and looked at me expectantly.
"You know me, Tobias, I get cold easily. I also need to keep warm for the baby."
He chuckled and nodded in agreement, placing it back inside the bag. "Have you got enough stuff in here? You have a fair few blankets in here, I don't think you'll need this many."
I twisted my fingers together in front of me. "I'm just becoming prepared, in case of you know… in case the baby comes while we're out there."
"Tris, I don't think we will be gone long enough for that." I could hear the unspoken words between us, hopefully not.
A gasp could be heard from behind us; Tobias stood up and peered over my shoulder, while I spun around. Christina and Uriah stood behind us, mouths agape. "Tris? Is there something you haven't told us yet?"
My face went pale. "I—uh… I—" I felt Tobias' hand slip into mine, a comforting feeling. "Yes." I finally managed out. "I'm pregnant."
Christina seemed to be jumping up and down on the spot. Suddenly she threw herself at me and I stumbled back. Tobias' hand almost slipped from mine but I clutched at it tighter, desperate to not let go. "Oh, I knew it!" She exclaimed.
"Congratulations." Uriah said, smiling at me.
Christina pulled away and glanced at my stomach and then the hand that was still attached to Tobias. "Yes, congratulations! So you have to give us details! How far along are you? Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
"Woah, woah, I'm about four months along and I don't know."
She smiled, satisfied that she finally knew my secret. "I knew you weren't just putting on weight, I knew there was something else to it." She kept telling herself.
***PAGE BREAK***
A group of us stood in front of the fence, ready to venture out into the unknown. It turned out that Uriah and Christina weren't coming along so even if I had decided to stay, I would have had company from my friends; although I was happy with my decision where Tobias was. He insisted on carrying both of the bags, despite my protests.
As soon as the gates were open, we all began to walk forward. Beyond the fence it was bare, almost everything was dying. Trees were brown and dry, the ground was cracked and hot. How something could live around here, I wasn't sure.
I glanced at Tobias to see him looking around anxiously, as if expecting at any moment, danger was going to appear. I clasped his free hand and squeezed it softly; he glimpsed at me and smiled.
"What do you think we're going to find out here, Tobias?" I asked him.
"I'm really not sure but hopefully something that will help sort this mess out." I nodded.
We continued walking for what seemed like hours. My feet and back were beginning to ache and sweat was appearing all over my body, making my stomach churn.
I didn't like to make a fuss or complain but right now I needed a break. "Tobias, I think I need to stop for a little bit." I panted out. He peered at me anxiously and called out for the others to stop. They all agreed that now was a good time to rest. I immediately stopped and dropped to the ground.
Tobias kneeled in front of me, his eyes taking in my pale face, the sweat that beaded across my forehead and the short breaths that were coming out in small bursts. He placed a hand on my knee. "Are you ok?"
I nodded and swallowed suddenly, feeling the rise of bile in the back of my throat. "I think I'm going to be sick."
I don't know how but somehow I managed to get to my feet and run a distance away to be sick. My breathing came short and sparse. Tobias stood behind me, holding my hair back and rubbing my back. I stood up and slumped back against him. Suddenly my feet were no longer touching the ground but I was in Tobias' arms.
I protested weakly but he just ignored them. Vaguely I was aware of Evelyn's voice speaking with Tobias. "Is she alright?" She asked.
With my head against his chest, his voice rumbled against my ear. "She's exhausted—and pregnant." He sighed. "I knew this would be a bad idea letting her come."
"Then why did you?"
"Because she's Tris, even if I had of said no, she would have found a way to come. She's scared that if we're out here for months, long enough until she's heavily pregnant, the baby will come while we're out here. I fear that too. Also I think she fears that if we were out here for that amount of time and she was left back in Abnegation, she would be scared of having to do it alone—without me."
There was a moment of silence before Evelyn's voice said, "I'll see about setting camp up here for the night."
"Thank you."
***PAGE BREAK***
"Tris, Tris, wake up." I don't know when I fell asleep but it didn't feel like long. My whole body was aching and exhaustion weighed heavily on me. I felt Tobias' hand caress my cheek lightly. I sighed but didn't open my eyes. He chuckled. "Come on, Tris, I know you're awake." Reluctantly I opened my eyes and peered groggily at Tobias who kneeled beside me. I looked up and found that I was lying in a tent on one of the blankets I had packed. "I'm sorry I had to wake you, but I thought you might want something to eat."
I shook my head and rolled onto my other side. He chuckled once more. "Tris, you haven't eaten much today, you have to eat—if not for yourself, for the baby." I rolled to face him, peering up at his face, into his dark blue eyes.
I raised one of my hands for him to help me up. He took it and hauled me up. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he supported my weight as we walked out to where the rest of the group were passing around cans of food.
As soon as I sit on the ground beside Tobias, a can full of peas was handed to me. I took it and ate a spoonful of it; but as I went to hand it to the boy sitting beside me, Tobias, he nudged me and whispered into my ear, "Eat some more, you need it." I smiled up at Tobias and did as he had told me to. I let him take the can off of me and I accepted the next can which was filled with scrambled eggs.
I gasped as I felt an odd flutter in my stomach. From the corner of my eye I saw Tobias turn my way, concern evident on his face.
***PAGE BREAK***
That night Tobias and I lay on the blanket beside each other. I shivered and instantly he drew me closer to his side, enveloping me in his warmth. I reached out for one of his hands and he clasped mine in his. I moved our hands to the spot on my belly, where only a few moments ago I had felt that flutter again.
The flutter had continued throughout dinner and slowly as they persisted I realised that they were a good thing; that the baby was simply moving in my belly.
It came again, right under the spot where Tobias' and my hand were pressed. I heard Tobias gasp in the darkness. "What was that?" he whispered incredibly.
"The baby." I told him back. "He's been moving all night?"
I felt his lips touch my forehead lovingly. "He?"
I shrugged against him. "You know? Mother's intuition… I just have this feeling that it's a boy."
"Hmm…" is all he said on a sigh.
"Good night, Tobias." I whispered as I moved my head onto his chest.
He kissed my hair before whispering good night back to me.