I don't own Divergent!
Chapter Eleven
TRIS'S POV:
I stare up at Tobias as if I just notice that I was asleep just a minute before.
"Marcus? What happened?" I ask urgently.
My seriousness is cut off by an upcoming yawn that escapes my mouth.
"Nothing to worry about really. Actually Marcus is being a goddy jack-as-"
"What'd he say Tobias?" I say cutting off his reasoning.
The time on my phone reads 3:05 pm so I guess we slept for a couple hours.
Everyone around us is asleep with blankets that I swear weren't there when we watched the movie.
"All I'm saying is that we should stay in today," he says. "Or the rest of the day that we have."
His dark hair isn't visible because outside is still cloudy and I can hear the soft patter of rain. Although, his blue eyes are still sparked with energy even though I suspect he's been asleep too.
I narrow my eyes at him. What's the matter with showing me what Marcus said?
"What's wrong Tobias," I say not harshly.
"Nothing, it's nothing to worry about really Tris," he says his blue eyes looking sincere.
That look breaks me. My resolve cracks into tiny porcelain pieces scattered on the ground.
I bite my lip and slowly jut it out in my protocol defiance, but then slowly draw my lip back in.
I don't miss it when I see Tobias's lip twitch. I don't press to ask more but I do shuffle further into the jacket and the blankets.
"Are you still tired? I did wake you..." He says.
"No, no just absolutely cold," I say gravitating toward him slightly.
We're sitting so close that I could turn my head and his shoulder would be perfectly aligned with my head.
"I've got all the hotness I think," he says seriously and then chuckling at how it might've sound to me.
I inwardly roll my eyes.
"Not fair to tell you the truth, I'm always cold," I say leaning my head so it just slightly brushes his shoulder.
"Life's not fair," he responds.
Our conversations at good times are easy and full of sarcasm-y conversational verbalization. I like how I can just talk to him.
"Tris?"
"Yeah Tobias," I whisper back.
"You can- can trust me right?" He says fiddling his fingers with his necklace.
The question implies that we've been through enough to make me trust him. I cock my head and look at him.
"Yeah, Four I can," I say.
He breathes a sigh of relief. Alternatively, maybe something else, I couldn't be sure.
"You can sleep if you like," he says patting his lap.
I eyes widen.
"Don't worry you were sleeping on my lap before I woke you up," he says nonchalantly.
I mentally punch myself. Now he would think I'm just one of those girls who threw themselves at people. Damn.
"Tris seriously don't worry about it," he says looking at me mentally fighting myself.
"No it's just..."
"Just what?"
"I feel pretty stupid right now," I answer truthfully rubbing my sweaty palms on my pants.
He chuckles and I scowl.
"It's not funny Four," I say biting the soft inside of my lip.
He starts laughing.
"To hell with you then!" I exclaim just loud enough to not wake the others.
"Sorry Tris, it's just I like seeing you embarrassed," he says a smirk playing on the side of his mouth.
"What's so funny?"
"You of course," he says.
"Can I ask you something?" I say.
"Yeah."
"What did you mean by Marcus using you to bring down Christina's dad?" I say.
The usual levity between us is forgotten, blown away by my sudden query.
"Well exactly that. Marcus intends for me to help him attack her father I think. He's had enough experience in attacking humans already," he says.
I don't question him when he says this because I already know what he talking about.
"I don't intend to help him of course. You should know that I don't particularly adore my father like a real son should," he says bitterly running a hand though his hair.
"And the sheet?" I ask.
"That is what I've developed a theory upon," he says.
I feel this is my moment to press, to ask.
"That?"
"That he is working with Jeanine," he says.
"Jeanine?" I ask.
The name sounds familiar like I should know it but I can't recall it.
"She might be Ms. Matthews to you," he says.
My mind clicks. During initiation, our trainer always referred to Ms. Matthews as a dirty Erudite. I've been wary of here since she sent out the camps news about Abnegation being nobodies that couldn't defend themselves from a beetle.
"Why would he be working with her?" I ask my voice incredulous.
"That's the thing, I don't know for sure. It's just a gut feeling, instinct I guess," he says rubbing his neck.
The rain outside clanks louder on the ground streaking down toward dirt and pavement and grass.
"Does that seem odd to you that I have this feeling?" He asks me.
"No, it doesn't. I've been wary of her since I learned her name in initiation," I reply.
"Is that so?" He says.
"Yes," I say.
I don't elaborate, don't explain what I mean.
"Are they going to wake up?" Tobias says a crooked smile on his face.
I look at all my friends sprawled across the ground.
"Huh I don't know, they usually don't though," I say smiling.
"Well then what are we going to do?" He says.
His expression is mischievous which scares me a bit.
"We could... I don't know," I say cocking my head.
"Want to cook?" He asks suddenly.
"Where?" I ask.
"We have a kitchen in here, although I noticed you girls didn't," he says.
"What do you guys cook in here? We should have the kitchen whereas you boys," I say.
"I'm a beautiful cook don't worry," he says standing up soundlessly offering me his hand.
I'm not sure if he's referring to himself as being beautiful or his cooking. I think that after a while I'll figure out that he's both. His hand looms over me still and I take it.
I feel my bones chill and warm up simultaneously.
He smirks as if he knows how his look affects me.
I mentally curse him.
"What are we going to cook?" I ask.
"Let me cook, it'll be a surprise for you Ms. Prior," he says bowing.
I blush the heat creeping up my cheekbones.
"I can cook you know," I say indignantly.
"I know, just wait and see my cooking. You, Tris, will be swept off your feet," he says winking.
I look away thoroughly embarrassed. He's cute though, the way he can do basically everything.
I watch as he walks to the little cubicle that they call a kitchen. Everything is stocked, spices, noodles, anything I could think up of.
"Can I watch at least?" I ask.
"Hell, you'll watch either way Tris," he says.
I smile deviously at his back. He knows what I would do.
"Pass me the salt," he says turning on the stove.
My eyebrows crease but I fumble through the cupboards for salt.
"While you're at it Tris could you retrieve that bottle of... Rosemary! Yeah, rosemary for me," he says.
I smile at his goofiness.
He must be passionate about cooking. He stares up at the timer on the oven even though his eyes are level with it.
"Can you tell me what you're cooking please?" I ask trying for a sweeter tone.
"No, any other day that would've worked Tris," he says.
I feel a jolt through me. Does that mean he likes me? The Abnegation me in says no he couldn't. The Dauntless part says anything's possible.
"Whatever Four," I say reverting back to his nickname to show him I'm huffy.
He laughs. God, that laugh.
"Do me a favor?" I say.
I watch him engrossed in filling a pot with water to heat it thinking that he didn't hear me.
"Anything," he responds.
I cock my head surprised at his response.
"Laugh," I say encouraged by his response.
He looks back at me with a contorted questioning face.
I plop myself down on a wobbly wooden chair. I line my fingers up with the wooden grooves notching down the head of the chair.
"Laugh? Why?" He asks still staring at me.
I shrug. He laughs. Not a fake one that I expected him to do if he actually did laugh for me.
I smile.
"Stop distracting me Tris! I'm not going to get you any food if you keep making me laugh," he says.
I let out a breath as if I'm saying "ok".
I watch as he pulls out a jar of sauce that looks like a darker shade of cream.
He looks back at me shortly as if to check if I'm still there.
"Tell me about yourself Tobias," I say.
I noticed that I never asked about him, I think his connection with Marcus was holding me back.
"Well there's not particularly much. But well... There's Marcus, my deceased mother, and me. Your regular sports guy who prefers to hang low at school," he says.
I feel a pang of sadness hearing about someone being dead. I'm still to Abnegation.
I don't reply and Tobias continues to cook.
After a while, an intoxicating smell wafts from the oven and I fight the urge to scamper up and inhale it all.
"Almost done," Tobias says.
He dressed up in a whole chef's attire. He has on an apron low on his waist and his shoes remind of those chef's in the movies.
"Ok, ok this is it!" Tobias's exclaims pulling two white plates toward his chest.
I see a fancy swirl of angel hair layered in creamy fettuccine sauce. Small herbs adorn the sauce making it beautiful.
"Damn Tobias, it smells like heaven," I say my eyes wide.
"Better taste like it too," he responds.
"Jeez Four, what's in the oven?"
"Bread, garlic bread," he says.
"Are you hungry?"
"Hell I am!" Christina says strutting in.
"Lucky I cooked extra," Tobias, mutters.
He hands me a plate and Christina one also.
What a gentleman.
He grabs another plate for himself and sits down beside me.
"How long have you two been up?" Christina asks devouring her food while eyeing us suspiciously.
I check my phone for the time.
"About an hour," I reply forking the noodles into my mouth.
The angel hair is light and creamy complimented by the bread that I didn't even know appeared on my plate.
"This is fantastic," she mumbles through a full mouth.
"Four here is quite the chef," I say to Tobias.
Underneath the table, his hand brushes my which sends shivers through my back.
"You're an amazing cook!" She exclaims full of enthusiasm.
Tobias chuckles lowly.
We eat for a while and then Tobias starts cleaning which Christina and I help him with.
"Want to go out later Tris? We could shop, you know how there are the shops in the Dauntless area," she says brushing back her hair.
"Eh maybe, it's rainy. Plus, I love relaxing on rainy days," I say.
"Me too," she replies.
TOBIAS'S POV:
I starting to think that Tris likes me as much as I like her. Like the way she blushes when I try to act like a gentleman or when I say something honest.
On the other hand, maybe she's just concerned about her safety from Marcus. Maybe, she doesn't even like me at all.
"What do you want to do?" Christina asks Tris as the start walking into the living room area where everyone is sleeping.
"Hm I don't know," she says biting her lower lip.
I pull out my phone and text Tris something.
How was the food?
She feels a vibration, pulls out her phone, and looks at the number. Her lip curls and she starts typing.
Incredible. Best ever. Didn't know u were a cook.
I chuckle behind her.
"I'm gonna go to our room to get something, I'll be back in a few," Tris says to Christina and me.
Christina and I nod.
When Tris is out of the room, Christina bombards me with questions.
"Do you like Tris? Is there something between you two? Are you going to ask her out? Huh?" she asks.
I scratch my flames and think about the best way to answer her. Lying wouldn't be an option considering how much time I've been hanging out with her. Not answering isn't going to work with a Candor. All I have is honesty.
"Yeah," I say.
"Yeah to which ones?" She asks excited.
"All of them I guess," I say trying not to let the heat creep up further than my neck.
"Ahhhh!" She screams.
I'm hoping that means that Tris likes me too.
"When! When are you going ask?" She squeals.
"I don't know," I say embarrassed.
Any second Tris could come in the door and I can't even fathom my reaction.
It's been more than 5 minutes though and she isn't back. Probably girl stuff, I think.
"Where's Tris?" Christina asks to anybody that might be listening.
"I don't know..."
We wait for a little while longer and Christina goes to the girl's room to find her.
My phone dings from a text.
I'm waiting in the parking lot so you had better be there later.
Marcus.
"Tris? Where are you?" Christina calls out.
"Tris?" I echo.
No answer. My brain starts up with worst-case scenarios as it usually does when I'm nervous.
Christina snatches up a note from the table.
Christina & Four,
Went out for some fresh air. The rain died down. Might wander for a while. Don't worry.
-Tris
Oh God. I look down at my phone again and curse. Marcus is out there. Crap.
A/N: Is this good? Do you guys like reading this? To Queen Elizabeth III because her reviews crack me up. Thanks for the reviews and everything guys. Hope you like the story! Read & Review!