Chapter 17
I don't own Divergent!
TRIS'S POV:
I've never been kissed before. Maybe on the cheek lightly or a quick mistake of somebody else, but never on the lips fully- by a person I have liked for some time.
Steal a kiss.
That's what he said. He likes me. I thought he might've, but I denied myself the thought. I don't know how to respond so when he pulls back I swear I did something wrong. He grins at me like a maniac.
"Tobias-"
He pulls my face to his tilting my head up. My hands loop around his neck and they run into his dark hair. His hair is soft and scruffy at the same time, smoothing under my fingers. I can feel him smiling against my lips. His lips are soft and warm pressed against mine. Both of his hands cage my face, holding me to him.
"Tobias," I say breathless.
"Yeah?" He asks tilting his head slightly grinning.
"What was that?" I say my face probably resembling shock.
Oh stupid Tris! Why'd you have to say that!
"What I had to steal," he says still smiling.
His blue eyes brighten with a glint. I can't help myself so I smile. He puts his lips right next to my ear the warmth tickling the soft cartilage. My heart is pounding at his closeness.
"Best thing I've ever stolen."
His lips press to my ear quickly before returning to my full view. I try not to appear as I'm absolutely enjoying his kisses.
"What have you stolen before?" I ask amused.
"This and that," he murmurs. "I like you Tris," he says suddenly.
"Like you too Tobias," I say breathing in his scent.
Metal, sweat, detergent.
"I hate to say this," he says. "But we got to go."
I jut my lower lip and he smiles at me. I roll my eyes rubbing a finger over the back of his hand. He grabs my finger and laces all of his through mine.
"So," I ask tentatively. "What does that make us?" I say.
"Together!" Tobias says cheekily.
Somewhere near my stomach a warm feeling spreads to my toes. I like him, he likes me. I can't think straight.
"I-" I stop forgetting that I have nothing to say.
"What's up Tris? You feeling ok?"
"Yeah... Yeah I'm ok," I say leaning to his arm.
He slips an arm around my waist steadying me. I shiver at his touch.
"Tris, hey Stiff, are you sure you want to get up?"
I narrow my eyes when he says "Stiff" so he rubs my cheek with the back of his index finger.
"Hey Tobias," I stop not knowing what faction he came from originally- he was probably Dauntless- so I don't have a name to call him.
He chuckles and I bat his hand away.
"Come on Tris," he says gesturing to outside.
I hop up my thoughts light and airy -I feel stupid-, but it's Tobias's fault for making me feel like this. Thinking of Tobias I glance over at him and give a once over. The same dark jeans and dark shirt. His dark brown hair is stiffened just a bit with gel and his navy eyes are glinting. The muscles in his arms are defined even more when he moves.
"Com-coming," I say.
Oh God, why must he be so perfect?
I scamper after him and just as I reach the opening of the tent he lifts me up over his shoulder.
"Tobias?" I ask wondering what in the world he's doing.
"Yes, Stiff?" He responds his deep voice rumbling with hints of amusement.
"What are you doing?"
"Carrying you," he says.
I loop my arms around his neck after he starts walking so I won't fall- although I don't think he would let me fall.
"Come on you two! Just because I left you guys alone it doesn't mean you can get all lovey-dovey on me," Christina says her hands on her hips.
"Hm lovey-dovey Christina? What do you do with Will? Talk about the meaning of life?" Tobias says the light amusement still apparent in his tone.
Christina blushes a crimson color which makes me think what she's thinking of. I chuckle.
At least it got Christina to shut up.
"T-Four what's the plan?" I ask.
"Mm wait let me think," he says taking a lock of my hair and twirling it between his long slender fingers.
He seems to remain in some contact with me ever since he kissed me- holding my hand, his finger skimming my cheek, twirling my hair. It makes me feel awake. Christina raises an eyebrow as Tobias looks at me thoughtfully. I shrug at her and she rolls her eyes good naturedly.
"Four? Stop with Tris's hair and talk," Christina says.
"Huh? Sorry, but what if I don't want to?"
I roll my eyes, but my cheeks heat up with blush-blood.
"Well I don't care! Come on!" She says. "Tris tell him to stop!"
I turn to face Tobias and firmly place a hand on his chest and playfully push him back. He rolls his eyes, but turns to Christina.
"Well it is your father how would you like to approach this?"
"We need evidence," she responds. "We can't do anything without evidence."
"Which we've gathered none of," I say exasperated.
"And why is nobody awake!" Christina asks.
It's actually funny how everybody is actually asleep. Nobody has woken up at all.
"Yeah it's weird..."
Tobias taps my shoulder and I turn around to him.
"Yeah?"
"Sorry I'm kind of distracted by your beauty can you stand behind me?" He says absolutely serious.
"Oh God, Four," I respond rolling my eyes.
"Can you two focus?" Christina shouts.
"Huh?"
"Focus Four, just focus."
TOBIAS'S POV:
An odd feeling courses through my body. I feel warm and cold and overly happy than I've been- ever. She likes me, I like her. It actually hurts to think straight.
But Tobias you could just say Marcus.
I shudder at my thoughts thrown off by the sudden dark interference with my brain.
"You ok Four?" Christina asks offhandedly.
"Tobias?" Tris says low enough so that only I will hear my name.
I collect my thoughts and straighten my back turning rigid and taut. Tris's tiny hand skims across my arm as if to reassure me that my sad excuse for a father is not mine. I rub my flames to calm that fierce desire to perform something directly off of impulse.
"What's wrong Tobias?" She whispers in my ear.
Her lips tickle my ear with her hot breath. I shiver hoping she doesn't notice my reaction. She's unraveling me. I shake my head lightly. She takes my hand lacing up our fingers and squeezes my hand. I squeeze back once. I finally can touch her- hold her hand, or anything- without being embarrassed to.
Not like you were embarrassed.
"Well how are we going to get evidence?" Tris asks.
"We could always just report him and make him fess up," Christina's says.
I shake my head.
"No, who are they going to believe a grown man or a couple of teenagers?" I respond matter-of-factly.
Tris loops her arm around mine and draws herself closer to my side. Nervous to do so I wriggle out of her grasp and snake my arm around her waist. When she obliges I breathe out.
"Well what is your idea Four?"
"We should find him first. Marcus on the loose isn't a good idea for any of us," I say instructor voiced.
"Where did you leave him?" Christina asks.
"Somewhere near the stream thing."
"Let's go then!" Christina shouts excited.
"Whoa wait; have you seen what you're wearing? I've never seen you that way," I say.
"Oh jeez! Ok I'll change then we'll go," she says dashing into the tent.
I turn to Tris and give her a crooked smile. She smiles back although I can see the anxiousness and fatigued look in her eyes.
"Aren't you tired Tris?" I ask.
She looks up at me her eyes sliding.
"Yeah, well no- I mean I'm fine," she sighs.
I gaze at her almost smiling because I know she likes me as much as I like her. Which is quite a lot. I wrap her in a hug thinking that after all that has happened she needs one. She buries her face into my shoulder and breathes hot air into the thin jacket I have on.
"Question, but do you still have my jacket?" I ask her.
"Your jacket? Yeah I still have it," she says into my shoulder.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I just thought about it," I say.
"Do you want it back? Because-"
"No! I want you to have it."
"Then why'd you ask Tobias?"
I shrug and she laughs for a reason that remains unknown to me.
TRIS'S POV:
My heart beats a mile a minute pounding through my chest making my body alert, awake. Tobias's fingers drum against his knee alternating to resting on my own. I force myself not to shy away from his touch because that was how I was raised. Physical affection wasn't a strongpoint of learning for my family.
Christina is in her father's office discussing about Marcus and our situation. I wanted to go in, but Christina insisted that she could do it alone.
"We could go somewhere tonight," Tobias says into my ear softly.
My head jerks to the side and collides with his. I wince while he laughs.
"With this all going on?" I ask him.
"Forget that disgusting man. I can officially call you my girlfriend now, I'm taking us somewhere."
"Are you sure Tobias? What if something goes wrong? Like if Marcus is being a psychopathic jerk and-"
"Tris," he says lingering on that one syllable for as long as he can. "For me?"
I run through my thought process trying to think of all the possibilities that could happen with us and Marcus- things that have happened. My Erudite switches on.
He gives me that resolve-shattering look- navy eyes wide, lips set in a subtle pout, and that goddy beautiful face.
"Don't do that Four. Don't you give me that look!" I say wringing my hands.
He smiles as if he's just won a battle- which he has- that he knew he would eventually.
"Where would you like to go fairest one?" He asks.
I hear Christina's muffled voice through the tinted glass door and her father's deep tone softer than hers. My inner Erudite forces me to listen although I would rather forget about Marcus.
"You pick, I think you know the camp just a bit better than me."
Tobias's warm fingers lace through mine and I feel shy again. I hope my cheeks don't flush like how I imagine they would.
"Or I could cook and then we could do something," he says- mostly to himself.
"Since you're an amazing cook..."
"I'm glad you enjoy my cooking," he says in his deep voice.
"Of course I do," I say sleepily.
My eyelids droop and my head lightly aches.
"Tobias?" I ask him quietly to make sure nobody hears his real name.
"Yeah Tris?"
"Can I sleep for a bit? Just like five minutes. My head hurts," I say.
He pats his lap and I lower my head down to his lap. I hate to feel weak right now, but I need sleep. Plus, this is Tobias.
TOBIAS'S POV:
Tris is probably right about the danger of Marcus. I really want to take her somewhere though, and my god-forsaken father is not getting in my way. Tris shuffles and moans a bit.
"Shh Tris," I say softly caressing her golden hair.
Christina bursts through the door smirking at me with a cocky grin on her face.
"I bet you want to hear this," she says plopping into the seat next to Tris.
Tris shoots up abruptly colliding the top of her head with my chin.
"Oh jeez, that's the second time," she mumbles.
I smirk slightly while chuckling.
"So dad- my dad said that he would watch out and start looking into the stuff further," Christina reports looking pleased.
I glance over at Tris to see that she holds the same expression of withheld words. She thinks the same as I do. She knows just "looking into" things about Marcus won't suffice. Neither of us voices our thoughts though and Christina appears pleased by the fact.
"Thanks Christina," Tris says stiffly.
Christina doesn't appear to hear the edge in her tone because see hops up and grabs Tris's arm yanking her away from me. The last thing I hear is "So what did I hear about a date?" when she skips out of the cold brick building Tris in her grasp.
A/N: Mm so I hope you guys enjoy the chappie. Summer is on! Is anybody as obsessed with Theo James? No? Too bad. To the people who read A/N's I suggest a book. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. It's superbly awesome. Anyway please read & review and keep giving those ideas!
~TFW