Chapter 5

Hey guyssss, sorry about that whole not-updating-for-three-weeks thing. *nervously laughs* Anyway, I could use some feedback. Should I have them grow apart, or grow closer? If they grow apart, the story will likely better and longer, but if closer, then the length won't be as long. But if you want both, I can definitely make that happen. The end of this chapter might change your mind. Please let me know(:

"That was fantastic, Tris. I love it. The lyrics are solid, your voice is beautiful, and you, well, are stunning. A little bit of a long nose… and you're hair could be longer… But we've got photoshop and hair extensions for that problem."

Tris consciously touched her nose.

"So how many originals ya got?"

She shrugged. "Three album's worth, at least."

"Okay. I'll pick about five to put on your album, and then we'll hire a writer for the rest."

"A writer?"

"Yes, to write your songs. She's written for Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and even Selena Gomez. The biggest names of pop."

"Oh."

"Now, run that track again, Eaton. Tris, do it exactly like before, except make your inflection more… dynamic."

She nodded. "Got it."

When she did so, it sounded somewhat better. She was a little upset about the whole writing thing, but it was the price to pay in order to sing and do what she loved. A price she was definitely willing to pay.

Later that day, she went out to the bar a few blocks away from her new apartment. She planned on unpacking her things and going shopping to make her place more like a home, but a beer was much needed after finding out she wouldn't be writing her own songs. When she arrived at the bar, all she did was order a simple beer and watch the game. She could hold her alcohol, and since it was only a singular beer, she wasn't even buzzed. She'd gone back home after doing so at around 7:30.

She changed into her sweatpants and simple tee that read "Chelsea F.C." (For you Americans, that's Chelsea Football Club. For you extra-American people, football is soccer.)

Tris reached for her book lying on the table. It was the only thing she ever unpacked. The apartment came pre-furnished, which was convenient. About ten pages later and two songs into her indie playlist, she heard a knock on the door. The only person who knew where she lived was Tobias.

She curiously got up and opened the door, book still in hand. She was surprised when she saw who was on the other side.

"Hello," he said. "I noticed that we had a new neighbor. I heard you were British and just wanted to welcome you to America. Usually people say New Yorkers are mean, which is true, but I was born in small-town Ohio. I just wanted to let you know that if you ever need anything, I'm usually available. Can't promise anything," he chuckled.

"Oh, well that's very sweet. Thank you. My name is Tris Prior and I indeed am from Britain."

He smiled. "I'm Uriah. Pedrad. Um, Uriah Pedrad."

"Would you like to come in for a beer?"

"As much as I'd love to, I made plans with my brother and I'm headed there now. Rain check?"

She nodded and smiled. "Lovely to meet you, Uriah."

"Same to you, Tris."

He gave her another kind smile, and then strode off.

Just as she sat down to continue reading her book, there was another knock at the door. Tris groaned and set her book down. All she wanted to do was read her book. That was all.

She got up yet again, and when she opened the door, she didn't see her newfound Ohioan friend like she'd expected. What she saw—who she saw—was much more exciting than any stranger. He was wearing pajama pants with a t-shirt that read: "Chicago Cubs." He was also barefoot. The cutest part, though, was the warm, shy, and kind smile he gave her.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Tobias Eaton."

He laughed. "Hi, Tris."

"Come in," she told him, offering an altruistic smile. "What're you doing here?"

"Well, I was in the neighborhood and I happened—"

"We live in the same block of flats, Tobias," she told him as she chuckled. "What're you actually doing here?"

"Okay, you got me. I was just checking up. Seeing how the unpacking's going." He glanced at the few boxes and laughed. "Clearly not very well."

She shook her head. "I just want to read or watch some movies tonight. Not unpack. You know?"

He was silent for a few moments, but then smirked a smirk that Tris knew it meant he was up to no good.

She raised an eyebrow. "What're you thinkin' in that pretty head of yours?"

"What would you say if I, hypothetically, suggested that we build a fort and watch a bunch of romcoms?"

She laughed. "Well I'd hypothetically say yes."

"Well I think I'd hypothetically love that."

"I'm terrified I'd hypothetically get caught in the romcom world and try to kiss you."

He nodded to show understanding. "If I were to kiss you back, or first, during this whole night, what would you do?—Hypothetically speaking, of course."

She cleared her throat then said confidently, "Hypothetically, we'd be standing a little like this,"—Tris stepped closer to him so their noses were a millimeter away from touching—"and my hands would be somewhere like this, maybe…"—she put her hands on his chest, one on his heart, and one on the opposite side—"Oh, and perhaps I'd remark something like, 'Wow, you're heart is beating exceptionally fast.' And you're hands would be, I don't know,"—Tris removed her hands from his chest and took his in hers, then put them on her waist—"possibly here. And, it being that I have quite led you on over the night, flirting, teasing… things of that sort, you lean in to kiss me, like so." Tris took her finger and put it under his chin, nearing his lips to hers. She could tell he didn't have any strength left. "And then, having cardiophobia, which is the fear of the heart, I would, hypothetically, instantly pull away. Like this." Tris pursed her lips, urging herself to step back.

She couldn't.

"Stuck in mud, Tris?" he asked with a hint of sour love and bittersweet hate.

She closed her eyes and looked down. "More like concrete."

He chuckled. "I'll do it for you."

Tobias stepped back a little with a sad smile on his face. "Want to build a fort and watch a bunch of romcoms?"

"Yes," she said as she looked back up. Her bright eyes back inside those blue-gray capsules, always, always, always, seemed to calm Tobias in a way that no other's could.

He smiled. "My place?"

She nodded. "Sounds brilliant."

So off they went, down the hall, last door on the left, to the place where Tris's happiness awaited her.

When she stepped inside, she observed her surroundings. It was similar to her own apartment in many ways, which was why she didn't spend too much time getting down to business.

She helped Tobias flip the two couches and gather every pillow in the entire apartment. There were around twenty pillows and seven blankets. They laid down pillows inside the fort, then covered them with a blanket. The couches were about five feet apart, lying on their sides, so they covered the top with blankets. Tobias put Notting Hill into the DVD player, and then hopped inside the fort beside Tris.

She smiled at him, and he pressed play.

Tobias and Tris watched the movie. Not only would Tris quote certain parts, but so would Tobias. He would frequently quote William, while Tris would quote Anna. Tobias ranted about the honey-soaked apricots, and Tris found that absolutely adorable. She was glad he could enjoy more than just horror and action films—which she liked too. About an hour after that, she quoted this, looking Tobias dead in the eye: "Remember that I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

In that moment, Tobias looked at me with a look that consisted of nothing but admiration. He looked like he could kiss her at any given moment.

He didn't.

When the movie was over, it was about ten o'clock, and Tris knew she should've been going home, so she stood and got out from the fort.

"I should probably be getting home…," she said, even though she didn't want to.

"What? What is this, a one-movie stand? Get back here."

"Tobias…"

He sighed. "I didn't want to have to do this, but…" He got up and pulled her into the fort. He put his hands on her waist, and then began tickling her. She squirmed around and, eventually, she underneath of Tobias, and, if she was being totally honest with herself, she didn't mind it. She flipped him over, and, even though she knew he could easily break from her grasp and pin her, he stayed put.

They were silent and breathing heavily.

Tris slowly leaned down, then moved her lips to his ear. "You got a thing for Brits?"

"Nope," he said softly. "Just you."

"What a shame, because all we are is friendly coworkers." She swung her leg off of him, got out of their makeshift fort, and then into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and grabbed a water bottle. Tobias made her throat dry, if she was being candid.

He followed her into the kitchen.

"Why do you do that?"

"Hm?"

"Why do you come this close to kissing me"—he pinched his fingers so they were about a millimeter apart—"and then not go through with it? I know you want to. I can see it in your eyes, Tris."

She shrugged. "I do want you. I want every piece of you. I want your lips on mine all the time. I want so much more than just your body. And I don't know why."

"Why?"

"I myself don't know the answer to that question. I've only known you for about a week, and it feels like years. I'm pretty confused about it. But I know that I can't date you. I'm not about to lose a record deal for a crazy, wild, American broad. The company never said anything about flirting though, did they?"

He shook his head. "This hardly feels like flirting, Tris."

She threw him an inquisitive look.

"I don't want you to be something I can never have. When we were out in London showing me around, and when I showed you around New York, that was flirting. Now… Now you're just dangling a bone directly above me, as if I was a dog."

"So, what, you just want me to stop?"

He laughed and shook his head again. "That's the thing. I don't think I want you to."

She sighed, but also, she was smiling. She neared him, wrapping her arms around his neck, then leaned in toward his lips. "Why do I have this feeling that you're about to mess up my whole life?"