A/N: JerkZero and JerkNone both here to update! R&R! Thanks to Fantastical Fandoms for answering our question! I'm sorry you were pushed to saying that. :( It sucks when teachers don't do anything and you have to take things into your own hands.
***Tris's POV***
I walk to my room and close the door. Where could Christina be? I pull out my phone and send her three question marks.
She sends back Change of plans, I'm going on a date with Will! We should go shopping tomorrow!
I reply kk and slide my phone back into my pocket. I look in my mirror, I see the hood still around my face. I loosen the string, making it even and pull the hood off. I go to the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth, and then slide into my bed, still wearing Tobias's hoodie.
The days events rush through my mind, spinning fast enough to give me whiplash. Colors like ocean blue, dark hunter's green, and a light mint green rush around my brain. I remember Tobias and I kissing, and how nervous and yet excited I felt. I remember the gun…
I stand on a beach, the white sand loose and pristine. The ocean beside me smells like salt and a fine mist sprays my face. I rush to get away from the water, suddenly realizing I'm wearing an expensive dress. It's about the color of the sand and flows past my feet, which are bare of shoes. I look around to get a grasp of where I'm at.
I've never been to a beach before, but everything is in such detail. The way the green shrubbery starts and then grows thicker as it gets further from the water. The way the setting sun sends brilliant streaks of purples and oranges and pinks across the sky and water. It's almost as if it's on fire. The last thing I notice is the arch of flowers.
The arch itself is made of wicker and is white, and the flowers range from cream to deep blue. When I turn back around, the once empty beach is filled with people like my parents, brother, Christina, and Will. One more look at the arch and there is a priest and Tobias. He wears a black suit. Is this a wedding?
"Ladies and gentleman, we are gathered in this beautiful sight today, to bear witness to the union in holy matrimony of Tobias Eaton and Tris Prior," the priest says in a low and dull tone.
This isn't just a wedding, this is my wedding. The ceremony moves rapidly, and I'm holding Tobias's hands in my own, facing him with our eyes locked, and leaning closer by the second. My mouth doesn't move but my voice can be heard.
"I do."
Tobias smiles at me in a way I've never seen. It isn't a smirk, it isn't happiness. It's something deeper. It grows when he says, "I do."
Our faces inch closer and closer, about to seal our relationship with our lips, when Tobias has collapsed. I didn't hear the gunshot, I didn't see a gun, and yet I know he's been shot by Peter. I look up into the crowd, which is now empty.
Tobias bleeds out, already dead. Peter steps closer, wearing a suit similar to Tobias's, and says, "I do."
I wake with a start, gasping and clutching desperately at my chest for air. Gulps of it are forced in my mouth while I calm myself. What just happened? That wasn't a dream; it was a nightmare. I didn't marry Tobias. He couldn't save me in time.
I don't realize I'm crying until a salty tear drips onto my hand. It reminds me of the ocean, causing me to cry harder. I look at the clock and see it's almost five and time for me to start getting ready. I get out of my fetal position and dress. My tears eventually subside and I mentally scold myself for acting so ridiculous. I'm tired beyond belief, and I simply worked myself up into a frenzy over a stupid dream.
Nightmare, I correct myself while pulling on a pair of old jeans that are a bit too tight on me now. I adorn a plaid button-up shirt, boots and Tobias's hoodie to finish it off. I really want to have my mom braid my hair today, but know she's too busy, so I just pull it back into a bun.
I head down the stairs and skip the kitchen, knowing I can eat once my jobs are finished. Usually in the mornings my mom makes a big breakfast by seven when we come in from our chores.
On the way out the back door I bump into Caleb.
"Tris, dad wants you to feed the chickens first thing this morning. I've got cleaning duty and you've got to feed and milk the cows."
That was strange, as my father usually has me milk the cows first. He claims it helps the milk taste better if you get it earlier, but I don't really believe him. Nonetheless, I nod to Caleb and head out to the chicken coop. I can still smell Tobias's scent on me from wearing his hoodie all night. His cologne is nice and not overpowering, and like his car he has a faint trace of chocolate cake smell to him.
When he carried me back to the car last night, I realized just how much taller and wider he is than me. With someone like Peter or Eric, that intimidates me, but with Tobias it makes my heart flutter a little more.
I sigh as I wrench open the door to the barn and make my way over to the coops. My dad's hand built wooden shelf holds all of the chicken feed and other animals food. In the dim morning light, I can swear I see a shadow behind the shelf, but decide I'm just being paranoid after my dream.
I grab the feed and start flinging it at the chickens, laughing as they fight with each other to get it.
"Don't poke each other's eyes out, there's more!" I call out to them.
I watch them eat while I put away the feed, but notice a distinct sound other than their pecking and occasional clucks of enjoyment. It sounds steady and even. It sounds like breathing. It matches my own so well at first I think that maybe I dreamed it. But, no, it's different, deeper and less loud. I hold my breath, and a fraction of a second later the other breathing stops. It echoes when I release the air.
I try not to panic, or let the person or animal know I'm onto them. I pray it's just Caleb messing with me, and that Peter didn't somehow find me again. I make an effort to look at the shadowy form again without being detected, only to register that it's moved. Where did it go?
A container of feed has been opened. The lid is ajar and a small note sticks out of it. Cautiously as I can, I snatch the paper and read the neat script.
Town Dance?
Is this some kind of joke? Surely Caleb is behind this. I mean, who would ask me out besides Peter? And if it is Peter, I'm screwed.
A hand snakes its way around my waist, causing me to scream and jump back into the hard chest of my captor. He grunts a little from my head whacking his chest, and a 'thump' can be heard from it. I can feel a warm breath on my right ear as he speaks.
"Jeez, Tris, calm down. It's just me." Tobias.
I turn around, his arm still wrapped around me, and give him a mock glare. I can't help but notice that when he pouts his already full bottom lip looks both enchanting and engaging. His eyes are more like a raging ocean than ever before.
"You scared the heck out of me, Tobias!" I scold.
He smiles an easy smile, and I'm reminded of the look on his face in my dream last night. He notices the difference in expression on my face but lets it go. "Sorry, I didn't think I would scare you that bad." A pause. "What do you say?"
My eyebrows draw together in confusion before I realize what he's talking about.
"Oh, yes! Of course I'll go to the dance with you. Next time, though, you can just ask me in person. I think one mini-heart-attack is enough for me."
His arms wrap tighter around me and I return the hug, my head hitting his chest. We stay like that for longer than I can say before I remember the task at hand. He watches as I finish my chores, and a few times he asks me about what I'm doing. I teach him how to milk the cows and little things like that.
I wipe my hands off on my jeans after I'm done. "Are you hungry?" I ask. "My mom's making breakfast."
He seems uneasy at this. "Uh, yeah, I guess if it's alright with your parents…"
I grab his hand and drag him to the house, startling him. Inside I head upstairs and announce I'm going to get into something more presentable.
"You look fine just like that," Tobias tells me. A blush forms on my cheeks.
He waits outside my room while I shower, dry my hair, and pull on jeans and his sweatshirt. It still smells amazing, and I leave my hair up so that I can smell it better. When I come back out I find him talking to Caleb, and my good mood plummets.
To my surprise, they're both laughing and Tobias doesn't look the least bit embarrassed.
"There she is!" Caleb calls out.
We head downstairs and sit at the counter eating our eggs, bacon, toast with homemade strawberry jelly, and fresh milk. My parents don't talk to Tobias much, at least not in ways involving myself. When everyone is nearly finished, my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Wanna go shopping soon? I can pick you up in the Bug? Will is coming too. Christina's text reads.
I look to Tobias, who must have brought his Jeep here. "Do you want to go shopping with Christina and Will today? We could find outfits for the dance?" I notice my mother smile.
He nods his head. "Sure. Tell them to meet up here and I can take us all."
Tobias is here. Just drop the Bug off and then he can take us. The Bug's tank better have the same amount of gas I left in it, still in it!
"What do you mean, you think I look like a marshmallow?" I ask. We've been shopping for dresses for the past two hours at the mall, and so far neither Christina or I have made much progress. Will is currently determined to make me feel as though every dress I put on is a food.
The purple one was a grape, the orange one was, well an orange, and now the white one is a marshmallow. I will admit it sticks out at the bottom, but it's the best one I've seen all day.
"Actually, Tris, I have to sort of agree with Will. It looks like a wedding dress," Chris says.
I'm reminded of my dream yet again, but brush it aside. "What do you think, Tobias?"
He looks up from his thumbs, which he was just literally twiddling. For the fiftieth time today, he says, "It's fine."
I sit down in one of the chairs provided for us at the store, hoping the workers won't come over again and try to help us. As soon as I sit down my dress can literally poof up to my chest. Maybe it is too large.
"You're not into shopping, are you, Tobias?" I ask him. He shakes his head meekly as if being caught. Will throws up his hands.
"Listen, all we," he gestures to himself and Tobias, "have to do is rent out a tux and then call it a day. Maybe get some shoes and a tie, and we're done. You two, on the other hand, have to find a dress, accessories, shoes, and who knows what else. Why don't Tobias and I just go and get our clothes and when we get back you show us the dresses you like."
Chris huffs at him. "Will, we still have to match our dresses to your ties!"
He rolls his eyes. "Alright, go get that lady over there and try on three more dresses each. After that, I'm blowing this popsicle stand."
He nudges Tobias for agreement and gets none. The worker, upon hearing our conversation, rushes over to help us. She looks between the couples and smiles knowingly.
"Girls, I think I have the perfect dresses for you!" she says happily. I can't help but think it's because she's going to get us out of here soon.
She runs, literally runs, to the backroom of the store and comes back with a yellow dress and a blue one. She hands me the blue one and pushes me into one of the changing rooms, doing the same to Christina.
I fumble to get off the white one and then throw on the blue one. I tell myself that as long as it fits, I'm buying it. I'm just as done with shopping as Tobias is at this point.
When I look in the mirror, I can't help but gasp. The blue satin is exactly the same color as Tobias's eyes. It's strapless and a decent length, and has accents of black in it. It fits perfect, and the cut helps make me look more filled out. It's perfect.
I hear Will "oohing" and suspect Chris has already come out of the dressing room. I fling open the door to find her in the yellow one, looking gorgeous. It works great with her skin tone and isn't too stand-outish. She beams in it.
"That's the one, Chris! And I'm not just saying that because I feel uncomfortable in this store," Will says.
She looks at me and gasps just like I did. "Oh my gosh! Tris, you look amazing!"
"So do you!" I praise.
She shakes her head. "No, I mean, like you look amazing. That dress matches Four's eyes!"
This draws attention to Tobias, whose grin is from ear to ear. He stands and puts his hands on my waist, slowly rocking me back and forth as if we're dancing. He bends and whispers into my ear.
"That's the one I like."
The lady comes over to help us put away our mountains of dresses and bag the ones we are going to buy. She wishes us well as we leave, and Tobias's hand finds mine.
Will leads us, in quite a rush to evacuate the store, to the men's suit place. Without much to-do, they pick out their tuxes, find matching ties, and grab the first pair of shoes in their size. Christina and I look at each other with wide eyes.
"You guys didn't even try them on!" we say in unison.
They shrug. "So, we know the measurements are right? Now, why don't you two go to the foodcourt and grab something to eat. We'll be there in a minute," Will commands.
Chris starts to protest. "But-"
"It'll be fine," Tobias says, making me feel better about leaving.
On the way to the sub shop, Christina rants at me. "I can't believe it! They just shooed us away like that! And how did they pick out shoes that fast? I mean, we're going to have to make a whole other trip just to find our shoes and accessories!"
I gently say, "Actually, I have a black pair of heels at home that go with my dress, and I'm pretty sure one of my mom's necklaces will work with it."
We hit the sub shop and I order my usual, as does Christina.
We eat our entire sandwiches and the boys are still not back. I excuse myself to the lady's room and Christina insists that she needs to stay in case the boys come back. I leave my dress with her.
On my way to the lady's room someone snatches me from behind, clamping their hand around my mouth. "You shopping for a dress to go to the dance with me?" he asks. Peter.
I purposely make my response so mumbled he can't understand me, forcing him to unclench his hand from my mouth. He tightens the grip around my stomach, pressing my back close against his front. I note that he is slightly shorter than Tobias.
"What was that?" he asks with a smirk I can hear.
"I said, I was looking for a dress for you. I found a green one that would be lovely with your eyes…" I joke, hoping he'll either get pissed or laugh.
He goes for the former. "Shut up. You're coming with me. Eric's on his bike outside waiting, and he doesn't want me late. He may have to come in for backup."
I try to elbow him, but am unable to. "Remember the last time you tried this in a public place? You got kicked out. Will and Four are coming back soon, and Christina is right out there."
His grip loosens and he leans, pressing his mouth against my ear. He kisses it before speaking in a quiet, seductive voice.
"Tris, please. I just want to be with you. You know that, right? If it weren't for your boyfriend, you would like me. Please," his voice breaks off on the last please, and his arms move to rub my own.
Despite my disgust, I force myself to shiver. "Peter…"
He grabs my hands from behind and crosses them around my middle. He's being very gentle for now, but I know the minute he get's me away from Tobias he won't be as pleasant.
"Please," he murmurs, lining the back of my head with kisses. I don't cringe at his touch, but know I can't keep this up for much longer. I have to get his guard completely down.
After a few seconds, it's there; a break. He releases my hands, and I lean into him to encourage him to fully release me. In the moment he moves to turn me around, I've bolted. I dodge through the people who give me dirty looks, Peter following close behind. I call out to Christina, who looks up just as I trip. Peter looms over me as I scoot away in vain.
Someone lifts me up from behind by placing their arms under my own. I hiss, thinking it's Eric, and shake them off of myself. When they let me, I realize it's not Eric. Thank goodness.
Peter looks as though he's been slapped in the face, but I don't feel guilt. I tricked him, yes, but he was trying to seduce me for crying out loud! I set my jaw in determination and glare back at him. Tobias grabs my hand and moves in front of me.
"What part of get away from her don't you understand?" he asks, almost exasperatedly so.
"Aren't you that same guy who was at the party last night?" Will asks.
Peter points to me, giving up this round. "You watch yourself, Tris. You're going to regret refusing me. You would have been better off without Four." He spits Four's name.
He leaves in a haste, and I notice his cell phone light up in his pocket. My own phone buzzes at the same time. A text from Caleb asking when I'll be home. I squint at Peter, wondering just what his motives are and what he plans to do now. For some reason, I feel like I should lie to Caleb.
I'm spending the night at Christina's; won't be home until tomorrow.
Tobias helps me sit down at the table with my food and pulls up a chair beside me. He places a hand under my chin and looks me in the eyes.
"Are you okay? What did he do to to?" he asks.
I pull away from him. "Nothing, he just threatened me to try and go with him."
"Are you okay, though?" Will asks me.
I shake my head, causing Tobias to panic. "I still really have to go pee."
A/N: Have you ever gone dress shopping with a guy? Or are you a guy that's gone dress shopping? We'd love to hear any experiences you may have had!