"Welcome to Hot Topic." I say, escorting Tobias into the store.
He looks around. He is already familiar with the store, but now he must be familiar with it in a new light. Working here, is much different from just shopping here. I suppose that's how it is with every business, though.
"I can't wait for you to meet my friends." I say excitedly, as I dig behind the counter looking for a new lanyard. I've told Tobias all about my friends here, but he's never met them.
He nods. After a few minutes of rummaging, and digging behind the counter, I find a new black lanyard that has the white Hot Topic logo all around the sides. Each employee gets one, to let the customers know that we work here. I slip it over his head and he smiles. I find the piece of paper that is meant to go in it, and write, "Four" on it in sharpie. I unzip the plastic pouch that hangs from the lanyard, and slip in the paper.
"It's official." I say, grinning.
He returns my smile. "It is indeed."
"We should take a photo to commemorate this moment." I say, pulling out my iPhone. I unlock it using my thumb print, and open the camera app. I press the small button in the corner of the screen to switch cameras so it faces us. I stretch my arm out to hold the phone and Tobias gets comes close. He is behind me, but he presses his face against mine. The two of us smile as I press the button to take the picture.
"Thank you." I say.
He pulls away. "Your welcome." He grins.
I post the new picture on Instagram with the caption, New employee!
"I really like this picture." I say, looking down at my phone.
"Me too." He kisses my cheek.
I glance over at the clock on the wall, it reads 9:00am.
I run to the front of the store, and unlock the doors. We are officially open.
This morning is exceptionally slow. I guess no one really comes to the mall on Sunday mornings. Tobias and I spend our time reorganizing merchandise, unloading boxes, and looking at things we might want to buy for ourselves.
"Hey Tris!" Tobias says from across the store. "What about this?" Tobias holds up a padded bra, that is probably three times bigger than any of mine, with The Little Mermaid on it.
Heat creeps on to my cheeks, and I shout, "FOUR!" Even though the store is empty, someone could come any moment.
He chuckles softly and places it on its rightful hanger. A few seconds later our first customer of the day comes in. It is a girl with bright pink hair, tattoos, and a silver ring through her lip.
"Welcome to Hot Topic!" I say, pushing down the remnants of my blush. "If you need any help my name is Tris."
She nods, and starts to walk toward the wall of tee shirts. I busy myself reorganizing the little gadgets for sale on the register. I straighten out the perfumes, bracelets, and phone cases. I am snapped out of my daze by the girl returning to the register, with a My Chemical Romance tee shirt in hand.
"You ready?" I ask, stepping behind the cash register.
"Yeah." She says, placing the folded shirt on the countertop.
I scan and bag it. "That will be $19.95."
She hands me a credit card. "Can I see your ID?"
"Sure." She reaches down and pulls her wallet out her back pant pocket and opens it up to reveal her ID in the plastic slip cover.
"Alright." I say, looking it over.
She folds her wallet back up and slides it back into her jean pocket. "Alright," I say. "You're good to go!"
She gives me a small smile, causing the metal ring in her lip to become taught. She turns on her heel, and her neon pink hair swooshes behind her.
No body else come in for a while.
"Um, Tris?" Tobias asks, his voice echoing from the back of the store.
I turn in the direction of the voice. "Yes, Tobias?" I ask, heading toward the back of the store.
Tobias is hanging up some merchandise for a new movie called 'Insurgent'. "Is the business always this slow?" He hangs up a black tee shirt with a silver flame on it that reads, Dauntless.
I pause for a moment and run my hand along the shirt, puzzled. Why does this shirt have the name I use for my friends on it? Something about the flame holds my attention. I feel something spark from deep inside of me, but I don't know exactly what it is. I furrow my eyebrows.
"You alright?" Tobias asks, his eyebrows scrunching together in concern.
I shake my head vigorously. I suppose the shirt is just a coincidence. "Yeah. Um. No business isn't always this slow."
He nods. "It is a Sunday."
I nod, still wondering about this eerily familiar opens his mouth to speak
again, but before he can, Centuries by Fall Out Boy fills the speakers. I turn to face Tobias. "I'd say it's pretty safe to say this is our song."
He grins, and pulls me close to him.
Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
I place my hand on his cheek, and stare into the depths of his oceanic blue eyes.
But you will remember me
Remember me for centuries
And just one mistake
Is all it will take
We'll go down in history
Remember me for centuries
And as soon as the music picks up, he presses his lips to mine. I wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him passionately. Everything exits my mind except for him, and the beat.
Mummified my teenage dreams
No, it's nothing wrong with me
The kids are all wrong,
The story's all off
Heavy metal broke my heart
Tobias presses me against the wall and his tongue runs along my lower lip, asking for entrance.
Come on, come on and let me in
I gladly let him in.
The bruises on your thighs like my fingerprints
And this is supposed to match
The darkness that you felt
I never meant for you to fix yourself
Tobias presses me against the wall harder, causing something on a clothing rack to clatter to the ground. But I. Don't. Care.
Some legends are told Some turn to dust or to gold
He kisses me harder.
But you will remember me
Remember me for centuries
And just one mistake
Is all it will take.
We'll go down in history
Remember me for centuries
Hey, hey, hey Remember me for centuries
And I can't stop 'til the whole world knows my name
'Cause I was only born inside my dreams
Until you die for me, as long as there is a light, my shadow's over you
'Cause I am the opposite of amnesia
And you're a cherry blossom
You're about to bloom
You look so pretty, but you're gone so soon
Our kisses become faster, and more intense. I moan a little as his tongue moves inside of my mouth. His hands snake into my hair and holds my head steady.
Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
But you will remember me
Remember me for centuries
And just one mistake
Is all it will take.
We'll go down in history
Remember me for centuries
Hey, hey, hey Remember me for centuries
Tobias moves his hands down to hold my shoulders firmly, and moves his lips down to my neck. He kisses it roughly, causing my head to roll back in pleasure.
We've been here forever
And here's the frozen proof
I could scream forever
We are the poisoned youth
I wrap my legs around Tobias's waist firmly, placing all of my weight on the wall and Tobias. He moves his lips down to my exposed collarbone, and places kisses over my ravens.
Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold
But you will remember me
Remember me for centuries
And just one mistake
Is all it will take.
We'll go down in history
Remember me for centuries
Hey, hey, hey Remember me for centuries
His lips smile against my skin, as I run my hands into his hair and say. "Tobias."
We'll go down in history
Remember me for centuries
As if on cue, someone laughs as the last note of the song is played. I quickly release my legs from around his waste and turn toward the noise.
"I told you to lock the doors, Tris!"
Tobias and my cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"URIAH!" I shout.
I turn toward Tobias. "Tobias this is Uriah," I make a hand gesture toward Uriah. Tobias nods stiffly, his face putting all tomatoes to shame.
"Uriah, this is Tobias."
Hours later, Tobias showers while I check my email at my desk. So far, no emails are out of the ordinary. Just the usual. Hot Topic promotions, Twitter notifications... I continue scrolling down and a particular email catches my eye.
From: Jeanine Matthews (no subject)
I squint at the screen to make sure I'm seeing this right. What the hell does Jeanine Matthews want? I finally muster up the courage and click on the email. Whatever she wants, it can't be good.
Beatrice Prior,
It is to my understanding that you have become suspicious. A little bird told me that you and Tobias Eaton have already been to the jail cells to question Marcus about your "memory issues". As I am sure you are aware, Marcus and I were close partners. You are smarter than I though you were, to be able to retrieve those memories on your own. Marcus brought the both of you to me to experiment, as he suspected you were Divergent. For your safety, and ours, Marcus and I did erase yours and Tobias's memories. Yes, we have created a serum to do such things. If you have any intelligence whatsoever, you will not share this information with anyone. When I was experimenting on you, I discovered you and Tobias do indeed have a very uncommon brain condition,called Divergent. Essentially, that means that you are virtually resistant to the regular serums I have developed, and although this one has lasted longer, you managed to defy it as well. Your case of Divergent is much stronger than anyone else I have seen. I am still working on developing serums that will affect Divergents as well as people with normal brains. And you are the perfect subject. Since I have told you all of this information, it is not safe for you to continue living, in normal society, anyway. It is because of people like you that our society is so incredibly flawed. If you agree to come to the Erudite Center of Experimental Sciences and allow me to develop a serum that will affect Divergents permanently,
ending with your execution, I will let your family and friends continue to live, and no other citizen will ever have their memory taken from them against their will. If you do not agree, however, I will take what matters most to you, and I will put citizens under serums if need be. Hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Jeanine Matthews
When I finish reading the email, I know what I have to do. I'm so sorry, Tobias.