Chapter 11
"Tris Prior!"
She shot up from the couch from in between Tobias's legs. "What?" she asked groggily, just waking up.
Tobias groaned, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her back down.
"Tobias," she whispered. "Wake up." She laid a hand on his cheek as she whispered him sweet-nothings, which were really sweet-everythings.
She sat up again and said, "Christina, what're you doing here?"
"We agreed for breakfast before work. I see why you didn't remember," she told her with a smirk. "Sleep well, Tobias?" Christina teased.
Tobias sat up and said, "Yes, very."
"Christina, can you wait outside for, like, five minutes, please? I'll be ready by then."
"All right," she said, smirking. "Don't have too much fun."
With that, she went back outside.
Tris turned around on the couch and was met with Tobias's lovely, sleepy face.
"Good morning," she whispered.
"Good morning, indeed." He leaned in and kissed her, and she willingly kissed back. She ended up being on top of him on the couch, making out with him, and loving every second of it.
"Tobias," she said, "you should probably go."
"Yeah," he answered. He kissed her one last time and got up. "See you at work."
She smiled. "Yeah. See ya."
He got up, put on his shirt, winked at her, and left.
She got up and put on some nice clothes for work, then met Chris outside.
"Beatrice Prior, what the hell just happened?"
"Um," she nervously chuckled, "what do you mean?"
"What I mean is for you to tell me why the hell I found a shirtless Tobias and you in a bra and leggings sleeping together on the couch, cuddling, and holding hands!"
Tris sighed. "Okay, okay. So, as you know, a he's been leaving flowers on my desk. He did something unforgivable, but I can't seem to stay away. Anyway, he wanted to talk about some things tonight, but I forgot because I was about to go on a run. Hence the leggings and sports bra. Basically we ended up making out and then cuddling. Nothing more."
"Tris. Oh my god. Oh my god!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
"What was the unforgivable thing he did though?"
"Ah… yeah, that's not my secret to tell," she said.
"Tris. We're best friends. You can tell me anything."
Tris sighed. She didn't know whether or not to tell her, but decided she should.
"Christina, what I'm about to you… you can't tell anybody. I mean it."
"Okay, okay, tell me!" she pressed.
"Tobias… Tobias is Four."
Christina blinked, showing no emotion. "You mean… the Four? As in the vigilante, Four?" she whispered.
Tris nodded. "You can't tell anybody. Seriously. Not even Will."
She shook her head. "I won't. So you love the guy you have to arrest?"
"I don't love him," she said immediately. "I just like him. I don't even know if we'll date."
"What do you mean? First off, you totally love him. Sorry, but I can tell. Second, why wouldn't you date?"
"First: No I don't love him. Second: I wouldn't date him because he's… Four."
"Tris," she said, "you have got to learn to take chances in life. You're staying within your comfort zone too much. Break free from it. Don't let it rule you."
She sighed. "You're right. You think I should give it a shot?"
"It's obvious you love him, so yeah, I think you should."
"I don't love him! I've known him for, like, three weeks!"
"Love is love. It is what it is. No period of time can measure how much you love someone. You could love him for three weeks or three years and it'd still be love. Love. Is. Love."
Tris sighed. "I guess you're right, Chris. But it's hard, you know?"
"I know it is, but what if you end up really loving him?"
Tris sighed, yet again. "Exactly. 'What if?'"
"Tris, you're so difficult. Just do it."
"You know what?" Tris said. "I will."
After breakfast with Christina, they walked to Tris's desk together because Chris wanted to see this rose thing for herself.
Tris thought maybe honesty was next, and she was right.
There was a singular rose, like usual, with a card.
"I know you like honesty, and I've been lacking in that lately, so here are ten honest facts:
You're beautiful
You're amazing
You're an awesome kisser
You're beyond my wildest dreams
I don't know why, but I can never seem to get you out of my head
Your music taste is quite nice
You smell amazingly
Cuddling with you is like sleeping on clouds
Holding you makes me feel like I matter
I'm sorry I never told you these things before."
Tris smiled as she read the card, and Christina was leaning over her shoulder trying to read it.
"Aw," Christina said, "he's so sweet."
Tris grinned even wider. "Yeah. I guess he's pretty great."
"All right, I've got to get to work. Have fun today with lover boy," she said, then winked playfully at her.
Tris rolled her eyes and then pondered over to Tobias's desk.
"You really think all these things?" she asked softly.
He nodded. "I really do."
She smiled again. "You're sweet."
"Like candy." He winked.
She didn't know what to say, so she just began to turn around and walk away.
"Tris," he said, sounding nervous.
She turned around stood beside his desk. "Hm?"
"Let me take you on a date."
She slightly smiled and blushed a little. "Okay."
"Really?" he asked. His face lit up and he grinned like a child in a toy store.
She chuckled. "Yeah. Really. Were you thinking tonight?"
"Well, honestly, I didn't think I would get this far," he said as he continued grinning. "But yeah, tonight works. You like sushi?"
"Love it."
"Good. I know a great place. Can I pick you up at 6:30?"
She nodded and smiled. "Sounds good. How should I dress?"
"Semi-classy should work."
"All right. It's a date," she said, then began to walk away. She never quite lost the smile on her face.
"It's a date," she heard him say quietly.
Tris went home later that day and immediately began to scope out an outfit. It was only 5:15, so she still had an hour and fifteen minutes. She felt like that was no time at all though.
She threw on a black crop top with three-quarter sleeves. The back had lace on it, but still wasn't very revealing. She stepped into a dark red high-waisted skirt. There was less than a centimeter of skin showing between her skirt and her crop top, so figured it was fine. She didn't want to be too formal, so she put on plain black combat boots.
Finally her outfit was complete. Now for accessories.
She put on dark red lipstick to match her skirt and mascara. She was never big on makeup, so she was satisfied. She ended up having an extra half hour, so she decided to paint her nails rather than do anything special with her hair. She liked leaving it down, her golden locks cascading over her shoulders. The moonlight typically glistened off her hair and made it look smooth a silk.
By the time it was 6:20, her dark red nail polish was dry.
Since she had a little extra time, she did decide to do something with her hair. Nothing to crazy though. Just a low side ponytail.
There was a knock on the door at 6:28, and she walked over to answer it.
"Hi," she said.
Tobias's eyes went big when he saw her.
"Hi," he said. "You look… wow. Amazing. Honestly. I mean, you look beautiful."
She blushed and looked down. "Thank you. You look quite dapper yourself," she chuckled, grabbing the tie of his suit. She pulled him closer by the tie. "Yes, quite dapper," she whispered, straightening his collar. She leaned upwards and kissed him. After a few seconds, she pulled back.
"Wow," he said. "Kissing on the first date?" Tobias teased.
She giggled. "C'mon, let's go."
Tris dragged him out the door and out the apartment building.
"So what's this place called?" Tris asked him as they walked down the street.
"Toa."
"They have good sushi?"
"Well," he said, "I wouldn't exactly know… A friend of mine recommended it. I mean, I've been wanting to go there for quite a while now, but not alone. I figured it'd be somewhere to go with someone special."
Tris smiled. "Does that mean I'm special?" she teased.
He grinned at her. "Yeah. Just a little."
It was silent as they walked there.
Their hands brushed every once in a while, so Tris wasn't surprised when Tobias grabbed her hand and interlocked them.
She just smiled up at him when he did so.
"I hope you don't mind that we walk. It's just three blocks from your apartment."
"Oh, no, I don't mind at all. It's okay, really."
"I figured you wouldn't mind."
They arrived in just one minute after that.
"Wow," she said. "Looks nice."
They sat down after Tobias told them they had a reservation.
It was one of those places where there were low seats and a coffee table in front of oneself.
"Oh no," she chuckled, "I feel underdressed."
"Don't. You look beautiful, as always," he said as they sat down.
She smiled at him. "Thank you. I don't think I'll ever quite get used to those compliments of yours," Tris chuckled.
"It's funny making you blush. It also looks pretty damn cute, if I may say so."
"You think everything I do is cute." She smiled.
"That's not true."
She raised her eyebrows, somewhat surprised.
"You look hot when we make-out. There's a difference," he said with a wink.
She laughed and lightly slapped his arm.
"Hello, my name is Tara and I'll be your waitress tonight. What can I get you to drink?"
"I'll just have a water," said Tris.
"Me too," Tobias added with a kind smile.
"All right, I'll be right back to take your order," she said nicely.
"Thanks," Tobias said.
"So," Tris said, "why don't you go out with some other girl who's not going to hurt you?"
Tobias sighed. "This is supposed to a be happy day. Waking up next to each other, our first real date… Happy. This is supposed to be happy."
"Tobias," she said, "I know. But… It's a valid question."
He sighed. "Okay. I don't want any other girl because she's not you."
"I know that, but… I'm going to hurt you. I mean, have you met me? All I do is destroy. To love is to destroy, and to be loved is to be destroyed."
"As much of a good quote that is, it's false. Love gives you empowerment. It makes you stronger. It— It makes you feel like you can do anything you want in the world."
She sighed. "There are two kinds of people in the world: People who think love makes you stronger, and people who think it makes you weaker. Can you guess what I am?"
"Opposites attract," he reasoned.
"I guess so," she said.
"And besides, do you really want to be forever alone?" he chuckled. "It'd be saddening."
"Well, not forever, I guess."
"Then why not start now?"
She didn't say anything for a minute.
When she was about to, the waitress came over with their waters.
"Ready to order?"
"I actually haven't gotten the chance to look yet," Tris said. "Too distracted talking, I suppose," she said, smiling.
"All right, well I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Thanks," Tris said.
"Good question," Tris told Tobias. "I'm afraid I don't know the answer. Possibly fear?"
He nodded as he looked at the menu. "Makes sense. Fear of getting hurt. Fear of being deserted. Fear of no control."
"Yeah," she said, "I guess those sum it up."
"I'm getting Pad Thai with shrimp. You?"
"Alaskan roll, probably."
"Nice. You know how to use chopsticks?" he said.
"No, I try to keep my chopstick usage is down to a minimum," she chuckled.
"I'm going to teach you," he said.
Just then, the waitress walked over. "Ready?" she asked.
"Yes," Tobias said. "I'll have to Pad Thai, and the lady here will have the Alaskan Roll," he said.
"Alright," she said, "I'll have those put in."
"Thank you," Tobias said.
"Lady?" Tris said. "I'm hardly a lady."
Tobias laughed. "So you mean to tell me you're a man?"
Tris smiled. "No. I'm just not very ladylike. I'm a tomboy," she said with a shrug.
"I agree with that statement. Although you look quite amazing tonight, I like your tomboy qualities. I like that you aren't preppy or wear too much makeup. Like, tonight, for example. Just lipstick and some eye stuff, right?"
She chuckled. "Yeah. Mascara."
"Ah. Well I think you look beautiful without makeup, anyway. That lipstick sure does make me want kiss you though."
She smiled. "I'm sure that you'll be wearing my lipstick later," she said, smirking. "Have no fear."
He smirked as well. "All right, let me show you how to use these chopsticks."