Chapter 12

Tris

I knock on Christina's door and it doesn't take very long until someone answers. I don't recognize him.

"Tris! Four! You guys made it!" Christina appears behind the guy. "Get in her!"

I take Tobias hand and we walk in to her apartment. The air is really thick and there are people everywhere, dancing and laughing. "I thought this was going to be a small gathering?" I shout to overpower the loud music.

"Well, news travels fast. I'm gonna kick them all out when it's time for truth or dare, but first, let's party!" She grabs my hand and drags me away from Tobias. I try to break free but Christina's grip is too tight. I look over my shoulder at Tobias, but he's already talking to Shauna and Zeke.

"Here!" Christina hands me a cup with some kind of dark orange beverage.

"What is this?" I ask frowning.

"It's beer."

"I don't drink, but thanks. I'll just get something that's alcohol free."

"Uh, fine." She rolls her eyes.

I walk over to the kitchen counter. It's really hot in here. I fill a red plastic cup with ice-cold water and drink every single drop. Better. I stand there for a while, looking at all the people dancing with drinks in their hands. Will I ever be able to loosen up like them? I flinch when I suddenly feel two strong hands on my hips. Tobias. He turns me around so that we're face to face. "Having fun? He says smiling.

I give him a sarcastic smile. "Yeah. Totally."

He laughs a little and kisses my lips. It's weird to kiss him in public. I've never done that before. I put my arms around his waist and pull myself closer. Then, someone interrupts us. "Hey you two lovebirds." Zeke is standing next to us, with a smile on his face. "Time for truth and dare." He raises his voice. "Everybody, party's over. Time to go."

The crowd starts to fade out and soon it's only my closest friends left. We spread out in the couches and the matching armchairs. Tobias and I fit in one and we sit down.

"You all know the rules." Christina says when everyone is seated. "I'll go first."

She looks around the room and her eyes stop when she reaches me.

"Tris. Truth or dare?" I don't know which option is better. I decide to start off safe.

"Truth."

Christina doesn't seem to mind, but some of the others call out pansy-cake. Tobias explains that that is what you're called if you choose truth. "Great." Christina ties her hands in her lap. "Let's just get right into it. How did you and Four get together?"

I look at Tobias. He nods, as if he's giving me permission to tell everyone in this room. "Um, well. You all know that he was my instructor. And one day, he let me see his fear landscape, and after that we went down to the chasm and we, um… started this thing."

Everyone is listening carefully and they all look intrigued. Uriah is the one to break off the silence. "So you know all of his fears?"

"Yes, I do."

"What are they?" Now they look really intrigued.

"You'll have to ask him that." I say knowing Tobias would never tell a soul. Uriah doesn't seem to get that though, because a vicious smile creeps up on his face.

"Okay," I say. "Zeke, truth or dare?"

"Duh, dare. What else?" Apparently not so dauntless to choose truth. Zeke is probably the most dauntless one of us. I have the prefect dare for him.

"You have to say, I love you, to the first person you see. I'm coming with to ensure you do it."

"Fine." We walk outside and just after a few seconds we spot Peter further down the tunnel heading our way.

"Your target." I whisper to Zeke.

"Peter!" He yells.

"What do you want?" I didn't think that Peter would answer, but the death stare he's making is probably worse.

"I just wanted to say that I love you." I burst out laughing. I think this is the first time I've seen Peter shocked and stunned at the same time.

"What the hell?"

"It was a dare." He taps Peters arm. "Sorry man."

"Fine. I'll play."

"Sorry." Zeke takes my hand to prevent me from saying anything. "Invitation only."

"Whatever, I don't want to go to you stupid gathering anyway."

Now I can't hold it in. "Then why'd you ask?"

Before Peter gets the chance to answer, Zeke drags me away and we walk back to Christina's apartment.

"That was fun. Nice work!" I say when we sit down again.

"Who was the lucky one?" Shauna says.

"Peter." Zeke says and starts laughing. Soon, we all do.

This was actually a fun game.

"Okay, let's see." Zeke starts. "Marlene. Truth or dare?"

"Dare!"

"I dare you to take five shots under 40 seconds. If you fail, shirt off!"

"Easy!" She cracks her knuckles and neck, as if she was getting ready for a fight.

It was easy for her. It only took about 30 seconds to drink them. Zeke looks disappointed.

"Four. Truth or dare?"

I look at Tobias. His answer comes quickly. "Dare."

"I dare you to tell us one of your fears." Probably what Uriah, and everyone else, would ask.

"That's a truth." Tobias objects.

"No, I dare you to tell us."

"Well sorry guys." He takes off his shoe and throws it behind the couch. Marlene looks dissatisfied. I can't believe they think that he would actually tell them. It's his whole life. Everything about him is in his fear landscape. He's such a private person too. It's a miracle that he even showed me.

"Will. Truth or dare?"

"Dare," Will says with no hesitation.

"I dare you to go to the tattoo parlor and ask Tori for Four's signature"

"What is it?" Will doesn't look so pleased.

"Can't tell you that. You'll have to see." Shauna and Zeke start laughing. They know what it is.

My jaw drops, and so does everybody else's, when Will stands up.

"Fine. I'll be back in… Wait, how long does it take?"

"Maximum 10 minutes."

"Okay. Back in 10." Then he leaves.

We sit patiently, waiting for him. I ask Tobias what Four's signature is, but he doesn't tell me. I'm guessing it's something small; cause Tobias is not that cruel.

After 13 minutes Will is back.

"Let us see!" Christina yells from excitement.

Will doesn't look very happy. I feel bad for him, but I can't keep myself from laughing when he pulls his right sleeve up. On his shoulder there are seven thick black capital letters, forming the words: "I'm a rock." We all burst out laughing and Will looks like he's about to cry.

"Oh my god Four!" Christina yells, but she's not laughing. She just looks angry.

Now Tobias, Zeke and Shauna are the only ones till laughing.

"It's…" Zeke starts but stops because he's laughing too hard.

"It's fake Will. It will go away within the next few days." Tobias says. I knew he couldn't be that cruel.

"Oh thank god." Will takes a deep breath sits down next to Christina.

"Four always dare someone to do that, and Tori always play along, every year," Shauna says looking at Will with some sympathy in her eyes.

"Really?" He says, sarcastically. "Christina. Truth or dare?"

"Dare!"

"You have to kiss the bravest person in this room," he says with a smirk.

She smiles and leans in to kiss him, but push him away and press her lips against mine.

I'm too shocked to move and Christina just bursts out laughing. Will looks stunned.

Uriah starts to applaud and cheer for us to do it again.

"I… did not expect that," I say laughing.

"Yeah me neither…" Will says looking jealous, but soon he's laughing too.

See ya'll soon. Be brave! -s