A/N All rights for Divergent belong to Veronica Roth!
I try to make myself comfortable in one of the chairs in the lobby. I check my watch. We still have ten minutes of youth group left, and since Tori is still chewing out Marlene and Lynn we're all just milling around the church lobby, counting the minutes as they tick by.
Christina runs to us, breathless. "I've searched everywhere! I can't find her!"
Uriah scratches the back of his head. "I wouldn't blame Tris if she just left."
I just shake my head. I still can't believe she had to go through all that with Marlene and Lynn. But a part of me is curious. What happened to her family?
"But she couldn't have left," Christina reasoned. "The direction she was running just goes deeper into the church."
"How about we just spread out and search the church? I don't think Tori will be done with them before youth group ends, so we have time. We can text each other if we find her," Shauna proposes.
"Great idea!" Christina squeals, as usual. She immediately sprints off.
Everyone disperses and soon I'm left alone in the lobby. I try to think. If I were Tris, where would I go? Maybe back to the youth room, it's familiar to her.
The library, a voice in my head prods. Check the library.
The library? Where did that come from? I shake my head. That's the exact opposite of what I was thinking. The library is secluded in one corner of the church, and I'm not even sure Zeke knows it exists.
Go to the library.
I ignore the nagging feeling in my gut and walk to the youth room. It's empty, except for a couple small groups in deep discussion scattered on the carpet. Where could she be?
She's in the library. Go to the library. The voice gets louder and louder until in drowns out my thoughts. What is this? Who is this?
"God?" My voice is incredulous. Why would God speak to me like this? I mean, come on, let's be real here. Most teenagers don't have voices in their head directing them to go to obscure rooms in a church. "Maybe I'm just imagining it," I mutter under my breath.
You know what she's going through. You can comfort her. I will help you, Tobias. I'm always with you.
I sigh. Might as well find out if this voice, God or not, is telling the truth. I jog to the library.
Tris?
She's curled up on one of the couches, her finger moving over words of the Bible she holds in her hands.
I stand in the doorway, watching her for a second. Then I send up a silent prayer. Thanks for helping me find her, God. Now give me the right words to speak.
You're welcome, and of course I will. I chuckle a little. At the sound, Tris looks up, surprised. "Tobias," she says, standing up.
"Uh." I rub the back of my neck. This is hard, but God's here, right? "What're you reading?"
"Oh." She looks back at the Bible she left on the couch and opens it up again, sitting down. "Just something someone marked. John 16:33."
I motion to the couch. "Can I sit down?" She nods, and I sit next to her, careful not to touch her. "So what does it say?"
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world." She closes her eyes for a minute. Then she opens them, meeting mine. "I have peace. I can overcome the world."
I don't think she's getting the right message out of this verse. "You? By yourself?"
She blushes. "What, you think I'm just some silly little girl who can't stand up for herself? Who can't get through my troubles?"
I shake my head, choosing my words carefully. "Yes, I do. But then, so am I. I can't get through my troubles, either."
"What do you mean?" She narrows her eyes.
I smile. I had this exact same problem, and Max helped me with it. It makes me happy that I can, in turn, help someone else. "Neither of us can get very far ourselves. But it's when we rely on God that true strength comes." I nudge her with my shoulder lightly. "I have no doubt that you'll have any problems getting through trouble when you have that kind of power on your side."
Tris gives me a small smile. "Thanks, Tobias."
"No problem. Also, I just want to let you know that Christina got our entire group to comb the church looking for you."
She gasped, laughing. "What?"
I laugh along with her. Her smile is infectious. "It's true. In fact, I was supposed to text everyone that I found you as soon as I walked in here. But I figured you wouldn't really want Christina pouncing on you and ripping your ears to shreds with her squeals."
Tris slaps my arm lightly. "Hey, watch it! That's my friend you're talking about there!" She leans in, and I find myself leaning in too. "Though I do think she can dial down the squealing a little," she whispers conspiratorially.
"Yeah, just a little," I reply, holding my hands apart as far as they can go.
"Tobias!" I turn around and Shauna's in the doorway. "You didn't text us!"
I shrug and exchange a smirk with Tris. "Sorry."
We both hear a familiar squeal. "Tris! Don't you ever do that me again!" She immediately hugs Tris tightly, dragging Tris up with her.
"You were right. Pouncing and squealing," Tris says to me, still crushed by Christina's hug. "I'll make sure I take your word next time. Hey Chris?"
"Mm?"
"I'd like to keep breathing, if that's okay with you."
Christina reluctantly lets her go, and she extends a hand to me. "Getting up?"
I take her hand and get up. My hand feels like it's on fire. I snatch it away as soon as I'm upright. "Sorry," I mumble.
Tris looks at me confused, and then turns to Christina. This time, it's Tris who hugs Christina, albeit lightly. "I'll see you guys on Sunday. I have to go." She holds up her phone with the time. "Youth group ended five minutes ago." She glances at me for a second, and then smiles at Christina. "Bye!" With that she walks out the door.
I stuff my hands in my pockets, ready to go as well. Then I look up to see Christina smirking at me.
"Don't worry, I won't tell." She grins before leaving.
What just happened?
A/N See? I told you I'd make it all better. Thanks for reading, and tell me how you liked the past chapter! Four reviews before the next one. See you guys soon!