TRIS
It's Monday, and I'm nervous.
Dinner was awkward, to say the least. I was surprised Dad showed up, but I was unsurprised to hear all the comments from him. Of course, they got to me like they always do, but I had already braced myself. But there was something that I was not ready for.
Or really, someone.
I still have no idea why Tobias came. My dad was probably gunning for a promotion by getting in with the boss's son. He did seem pleased by Tobias' politeness. But it was so awkward with him sitting there while our family fought, and especially on the porch. I can't believe I let myself break down in front of him for the second time.
Speaking of which, Tobias is supposed to pick me up, and then we'll practice at the church. He said he'd text me once he's here. I fiddle with the hem of my shirt. I spent hours picking out the right outfit before finally settling on a band T-shirt, jeans, and Vans. Mom let me go shopping, so the band tee is totally new. Capital Kings is emblazoned on the front, the EDM group that Tobias and Zeke introduced me to.
I suddenly hear the doorbell ring, and jump. I swing open the door to see Tobias with his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Tobias, hey! I thought you were going to text me."
"Yeah, I did. Multiple times."
I check my phone and realize it's been on silent. A couple text messages from Tobias pop up on the screen. "Sorry...I guess my phone was on silent."
"It's okay." He smiles. Then his eyes narrow on a point on my shoulder. "What's that?"
"What?" I inspect my shoulder, but I don't see anything.
"Turn around." I oblige, and suddenly I feel his fingers on my neck. I stiffen.
"Tobias, what are you-" Suddenly, I feel a pull on my shirt and hear a laugh behind me and turn around to see a smirking Tobias. "What?"
He holds up a tag, and I blush. I didn't realize I hadn't cut that off. "New shirt?"
"Yeah…" This cannot be going any worse.
"So I'm that important?"
"Huh?"
"I'm important enough that I deserve to see you in a new shirt." He winks.
I roll my eyes, but inside I'm a pile of mush. "Don't flatter yourself. Your head won't be able to fit through the door otherwise."
It's not long before we reach the church. Tobias takes out some keys and unlocks the front door. "You get a key?"
"Yeah." Tobias nods. "All the senior student leaders get one."
"So you're a senior then?"
"Yep! Well at least I will be once the school year starts. I'm definitely excited to move on from this place and head to college." He realizes what he's said, and frantically backtracks. "I mean, I love this church and my friends and all, but I...just need to get out of here." I just nod. Part of me is disappointed that I only have a year left to spend with Tobias.
We enter the huge youth room. There's a piano that I didn't notice before tucked in the corner, and he leads me to it. We squish together on the bench, and I try to repress the warm feeling that goes through my body when I feel Tobias' arm warm against mine. We sit there a moment, not saying anything. I let my mind drift, thinking about the worship set at youth group last week. I'm classically trained, so playing in a band will be a little different, I know. But they all seem so in tune with God and, I don't know, like a family. It's the same with our discipleship group. Will I ever fit in? And then I think about how Christina took me shopping and to lunch, and how Tobias helped me get a job and is even helping me with this audition. Tobias. Why is he doing all these things for me? I'm not pretty, so he must not like me. People that look like him have girls galore without even looking at the small ones. So what's his motive here? I'd like to think that he's just a nice guy, but based on what Christina has told me, that's not exactly the case.
Suddenly I'm broken out of my reverie by a throat being cleared. I turn and look at Tobias, his eyebrows raised. His blue eyes practically swallow me whole. "You ready yet?"
"Oh." I readjust myself on the piano bench, flustered, and scoot a little away from him. My shoulder misses him already. "Yeah."
Slowly, I play the intro line. My hands are shaking and are sweaty, but I try my best. Then it's time to sing. I rally up the chords a little to signal Tobias to sing. And he does.
You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord
His voice, thrumming through the air between us, is beautiful to say the least. It envelopes you, filling the air with its pure, clean sound. Every note on pitch, and the tiniest bit of vulnerability that adds so much heart to the song. I almost stop playing right there. Am I even in the right league to do this? Then I remember my cue is coming up, and I open my mouth, praying to God that my voice doesn't crack as I harmonize.
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only
TOBIAS
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only
As we repeat the chorus, I can't help but relish how our voices intertwine in the air. Her harmonies are perfect, and her piano playing is perfect. There are areas she could improve, for sure, like how she seems to be so agitated and stressful. But then again, that's probably a remnant from the fact that this is her only practice before the audition. As she plays the outro to the song, a soft smile slides itself onto my face. First, of course, I can basically call Zeke and tell him that we've found our vocalist and pianist. But second, she's done so well. I can tell she's classically trained, but the way that she frames every chord with her hands and slips to the right harmonies...it's soothing, and you can see that she really believes it what she's singing.
She ends the song, outlining the chords and sustaining them with the pedal. As the final sounds of the piano keys fade into oblivion, I just sit there, staring at her, speechless.
She looks down at the floor. "Was I really that bad?"
"What?" I raise my eyebrows in alarm. She took my silence as a sign that I hated it! "Tris, that was...amazing."
"It was?" She looks up at me, a shy smile on her face. "Really?"
I nod, and I see her shoulders begin to relax. "Thanks. That means a lot coming from you."
"It does?" I cock my head to the side. "Why?" There's an answer I want to hear, of course. I know she's not going to say it, but there's no harm in wishing.
But to my surprise, she answers. "I respect you. A lot." She shrugs. "I guess I care about your opinion."
"You really shouldn't. I'm just a regular guy. I'm no one special." Though you make me feel that way whenever I talk to you.
She laughs. "Tobias, believe me when I say this: you're much more than just a regular guy to me."
There's a moment of silence where her words sink in.
I grin.
She blushes.
Suddenly the door bangs open. Zeke strides in through the doors, his arms full of Taco Bell as he sings a random song. It's not until he's almost at the front of the room when he sees us. His jaw drops before he composes himself and wiggles his eyebrows. I roll my eyes, but I can feel heat creeping up my neck. Tris giggles.
"Sorry guys, I didn't know you were in here. I wouldn't have interrupted your...moment." Zeke smiles wickedly.
"It wasn't a moment." We say at the same time. Then we both turn to each other. "What?"
Tris nudges me. "Jinx, you owe me a soda!"
"What are we, five?" I scoff.
Zeke chortles, depositing his food in the front row of seats. "You guys sound like an old married couple." That comment has us both blushing, and we hurriedly stand up from the piano bench. I immediately miss the feeling of her shoulder pressed up against mine.
Whoa, Tobias. Slow down.
"I should be going, anyway." Tris turns to me with pleading eyes. "Any way you can take me home?"
"Sure, no problem." As if I can say no to that face.
"Thanks."
I throw her the keys. "You can go ahead and get in. I have to talk to Zeke for a few minutes about some stuff for the audition." She nods and runs off through the doors. My eyes follow her.
"Ahem." I'm snapped out of my daze. "You want to tell me why you guys were cozying up by the piano?" Zeke smirks.
"We weren't cozying up." At least, that wasn't the original goal. Or was it? "I was just helping Tris practice for her audition."
"For Saturday?" He raises his eyebrows in surprise. "Are you telling me that we finally found someone good that you actually like?"
"Okay, hold up a second. Have we ever found anyone good and then rejected them because I didn't like them?"
Zeke crosses his arms. "Lauren."
"She was...pitchy on the high notes, and she couldn't confidently hold harmonies." Actually, I was very aware of how she kept hitting on me at school and at youth group. Aware and annoyed.
"Right." Zeke rolls his eyes. "Anyways, I'm glad we found someone, because no one else has signed up for auditions."
I crinkle my forehead. "Seriously? People are always clamoring to get on."
"I guess we've kind of gotten a bad track record with new people since we haven't accepted anyone in a long while. Maybe Tris can change that." The corner of Zeke's mouth lifts. "That's not the only thing she's changing, man."
"Hmm?" I look confusedly at Zeke.
"You've been so much happier since you met her. And it's been, what, a week?"
"Eric's been putting us together for a lot of things recently. I've gotten to know her. Can you blame me for liking someone?"
"No...I guess I'm just surprised." Zeke unwraps a burrito from his Taco Bell feast. "Anyway, you should probably give your girl a ride back home. She's been waiting for a while."
"Good idea." I pass Zeke on my way to the door, and he punches my arm. "Hey, what was that for?"
"A good luck punch. To help you get the girl, you know?"
Per usual, I have no idea what Zeke is talking about. "Not sure that works."
"You're right...I better pray for you, dude."
A/N Gotta love FourTris! R&R ~skutti2000