My eyes flutter open at the sound of Tobias getting out of bed. He heads to the closet to get out his running gear. He hears me stir and looks over his shoulder.
"Coming with me this morning, Six?" I would love nothing more than to roll over and cover my head up but I've come to cherish our early morning runs. I nod my head at him. "Don't forget it's cold out. Wear plenty of layers." He's told me that every morning for the past month! He goes to the bathroom to get dressed and leaves me to my thoughts.
The past three months have flown by. Tobias and I have settled into our roles as Dauntless leaders alongside Tori. We're all very well respected and much liked. Dauntless has become a much more even-keeled place to be. Tobias is happier than I've ever seen. People help one another, and the recklessness has stopped for the most part. There has not been any trouble since the beating incident at the train track with Daniel Parks. Although we're not actively investigating the lists at this time, we haven't forgotten about them either. They're the only dark cloud hanging over Dauntless right now.
Tobias takes time out of his schedule each week to train with Uriah, Christina, and me to prepare us for next year's initiates. We are all exemplary with weapons now. I can shoot and throw a knife with both my left and right hands. Tobias was very impressed that I had taught myself how to throw left handed, although he hates the knives. He thinks of them as a reckless, showy part of Dauntless that he wants to do away with. We've had a couple heated discussions about that. We've learned every name of every punch and kick for hand-to-hand combat. I even talked him into fighting me a couple times. The first time he took it easy on me and let me win but I complained he wasn't giving special treatment to Uriah or Christina so he better quit it with me. The second time we fought he knocked me out. Now he won't even talk about us getting on the mat together again. I might have been able to persuade him if it weren't for my black eye. I had to get Christina's help with my makeup for about a week to cover up the various colors around my right eye. I keep telling him it was a lucky punch but he just shakes his head at me.
I actually thought the monthly leaders meeting would be another low point but I was wrong. I haven't seen Marcus once but I've seen both my dad and Caleb, who is Erudite's representative to the council. He's a leader-in-training at Erudite because he was instrumental in stopping Jeanine's plan, although none of his peers know that. My dad is not only Abnegation's representative but the council's representative as well. The other two representatives are Summer Miller from Amity and Sofia Rengard from Candor. We all work very well together and have implemented some great changes. The other factions have pledged to take unused items in good shape to the redistribution center like Dauntless committed. This includes old clothing, linens, bedding, and furniture. I explained to Caleb, Summer, Sofia, and Dad that Dauntless took an unused space and turned it into a staging area. All donations are moved there and then taken to the redistribution center once a month. Each faction representative thought it was a great idea, so after getting okay from the entire council, this program was implemented citywide.
We're also in negotiations to loosen the rules about mingling between factions. I believe if each faction weren't so isolated from one another maybe tensions wouldn't arise so easily. We all rely on other factions to live so what should it hurt if we're able to socialize a little if we wanted to. I believe the five of us are on the same page but my dad is having a hard time selling it to the other council members. They need reassuring I'm not looking to destroy the faction system but strengthen it.
The only downside to the monthly leaders meeting I've found so far is having to leave Tobias. The two meetings I've attended were held in Amity. We all spent the night since the trip there was a lengthy one and the meeting was a daylong affair. Amity was a gracious host but it wasn't home. Late next week, I have to make another Amity trip and, although I don't look forward to leaving him overnight, I am looking forward to picking up one of his Christmas gifts. I commissioned an Amity artist to sketch the chasm and frame it for Tobias. I asked Summer who the best artist she knew, and I was referred to Gunner. I explained the chasm to him in as much detail as I could recall. He got a message to me just yesterday telling me it's complete, and I cannot wait to see it. This will be the first gift I have ever given anyone.
I have made some wonderful, lasting friendships these past months. I count Ella and Ciara as two of my closest friends along with Christina and Will. Becoming friends with Ciara was as natural as breathing. I cannot imagine someone not liking her. My relationship with Ella took more time to develop but that's just because she's really shy, which I had a hard time understanding at first. You don't find many shy Dauntless members. Actually, Ella is the only one I've ever come across. I don't mind spending time with Kirsten but I tolerate her more than crave her company. Zeke, Shauna, Uriah, Marlene, and Lynn are also a daily part of my circle of friends, and we spend a lot of free time together.
My relationship with Tobias is better than it's ever been. It gets stronger each day. We are still waiting, but we're both okay with that. We had some awkward moments after he accompanied me to the clinic to get the birth control shot but things straightened themselves out rather quickly. We set aside time weekly to be together. Besides our Sunday night home cooked meals, we reserve Saturday night just for the two of us to go out or stay in depending on our moods. On Friday nights we either go out with our friends or to a party. I finally witnessed a famous Candor or Dauntless party and had the best time. Zeke is absolutely crazy. He never turns down a truth or a dare and never takes anything off unless you dare him to then he would strip down to nothing and run around the Pit. When things started getting reckless, Tobias put a stop to it. Candor or Dauntless and drinking don't mix after a while. Everyone was a bit upset with him, but they quickly got over it.
Tobias has followed through on his promise and hasn't had a drink since the night he came home drunk and, for that, I'm thankful. When we go out, we drink water, sparkling cider, and an occasional cola. At first Zeke, James, Dante, and Samuel gave him a hard time, but Tobias set them straight immediately. No drinking for him, he doesn't want to lose me. Now Zeke just grumbles about the good ole days but I have a feeling Tobias isn't missing anything. Shauna seems happier also because, since I took his drinking buddy away, Zeke doesn't go out as much. Tobias still goes out with his friends occasionally but he comes home sober. Just then a pair of pants hits me in the face.
"Are you going to get out of bed on your own or do I have to extricate you myself?" he asks teasing. I groan at his cheerfulness. I will never be the morning person he is. I manage to maneuver myself into a sitting position right before he stalks toward the bed. I start to protest as my eyes register what he's about to do but it's too late. He grabs me and throws me over his shoulder, knocking the wind out of me momentarily. He picks up the pants he threw at me moments before then goes over to the dresser and gets out a running bra, my most basic pair of boy shorts, which have become my favorite type of undies, and sweat wicking thermal underwear. Then he goes to the closet and gets a long sleeve black t-shirt and a black sweatshirt. He carries me into the bathroom and deposits me in the middle of the warm white tile floor. Thankfully the person who designed this bathroom thought to put in in-floor heat. It gets cold here in the winter.
After glowering at him for a moment I shoo him out of the bathroom. I quickly brush my teeth and pull my hair back into a ponytail. I dress in the clothes Tobias picked out for me and meet him by the front door. He hands me my black leather gloves and black knit hat, and I pull them on. We lock the door behind us and head out into the brisk December morning. The sun is just coming up, casting a purplish glow over the city. It is absolutely breathtaking. We decide on five miles this morning and go one of our preset routes. He no longer has to slow his pace for me to keep up. I've gotten a lot stronger in the past three months, and there are times he has a hard time keeping up with me.
When we get home, we decide to eat in the apartment instead of the cafeteria. I make poached eggs, crispy bacon, and wheat toast while Tobias showers and gets dressed for the day. I pour two glasses of orange juice and two cups of coffee out of our new coffee maker. His old one blew up on me last week. I went straight to the home store to replace it. I have come to heavily rely on my morning coffee. I start my breakfast while I'm waiting on him to join me. He comes down the stairs when I put my third bite in my mouth. We sit side-by-side at the island talking about what's on today's agenda.
When I'm done with my breakfast, I go upstairs and get ready for the day. I take a long shower letting the hot water relax my sore muscles. I put my still wet hair in a French braid. I dress in one of my standard winter Dauntless outfits: Black boot cut jeans, black long-sleeved scoop neck T-shirt, and black fur lined ankle boots. I apply the natural looking makeup Tobias has come to love: Light charcoal eyeliner, black mascara, and a barely-there pink lip stain. I do have to admit it enhances my looks. I still have a hard time as thinking of myself as beautiful or even pretty. Tobias told me once he wished I could see myself through his eyes, and there are days I think I can. The way he looks at me astonishes me. He looks at me the way I look at him, and he's far from plain.
I bound down the stairs and move straight toward him. I launch myself into his open arms. He holds me tightly around my waist as I wrap my arms around his neck pulling his mouth to mine. He moves us back a few steps and turns to sit me down on the island. We have this move choreographed. The first time we did this, he realized rather quickly the island is the perfect height so he doesn't have to occupy his hands with holding me up. He moves his hands up and down my back while I tangle my hands in his now wavy hair. After a few minutes we part to catch our breath.
"Good morning, Tobias," I say.
"Good morning, Tris," he replies.
"When is the last time you got a haircut?" I say, ruffling his tresses.
"You don't like it?" he asks, taking on an exaggerated wounded look.
"Actually, I love your waves but it's getting a bit shaggy up here," I say grabbing a handful of hair on the top of his head.
"I guess it's time for a haircut," he says moving his mouth back to mine for a quick kiss. He groans as he pulls away and helps me off the island. He pulls me toward the door and then down to his office. We meet Tori and go through our schedule for the day and then the week.
"I think it's time to start planning the Christmas party," Tori says at the end of the meeting.
"Christmas party?" I say, excitement visible on my face.
"Yes," Tobias says, a smile tugging up his lips. He knows I've never celebrated Christmas before because of Abnegation rules. "There's a big Christmas party each year with food, gifts, dancing. It's one of the biggest nights of the year. It's usually held the Saturday night before Christmas." He looks at his calendar momentarily. "Christmas is Friday, so the party will be Saturday, December 19, a little less than two weeks away."
"Do you two have any reservations to Christina and me heading the party planning?" I ask. "I promised her after the fantastic Halloween Party she planned that she would be our go to party planner." They both shake their heads no.
"You two did a wonderful job with the last party," Tori says. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with this one. I have a feeling it will be the best party Dauntless has ever seen."
Since my schedule is very light today, I decide to share the news with Christina about the Christmas party. I tell Tobias I'm going to go meet with Christina and if he doesn't find me in my office to look for me in the cafeteria at lunch. I don't know exactly where to look for her today, so I start with the tattoo parlor but she isn't there. Next I check the salon and clothing store but they tell me she's off today. That means she could only be one place. I wander down the path to the boutique thinking about different ideas for the party. When I enter the store, I don't see Christina anywhere. Soon Zoe, Christina's boss, comes out of the back with a panicked look on her face. It smooth's over a bit when she sees me.
"Tris, I am so glad to see you," she says. "There's something wrong with Christina. Follow me." I trail her into the back room. We pass stacks of unpacked cardboard boxes. Christina is sitting on the floor by a small powder room with her hands wrapped around her legs, her head down on her knees, rocking back and forth. I look back at Zoe and silently communicate to her that I'll take it from here.
"Christina," I say as I squat down next to her and gently lie my hand on the back of her head. "What's wrong?" She looks up at me, tears streaming from her red-rimmed dark brown eyes.
"Will's going to kill me," she says.
"Christina," I say looking her in the eyes, "what are you talking about? Will would never hurt you." She looks so lost and confused right now. I have no idea what to make of it.
"Tris, I think I'm pregnant," she says before she starts sobbing again.