Hello readers here is the next chapter in this story. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the last chapter and to everyone who took the time to review. Sorry these chapters have been being posted later than normal, but life has been busy. I don't own Divergent. I only own the plot, any military-related mistakes are mine. Just a reminder I have taken some liberties in regards to the military. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Happy Reading!
Chapter 20: Life is A Fair
There isn't enough time in the world with Tobias; I wish I had more time with him. These are the thoughts that plague my mind when the alarm blasts through the quiet, still morning air. I try not to worry about who was behind the letter I received in the mail that day. I have bigger things to worry about today. My mind spins dangerously, calculating how many more hours and minutes I have left to spend alone with Tobias. Tobias's eyes catch my worried ones while he shakes sleep from his limbs. "Who do you think sent the letter?" I ask. He shrugs his shoulders, the same as always, replying, "I don't know, but we will figure it out together," he wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side. A calculating look enters his eyes, and I try to figure out what he is calculating. Maybe his brain calculates the same thing mine does every morning, trying to figure out how much time we have left together.
Tobias leaves me at home while he goes to an unscheduled meeting. My heart pounds watching the truck drive down the street. Is this going to be the last time I'm going to watch the truck drive away? When Tobias returns, he walks to the bedroom. Returning in a pair of acid-washed blue jeans and a red plaid button-down shirt, pulling me out the door without a word. I follow mirroring his smile, asking, "Where are we going?" He doesn't respond, opens the truck door, and I hop in. What kind of adventure are we going to have? He reaches behind his seat, producing a beige cowboy hat, placing it onto my head, smirking, "We are going to a fair," winking, tossing the truck into gear.
Excited butterflies fill my chest, I exclaim, "A fair! I have never been to one before!" Tobias grasps my hand, intertwining our fingers, while steering the truck. I wish I could stop time from moving forward. I wish I could freeze this moment in a frame. It isn't fair that Tobias is leaving tomorrow; I wish he wasn't. His voice breaks my inner monologue, murmuring, "I have never been to a fair either. Stacy never wanted to go to one. This will be a first for both of us. I thought it would be a fun experience. Everyone at the shop was speaking about the county fair before the meeting." I smile, meeting his eyes.
While parking at the fairground, the lights and sounds catch my attention from every direction and angle. Tobias opens my door, grabs ahold of my hand, asking, "Where do you want to start? This place is huge!" His eyes wander in every direction. I answer, shrugging my shoulders, "I don't know, wherever you want to." He tugs me in the direction of an open red barn; inside, there are a bunch of cows of all different colors, shapes, and sizes. "What kind of alien cows do you think these cuties are?" I ask, amazement lacing my voice, as my eyes wander among the massive animals. He glances at the cows, replying, "Beef cows." Cocking my head, I ask, "How do you know?" He grins, "Because of this sign," pointing to the sign above one of the brown cows, labeling it a beef cow. I giggle, "I guess it isn't an alien cutie, after all."
Tobias and I continue to stroll around the fairgrounds looking at the different animals. We eventually end up in the carnival game section of the fair. The fair vendors call out the passersby to goad them into playing their games. Tobias steps up to a dart game, hands the man a few dollar bills, in turn, the man hands Tobias three darts. Tobias aims his dart at the balloon, it hits, popping it. I jump excitedly, wrapping my arms around Tobias's waist, yelling, "You did it!" Tobias grins, picks up another dart from the ledge, takes aim, and hits the balloon. The third dart, Tobias does in a similar fashion. The man happily asks, "Which stuffed animal would you like to take home with you?"
Tobias glances at me, asking, "Which one would you like, my lady?" Tipping his hat toward me. Glancing at the array of hanging animals, I point at a huge purple monkey, and a smile tugs at my lips. "I guess we are taking the huge purple monkey," Tobias states sarcastically. He rolls his eyes at me, grabbing ahold of the monkey, swinging it onto his shoulders. I tug his hand toward the line for cotton candy. Standing in line, I lean on my tiptoes to press my lips against his, enjoying the closeness between us and the feeling of being incognito with him at a fair while he encircles me in his arms. We split a bag of cotton candy, taking turns feeding it to one another.
Tobias laces his fingers with mine when we are done with the sweet treat, pulling me toward the crowd of screaming teens and children. Together, we have a blast on different rides like the scrambler, the pirate ship, bumper cars, swings, tilt-a-whirl, the Matterhorn, and a small roller coaster. The last ride we go on is the Giant Ferris Wheel. I giggle when the rickety wheel begins to move, squealing when we stop at the top, but a smirk pulls at Tobias's lips when he begins to rock the cart back and forth. "Stop!" I command, panic heavy in my voice. I clutch the bar of the cart for dear life, terrified of falling to my death in this metal box. Tobias laughs, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. His fingertips touch my chin, staring into my eyes, his lips gently touch mine. When his lips touch mine, I forget my fear of death by Ferris Wheel, and I lose myself in his kiss. I don't want this kiss to end; I want to stay in this moment forever with him. Pulling away from the kiss, I whisper against his lips, "I love you." His lips touch mine, tentatively, one more time as he murmurs, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "I love you, much more than you could ever know." Sitting on the Ferris Wheel while it spins in a circle, Tobias gently kisses my forehead. As I lean my head against his shoulder and feel like a teenager again: a feeling Peter robbed me of the first time, I realize that I have never felt such a strong feeling of happiness and contentedness in my life before Tobias entered my world. When the ride ends, we walk back to the truck, and Tobias lugs the monkey behind him. Jokingly, he asks, "So, what are you going to name him?"
Shrugging my shoulders, I answer, "I don't know, Fred?" Tobias makes a face at the name. I giggle, "What's wrong with the name Fred, the monkey?" He rolls his eyes, "It isn't very original." I grin, "Okay genius, what's your idea?" He grins, "I was thinking, Grape, like his color." A laugh bursts from my lips, "How original! I will be sure to let you name all of our children if we manage to have any!" Tobias rolls his eyes, smirking. The closer we walk to the truck, the more nervous Tobias becomes. Lowering the gate of the truck, placing the unnamed monkey into the bed, anxiety radiates off of him when he glances at me. Slowly, he walks toward me by the wheel. He grabs ahold of my hand, his palms are sweaty, leading me toward the lowered gate. He presses his lips against the back of my hand, whispering, "I leave tomorrow, Tris, and I wish I could stop time, but I can't." My heart drops into my stomach, I mutter, "I know you do. I wish I could stop time too. I wish I could go with you," my eyes meet his sad ones as he continues, "I want you to look at the moon every night." Cocking my head inquisitively, I ask, "Why?" What is the reason behind looking at the moon every night?
"Because, no matter where I am in the world, the moon will always be the same every night where I am," He murmurs, drawing me into his arms. I bite my bottom lip, attempting to contain my tears from falling. Suddenly, fireworks erupt into the sky, filling the black sky with a rainbow of colors. Tobias pulls me tightly against his chest. In his arms under those brilliant explosions, the sadness temporarily fades. Together, we sit in the back of the truck with our legs dangling off the edge of the tailgate, our fingers intertwined, staring upward watching the colors dance along the night sky. If only for that moment, I forget he is leaving tomorrow. While the fireworks quickly sparkle and slowly fade above us, Tobias presses his lips against mine, stealing one last kiss.
Thoughts and opinions on this chapter. The next chapter will be up the weekend of October 10, 2020. Until next time everyone stay safe.