"Beatrice, you want some ice cream, dear?" Mom asks me. We just finished dinner, and have been sitting in the living room watching a comedy on the television. Dad turns his attention to us and gives mom a pleading look. "Fine, Andrew, you can have some." He smiles.
"Sure. I'll help you." I get up from the couch and follow her into the kitchen. As she takes the pint of butter pecan out of the freezer, I grab three bowls for us. "Mom, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"What is it, sweetie?" She looks at me with concern.
"It's nothing serious." I try to calm her nerves, along with mine. "But I was thinking, when should I move back to my apartment? I've been living here for two months now. Don't get me wrong, I love it here, but I feel like I can go back now." I stammer.
"Oh, Beatrice, your old apartment is no longer available. I'm so sorry, sweetie, I should have told you this earlier, but your lease ended and the landlord wanted you to clear out the place. I told him to put it off for a while, because you were still recovering from your head injury. But he wouldn't listen to a word I said. So dad and I went and brought all your important stuff. I completely forgot about it, or I would've told you, I swear." Mom says, apologetic.
"What?!" I stand there, dumbfounded. "I knew Mr. Rodriguez was an asshole, but this is next level!" I shake my head in anger.
"Language, dear!" Mom scolds me.
"I'm sorry, mom. I just, I liked that place. Now I have to find another one." I sigh.
"You don't really have to. You can live here as long as you want. We both love having you here, sweetheart. And the market is crazy right now. Please think about it. It is also closer to the bakery." Mom continues convincing me.
"Okay, I'll think about it. Come on, dad must be waiting impatiently." I chuckle, and we carry our bowls to the living room, finishing the rest of the movie.
We say goodnight and I go to my room. I lean against the door and let out a sigh. I don't know why but I get a weird feeling, and I can't quite place it. It makes me anxious. Taking a few deep breaths, I change into my sleep clothes, shorts and a soft T-shirt.
I climb into bed and get that same feeling again, and I can't seem to shake it. I know only one person who could help me, and I decide to call him. Picking up my phone, I check the time: 11:38 pm. I really hope he's not asleep.
The line rings a few times before I hear his deep voice answering, "Tris? You okay?"
"Tobias, I'm so sorry for calling this late, I hope you weren't asleep." I apologise.
"No, I wasn't. I just got into bed. What is it, Tris?" He asks again.
"Nothing, I just, I don't know. I can't sleep. I feel weird. And I was missing you, so I called." I stammer out.
"You can call me anytime, Tris. I don't mind. Even in the middle of the night. I'm always here for you." He whispers. "Is there anything specific bothering you?"
"No. Maybe. My mom told me earlier that the lease for my apartment expired and the landlord kicked me out. I was hoping to go back to my place after everything, I think that I was just holding onto that thought, of going back and being normal again. But I don't even know what normal is right now." I sigh.
He's silent for a while, before saying, "Maybe normal is right now, Tris. Whatever we're living right now, however we're living, maybe that is normal. I wish it wasn't, I wish for so many things to be different, but I can't change them. No matter how much I want to. But we just need to keep reminding ourselves that there's hope. And hope is what I've been holding onto. Even if it's just a small glimmer, but it makes me want to keep going."
I take in all his words, absorbing the meaning of them. "That really helps, Tobias." I whisper. "You really know how to calm me down."
"I'm glad to hear that, Tris. And you know how to calm me down, too. All too well." He chuckles, making me laugh. "God, I miss you so much, Tris."
"You saw me just today, Tobias. And you'll see me again tomorrow." I laugh again.
"Yeah." He sighs. "So, um, where do you plan on staying, then? Are you looking for a new place?" He asks, clearing his throat.
"I honestly don't know. Mom wants me to stay here for some more time. I think losing both Caleb and me at once shocked her. And she likes having me around again. Even though I feel like I'm imposing." I murmur.
"I'm sure that's not true, Tris. I know I don't know much about what a good parent is supposed to be like, but yours absolutely love you. And I would personally love it too if you stayed there cause it's very close to our spot." He chuckles.
"Our spot?" I ask him, smiling.
"Yep, the bakery. That's where I first met you and immediately became obsessed." He laughs.
"Is that so?" I turn on the bed, listening carefully to his voice, my phone pressed to my ear.
"Yes." He states, leaving no room for doubt. "I knew you were special." His words make me blush, and I swear I hear him smile. It's been almost three weeks since we met, but he still makes me blush so easily.
We keep talking about random things, and soon I feel my eyes start to droop, his voice creating a sense of safety that I've long forgotten my anxieties. I yawn, then hear him whisper, "Go to sleep, Tris. I'll be here to fight off the bad dreams." And I'm out like a light.
I'm breathless, my body feeling like it's on fire. The world seems to be spinning around me. But the only thing that grounds me is Tobias in my arms. He kisses every inch of my body, like he's worshipping me.
Holding my arms above my head, he laces our fingers as he moves inside me, slowly, deeply, intensely. I bite my lower lip, trying to contain a moan, but fail terribly.
Our bodies move together passionately, our tongues tasting each other. I look into his eyes and see my feelings reflected back in them. I'm almost afraid of how much I need him, want him, love him. Like I can't live without him, he makes me whole.
"I love you, Tobias." I whisper against his lips.
"I love you, Tris." He murmurs back, picking up his pace and loving me harder.
My legs tremble around his waist as the pleasure washes over me, making me call out his name. He buries his face in my neck, releasing his love inside me, letting out a deep groan.
Tobias leans back and stares at me, his eyes filled with love. Kissing me roughly, he tangles his fingers in my hair. I could stay here forever.
I wake with a start, confusion filling my mind. Another dream. A lot like the previous one. But what does it mean? Why do I keep dreaming about this? And why do I keep telling him I love him? Do I really? Does my subconscious mind know what it means?
I roll over on the bed and check the time. 6:21 am, nine minutes before my alarm is set to go off. I switch it off and get out of bed, walking into the shower. As I lather my hair, I think about the dream. My cheeks flush when I think about how close we were, how close our bodies were. I have never even made love before, so why do I keep dreaming about that with Tobias? It's true that he's very sexy, and I'm very much physically attracted to him. Maybe that's why.
Standing under the shower, I let the warm water beat down on me. I sigh, then get out, drying off and going to the closet. I decide to wear a pair of denim shorts with a solid black tee, and my comfortable sneakers. Quickly drying my hair, I pull it into a half ponytail, just to keep it out of my face. I'm almost out the door when I remember the necklace Tobias got me. I pick it up from my dresser and put it on, admiring the little birds.
I greet my parents downstairs and eat a banana, chatting with dad as he reads the newspaper. After saying goodbye to them, I head out, deciding to walk to the bakery as I have time. I enjoy walking, especially in the mornings, and have missed it while my leg was broken.
As I turn the corner onto the street, I see Tobias coming down from the other direction. He sees me and a smile immediately lights up his face, as I'm sure is on mine. We stop in front of the doors to the bakery, meeting in the middle.
"What are you doing up so early?" I ask him as he pulls me into his arms for a hug.
"I wanted to see you." He whispers in my hair. "I was prepared to stand outside here waiting, but this is so much better."
Leaning back, he grabs my face and brings his lips to mine, kissing me softly. I move closer, kissing him back, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. I could get used to this. He slides his fingers through my hair, keeping my head in place. I pull away after a while, catching my breath.
Tobias smiles, looking down at me. He notices the necklace, brushing his hand over it lightly. I look into his eyes and see the intensity in them, no one has ever looked at me that way before. I move my gaze away, instead looking at his collarbone, the eye contact making my head spin. He clears his throat and grabs my hand, and we walk to the door.
I unlock it quickly and we head inside. Switching on the lights, I check the time. Still a good 15 minutes before Tori gets here. I feel Tobias behind me, and suddenly his arms are around my waist, pulling me to him. I giggle and lean back into him, turning my head to look up at him.
"What are you doing?" I laugh.
"Nothing. You just look too cute, I couldn't resist holding you." He kisses my cheek, which is red.
"Well, you don't look too bad yourself." I say, noticing his formals: black pants with a khaki green shirt. He really can pull off any colour. "Tobias, I have to set everything up." I murmur when he begins kissing my neck.
"Okay." He lets me go and follows me to set the chairs. He helps with everything, despite me saying no. But he lets me write on the special's board, claiming his handwriting looks like small insects crawling in a line. That makes me burst out laughing, and I have to stop writing till I calm down. Which takes long as he keeps tickling my sides.
"You make me very happy." I state, looking at him with a big smile on my face.
"The feeling is entirely mutual, Tris." He grins.
Something in me settles, and I feel content, after a long, long time. And I know, that I'm right where I'm supposed to be. For the first time in my life, I slow down. I want to cherish every minute with this incredible man standing in front of me, so I do.
A/N: Hey! Happy Sunday, everyone! How'd you like this chapter?