"Hey," Tris whispered. Tobias's tight face melted and turned into a small smile at the sound of her voice. She loved that she could do that to him.
"Hey, are you ok? That looked like a bad fall."
Tris nodded. "I've had worse." His face tightened again.
Shit. Just chalk it up to training. No questions. Please.
"I don't like that you have...are you sure you're alright?"
Tris opened her mouth, but before she could reply a girl came up and laid her hand on his shoulder. Tris felt the muscles in her shoulder tighten. She was jealous, even though she knew she shouldn't be. The other girl's hair was flawless, she had a full chest, and she had curves. The complete opposite of Tris.
"Where did you hide the flag when your team won, Four?"
Tris had to look away once the other girl started to blink flirtatiously.
Had girls been like that to him since he transferred?
Of course they had. Look at him.
"Telling you wouldn't be the nature of the game, would it Marlene?" Tobias's voice was cold, offering a bit of relief to Tris's tight shoulders. Marlene huffed away after he brushed her hand away from his arm.
"Navy Pier! My brother told me." Uriah shouted. The group nodded and unanimously agreed to head in that direction.
"Hey, are you ok?" Realizing she was still glaring at the ground, Tris looked up at him. His face looked down at her, worried.
"Huh? Yeah, fine." She shouldn't feel jealous. After all, she had just been talking to Uriah who could just as easily be her boyfriend as Marlene could be Toby's girlfriend.
"I see you've met Uriah," Tobias muttered, obviously tense. Tris brushed his fingers with hers, hoping to reassure him.
"Yeah, Zeke's brother right?" Tobias nodded, "He mentioned how you told him 'all about me.'"
A blush formed on his face and he rubbed his neck. "I didn't tell him all about you..."
"And how you are 'pretty in love with me,'" she continued. Somehow, his face grew even more red.
"Well, it isn't a lie."
Tris chuckled, causing Tobias's face to grow even redder. The continued on in comfortable silence until they eventually reached the Pier. Some point along the way, the group reignited their argument about which strategy they would follow.
If they listened to me, what would I do?
They needed to know where Eric's team was. The safest way to figure that out was...to climb somewhere high to spy it out. The ferris wheel.
Slipping away from the group, Tris managed to sprint to the ferris wheel unnoticed. A large ladder stood in front of her, leading to the middle of the circle. She began to climb without hesitation, shivering from the cold metal underneath her hands. She managed to get about ten feet above the ground before a voice beneath her broke the silence.
"What do you think you are doing?" Tobias asked.
"I don't think I'm doing anything. I'm climbing to get a better view." She could guess that he had an exasperated look on his face, but she started to climb again anyways. Seconds later, she heard another pair of shoes clanking on the metal bars behind her. She froze. The steps stopped as she felt his body close beneath her.
"What are you doing?"
"Following you. You don't think I would let you go up by yourself, do you?"
"But...you're afraid of heights! You don't need to climb up. I'll be fine." Warmth crawled up her spine as his hands wrapped around her waist. Tris's breathing stopped for a second. Even though they were hardly off the ground, she could hear Toby's breath already becoming shallow.
"Undoubtedly. I don't know the next time I'll get the chance to be alone with you like this. Let's take advantage of the opportunity." He was willing to face his fears to spend time with her. Warmth crept through her chest.
"What did I do to deserve you?" She whispered. "You're so brave."
Toby squeezed her waist in response before tentatively letting go. Tris went back to scaling the ladder, occasionally looking back to check on Tobias. They higher they got, the larger her smile grew. The intense wind that got worse as they climbed higher flew past her, freeing her of all the troubles that awaited her back in Dauntless. Though her nose and fingertips had gone long numb, it was refreshing to feel so free.
Tobias, on the other hand, was breathing shallowly. Her heart ached for him.
"Are you alright?" She asked, pausing on the ladder to scan the surroundings and see if they were high enough. Not yet.
"Are you human Bea? Being up this high doesn't scare you at all?" The words came out in a panicked gasp. Her chest tightened further at his clear panic.
"Toby, go back down. This isn't worth it. You're terrified, I can't make you come up here with me."
I'm not worth it.
He breathlessly chuckled. "You have no idea how much this is worth it, Bea," he braved another step, "keep climbing, we have a flag to find."
And so they climbed. Higher and higher. Eventually, they reached the top of the ladder where Tris carefully got off to stand on one of the horizontal spikes that poked out from the center of the wheel. It didn't shift in response to her weight, so she figured it was safe enough to sit and scan the trees for the other team's flag. Soon, Toby joined her. She wrapped her arm around his shaking shoulders, hoping to offer any comfort possible.
"Hey, it's alright. I'm here, we're safe. You're good."
"I know, but it's so high! Bea, aren't you worried you'll fall? At all?" She shook her head. She touched his chin, tilting his head so that his eyes met hers, just like he had done to her so many times.
"Focus on me, alright? Don't look down, don't think about the height. Think about us." His breath slowed down a bit and after a few deep breaths, his shoulders stopped shaking.
"Have I told you how pretty you look tonight?" Tris blushed and broke eye contact with Tobias. She saw a smirk grow on his face. "You look even more beautiful in black than you did in gray. I didn't know that was possible."
Her cheeks grew hotter, even against the cold winds that blew through the Ferris wheel.
"You don't have to lie, Tobias," she whispered, "I know I'm not, it's ok."
He shook his head. "How do you not see it?"
"How can you see something that isn't there?"
Toby brushed hair out of her eyes behind her ear with a shaking hand and sighed. "Do you remember in the training room, when I told you about all of the things Marcus said about me?"
She sharply inhaled.
Yes. And now I have a list of my own that haunts me. But you were told so many more times, mine hardly compares.
"Yeah, I told you that we were going to work on it together until you believed me. Because it was the truth."
"Exactly." They sat in silence for a while, staring out into the darkness looking for the other team's glowing flag. "I love you, Bea," Toby said suddenly.
Tris looked at him and noticed how his eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight. His pupils were dilated and reflected back the moonlight that shone on them both.
"I love you, Toby."
His face leaned in. She met his lips halfway, pushing away thoughts of Marcus. One hand gripped on the cold metal of the wheel while the other tangled into his hair. It was longer than it had been in Abnegation. She felt his hand wrap around her back, pulling her closer to him. And for a second, she was able to forget. Forget the secrets she had to hide. Forget the pressure she was under. All that mattered was him. And for a second, they were perfect.
Until they broke apart.
"I missed that," Tobias whispered, causing Tris to giggle. She pointed out to a building across the way, where the steady glow of the flag could be seen through a window.
"Let's go win this thing." She said.
She let him lead the way down, following a few rungs above him. She tried not to think about how he could see her ass or lack of it rather. Halfway down, she felt her foot give way. A rail had broken underneath her foot. She let a small scream escape her throat as she dangled in the open air.
This is it. I can't hold on forever. There's no way I'd survive if I fell from this height.
Two familiar hands wrapped around her waist, stabilizing her while offering some relief to her strained arms.
"I got you," Toby
"What do I do?" Although she tried to hide it, panic leaked through her voice.
Stay strong, be strong, you're Dauntless. Prove it.
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course." The question felt so silly. "You forget I trusted you enough to illegally train with you for years. And to follow you here."
He squeezed her waist tighter. "I didn't forget."
"Oh." It was all she could think to say in the moment.
"Let go. I'll catch you and lower you to where you can stand."
It occurred to Tris that his plan most likely scared him just as much as it scared her, if not more. She nodded, taking in a deep breath.
"Ok, one," Please catch me. "Two...three."
She let go of the metal bar, relief flushing through her arms and hands. The pair of them tilted back for a moment until Tobias leaned forward and guided her feet to a sturdy rail. They collectively took in a sigh of relief.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Anytime," he breathed back, "now let's get off this damn thing."
Tris chuckled. She waited for him to continue down before following until they slowly reached the ground. It felt like forever before her feet touched the solid earth again.
"This is better. Much, much better." Tobias said. Tris laughed out of shock from what happened. "Are you okay?"
She nodded and wiped her sweaty palms on her leggings. "Fine. I'm just a bit shaken up, that's all. I'll be ok. We have a game to win."
"You've got that right," Tobias said, a touch of restrained laughter present in his voice.
As they walked towards the group, she noticed his face grow colder and more stoic. By the time they met up with the group, Tobias had completely morphed into Four.
"Where were you?!" Christina demanded, "and what were you doing with him? Are you ok? You're not in trouble are you?"
Tris shook her head, a grin on her face from the other girl's concern and at the idea that being alone with Tobias would mean she was in trouble.
"I-"
"While you were twiddling your thumbs and arguing, Tris climbed the Ferris wheel." Tris was taken aback at the amount of pride he let through his voice. Her chest warmed.
"What? Why?"
Tobias ignored Christina's question and waited to speak until the rest of the group turned towards them.
"We know where the flag is. B-Tris, why don't you tell everyone your strategy?"
She took a moment to collect her ideas, letting them fit together like puzzle pieces before she explained the game plan.
"Let's split. Four of us will head down as a distraction and keep their team busy while three of us go and get the flag. Anyone left will stay here and guard our flag in case some sneak away." One after another the group nodded in agreement before turning to mutter amongst themselves and group with their friends.
She ended up in a group of three with Christina and Uriah. They gave a signal to the other group of four and sprinted off to their destination. The far-off tree on the other side of the pier.
The cool air bit her nose twisting together with the adrenaline that rushed through her body. The burning in her legs was familiar, like a good friend that she was glad to see, or rather feel, again. Although it was tempting to run ahead, she stayed in step with Christina and Uriah. While jogging, it occurred to her that only one of them would get the flag. No matter what she did to get them to the flag, it wouldn't matter to anyone unless she was the one to capture it. But did she want that attention?
Tris began to scan the area once they reached the end of the pier. It wasn't hard to find thanks to its bright glow. Tris took the chorus of yells and paintballs erupting around them as a cue to go after the flag. She sprinted as fast as she could towards the tree where the flag was dangling. It was almost entirely unguarded. Uriah shot the only remaining guard in the knee, leaving him to throw his gun to the ground in defeat. Tris smirked.
She reached the tree at the same time as Christina. If had been just her, it would be a quick climb to retrieve the flag. Christina was taller, though, and seemingly without thinking, she jumped and grabbed the flag with ease.
"Come on Tris, you've already been the hero today." She said, turning towards the group to wave the flag and give a big whoop of victory. Uriah ran to join her. Tris ran up to join them as the shooting stopped and their group joined together in a cheering huddle. The joy was infectious. After a moment, Tris squeezed out of the close circle, standing on the side to occasionally join in with the cheers.
"I know you didn't get the flag, but that doesn't mean I'm not proud of you." A deep voice whispered in her ear. Startled, Tris turned around to see Toby standing behind her. "You were great back there, well done."
The most he could offer in public, without suspicion
Tris offered him a smile, thanking him for the reassurance with her eyes. He gave her shoulder a small squeeze before joining the crowd. Butterflies flittered around in her stomach as warmth spread across her chest.
She hadn't gotten the flag but honestly, she didn't want to be the one to get it. She would have hated the attention that was now being shone on Christina, pats on the back while being held up in the crowd of Dauntless born and transfers, and it would probably make the spotlight on her even worse. She was already first jumper and doing well in the ranks. Sharing the spotlight took the target off her back. As Uriah said, it was probably better if some attention was taken off of her.
Tris hadn't been the hero that night, but she was okay with that. She got to spend time with Toby, and honestly, that made it all worth it.
Ahhh, I can't believe this is (the old) Chapter 30! That's insane...originally I planned for this story to be 40 chapters but there is no way that is going to happen. We're only halfway through! It's a good thing though because I love writing this, and I'm not ready to let go yet! You guys are awesome, thank you for all of your sweet reviews and support. It means so much to me.