Love & Tribulations

Chapter 8

Rose's POV

I woke up to the persistent pinging of my phone, knowing that multiple texts had arrived from Caleb. I let out a grumble as I realized I had a lot of work to do today. It's unfortunate because I won't be seeing Ezra anytime soon. It's only been two days, but I'm already missing the small things, like how my heart beats faster when I hear her voice or see her smile. Like when my surroundings blur, as if my world had completely disengaged from reality, and she comes into focus, rendering me speechless.

The way she pronounces my name sends chills through my body. Her eyes are incredibly expressive, and the words they contain make them captivatingly beautiful. For years, I wished to feel something, any kind of emotion, but now that I can, I'm mostly terrified. Terrified of losing her and all the emotions she instilled within me. And it's ironic because she's not even mine.

I worked for about six hours straight, and Ezra would randomly enter my mind every few minutes. I'm not sure when she became my favorite part of the day, but I don't mind one bit. I went over to Elias' room and let myself in, before flopping down on his bed.

"What's your problem?" He questioned still typing on his phone.

"I feel empty", I mumbled into the bed.

"Maybe you're hungry", he suggested getting up from the chair. I heard his footsteps approaching me before he came to a halt and started dragging me off the bed by my ankles. I groaned, not wanting to move.

"Come on let's go grab something to eat, food always makes you feel better. And you might even get to see Ezra", he pointed out.

I immediately got up and dragged him toward the dining hall. I'm not sure why my body is reacting like this, but I need to see her. I groaned when we arrived since I couldn't feel her presence. I'm officially suffering from Ezra deprivation.

"Hey, haven't seen you guys all day", Tris said as she approached us, Asher and James following behind her.

"Yeah, I was busy with work, just wanted to grab something to eat", I responded. She suddenly turned to Asher with a look of realization, before she turned back to me with a mischievous grin.

"Ezra's still stuck in her office, maybe you could bring her something to eat", James smiled. Asher handed me a bag of food from what I smelled while Tris pushed me in the direction of Ezra's office.

"Don't worry we'll keep your brother's company", Asher assured me as he led a hesitant Elias into the dining hall.

"It'll be fine, she loves Italian", Tris informed, patting me on the back. I just shook my head at her before going up to Ezra's office.

I paused outside her door, taking in her scent, my heart racing as I heard her footsteps approaching the door. My entire world froze the moment the door opened; I just stared into her eyes, unable to move an inch. I'm not sure why, but she feels so familiar to me. It feels less like I am getting to know her and more like I am remembering who she is. Some way, somehow, in another life I've met her before.

"I heard you liked Italian", I spoke, finally breaking out of my trance as I raised the bag of food into her view.

"Jimmy's", she said excitedly, making me smile at how adorable she was being. So cute.

"I just came to drop this off, I'll leave you to your work", I explained, handing her the bag. I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm, causing me to stop in my tracks. It's this sensation that drives me insane, the warmth radiating from her touch pulling me out of perpetual darkness. That night I first laid eyes on her, something in me changed. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was living instead of just existing in this world.