Resurgent

Chapter 13

"So, you really can't remember anything?" Peter asks with a mouthful of ice cream. He took me to this neat café called Factions for lunch.

I shake my head as I take a bite of my hamburger.

"Wow," sadness sweeps over his face. "I can't believe it...all those special moments spent together just...gone. I just wish there was something I could do to bring it all back. I need you back with me."

My eyebrows pinch together in confusion. What special moments? Why would Tobias say he loves me if it is really Peter I was dating?

"Were we...in love?" I hesitantly ask, my tongue heavy with the word "love."

His eyes shift downward with a depressed heaviness. "More than you can imagine."

I swallow hard and force my heart to slow down. Carefully, I slide my hand across the table until it finds his. "I'm trying to remember; I really am. But until then, I'll try to learn to love you again."

"Thank you, babe." Peter lifts his eyes to meet mine and a warm smile finds its way onto his pale face.

We talk for the rest of lunch, sharing stories and spitting back sarcastic comments at each other. Every so often, I will get another random image in my mind. Peter tries his best to help interpret what they mean, but even he doesn't know what they are. He can't even recall the ones I see him in, which makes me think that maybe they mean nothing. Perhaps the images are just my brain's way of trying to cope. It is so frustrating not knowing who you are, or who you're supposed to be.

I lay my head in my hands in frustration. I can feel my throat get tight as I fight back tears.

"Hey," Peter says as he stands up from our booth in Factions and places his hand on my shoulder. "Don't get too down about this whole situation. I'm sure we can make the best outta this. C'mon, let's go to our spot."

When we step outside of the café, he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder. Laughing, I flail my arms and legs, demanding that he put me down.

"Sorry, no can do. Looks like you're stuck."

I give up trying to squirm away and just rest my chin on his back. After only a few minutes, he sets me down. Looking around, I see a tall metal structure in the middle of a park.

This must be Peter and I's "spot" that he was talking about. I would like to say that it's beautiful, but really there's nothing very spectacular about it. Yes, it's a huge structure that someone probably put a lot of work into building, but it isn't very breathtaking. Well, I know it literally took my breath away when Tobias and I climbed up it. I stop myself. This mental memory in my mind is more vivid than usual. I can see us leaning on a blanket on the top of the structure, sipping on some type of drink. Just as I close my eyes to take in every detail of the image, it fades away.

"So, this is it. We used to come here all the time and make out." Peter says as he grabs my hand. I pull away at first, still not used to his affection. I take a deep breath and ease my hand back into his. "Oh, and probably more romantic junk like picnics or something. But I mostly enjoyed the making out."

Peter's straightforwardness is overwhelming yet at the same time, it helps bring things into clarity for me. By him explaining what we used to do, I know what is expected of me now. Even so, I can't seem to get Tobias out of my mind. Caleb, Cara, and Matthew don't seem very important to me, but for some reason, I am drawn to Tobias. He is so very different from Peter, though.

I don't want to think too much about Tobias while I'm with what seems to be my boyfriend. So, I smile coyly and jump on Peter's back. He spins around a couple times in attempt to get me off, but has no success. My grip is locked around his neck and I have no intentions of letting go.

"Hey! Get off me!" Peter jokingly cries. "Abuse! Mayday! Mayday! I'm going down!"

He topples to the cool, green grass. In the fall, I slip and land on my back. We're both still laughing hysterically when, before I know it, Peter has both arms pinned against the ground by either side of my head. He leans in and passionately kisses me. I am not ready to kiss him yet but I can't pull away because my head is stuck on the grass. The only option I can think of is to push him off. I didn't realize how strong I was, though, and when I shove him away, he falls backward and onto his back.

Just as I quickly sit up to leave, a tall, muscular figure dashes to Peter, who is still lying on the ground. He gathers Peter's shirt into his hand, pulling him just slightly off the ground, and swings back his arm. As he delivers the first blow to the face, I look closer and see that it's Tobias.

"Tobias!" I yell, trying to save Peter from another hit. "Please, stop!" I know that my words are useless, so I rush up to him from behind. I place my hand on his shoulder in attempt to get him to turn around. Just as I do, however, he elbows me hard in the stomach. I cry out in pain and crumple to the ground. I have always been able to take a hit, but this one was harder than the

ones I received in Dauntless training-another random memory. I want to think about what it means but I can't focus on anything except the throbbing in my gut.

"Tris," Tobias drops Peter, who crumples to the ground, and turns around, staring wide-eyed at me. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to..." He bends down and touches my arm.

As quickly as I can, I stand up. "Leave me alone." I say as I start to walk away, still clutching my stomach. It feels as though someone dropped a giant rock on me and then drug it across my abdomen. But I don't know why I'm feeling such a sharp sting there when all Tobias did was elbow me.

"Tris, no, wait! Please, let me help." Tobias says as he takes only a few short strides to catch up with me.

"Are you deaf?!" I raise my voice this time. "I said leave me alone!"

I pick up my pace and half jog/half walk out of the park. Behind me, Peter still lies on the ground and Tobias stands helpless and astonished.