Effulgent

Chapter 22

TRIS POV

I've no idea why Tobias has been acting strange all this week. I feel as if he's hiding something from me.I haven't seen him anywhere since yesterday and I'm really starting to get worried. I searched everywhere and asked everyone but no avail. I decide to go see if he's back in his apartment today, when I hear someone knocking on my door. Hope swells in me. It might be Tobias. I race to the door and open it. All my hope withers, it's not Tobias, it's a woman with an envelope in her hand. Who is she? She looks kinda creepy and there's an expression of irritation on her face.

"This is a letter adressed to you by someone named Four." She says. Tobias sent me a letter? What? If he wanted to say something, why couldn't he just come over and say it? I take it from her, utterly confused.

"Um, thanks." I smile at her but she walks off with no form of reply. What a rude person? I think to myself. But then, what kind of manners do I have? Oh, well. I open that envelope and a small paper with some sort of writing slips out. I pick it up from the floor and read it and get the biggest shock of my life.

"Tris, apparently you're right about yourself. You're not good enough for me. I can't get what I expect with you. So I'm breaking up with you. Goodbye, Tris.

~4

I sink down to my knees, my eyes glassy. I knew Tobias was thinking that of me. I'm small, flat-chested and sickly pale. Who would want me? He had been lying all along. That thought makes me cry even harder. Why, Tobias, why? I hear another knock on my door. I get up and open the door, not even bothering to wipe my face clean. There stands Tobias, looking down.

"Um, I'm sorry Tris. I had work to do outside Dauntless and I couldn't tell you but hey, I'm back now." He says and looks up. There's a sheepish smile on his face but it's gone as soon as he sees my face. He looks alarmed. But I'm angry, he sends me a break up letter and suddenly comes up to my doorstep and acts as if nothing happened?I feel his hands on my shouders.

"Tris?! Tris?! What's wrong?! Why're you crying?!" He asks. I shake his hands off my shoulders.

"Why did you choose to break up with me earlier? Why did you do that now?! Huh?!" I yell right at his face.

"Break up with you? What're you talking about? Why would I break up you?" He asks and I flick the letter at his face. He catches it. When he reads it, his face goes pale.

"Tris! Never! I swear Tris, I didn't send it. Someone forged my handwriting into this. I'd never break up with you. Plus, if I wanted to send you a letter, I would've put my real name in it or wait, why would I even bother sending a letter?, I would've come straight here myself." He says. He tears the letter and disposes it. He pulls me into his arms.

"You know, whoever sent you that letter is going to have to deal with me now." He says with a hint of anger in his voice."How dare they say those things about you!"

We walk inside and he closes the door behind him. We plop down on the couch, with me still in his arms. I very confused now. If he didn't send that letter, who did? and why?

"Remember, Tris. I love you." He says. I nod.