Together: Sequel To Alone

Chapter 8 |Dining Together|

C h a p t e r 8

So maybe we ended up kissing on the couch. Friends do that, right? No? I thought not. I'm not sure what happened, actually. One minute we were in the kitchen, my hands on his chest, and the next his lips were on mine, his hands pressing into my back, pushing me impossibly closer to him. We stumbled blindly into the front room, falling gracelessly onto the couch, Tobias under me with his legs wrapped in mine. Now here we lay, my hands roaming acids his back, into his hair. His hands, rough and warm, holding me to him.

"I love you" Tobias muttered, his voice slurred by my lips. I could feel everything in me freeze, my muscles coiling tightly. Something clicked in my brain. Friends. I thought, friends for now

He could feel me freeze, his face separating from mine enough to look in my eyes. His mouth turned down at the corners, disappointment and hurt crossing his features.

" oh Toby" I sighed, my breath ruffling his soft hair " if only there was someone who loved you"

He started to laugh, though it sounded forced, his eyes darting around the room, refusing to meet mine.

" I'm sorry" I whispered " I can't, I really cant."

" I know" he breathes " I understand I... I just need some time to get my head straight okay?" Within moments he was out of the room and the door was closed. With a muttered curse and a sigh, i shuffled back into the kitchen, throwing a rag on the floor where soil-brown coffee puddled on the floor. The door opened again, but by the light footfalls that echoed against the wood floors. Caleb appeared at my side where I sat slumped against the counter, his brown hair ruffled by wind.

" Spilled coffee and disappointed stares, I'll take a guess and say that didn't go well" Caleb mutters, his hand on my shoulder.

" I don't even know anymore. I asked him to leave, I just... I'm not ready for a relationship with him" I explained sullenly

"Why?"
Its a simple question, but it makes me think about why I keep pushing him away.

"I- he left, and that hurt me, but Im really over that" my head rests in my hands and I mutter my explanation into my arms " I'm just... I don't know if he's still the same Tobias. I want to know that, before I invest myself in him"

" Have you told him this?" Caleb wonders

"No"

" Tell him. Maybe not now, but sometime when you're ready"

"Thanks Cae" I flash a smile at him " Hey, by the way, how long are you staying?"

" I have to leave tomorrow, but I just happen to be free today" He says, standing up off the ground and offering me his hand. I grasp it and pull myself up and brush the hair from my face. My brother drags me from the dorm, yanking me down the stairs and to my car, where he ushers me into the passenger seat. He slips into the other side, shoving the keys, which he mush have grabbed from the dorm, into the ignition, sending the motor roaring to life. We drive off campus, ending up on the crowded street, filled with cars impatiently waiting at lights and stop signs. after a few minutes Caleb swerves into the parking lot of a small diner, the car gliding smoothly into a parking space. We head inside, pausing to inhale the smell of bacon that fills the place, and choose a seat in the corner of the room.

" I meant to tell you before" Caleb mentions " Mom called me, she wants me to tell you to come home for a while, maybe next weekend"

" Tell her I said no" I say flatly

"Tris" he sighs " One dinner, thats all I ask."

" You're lucky I love you" I grumble, nodding my agreement.

A woman with wiry brown hair, laced with streaks of grey, approaches our table, smiling happily. She pauses at the end of the table, fishing a notepad out of her apron.

" Hey there" She smiles brightly " Can I get some drinks for the cute couple?"
Caleb chokes on air and nearly falls off the chair, meanwhile, Im laughing so hard I cant see straight

"He- he's my brother" I choke out as Caleb rights himself. A faint dusting of red covers the woman's- Anne, her name tag says- cheeks.

" I'll take a hot chocolate" Caleb orders

" Me too" I say, smiling. The lady nods and walks away, her apron swirling behind her. To think, a few days from now, I'll be stuck in a dinner with my parents.

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I just wanted to apologize for this being so short. It's not even a thousand words so there's that. Schools actually sucking the life out of me so it's a bit harder to put out long chapters. Next one is longer, I promise.

Also, this book is going to be a lot shorter than Alone. Like, 20 chapters or so. I think. Maybe. And to those of you desperate for fourtris, I wouldn't hold your breath.

One last thing. PLEASE MESSAGE ME. I need someone to talk with who doesn't make me want to shove a pencil into their throat. And I can't find anyone like that at school. Anything You want to talk about. Books,school, anything.

Stay fluffy🐼