Not the end for us | ✅

Tris' POV

It's past 6.30 p.m. Tobias should be home by now, but he hasn't called me yet. He's probably taking a shower or eating supper.

It's 7 p.m. and Tobias still hasn't called. I look at the screen of my phone and the picture of me and Tobias lying down on a picnic blanket stares back at me. He is probably busy with some homework. I shouldn't worry. I always prided myself for not being a controlling girlfriend, but who am I kidding, I want to know where he is and why he hasn't called me yet. He usually calls when something comes up. And we had plans. Why would he invite me over if he had prior engagements? No, something is up.

I dial his number but there's no answer. I let it ring until the voicemail is activated. I decide not leave a message but try again. And again. And again. By the sixth or seventh time I'm already panicking.

Maybe his truck broke down or something, but he would have answered his phone then. Maybe Amar kept them longer at practice. I mean, Caleb isn't home yet. I decide to try calling my brother. It rings twice and then he picks up. I hear him laugh and then answer.

"Hey, Tris. What's up?" he asks.

"Where's Four?" I ask directly, not caring for politeness or anything.

"I don't know. Home, maybe."

"When did he leave?"

"Right after practice," Caleb answers and I feel myself getting angrier and more panicked by the minute.

"Which was when?" I ask forceful.

"Calm down. Uhm, at least an hour ago."

"What?" I ask. At this point I put on my shoes and hurry over to Tobias'. I knock on the door but there is no answer. His truck isn't here either. What the hell is going on?

"Tris, you still there?"

"Yeah," I say with a sigh and run my free hand through my hair.

"You okay?" he asks. No, I'm having a panic attack.

"I don't know. I can't reach Tobias. We were supposed to see each other right after his soccer practice but he hasn't called me yet and he doesn't answer his phone either. I'm worried."

"Calm down, sis. I'll be right home," Caleb says alerted. I hang up and try a few more times to reach Tobias but he still doesn't pick up. Where are you, baby?

I know his parents are at his sister's recital, but maybe they wanted him to go there too and he couldn't talk his way out and is now stuck there and I freak out for nothing. I dial Evelyn's number and wait for her to pick up. It rings several times and I almost give up when I hear her answer.

"Hello?" she asks whispering.

"Mrs. Johnson, it's me Tris. Is Tobias with you?" I ask her without any kind of excuses or meaningless chit-chat.

"No. He had soccer practice and told me he wouldn't be able to make it to the recital. He should be at home," she says, but I can sense that I worried her. I hope everything is alright with him.

"Tobias isn't home. The truck isn't here and he doesn't answer his phone. I'm really worried," I say and feel tears streaming down my cheeks. I can't hold it in anymore. I fall down to my knees and sob uncontrollably. Something is wrong. I can feel it. He would never let me wait this long without calling or texting me. He would let me know that he is fine.

I hear Evelyn talk, shout even but I can't understand anything. It is like she's a million miles away and only the wind carries her words so that I can acknowledge their existence, but not their meaning. I hear a car and instantly look up.