Divergent: Unleashed | ✓

Chapter 27

Tris sits out on the Leason's porch, waiting for Lacey to show up and drive her home to New York. Caleb had gotten a plane ticket, and there hadn't been enough time to get Tris one for the same flight. Thankfully, though, Lacey had agreed to bring her up to New York.

Someone sits down on the cold concrete stoop next to her. Tris lets out a cross between a groan and a sigh. "I can wait out here alone, Ash."

"Are you sure? You're looking a little lonely." She almost jumps out of her skin. One corner of Tobias's mouth lifts in a half-smile.

"I-I wasn't expecting you..." She trails off, unsure of what to say. Her black leather jacket does little more than make her colder, and she shivers as another gust of wind blows. She's just glad that the rain has stopped, though the sky is still a dark gray and it looks about ready to downpour.

He sets his hand over hers where it sits on the stoop. "I thought you hated me?" she asks.

He looks ready to laugh. "Hate you?"

"Yes." She seems irritated. "I just left you, and then I didn't talk to you for months. How can you stand even looking at me?"

Now he actually does laugh. She narrows her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest. "It's really not that funny."

He grins. "Oh come on, Tris. Do you really think I could find it in me to hate you?" She opens her mouth to reply, but he cuts her off. "Yes, I was pissed. It was completely random. But for God's sake, I love you. It's just not possible for me to hate you."

She raises an eyebrow at him. "It's almost dinner and Bryn's at her friend's house for the night. I doubt that your cousin is coming. Do you want to come in?"

Tris checks her phone and sees a text from Lacey, saying that she'll be there tomorrow. She lets out a sigh and glances from the house to her black duffle bag. "Do you think your family will mind?"

He shakes his head. "No, Tris. It'll be fine. You can probably sleep in Bryn's bed. Or, worst comes to worst, you and I sleep on the couches in the living room. Okay?" He stands up and offers her his hand. She lets out a quiet 'okay,' and takes his hand. He pulls her to her feet, plants a kiss on her forehead, and leads her inside.

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Tris walks downstairs in black sweatpants and a loose black T-shirt. Her hair is French braided, and she's exhausted. Thank God the Leasons are so nice.

Tobias looks up from some TV show that he's watching- something about cops- and smiles at her. He is wearing plain black nightpants and no shirt, and she automatically blushes and looks away from his bare chest. 

She looks at the TV. "So, what're you watching?"

"Just some reruns of Castle and Bones."

She sits down on the couch next to him and puts her feet up on the reclined part of it next to his. "Never heard of them."

He unconsciously wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her closer to him. His skin warms her, and she moves a little closer. "What show is this?"

"Castle." He grins. "It's about a guy named Rick Castle- he's a mystery writer. He teams up with this detective, Kate Beckett, and gets his inspiration for his books from solving murders with her. It's actually really good."

She turns her head from the TV and smiles up at him. "You like it?"

He nods. "Grimm is pretty good too. And Once Upon a Time is alright. Ashlyn and I really want to get into Falling Skies, though. That's about aliens."

Tris looks towards the stairs. "She's in eighth grade, right?" he nods. "Does she know what she's going to do when she grows up?"

He thinks for a minute, then shrugs. "She's said that she really wants to be a published author. She's wanted to since she was like, eight. She's let me read some of her stuff- it's actually really good. Lots of violence and death."

Tris smiles. "And now I know why you like it." she laughs.

He shuts off the TV and watches her for a minute. "So, um, where do you want to sleep?"

She shrugs, her stomach muscles tightening. "Depends. Where are you sleeping?"

His eyes widen a little, realizing her meaning. "The smaller couch, I guess." It's more of a loveseat, with the two reclining parts right next to each other. They grab a few blankets, and he shuts out the light, leaving on the small Disney princess nightlight that's hooked into the wall. They cover up and turn to face each other.

Tobias wants to pull her closer to him, hold her against him so that maybe he won't have the nightmares that have started coming back over the past few months since they'd gotten out of the fence. Her eyes look extremely dark, especially since she's facing away from the light.

Tris moves closer to Tobias, not sure if she should or not, but needing to be close to him. Like they used to be. He reaches out and slides his hand on top of hers, and she closes her eyes and smiles. She opens them again and gives him a conflicted look. "I'm sorry." she whispers.

"For what?"

"You know why I'm apologizing." she says it as a fact. "Would it be possible to make it up to you?" 

He smirks and motions for her to move closer. She does, and he slides an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. She'd filled out more, and he smiles to himself. Just as beautiful as always. She slides her arm around his waist and presses her mouth against his. He pulls away and kisses the top of her head. "I love you, Tris." 

She closes her eyes, her ear pressed against his chest, and smiles. "I love you too, Tobias."