Dreaming

Chapter 7

Tobias's POV

"Okay, I'll be there then." Zeke waves at me without looking up. Turns out Zeke's 'Huge Problem' was just and error that needed to be fixed. Took me a while, but I fixed it and now I can leave. I told Tris I'd be back by 5 but now we can be together all day before she begins working with Tori and Christina in the tattoo parlor tomorrow.

I decide to go get a piece of cake before heading up to the apartment when someone runs into me, then tumbles back, falling on the floor. It's Tris, but she's, crying? She lets out a shaky apology.

"Tris?" She looks up at me and then her eyes widen a little. "What's wrong?" She pushes herself up ignoring my question. All of a sudden I find myself wrapping my arms around her and kissing her back.

• • •

Tris's POV

I pull away to catch my breath. My breaths are still shaky. He has one arm around my waist and the other is under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. He looks into my eyes intently, waiting for me to say something.

"Tris, answer me, what's wrong?" I look away, I don't want to cry anymore. Crying isn't me.

"I...I don't know Tobias! I'm here in this perfect world, a world I already lived once. It wasn't a perfect world though. Tobias, that dream, that dream is the last thing I can hold onto, those are my memories. You don't have those, no one but me does and I'm... I'm scared." The last two words come out strained, like they were forced out of my body. "That dream, Tobias, is the last thing I remember. Nothing before that is completely clear. We have similar memories of initiation, but they aren't the exact same. I'm scared Tobias, I'm scared that I'm making this all up in my head. But I'm also scared, because, what if I'm right? What if everything I remember did happen? That's what scares me the most. I don't want to be right." It's too late to hold the tears back. They flow out freely, with nothing to hold them back. I'm no longer in his arms. Instead I'm on the floor. My knees are pulled up to my chest, my arms wrapped around them, and my head tucked between them.

"Tris, don't cry."

I look up at him. Wiping my eyes with my sleeve and sniffling, I finally speak.

"Don't tell me what to do. You don't know what it feels like. I don't feel right being here in this, this...I don't know, paradise!" I spit the words like venom at him. "You all have it so easy, you have no idea wha-"

"No, Tris. You're completely wrong. This is not some paradise. None of us have anything easy! Tris what are you talking about? You've been through a lot in just a few days, so Tris, please, calm down. And you're right, I don't know how you feel, I don't know what you're going through, but let me help you. Let me in Tris. Let me in." The tears have dried up. I stand up and take one of his hands. I put it up against my heart. I press his hand with both of mine.

"I'm scared, Tobias." I press my lips up to his. With his free hand, he presses me closer, deepening the kiss. What feels like hours, is only seconds. And I've figured it out. He's my escape. He's my escape from confusion. He's my escape from hurt. He takes my fear away. I feel like anything is possible when I'm with him. My moods can change from extremity to extremity in a flash when I'm with him.

"Tobias, I love you."

He picks me up and carries me all the way back to the apartment, occasionally pecking at my lips. He opens the door while, still, carrying me with ease. He never really locks his door, which I've been trying to convince him to, but that's  another matter that can be handled later. Closing the door with his foot, he lays me down on the bed, gently. He takes off his shoes, putting them to the side, and doing the same with mine. I thank him as he changes into something more comfortable. I can feel sleep tugging on my eye lids. I look up at him and muster the best puppy face I have. He mutters something under his breath as he shuffles over to the other side of the bed. I point to my shorts and tank top, which is practically what he's wearing. He reaches over and takes the clothes and begins to change me. I feel like a baby. I let out a laugh. I can't believe I'm making Tobias Eaton change me out of my clothing and into another set. I also can't believe that a few months ago, I wouldn't of even been comfortable with changing in front of him. Let alone letting him change me.