How Allegiant Should Have Ended

Chapter 24

Tris:

The limo takes us to a river that has woods surrounding it. We have our photographer take about fifty pictures before we decide to leave. We didn't want to spend that much time out there anyways.

A bee got caught in my veil. Zeke and Tobias have quite a laugh about it.

"Christina, I told you it was a bad thing!" I tell her. She just starts laughing along with them, and eventually, I give up and join them.

We all get back in the limo, me, Tobias, Zeke, and Christina, and go to the reception. We didn't want anything to excessive, but Christina had something else in mind. We compromised and choses a hotel's conference room that could just as well be a ballroom.

The chauffeur opens the doors for us and we all walk inside together. We are greeted by friendly applause as Christina announces that the bride and groom have arrived.

I hold onto Tobias's arm, and try to smile at everyone. It gets to me, eventually, and I start digging my nails into his arm, not on purpose of course. I look up at him. He has a giant smile plastered on his face. He's a lot better at this than I am. I'll have him teach me sometime.

The room is decorated like you wouldn't believe. Each table is set with two different kinds of forks and spoons, and I'm not sure which ones to use. Silver curtains are hung on the windows, probably to symbolize where we came from. Abnegation. I'll have to thank Christina for that, later. A DJ's stand is pressed up against the back wall, and who should be up there, but Uriah.

"Hey, Tris!" he calls out when he sees me looking at him. I smile at him, and manage a wave. He smiles back. "You're going to LOVE the set list for tonight!" I can only guess what that means. I stare at him, my jaw dropped. This just makes him laugh.

An enormous chandelier hangs in the center of the room, hovering right over a dance floor. No one told me that I would have to dance! I've never been to a dance in my entire life! How am I supposed to know what to do? I guess I could just kidnap Christina in the ladies room and make her give me a crash course in ballroom dancing.

The only good part, that came out of this entire thing, is that I get to be with Tobias. And that's all that really matters.

***

"Tris, it's time!" says Christina.

"What?" I ask, with a mouth full of salad.

"The first dance, silly!" she says. "C'mon! Tobias is waiting for you."

"Um, Christina," I say, swallowing. "I...uh...don't know how to dance."

"It's easy, really. All you have to do is sway back and forth."

"But what if I go the wrong way?"

"Let's go Tris," she says, laughing.

She drags me over to the edge of the dance floor, where Tobias is waiting for me.

"Are you ready?" he asks me, holding my hand. I nod. "You don't look ready."

"I'll be fine," I say. I hope I'll be fine.

He leads me onto the dance floor, and Uriah announces us. "Introducing, the bride and groom, in their first dance as husband and wife, the first dance of the night." I shoot him a glare. "Four and Tris," he finishes. I smile.

Tobias and I stand in the middle if the floor. He puts his hands around my waist, and I wrap mine around his neck. It feels...natural. Like it was always supposed to be this way.

"Are you okay?" he asks, once the music starts playing.

"I'll be fine," I say. "It's just, I never danced before."

"Really?" he asks. "Well, I mean, the only time I ever danced was at one of Zeke's legendary parties."

I laugh. It's so easy to be myself around him. "So, any regrets yet?" I ask.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're married now. Are you sick of me already?" I say it jokingly, but he takes it seriously.

"I could never be sick of you," he says. "I love you too much."

"I love you too."

"That's why we're here, isn't it?"

I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. The crowd swoons as the song finally comes to a finish. An upbeat song comes on, and Tobias and I are dragged apart by Christina, yet we've never been more close.

***

The cake reels in on a giant card, and Tobias just about falls out of his chair. Dauntless cake. I'll have to thank Christina later. He obviously appreciates this.

The cart is wheeled right in front of us. Christina motions for us to stand up. "You cut the cake," she whispers to me. I love how she knows that I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

"Thanks," I whisper back. I join Tobias's side and watch as he cuts. Even in the dim lighting, I can see his smile. He's probably going to end up finishing my slice for me.

Then, he dips two fingers into the cake, and smears it all over my nose. I feel like I'm supposed to do the same, so I dip my fingers in the same spot, ending up with a slightly bigger clump. I wave it in front of us face, tempting him, and laugh when he licks his lips. I smear it on his nose, and everyone laughs when he tries to lick it off. I think I know what I'm getting him for our anniversary.

***

The rest of the reception passes by without any news. Uriah traded places with Zeke for one song, and started break dancing in the center of the floor. He was definitely the life of the party. Christina was a little bummed that she didn't get to dance with him, so I started dancing with her, like a six year old.

Christina really outdid herself with the decorations. She respected my opinion of not wanting anything too extravagant, but also combined her style of flair. Our two ideas looked really well together.

All in all, it was just a really magical night. And just when I thought it was over, I realized it was just getting started. The last of our guests file out, and it's just me, Tobias, Christina, Zeke, and Uriah.

"I hope you had a great night, Tris!" Christina tells me.

"I did, thanks to you."

She gives me a hug, and then leaves the room with Zeke and Uriah.

Tobias turns to look at me. "Ready to go home?" I ask.

"Not quite yet," he says. "There's one more place that I think will top off this night."

"And where would that be, Mr. Eaton?"

"You'll just have to wait and find out Mrs. Eaton."