Emergent

Chapter Nine

The three of us stroll down the never-ending hallway. Tobias stalls slightly as we pass a door on the right hand side, as if pondering whether to enter or not. I stiffen. Who's behind that door? I didn't even think about what I had gotten into. Surely in the time frame in which I was gone he had met someone. They had fallen in love, just as we had, and now he isn't sure what to do. Does he go in through that door and break up with her? Does he break it off with me? Was that kiss out of desperation, out of excitement, and meant nothing? I clear my throat. "T-Tobias?" I try to say promptly, but it comes out as a stutter. He faces me. "Um, I know that I've been gone for a g-good while and" I take a breath and blurt it out "I want you to be happy. I hope she is beautiful and loves you the same way you love people, because I know you do. I won't get in the way." I would've said more, but it won't come out. There isn't much else to say. 

Tobias just stares at me. There is no reading him. I would look to Christina to see what she thinks, but my eyes are glued to him. After what seems like ages, he lowers his eyes, chuckles or snickers or something like that, and grabs my face in his hands. The action was swift, and without warning, making me jump a little. "Tris," he starts laughing a bit "Do you really think I would get over you that easy?" he asks with a smile, although I can see the concern in his eyes. I smile a bit, although he still hasn't fully answered my unspoken question.

"I didn't know. I can't feel what you do, and you've been through so much, and gotten through it so easily, I thought that you would heal quickly again." I say, trying to keep my eyes on him for as long as I can without crying. His eyes pull down to my lips, and -

"Okay, now you guys need to get a room." Christina says with a smirk. I had forgotten she was standing there. "And by the way, Evelyn is in that room." she remarks, pointing to the door. Tobias and I drop our position and turn to face her. 

"You knew who was in there the enitre time and you let me go on about this whole 'new girlfriend' thing?" I ask with a laugh, although I'm only half kidding. 

"Oh, my life has been so boring lately, I needed some drama!" she exclaims, letting her smile spread to her whole mouth. I roll my eyes and turn back to Tobias. 

"I would ask you to go in with me, but-" I cut him off. 

"No, don't worry. You don't even have to tell her. I didn't want to come back and impede on your lives in the first place." It sounded horrible when it came out. I didn't mean it like that. I really have to work on my delivery. Whether he didn't register it or disregarded it, the remark didn't seem to phase him. 

He kisses my forehead. "I would much rather you impeding on my life than not in it at all." he says as he walks through the door. 

"C'mon Tris, let's go catch up." She says grabbing my wrist. I don't want to leave, I want to stand here and wait for him. But I proceed down the hallway anyway.