Fourtris Meets Clace

Chapter 3 - Tobias

TOBIAS

I feel relieved to be back home. Although Tris and I aren't going straight to our new apartment and are going to my mom's mansion, it is better than being in an airport or in a crusty cab with a boy I immensely dislike. First, Evelyn has to talk to this Clary and Jace, and then we can go home. I love our new flat, but I also want to see my mother.

We've pulled up in the four-car driveway outside Evelyn's white mansion. I can almost smell the experimenting and laboratories waiting inside for me. I think the blonde guy will be shocked. Is his name Jace? I actually don't care.

"Jesus, this is one scientific house," Tris says, lost in thought. I grin at her.

"Right you are," I say casually. I get the strong urge to kiss her, to hold her in my arms and feel her heartbeat flowing through my veins. I get this feeling a lot nowadays, seeing as there have been several times in which I thought she was dead. Gone. Vanished. It was bad when my friend Uriah died in a coma, but I couldn't imagine a world without Tris. She's so beautiful and bright and alive. I couldn't take it if she died.

Evelyn is at the door, waving to me. She is wearing a blue sweater, white shirt and black pants - normal clothes. I remember only the Erudite wore blue sweaters and Candor wore the black and white clothes. Now the factions are gone we can wear anything we want. Today I'm wearing a navy collared shirt and dark green shorts, because at the moment in Chicago it is gorgeously sunny. Tris has a black sleeveless vest and a black skirt. I guess she still loves the black clothes we used to wear in Dauntless. It looks perfect on her slim figure.

I embrace my mother on the porch. Clary and Jace stand awkwardly behind, and Tris is grinning at Evelyn over my shoulder.

"Tobias! Tris! How are you?" She bombards us with questions: "Was the journey okay?" and, "Did the cab come on time?" and in hushed tones, "How are the boy and the girl?"

Tris answers the questions for me. I introduce Jace and Clary as we walk inside the hallway.

"Evelyn, as you know," I say, "this is Jonathan - I mean Jace - and Clary. They're from New York."

"Clary?" Evelyn enquires. "What, like the flower? Nice name."

Clary smiles wanly. "Yes, it's short for Clarissa," she says. "And thank you... Mrs. Johnson, is it?"

"You can call me Evelyn," my mom says, shaking her hand. She turns to Jace. "So you're Jonathan, then?" she asks.

"Yes," Jace says quickly. "I prefer Jace, if you please. And just a question - will we be staying here?"

"Oh, no!" Evelyn laughs. "I'm sure my son has plenty of room in his apartment. Don't you, Tobias?"

I open my mouth to object, but Tris interrupts me swiftly before I can say a lot of rude words. "We have the spare bedroom, Evelyn," she tells her. "It's kinda cramped, but it has a double bed and the bathroom is only across the hall. I hope that's okay."

"Certainly," Clary says. "Thanks so much. We really appreciate it." Tris nods and continues into the front room.

I hate the fact that Tris and Clary are petrified about me and Jace's immediate dislike for each other, and how soon there will be an almighty fight in which I will break his stuck-up nose.

Evelyn asks us to take a seat on one of the three couches. I sit by Tris on one, and Jace and Clary sit opposite us. I can see Golden Boy glaring at me, and I smile, just to wind him up.

"So, then," Evelyn says, breaking the awkwardness. Tris takes my hand, which soothes my anger. "I think we all know why you two have come to visit us. I really cannot be bothered to explain it! I'm afraid that I will have to talk to Jace and Clary in private, out of earshot of you, Tobias. So you can wait here whilst we discuss things in the library. I'll get the maid to bring you some snacks if you're hungry. Clary, Jace, if you'd like to follow me, please."

She walks out of the front room, and the others follow her. The maid, Sophie, enters the room, and asks us if we want any food.

"No thanks," I say, smiling.

"Call me if you change your mind," she says, and leaves just me and Tris.

Immediately her hands are running though my hair, and my lips are on hers, and we sit there for what feels like ages, kissing, to make up for all the times we couldn't. I don't want to think about anything else except right now; not the fact that I've found a new enemy to hate since Eric died last year, or the fact that my mother is possibly insane by giving us all these experiments to partake in - just that Tris is in my arms, and for a long time, I feel safe again.

She pulls away first, burying her head in my chest. I stroke her hair gently - it has been straightened, and hangs down. It's getting so long, it reaches the small of her back, just where my right hand is.

"You okay?" I ask her.

"Yeah," she says. "It's just a bit much to take in with these strangers coming and staying in our flat. Also I'm kinda scared you're gonna beat the crap out of Jace."

I chuckle softly. "I promise I'll try not to kill him when you're around," I say to her.

"Thanks." Sarcasm drips from her voice, but when she says the next thing it's all gone: "I love you, Tobias."

"I love you too, Tris."

And we sit there on the couch; me holding her, and her in my arms.