Chasm

Chapter 12

So much positive feedback on the last chapter! I'm glad you guys like where this story is heading, I'm excited too!

TRIS POV

With a mere three hours of sleep fueling me, I drag myself into the training room. It is almost eight o'clock, but Tobias isn't here yet, and as much as I want to get training over with so I can take a nap, I am glad.

I can't even begin to imagine how awkward today is going to be. How could he kiss me, after how assertively I have been pushing him away, after how clear we have both made it that we would have no chance together in this world after that disaster of a war?

More awkward still, I can't deny that I enjoyed it and wish I would have made the most of it.

Closing my eyes for a brief rest, I recall Christina's words from the night before: "He still has it bad for you." I had snapped at her in defense, but now I realize that I have to apologize like I planned to last night, only sincerely now.

Because she might be right.

But I don't think I want that; I can't risk being in a relationship again. We have agonized each other in unspeakable ways that neither of us will ever forget about. I would rather both of us part ways once more than be the creators of our own destruction.

Maybe I am overthinking this. Maybe it was a spur of the moment thing, and he completely regrets his actions, and he will make that clear. I don't know. Only time will tell.

Christina walks in a minute before eight, looking nearly as weary as I do, even as the morning person she is. We approach each other, and at the same time, we both say, "I'm sorry." We must both despise being at odds with our best friend.

I laugh softly, and it is barely a laugh. "I'm sorry I got angry. It was just too early in the morning," I apologize.

"Don't worry about it," she deflects, rubbing her eyes. "I know it's a touchy subject, and I shouldn't have gone that far."

I give her a side-hug. "Good?"

"Yeah." And because she is Christina, she begins, "So now I've gotta complain about little miss Erudite and how I had to put up with her all night on my team."

She babbles about Jessica for the next five minutes. Time ticks on, and I wonder if we are ever going to start initiation today until Tobias finally steps into the training room.

I figured that he was going to feel terrible this morning, and his appearance displays it. His dark hair and clothes are disheveled, like he woke up and came straight here. He is rubbing his temples when he walks towards us, surely trying to assuage the headache he has. When he gets close enough, I see the red surrounding his usually vigilant eyes.

"I'm going to be honest, I feel like shit," he announces to us, as if we couldn't already tell. Nobody dares to whisper to each other like normal because they wouldn't dare do anything that could set him off in this mood. "I was planning on doing knives this morning and letting you go early for lunch, and then coming back later for a training review, but I don't think I could handle that. So here's the deal: if you manage not to piss me off, I'll let you go early and you can have the rest of the day off. Then we'll throw in an extra day tomorrow. Got it?"

At our assenting nods, he sighs and walks over to the tables that have throwing knives placed on top of them. He picks up three of them and walks over to the line of targets.

"Watch carefully," he commands. With his arm out in front of him and his body sidewards, he launches the knife at the target. It hits dead center, despite the major hangover he is suffering through. "It's like shooting. Just breathe through it and position yourself right, and you'll get the hang of it."