Safe at Last {ON HOLD}

Chapter Tris

TOBIAS POV

She asked for sweatpants and sweatshirts. Normally I wouldn't think anything of it, but it's the middle of summer and Tris' hospital room isn't particularly cold, if anything it's warm. Unless she's trying to hide something? Or maybe she is just embarrassed of her body, she is rather small and frail, but still beautiful. Is it because of me? I realize I'm staring again, but she is staring back too. She blushes.

"Sorry" she says.

"There's nothing to be sorry about.  But can I ask you a question?"

"Sure?"

"Why did you ask for sweatshirts and sweatpants? It's the middle of summer and not cold in here."

"Um- well- uh I, I guess it's because uhh, I don't like showing my arms or legs." It only sounds half true.

"Uh, okayyyyy." I say as she stares at the wall.

"Thank you for saving me."

"It was nothing."

"That's funny. You do realize you wouldn't be here right now if you didn't save me? And Ms. White would probably be goings nuts trying to find me. But oh look! You won't be able to find me because I'm dead!" she pauses. "That probably didn't make any sense. A lot times when I'm mad I ramble."

"I understood okay."

"You're the first."

"Really? I find that hard to believe."

"I like talking to you. Can you please come visit again?" she asks in a shy tone.

"Of course! I like talking to you too."

She mumbles something under her breath- I think I hear her say something about a friend? I glance at my watch. "Oh crap! I gotta go to work! I'm sorry Tris! I'll be back soon!" I say, as I wave to her and turn towards the door.

"Bye Tobias!" and I'm out the door jogging to work.
***
I wasn't kidding when I said I'd show up soon. I showed up the very next day.

"Tobias! You're back so soon!"

"Yeah, might as well come give you something to do." she has changed into new clothes from yesterday and has her hair pulled back into a high, messy ponytail with a slight shine on her lips. Why am I looking at her lips?

"I've been thinking about it and there's something I want to tell you."

"Tris are you okay?"

"Yes- No- Yes, well I'm getting to that."

I sigh. "Okay, what is it?" I ask as I sit down in the black plastic chair by her bed.

"I really don't have any friends, that's why I asked you to come back. You've cared the most about me then anyone has in a while."

My cheeks turn red. "What about Ms. White? And the kids at the orphanage?"

"Well, I really shouldn't be telling you this, but two kids at the orphanage tied me up to the bus. But please please please don't tell ANYONE that I told you that." she says as she starts crying.

"It's okay." I tell her as I go to run circles on her wrist to soothe her, but when I do she just jumps back. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! Let me look at your wrist."

She starts to cry harder and presses her wrists against her chest. "NO!" she yells at me.

"I'm sorry!" I then do the only thing I can think to do, I plant a kiss on her lips. I didn't even know I felt so desperate to kiss her, but it does work because she isn't crying as much now.

Tris just stares at me confused. "Wha-, why, why not..." she continues.

"Because I don't like seeing you in pain." her eyes water up again.

"Tha- That's the nicest thing I've ever heard."

"It's true." she stares for a minute then plants her lips on mine. She tastes sweet and smells like lavender soap.

"You're the first person to care about me since my parents died."

"I'm sure that's not true. Mrs. White, and I'm sure some of the kids at the orphanage do."

"Nope. Mrs. White never really pays attention to anything and most of the kids at the orphanage either are moody, depressed, or just jerks."

"That sucks."

"Yeah. Anyways, you're probably wondering how my parents died. When I was 11, me, my mom, my dad, and my brother Caleb were crossing the street and the car didn't see us, so it didn't stop. It drilled my mom and dad who both died but I managed to get a broken arm and sprained ankle."

"What about your brother?"

"Haven't seen him since the accident. I think he ran off or something. I got knocked out so I'm not exactly sure."

"Oh."

She sighs. "It's not like they even mattered. My mom would sometimes praise me or talk to me about school, but my dad basically pretended I was invisible unless I did something bad or messed up. All his attention was on my "totally amazing" brother. I don't even know what it means to love someone."

I take a deep breath. I have to focus. I have to tell her about my family.

CLIFF HANGER MUHAHAHAHAHAHA! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!!

RC: 49 reads!