What froze his heart

-14-

I woke up on my stomach facing away from him. I tried to go back to sleep but he began to trace my tattoo I turned to look at him he was so focused on the ink and I watched as his eyes and finger moved in unison following the movement of the snake. I laughed a little and he looked up
" what going on in there "
I said taping his forehead a little and he had a gentle smile on his lips
" just that ... that you are the strongest person I've ever met from the way you fight hell to the way you react to fracturing bones "
I laughed a little
" I'm serious though I'm weak compared "
" I've only known pain and honestly I don't know what to do when I don't feel it "
" we're both messed up aren't we "
" ah yes but perfect together "
We both smiled and he started to laugh
" what "
" I just realized I've only heard you swear once "
" and that's funny "
He nodded his head laughed
" you went straight for the worst one I guess "
I started to get up taking the blanket with me as a cover and he pulled me back
" I'm sorry I'm sorry I'll stop don't go "
I laid back down and put my head on his bare chest and I could hear his heart pounding and his temperature rising. Without thinking I said
" When we met you tried to act cold and closed off we all saw threw it and I'm happy about it because otherwise, I wouldn't have tried "
" at first I thought you wouldn't go for someone like me the girl I liked when I first got here was Dauntless born so after that being here I didn't think I'd meet anyone "
" here it comes "
I whispered and with a little laugh he said
" then came along an Amity our of all people ... you know after I saw your fears and what he did I umm I started to think that you were only attracted to me because um you thought "
" Eric "
I looked at him and said
" I was attracted to you because you seemed to be the only calm thing here "
I kissed him and said
" I never thought you'd be anything like him "
He looked me dead in the eye
" move in with me "
" what "
" what you want to live on your own "
" no, but "
" then what's the problem it's either here or with one of the other new people ... we don't have enough setups for everyone to live alone "
" ok "
He looked at me surprised
" oh ok "
We got up and got dressed I took one of his sweaters because I didn't want to put that corset thing back on. I was standing by the window when he came out of the bathroom
" is it ok that I took one of your "
" yeah "
He said before I could finish what I was saying. It was so late in the day that the other people had already moved out so Eric came in and helped me gather my things.
" so you can have this side of the dresser and this cabinet in the bathroom "
He started to show me around
" Eric Eric "
He looked at me
" I know where things are "
" right "
He smiled and looked down at his hands and I said
" Are you sure this is what you want "
He nodded and I said
" ok tell me is what we have going on only going to be in this room or are we still this whatever this is outside "
" What are we, Carter "
I put my arms around his neck and let them hang there
" well I hope we're together "
He looked up and said
" We are "
After a moment I said
" you know we should celebrate ... with some cake "
He looked disappointed that I said cake
" come on "
I said heading to the door. When we got to the cafeteria there weren't many people but as soon as we walked in Eric laced his fingers between mine and wouldn't let go till we sat down. People were giving us strange looks but he didn't seem to mind
" so when will we be told our jobs "
" in a few days but I think you'll be on the fence "
" ok "
He finished his white cake and took the remaining third of my chocolate cake
" hey "
" What did you want it "
I tried to get a pice of the cake with my fork but he kept moving it back till I gave up. I was waiting for him to finish eating when a little girl she was maybe 8 ran in and hid behind a table.