Finding Home

Part Nineteen

I hope you guys enjoy! Happy Monday, please let me know what you think!

Chapter 19

Twelve Years Ago... (Tris - age 17)

She's staring at the clock, her fingertips nervously tapping on the side of her desk. Her leg is bouncing up and down vigorously. She feels anxious, nervous. A deep sense of dread engrosses her body as the clock strikes 3:10 indicating the end of school for the day.

She texted Uriah after lunch because she had not seen him at all today. She needed to talk to him. Badly. It's urgent.

Students start packing up, interrupting the teacher from finishing his last thoughts. Tris faintly hears her teacher grumbling about how the bell doesn't dismiss the student, he does. But Tris is far too gone to listen to what he's saying. She bolts out of the classroom, meeting Uriah to the front of the school, near a mermaid fountain.

"Tris! Hi!" Uriah's friendly wave and smile suddenly disappear when he sees the look on Tris' face. He knows what's about to happen. He's been expecting this moment to happen for so long now. Uriah had only wished it was later rather than now.

"Uriah...we need to talk." Tris knows that those words sound too cliché, but she doesn't know what else to say. "You know I love you." She begins.

"Tris," It almost sounds like he is pleading.

"Uriah, you know I love you—," she says again. "I just don't think I can be in a relationship anymore. With college applications and prep, my classes, and there's so much going on with my family at the moment. I don't know if it's fair for you to have to deal with me and my problems—"

"I don't mind, Tris." He takes both of her hands in his.

"I know, but I just don't think I can be in a relationship. It's not fair for you, and I don't want to fuck things up. I just—I don't," Tris doesn't really know what she is saying at this point. "I can't love you the way you love me."

The words have been said and nothing can stop Uriah from feeling this amount of hurt. It feels like a knife to the gut. But it doesn't hurt Tris any less to say them either.

Plus, they're so young. Relationships are new to both of them. For Tris, it was just not the right time.

Deep down, Uriah has known for a long time that this would happen. He's known, and he's accepted. But still, it's still hard for him to say these words. "It's okay, Tris." He tucks a strand of hair behind her ears. "I know."

He brings her into a warm embrace. "I don't want to lose you though."

"You won't, I promise. Uri, I never wanted to hurt you. I really didn't." She starts to tear up. "You mean too much to me."

"Sh—shh. It's okay, it's okay." He coos while brushing her hair. "I love you, Tris. Nothing will ever change that."

"You're my best friend, you know that?" She asks once the tears have finally stopped coming out.

"I know, Tris. I know."

Present Day...

"Hey Tobias, I got your message. Maybe you're right. I hope you figure it out whatever it is you are working on at the moment. I think both of us need time apart and maybe we rushed into things. I want to focus a little on myself at the moment. Hopefully, that is alright with you. It was nice seeing you after a while though. Uhm—talk soon. Er— I guess. Take care, bye." Tobias listens to the message for the fourth time today.

Tobias can't help but feel a little deflated. He wants to win Tris back, and he tells himself that he will. But sometimes good things take time. He reassures himself that everything is going to be okay. Things might not be where he wants at the moment, but he knows things will come around when the time is right.