Starting Over

Chapter 19

"Dauntless."

"I dare you to go into the transfer initiate dorm and punch the first person you see."

"Preferably Thomas, but I'd appreciate it if you hit any of the guys," I add. "They're all jerks."

"Works for me. Would you like to come Tris?"

"Yes, but I shouldn't. They probably shouldn't know that I'm friends with the instructors."

Everyone except Tobias and I go to watch Marlene since this should be funny. When everyone's gone I lay my head in Tobias' lap and he starts to play with my hair.

"It's good to see you having fun with everyone. It's been so long since I've seen you smile this much."

"It's nice to not have to pretend. Here I'm not B, the transfer initiate from Abnegation. Here I'm Tris, the transfer from Abnegation who ranked first, has awesome friends, but most of all loves Tobias Eaton." I lean up and kiss him. It's the kind of gentle, loving kiss that makes your heart feel like it's about to explode. I've just forgotten where we are and what's going on when the others come back, laughing uncontrollably.

"Who'd you punch?" I ask excitedly.

"This guy, I think his name was Timmy or something-"

"Thomas," Uriah corrects.

"Yeah! That's it, Thomas! I hit him square across the jaw and his face turned bright red. His two goons held him back and started talking about how I was just a stupid girl and wasn't worth it so I stomped on one's foot and punched the other in the gut before I ran away."

I start laughing uncontrollably at the thought of Grayson and Weston holding Thomas back. Imagining Thomas' face after he got punched makes me laugh even harder. By the time I'm able to control myself enough to speak I have tears in my eyes.

"I wish I could have seen that!" I turn to Christina. "Thomas is like the Peter of our initiation group," I explain.

"Then he totally deserved it! Didn't you have to fight him this morning?" she asks.

"Yes."

"Well, how did it go?"

"I won easily. I'm pretty sure I broke his nose and may have bruised his jaw. I hope this last punch to the jaw broke it!"

"Didn't I hear about some other transfer having a broken jaw?" Lynn asks.

"Yes," I say while laughing. "That was my fault. Thomas and Grayson came after me with a knife because I broke their friend Weston's jaw during the fights that day. I think they were trying to kill me, but I managed to escape."

"That was also the night she came to see me," Tobias adds. "She needed stitches and didn't want to go to the infirmary. She showed up at my door and called me by my real name. I tried to turn her away, but she wouldn't let me. I'm glad she didn't let me."

I reach over and kiss him. "I'm glad too," I whisper against his lips. Uriah throws a pillow at us to get us to stop. When we do I look up and see the time.

"Crap!"

"What?" Tobias asks sounding slightly alarmed.

"It's 12:30 and I have to go through a fear simulation tomorrow!" Tobias and I leave and I follow him to his room.

"I guess you're staying here tonight?"

"I really don't want to go back to the other initiates, not tonight. I can't sleep well in there. I'm always on edge."

That night I drift off to sleep in Tobias' arms, feeling completely safe and at ease.

<<<•>>>

"Tris, you need to wake up or you're not going to have time to eat," Tobias whispers in my ear.

"Five more minutes," I groan into the pillow.

"No, you really need to get up Tris. If you don't get up now you're going to be late."

I finally get up and realize I don't have any clothes here.

"Tobias, I need to go get clothes. I can't wear the same clothes three days in a row."

"Let me see what I can do," he says as he walks over to his closet. I can only stare as he pulls out one of my old shirts, the one I was wearing the first time he told me I look good, a pair of my jeans, and his old hoodie I used to wear.

"You kept all this?"

"Of course. It was the only piece of you I had left. I wouldn't just throw it away."

I walk over to him and throw my arms around him, squeezing him to me. "You're the best, you know that?"

For a minute we stand there just hugging each other, but eventually I have to change and he has to go get the simulations set up. I walk to the cafeteria by myself feeling safe and protected in Tobias' hoodie. It's too big on me but it smells like him and that's all that matters.

"What were you doing last night?" Malachi asks when I sit down at my usual table in the cafeteria.

"Nothing, just having some fun."
That's all I have time to say before we have to leave for the simulations and I'm glad. I'm not sure how to explain why I was hanging out with Uriah and Tobias last night.

When we get there I see a sign outside the door that lists our order. I'm last. I guess that's a good thing, but it means that I have to put up with Thomas until it's my turn. Thomas is next to last and Weston is right before him so I have to sit next to them. Thomas is at it before Tobias calls the first person.

"So, where have you been sleeping lately Stiff?"

"I haven't been," I reply coolly.

"Really? Do I frighten you so much that you can't even sleep?"

"Do I frighten you so much that you need a bodyguard at all times?" I motion to Weston but Thomas looks unfazed. "Or maybe he's your lover."

Now Thomas' face is bright red. I think he might have hit me if Uriah hadn't chosen that time to come sit next to me.

Uriah leans over and whispers in my ear. "You could sit in my lap. I'm sure Four wouldn't mind if I stole you for a minute." He raises his eyebrows at me and I try not to laugh. It brings back memories of my first initiation.

Once I've controlled my silent laughter I turn to him and whisper back that I'm not going to do that.

"Maybe that's who you've been sleeping with, Stiff!" Thomas exclaims. It's not loud enough for others to hear but I still don't like it.

"She wishes," Uriah butts in. Normally I would find it highly annoying but right now I'm grateful that Uriah's here. At least I don't have to deal with Thomas alone, even if Uriah isn't being particularly helpful.

A few minutes later Uriah asks me to follow him. He looks mad, but as soon as we round the corner he busts out laughing.

"I had to get you away from Mr. Buttmunch over there, and besides, I have a serious question to ask you."

"Really? You with a serious question? I didn't know that was possible!"

"I can always leave and send you back to Mr. Pansycake if that's what you really want, Tris."

"No! I would much rather talk to you than be provoked by him!"

"Good because I was hoping to see you tonight at the zip line. I know I'm technically not supposed to invite anyone, especially a transfer, but you've been before and I know you had fun the last time so I thought you might want to go."

"Of course!" My day just got so much better! "Honestly I thought that I had missed it!"

"Well then you're in luck because we decided to hold it later this year."

"That's wonderful! Thank you!" I hug Uriah and he hugs me back.

"You're welcome, Tris."

I go sit back down next to Thomas and ignore all his taunts about having to go talk to Uriah since he thinks I got in trouble. The rest of the time passes slowly as the others go face one of their fears. Finally I'm the only one left and after what feels like an eternity Tobias comes out and motions for me to follow him.