The Iron Soldier: A FourTris Divergent Story

Chapter 22

I wanted to kiss her like that again, but this time I wanted her to kiss me back with the same amount of feeling. I wanted her to know it was me. I wanted her to know, just by the way I held her, just how much she meant to me.

A moment later, my sanity came back. I suggested we continue our walk, because I needed to put some space between us. As if that would make everything ok. Like I said before, if she had been anyone else, maybe it would have worked. But she's Tris Prior, and everything about her is everything I've ever wanted, everything I've ever needed and even everything I didn't know I needed.

Every second I spent with her, regardless of what we were doing, only made me realize more and more, just how much I wanted to be with her. Every smile and every laugh as we played like children on the playground. The silly things she did, only moments before I did them, proved to me just how much alike we are.

And then we fell into each other's arms, dizzy and laughing. The urge to kiss her now even greater than it was fifteen minutes ago. How is that even possible? Again, I fought off the urge. I still acknowledged in the back of my brain somewhere that I was no good for her.

She suggested ice cream. That sounded good. Maybe a full stomach would help me think clearly. She took my hand, and we ran across the open field together. I really liked how her hand felt in mine, and I was disappointed when she let it go. But then she rolled down the hill, like a toddler and I knew I was lost forever. I may never be able to call her mine, but no one would ever have my heart the way she did. I copied everything she did. I haven't felt that carefree in... I've never felt that carefree, ever.

We continued to talk and laugh after we got our ice cream. Nothing else mattered in that moment but her beautiful smile directed at me. Just so I could see it again, I pushed her cone into her nose. She pulled away in mock horror that I would do such a thing. But her smile was hiding there the whole time.

After we finished eating, I noticed her shiver. The wind picked up and the temperature was dropping with the sun. I suggested we head back. I didn't want to cut our time short, but I didn't want her to be cold either. In the back of my head I knew I'd have to leave when we got back to the dorm. There was no way we could be alone in her small apartment if I wanted to stay in control of my emotions. I'd just call a cab so she wouldn't have to drive me home. I'm sure she'd put up a fight and insist on driving me, but I could handle another ten minutes, maybe.

The wooded path was darker than the open field. She ducked behind a tree, only to pop out a few seconds later. I joined her in this silly version of peek-a-boo until the sun was completely gone. That's when our game got dangerous. I joked around about needing to get back soon, due to the werewolves rumored to hang out around here. I expected just a laugh, but instead she pointed out the full moon instead. Something inside me snapped. For the first time in my life I played. I played a game without fear of being caught by my father, or a hidden enemy. I went along and pretended we were children playing tag. She giggled and ran, and naturally I ran after her. The faster she ran and the more she laughed, the more enjoyable the chase was. I kept the distance between us constant, knowing if I caught her too quickly, the game would be ruined.

She headed for the front door of the dorm. I followed, wearing the best scary wolf face I could muster. She ran through the hall, and into the stair well. She was quick, but not quick enough. I saw her exit through the third floor door and I followed, knowing the chase would be over soon.

When I followed her through the stairwell exit, she was laughing by a door a dozen feet away. A set of keys jiggled in her hand as she struggled to find the right one. As soon as she got the door open, I was by her side. She gave a half-hearted attempt to close the door, but I easily pushed through and kicked it closed behind me.