Starting Over

Chapter 32

When I reach Tobias' apartment, ours now, I see he's cleaned out half the drawers in the dresser for me. I don't have much and I feel a little ridiculous having three drawers for a few pairs of pants, a few shirts, a hoodie, a jacket, and some underwear. I organize everything but because I have so little it only takes a few minutes.

When I'm done I get ready for Uriah's party. I put on a tank top under my shirt and add leggings under my jeans. That should be good.

I head into the kitchen to eat dinner with Tobias. He heated up some leftover pizza and we quickly eat so we can go to Uriah's.

When we get there everyone else is already there. Uriah looks slightly annoyed.

"Well, now that everyone is here we can finally start!" Uriah says. "Tris, Candor or Dauntless?"

I think about it for a second. I'd really prefer Candor so I don't have to get up (it's a pain with these crutches) but I don't want to be called a Pansycake on my first turn.

"Dauntless," I sigh.

"Wonderful!" He gives me an evil smile and drums his fingertips together. I groan a little because I know this is not going to be good. "I dare you to tell your brother you're leaving the factions again."

I sigh and awkwardly stand up.

"How do you expect her to get there, Uriah?" Tobias asks. "She can't even stand up right, how is she going to jump on a train?"

"I'll be fine," I mutter as I hop out the door. Everyone follows me up to the train. When we get there I see a train coming. I hold both of my crutches in my left hand and take off running. I quickly grab the handle by the door and hoist myself into the car. When I swing into the car I'm careful not to put any weight on my hurt leg. I may be stupid enough to sprint on it but I'm not stupid enough to place my full weight on it after jumping. That may be too much. I slide down the wall so I'm sitting on the ground. When Tobias jumps in he sits down next to me.

"Why would you do that?" he whispers in my ear.

"Because I can," I reply before I give him a quick kiss on the lips. Soon we're at Erudite headquarters and I'm getting ready to jump off the train.

"You can't be serious!" Tobias practically shouts. I shrug and prepare to jump. "No, I'm not letting you do that."

"Well, how did you think I was going to get off?"

He rubs a hand down his face and mumbles something about not thinking that far ahead. Before I know it he's picking me up and is jumping out of the car. I laugh a little as we soar through the air. When we're on solid ground he sets me down so I can walk on my own. When everyone's off the train we head into Erudite headquarters.

"Can I speak to Caleb Prior?"

"I don't know, can you?" the guy behind the reception desk smirks.

I grab the front of his shirt and pull him half way across the desk. "I may not be a Nose like you but I know enough grammar to know that the word can is an acceptable word choice there. I was using it to request to complete an action, not to express an ability. While you may prefer to use may, can is an acceptable choice. I may be Dauntless, but I am not stupid."

He swallows and I can see his Adam's apple bob. He's also sweating a lot.
"Name?" he asks nervously.

"Beatrice Prior," I reply harshly as I shove him away from me.

He gulps and pales when he hears who I am. He doesn't make any stupid comments about me being dead so I guess either he heard that I'm not or he doesn't want to push his luck.

"I'll be right back," he mutters as he scurries off.

"Dang, Tris! You're scary!" Uriah exclaims.

I turn and smile at him. "I know."

"I can't believe you called him a Nose!" he laughs.

I shrug. "He shouldn't have sassed me."

I lean up against the desk while he's gone. I try to make it look as casual as possible but in reality my leg is killing me. Tobias is the only one who notices my slight wince as I shift and he frowns at me and crosses his arms. I smile at him in response. When the man comes back Caleb is following him.

"Beatrice!" he exclaims as he wraps me in a hug. I hug him back but it's awkward and I pull away before he does. "What can I help you with?"

"Well, first off, it's Tris, and second off do you think we can go somewhere more private? It's kind of important."

"Sure, sure," he mutters a he leads me to a small conference room off the lobby. "What's up?"

"Well, I'm leaving the Factions," I tell him. His face drops and he looks shocked.

"Why?"

"Everything is so overwhelming! It's so much easier outside the wall!"

"Tris, you can't be serious! There has to be another answer! Is it Four? Did he hurt you? That guy, Malachi. Is this about him?"

"No!" I start to cry. "Caleb, can't you see I'm not happy here? I was happy before I came back, truly happy!"

"Then why did you come back?" he demands.

"What?" I sniffle.

"If you were so happy then why would you come back and cause all of us more pain? Are you really that selfish, Beatrice? We were finally getting over you, and then you come back and leave us again!"

"Caleb, I can't believe you think I'd hurt you on purpose!"

He ignores me. "And if you were so happy there why are you crying now? You have no reason to be upset!"

"But I do!"

"Yeah, and why is that?"

"Because you're so gullible!"

"What?" he screeches.

"Caleb, I'm not actually leaving. My friends made me say that."

He walks over and hugs me. "I don't like your friends."

I laugh at him. It's nice to know he cares.

"I'm sorry for making you believe I was actually leaving."

"I'm sorry for overreacting and calling you selfish."

He thinks for a second. "Is it true you pulled the receptionist across the desk, called him a Nose, corrected his grammar, and caused him to almost have a heart attack?"

"I guess you could say that."

"That's my little sister!"

"Don't call me your little sister!"

"Well, you are smaller than me, aren't you?"

I gently smack him on the arm and smile. "That doesn't mean anything! I could kick your butt!"

He laughs at me. "I would like to see you try, Beatrice."

Oh no he did not. Before he realizes what's going on I have his arm pinned behind his back, pulling it toward his shoulder blades, and his face is pushed up against the table.

"Oh yeah, say I can't take you again. I dare you."

"Tris, please let me go!" he wheezes out. "Seriously, this hurts!"

I let him go and he stands up straight.
"I love you," I tell him.

"I love you too."

I hug him again and we leave the room. I join my group of friends by the door and we head toward the train. I jump on quickly and let Tobias carry me off. My leg is killing me.

When we get back to Uriah's apartment we play for about another hour and then go to bed. Tobias and I go back to our apartment and go to sleep.

"I love you, Tris," he whispers as he lays down.

"I love you, Tobias."