From Here On Out

five

"You gave your best when I was at my worst. You took the wheel, through every twist and turn."

Present Day

His hands deep in the gutters, cleaning out the fall leaves, Tobias's mind is far from yard work.

It floats back to the phone conversation he had with Tris two days ago, and how she sounded on the other end. Saying one thing but he could hear the way she meant another.

"Aren't you cold?"

A female voice breaks through his thoughts, and he looks down the ladder to see Shauna standing in the lawn. A smile on her face, arms crossed as she looks up at him.

Tobias wears only a light weight t-shirt and jeans, as the weather turns to chilled forties.

"I'm fine." He confirms, smiling as well.

Shauna had always been a close friend of his, not as close as Zeke, but a good one.

"Listen," She starts, as Tobias climbs down the ladder. "Zeke told me about what happened between you and Tris earlier this week."

He was somewhat surprised that Shauna heard it from Zeke and not Tris herself.

"Yeah," Crossing his arms over his chest, Tobias sighs. "what all'd he tell you?"

Scratching the back of his neck he listen to her explain how she knows about the wrongful things he yelled at her, and the hurt she threw back at him.

"Shauna?" Tobias speaks up after Shauna finishes, waiting a few seconds.

"What should I do?"

He asks her, trying to mask all the desperateness in his voice.

Shauna shoves her hands in her coat pockets, her dark hair blowing in the wind. "What did she say she wanted?"

"To keep out distance, and somethin bout.. moving on."

He hates having to repeat the words.

Shauna laughs softly, "Give her some space Tobias. It can't hurt,"

Walking towards the steps, Shauna turns back with a small smirk on her face. "who knows, maybe it'll do something for you."

/ / / /

Two Year Ago

The day seemed to approach in slow motion, reaching him after what felt like a year in living hell.

Although the days were long, and the nights were brutal, Tobias could see that they did work. For he didn't crave the stinging burn of a drink anymore, now all he craved was his girl he left back at home.

Grabbing his jacket off the chair in the waiting area, he walks out the two large doors that he struggled to walk towards 90 days earlier.

Opening them, the late November cold hits him. The leafless trees and the frost on the grass, shows just how much of fall he's missed. Walking in with red and yellow leaves on the same trees, and the grass collecting the fallen leaves.

He shuts his eyes, lifting his head up to feel the fresh air.

Opening them again, he scans the cars and sidewalks till his eyes fall on one person towards the left of the building. Leaning against the railing, in a green sweatshirt--that happens to be his-- and jeans is the girl he dreamed of every single night.

Fly away strands of hair that didn't make it into her bun blow in the wind, as he walks slowly to her.

He can see her biting her lower lip, tears brimming her eyes. He walks faster till he running, and swooping her up in his arms.

Tris's grip on her boyfriend had never been tighter than right there in that moment, scared he'd be snatched away from her again.

Tobias buries his face into the crook of her neck, the smell of her perfume and shampoo mixing on her skin.

Soon they find themselves collecting each others tears on one another's jackets. It had been the longest they'd ever been without each other, so the pain floats to the surface now.

Pulling back, Tobias looks his love in the eyes. Her blue-grey eyes swimming in tears, and a smile makes it to her face.

Tangling his fingers in her hair, he holds her head in his hands. She missed the feel of him holding her, she missed being able to just look deep into his eyes.

"I'm so sorry baby." The first word he speaks to her after months of separation, are filled with remorse and guilt.

Tris pulls him closer, kissing him hard. The feel something they both had been needing.

"I love you ," She whispers, against his warm lips. "and I'm so damn proud of you Tobias."

Tris knows how hard it's all been not only for her but for Tobias even more so. Having to get help with your personal demons is never easy, and with the heavy load of Tobias's she knows it was even harder.

"I couldn't have done this without you, you know." Tobias says, pulling back farther to look at her easier.

"And Tris, I won't ever hurt you like I did again." His promise is the most sincere promise he's ever said.

"I promise."

A/N: hey all! Kind of a short filler chapter, but happy thanksgiving everyone! 😊❤️