From Here On Out

eight

"The only give I ever gave was giving up, I've had enough."

Present Day

Tris laughs loudly as Christina brings in a new bottle of champagne, with four glasses for them all. It's just her, her mother, and her three bestfriends---aka her bridesmaids.

"Pop that thing open girl!" Shauna squeals, making them all laugh more.

It had been almost a full month since Tris's last encounter with Tobias, no more meet ups or phone calls. Tris has finally been able to set a date, send out invitations and now... she's dress shopping.

"So Tris," Marlene speaks up, taking a sip of the bubbly beverage. "ever imagine yourself sitting here trying on a million wedding dresses?"

Tris chuckles, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. "Does anyone?"

Joking she lets out a light sigh, watching her red painted finger nail trace the rim of her glass.

"To be honest, I did. Just not this situation I guess."

Tris always pictured this time, the rushing around to get everything perfect for her dream wedding, but she always thought Tobias would be her dream husband up there.

"That's understandable," Shauna says. "But I still can't believe you'll be the first one of us to be married. Next Friday!"

The day is approaching in less than a week, and everything in her life.. in her mind is racing.

"I can't either." She smiles, staring down at her ring. How in every and any light it seems to shine brighter and brighter.

Christina goes over a turns the radio up as the woman brings in a new rack of dresses for them all to try on, they all are smiling and laughing. Dancing around in the ruffled, or sleek dresses they try.

Tris's phone rings and she picks it up to look at the ID, and for some reason the person it is doesn't surprise her.

"Let me take this." She says, taking it and stepping into a dressing room.

"Hello." Tris answers, waiting for his voice to come through the phone.

"Tris," His voice seems very off. "can I... can you.."

"Just meet me at the bridge in five." She answers, and hangs up.

Walking back out her friends are trying on all different styles of dresses, "Do you guys mind if i step out for like twenty minutes??" She asks.

Shauna shakes her head, "Is everything okay?"

No. "Yeah, I just need to check on something real quick." She lies, changing back into the clothes she came here in.

/ / / /

Two Years Ago

"What are these?" She whispers, the atmosphere soft and intimate. As they sit up in bed, Tobias's shirt not on himself but clothing Tris.

Her cool fingertips traces the faint and red scars that line Tobias's back.

"Scars from my childhood."

It was the first time he ever shared it with her, showed these to her. She knew his childhood was hard with his mother leaving, and his complicated relationship with his father... but she didn't know he meant complicated like this.

"Tobias," She breathes out. "why didn't you tell me?"

Tobias shuts his eyes, "I was ashamed."

"Why?" Tris asks, a stern but still comforting tone to her words.