Divergent Faction High

Chapter 16 (Tris POV)

Tobias leaves the hospital today.

Ecstasy takes over my blood and my veins. I get dressed quickly and run downstairs and see my mother sitting in the living room. She's taking me to the hospital and we're taking Tobias out with us to lunch. I think about the conversation my mom had with me last night and before she went to bed I talked to her some more.

-Last Night-

"Hey mom?" I call out.

"Yes sweetheart?" She calls back.

"Umm.. Tobias leaves the hospital tomorrow, and I was about to ask if you could drive me to the hospital when he gets released. Maybe you should take him to lunch with us so you can get to know him."

"Sure sweetheart. Definitely." She replies in her usual, sweet tone.

I get in the car and look out of the window and listen to the music on my phone the whole time while we are on our way to the hospital. Once we arrive, my mom walks in with me to Tobias's room.

"Hey Tobias." I smile at him.

"Hey. You look great." He says while sitting up on the bed. "You must be Tris's mom, you two look alike."

Me and my mom both look at each other before she holds out a hand to shake.

"Yes. I am her mother. Nice to see that you're doing well, Tobias. Beatrice suggested that we invite you to lunch."

"Sure I'm up for it. Just let me get dressed and get my pain meds first, though."

"Take all the time you need. I'll give you two a little privacy." She says and smiles at the both of us before shutting the door.

"Your mom is really nice Tris. I can see where you get part of your personality from also." He says while smirking.

"Yeah. I'm so glad to see you, especially now that you're leaving the hospital."

"I'm glad to see you too, Tris." He gives me a brief kiss. "I'm also glad to get outta here."

He stands up and picks up a shirt and jeans from the recliner in the corner of the room. He's about to take his shirt off and he winces. I'm guessing whenever he moves his upper arms, his stitches cause the pain.

"You need some help?" I ask.

"Yeah, that'd be nice." He says exhaling. "I also can't wait to get these stitches out."

"When do you get them taken out babe?"

"In another 3 weeks." He replies.

Slowly, I try lifting his shirt off of him, without causing any pain to his back. He grinds his teeth, trying to stifle a groan.

"You okay?" I ask, making sure I didn't hurt him.

"Yeah. Fine."

I look at his back, bruised and sewn by stitches. I breathe lightly on his back, and I hear a moan escape his mouth. I walk to the front and stand in front of him, interlocking our fingers together. Staring directly into each other's eyes.

His stunning, deep blue, radiant eyes.

Our lips connect, and I start thinking of it again.

Being with Tobias in a more intimate way. The thought deepens the kiss, putting more force.

This feeling has been taking over me.

Love.

Love is taking over me.

I've never felt that for anyone.

"Tris." He whispers, his minty breath fanning my face.

"What?" I ask, not trying to sound desperate.

I didn't want him to stop kissing me.

"Lunch with your mom." He says.

"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot about that." I laugh.

He laughs and puts on his shirt and jeans and his black vans. We walk together to the car and both sit in the middle.

"So where do you guys wanna go for lunch?" My mom asks.

Tobias looks over at me and says very politely, "Whatever you and Tris are up for."

"Tris? Hmm, that's a nice nickname for her, who started calling her that?" She asks.

"I started calling her that and all of our friends repeated me." He chuckles.

"So, Tris," she says, testing out my nickname, "Where do you want to go to for lunch?"

"I'm in the mood for some Panera Bread."

"Panera Bread it is."

We arrive in about 20 minutes and Tobias holds the door opened for me and my mom. "After you."

I give him a cheeky grin and walk through and look at the menu.

"Are you ready to order?" A feminine voice asks.

"Sure. I'll have the Mediterranean Veggie sandwich and a small order of Mac and cheese." I say kindly.

"I'll have an Asiago bagel and a Lentil-quinoa bowl with chicken." Tobias says.

"And I'll have the broccoli cheddar soup and some green tea." My mom says.

After my mom pays for the lunch, we sit together at a table.

"So, Tobias. When did you realize that you wanted to date my daughter?" She asks, resting her chin in her hand.

I blush and then look at him.

"The day I met her, at the mall, before school started. You have a beautiful daughter with an amazing personality and I wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt her, Mrs. Prior."

I feel his hand on my thigh under the table as he says this, and I try not to blush. My mom smiles at him and says, "I can tell that you and my daughter are going to be together for a while."

"Thank you Mrs. Prior." He says.
We eat our lunch and we hear a TV in the corner.

"Marcus Eaton! The council leader possibly facing fifteen years to life in jail for murdering his wife and abusing his own son. Police say that they saw his son crouched in a bathroom with wounds all over his back, causing him to loose lots of blood. Police also saw that Marcus's belt that he was wearing, had blood on it. The trial for Marcus Eaton is only in a few days and..."

I trail off after that, and look at Tobias, who doesn't look upset. I rest my hand on his arm.

"Hey. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine Tris. It actually makes me happy that my father might spend fifteen years to life in jail for everything that he's done."

"Are you going to go to the trial Tobias?" My mom asks, "To testify against him?"

"I sure am." He says proudly.

As we continue eating our lunch, I feel Tobias's lips brush against my ear, and I tense up, trying to signal him to stop, especially since my mom is right in front of us.

"When the trial starts, do you want to come with me?"