CHAPTER 76

TRIS POV

Today is everybody's first day back at school. Considering it was a whole big story on the news, everybody was staring at us with wide eyes. This is going to be a long day.

Throughout the day, most of my teachers and about a handful of my classmates confront me and tell me that: 'If I ever need anything, anything at all, that they are here for me.' Something along the lines of that. I just smile and nod. Although, it's all very nice of them, I would never go and talk to them about it. They're practically strangers to me anyways.

By the time we get home, I collapse on the couch from exhaustion. Tobias chuckles and I roll my eyes.

"It's not funny. I hate school and we have to go back everyday until June 23rd," I pout.

"Yeah and we have a whole pile of work to do before Friday, so we'd better get to work," Tobias says handing me my backpack as I sigh loudly, being overdramatic.

"I hate school," I mumble.

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"Tris!" I immediately jerk awake and look around. Half the class is snickering and the other half is staring at me with worried expressions.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tomack. I stayed up last night trying to catch up on all the work I missed," I explain rubbing my eyes.

"Why don't you go get a drink of water," he says softly and I slowly make my way towards the door. I hear footsteps behind me and I immediately know it's Tobias.

He puts his hand on my back as we walk down the hall.

"You know you don't have to come with me everywhere," I say.

"I know, but I want to," he says.

Tori emerges from her classroom and looks at the both of us quizzically. "Why are you both out here?" She gasps. "Is everything okay?" She frantically scurries towards me as Tobias and I start laughing.

"She's fine Tori. She decided that it would be a good idea to take a nap in history," Tobias chuckles.

"It's first block! What do you want from me!" I exclaim and Tori laughs shaking her head.

"You had to fall asleep in Mr. Tomack's class huh, Tris," Tori pats me on my head and walks away with a smirk.

"Come on little doggy," Tobias says and pats my head, mimicking Tori.

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That night, it was the first night that Tobias and I had stayed in separate rooms since the incident. At around 3 in the morning, someone climbs into bed with me and I frantically try to disentangle myself from the covers. "Shhh.... It's okay Trissy, it's only me," Tobias whispers and I exhale.

"You can't scare me like that Tobias," I whisper and cuddle up next to him.

"I know. I just.... I wanted to be next to you...." I peer at him through the darkness and I can immediately tell that something's up.

"Tobias... What's wrong?" I ask softly.

"Nothing. I had a not so good dream that's all," he whispers and wraps his arms around me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask.

"No, it's okay. I'm fine. I'm fine now," he mumbles into my hair.

"You're shaking, Tobias," I murmur.

I feel him inhale deeply and I move to turn on the lamp. I stare at him in the light, now seeing what he looks like. His hair is all ruffled and sticking up in many different directions. His eyes are slightly puffy, which indicate he was either crying or having an allergy attack. I'm going to have to go with the first option. He blinks up at me, disoriented and groans.

"Tobias, you have taken care of me when I had nightmares too many times. Let me help you okay?" I plead.

He reluctantly nods and tells me all about his vivid dream. In conclusion, it was basically about losing me.

"You don't have to worry about that. I'm not going anywhere," I say, adding in, "I would never leave you."

He smiles and snuggles next to me as I turn off the bright light. Within minutes he is fast asleep.

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"Woah, you look like crappppp," Uriah drags out when he sees Tobias the next morning. Tobias glares at him and Uriah just shrugs. "Everyone tells me not to lie so."

Overnight, Tobias had seemingly got sick and when I tried to make him stay home, he insisted on going to school. He had said finals were coming up and we had missed too much already.

"What's wrong with you?" Lynn says getting a good look at Tobias.

"I'm sick. Why does everyone keep asking me that. Isn't it obvious?" He replies agitated.

"Four," I say remembering there's people around. "You feel really warm. You should just go home and sleep okay? I'll bring home your work. Just relax. I'll be fine," I say worried.

"Tris, I'm fine."

By second block he was anything but fine. He was coughing up a storm and he seemed to have to hold his head up with his hands to keep it from dropping down.

"Gosh Tobias," I whisper and drag him to a pretty deserted hallway in between classes. I pull out my cellphone and begin to dial our home number.

"Hey mom, yeah can you please come pick up Tobias. He's really sick. Yeah, he refuses to go home." Tobias sticks his tongue out at me and I roll my eyes in response.

"She'll be here any minute," I say and Tobias sits down against the wall. I plop down next to him and he glances at me. "You should really be getting to class."

I snort. "It's cute you think I care if I'm late or not."

He lets out a laugh but it quickly trust into a body-wrenching cough. I rub his arm and help up his shaking body. I lead him to the front doors of the building where mom meets us, an anxious look on her face.

"Tobias," she groans and puts her hand to his forehead. "You're burning up. We need to get you home now."

I watch as Tobias weakly makes his way to the car and falls into the front seat, practically asleep as soon as he sits down.

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TOBIAS POV

"Mom, I'm fine," I moan as she rushes around me.

"How does this happen overnight Tobias. You still have a 102 fever!" She exclaims.

I shrug. "I mean I've been feeling out of it the past few days but I thought it would go away."

"You have to treat the cold when it first starts so it doesn't escalate," she explains slightly annoyed.

"Oops." Is all I say.

Soon, I'm asleep again dreaming happily about Tris.

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TRIS POV

I walk with my head down into my science class. As soon as I enter, all eyes are on me and I quietly make my way to my seat.

"How nice of you to finally join us Miss. Prior," the teacher says, an angry edge in her voice.

"Sorry," I mumble and she sighs loudly. "Meet me after class Miss. Prior."

I roll my eyes and listen to her drone on about something. I don't even know what.

After having my little "chat" with Mrs. Garrison about being late and not caring I move onto my next class which is algebra 2. Yeah math is not my thing.

Lunch finally comes and I can't believe how lonely I feel. I guess I never realized how much Tobias is with me in all of my classes. Whether it's making goofy faces at me from the front of the classroom or holding my hand under the lunch table. School is normally super boring, but this time it seems so blah.

Christina and Uriah entertain me for a while arguing about which sport is cooler. Gymnastics or swimming. Obviously they get nowhere in that conversation.

I feel a hand get placed down on my shoulder and I immediately flinch out of habit. Lauren. She quickly begins laughing at my flinch and I stand up, my eyes narrowed.

"Your little boy toy finally disappeared, huh. Finally realized how pathetic you are. About time. Took him long enough." Her little crowd of minions roars and I roll my eyes.

"The only pathetic person here is you," I say, my voice low.

She scoffs. "Look, you may have won over Peter and Eric, but you have not won over me or Drew or Molly. And I'm sure we can win over at least half the school right now, so don't get too comfortable," she threatens.

Uriah appears by my side and wags his finger in front of her face. "Miss. Lauren, you'd better get outta here before things start goin' down cause if you don't stop, we won't hesitate."

She dramatically flips her hair over her shoulder and says, "toodledoo" before exiting with her pathetic group of sidekicks.

Uriah puts his hand on my back and sits down next to me. "You good?" He asks softly.

"I'm good," I assure everyone and their nervous glances dissipate.

Nothing Lauren says can hurt me, not ever again. I've been through too much to let that girl get through to me.

HEY GUYS! IM SO SO SO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG TO UPDATE. I FEEL SO BAD!!!! IVE BEEN SUPER BUSY TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER! IM SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG AGAIN!

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