AN: I really like the word 'Rhythm' for some reason. Maybe that's why I chose to extend this one among my other drabbles. I don't believe in love at first sight but I do think that attraction and the initial connection between two people can be quite interesting, and it's fun to write these types of scenes.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Divergent series or any of its characters.

Rhythm: Part 1

- Tobias -

The bus doors open with a soft whoosh and I step inside. I nod at Amar, the bus driver, as I swipe my bus card on the fare machine.

"Why the long face? Tough day?" He asks.

"Something like that," I answer as I put the card back into a slot on my backpack.

The seats are all occupied so I stand in the aisle between them, holding onto the bus pole for support. The air is hot and humid, mixed with the awful smell of sweat and spoiled orange juice.

I put my headphones on and turn the music on from my phone, choosing a playlist of spunky fast-paced instrumentals. After long classes of engineering jargon and a phone call from my estranged mother, I'm in no mood for anything else. I prefer instrumental tracks where I can pick out the firm beat of the drums, the low pitches of the bass, and the gritty strumming of the guitar without the distraction of lyrics. I can disassemble the parts, like pieces of a computer, then put them back together—a process that leaves me with no room for wandering thoughts. I fully lose myself to the music.

The ride is thirty minutes long, and the bus stops frequently. Each time, more people enter and less people leave, and the air inside the bus only gets thicker as the space gets thinner.

I watch the scenery pass by. The city is painted an orange hue by the sunset. Unconsciously, my head bobs to the music from my headphones, the rhythm matching the beating of my heart. As the buildings close to my apartment start to zoom by, I check the display at the front of the bus – my stop is next.

I turn off the music and take my headphones off, but I'm a bit baffled when the track I was listening to continues to play. It takes a few seconds before I realize where it's coming from.

I glance at the girl beside me, not remembering when she got there or the fact that she was there at all. Her hand is inches away from mine on the aisle pole we share and she's staring blankly out the window, likely lost in the music or in the thoughts that usually accompany boring bus rides. Her blonde hair is tied in a messy ponytail and it bounces lightly as she nods to the blaring music from her headphones—a continuation of what I was just listening to.

The same music, and the same rhythm.

For some reason, I find myself staring at her. She's in an oversized T-shirt, dark grey leggings, and a pair of worn out sneakers. Her bag is black and covered with several decorative pins. I notice that one of them contains a university emblem—the same university I go to. She's dressed plainly and in dark colours, as if she doesn't want to stand out.

Well, she didn't to me, until now. It's not just because she's listening to the same music I was listening to seconds ago, but because she's small and wearing these oversized black headphones that make her look kind of dorky and surprisingly, kind of cute. She's dressed like she doesn't want to stand out, but the few pins on her backpack and the loud music from her headphones are proofs of her desire for freedom. And I find myself intrigued.

Suddenly, she turns. Not to me, no. She turns to the front of the bus, looking briefly at the display just as the bus stops. Her hand lets go of the pole and it grazes mine. Or at least, I think it did. The touch was so light, maybe I imagined it. I watch as she squeezes through the crowd and leaves, leaving me with a bitter pang of disappointment; I just noticed her and she's already gone. I refocus myself to the scenery outside the bus window, but a voice booms through the bus.

"Hey kid, aren't you getting off here?"

The bus driver is smirking at me through the giant rear-view mirror upfront. Other passengers begin to notice the cause of the delay and start to give me odd looks as well. Then, it hits me.

This is my stop.

I hurriedly push past the crowd, mumbling "excuse me" several times along the way.

"Thanks," I say to Amar when I get to the front. He ignores my gratitude and continues to wear that stupid smirk on his face.

"She's cute, huh?"

I don't answer him but quickly get off the bus, not wanting to delay the other passengers any further. And I guess because I'm embarrassed but at least Amar said it quietly. Hopefully, no one else heard. I wave to him as the bus drives off.

As I'm about to leave, I notice the girl from before. She's walking in the opposite direction I need to go.

I've never been one for socializing and talking to random strangers but… I want to talk to her. Still, I find myself rooted to the spot, hesitating. What would I say though?

I sigh and stand there, thinking about how pathetic I am and then, something strange happens.

One of the pins on her backpack falls off, gleaming in the light of the sunset and hitting the sidewalk with a soft clink. I wait for her to pick it up, but she doesn't. Unlike me, she's wearing her headphones and she didn't hear the pin drop.

I walk over and pick it up. It has a music note with a face on it and I laugh at the ridiculous image, but more so, at the ridiculous situation I'm in because now, I have to talk to her.

"Hey!" I yell. She's already several meters away and she doesn't hear me, no thanks to those oversized headphones of hers. I jog up to her and lightly tap her on the shoulder.

The girl turns around and for the first time, I notice her grey-blue eyes as she stares at me, confused and alarmed.

Sorry, my fics are so wordy. I've noticed that many people here tend to avoid fics with long paragraphs (or maybe they just avoid mine). I can see these scenes inside my head and I feel the need to describe it all in detail. This is basically 1000 words of how Tobias got on the bus, checked Tris out, got off the bus, and approached her. There. Could've written it in one sentence.

The next part is already done. I'll post it on a good day. (: