Tris' POV

I run into the open arms of Matt, my maternal cousin, and hug him tightly. For the past four days I kept it together, but I can't hold it back anymore. I finally break down and cry as hard as I can, letting the tears of sorrow fall freely. He holds me close and lets me cry. We walk to the small café inside the Kathmandu airport. Our flight back to the States is in three hours and I'm grateful I'm going back home.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Matt asks.

"No" I say and look down into my cup. I know that he wants me to talk, but I just can't. Everything is just so recent and painful and I just can't bring myself to say the words out loud. That would make them true and I can't face the truth yet.

"Your parents are pissed, especially since I had to call them and tell them that I was flying here to pick you up" he says. I look up at him and frown.

"I'm in trouble" I say.

"No" he says and I look at him surprised. "You are in a shit load of a shit load of trouble. What were you thinking, Bee?"

"I was thinking this is a great opportunity" I say a little defensive, but then shrink back in my seat. It was a great opportunity and even though worst case scenario happened, well second to worst, I don't regret it. I've been doing this for years now and my parents know that.

"Bee, that was stupid. Not only was it dangerous, but you faked your parents signatures to get here. Did no one question you?" he asks.

"No. They all know me and they know that dad would eventually allow me to do anything" I say. "Can we please drop it?" I ask him.

"Alright. Caleb still doesn't know?" he asks after a while.

"No. I mean he knows I occasionally go hiking in the mountains" I start saying and Matt scoffs. "But he doesn't know about all this. Living with mom in Europe for most of the time in the past two years helped keeping it from him."

"You kept it even before Europe. Why didn't you tell him?"

"You know how he is and how he always likes to correct me and scold me like I'm a freaking baby. Besides, even though Caleb and I are siblings I feel closer to you and some of the guys on the team, than I feel to him. We are so different that I sometimes wonder if we're actually related" I sigh.

"Still. You haven't told anyone else. I mean other than your parents, me and my dad no one in the family knows."

"And it's better that way. I have you, and by the way you forgot Uncle Joe, to bug me. I don't need more people to do that."

"Why are you even doing it? And don't say because it's there" he says with a chuckle.

"I don't know. I guess I feel free when I'm up there, on the mountain. I know it's dangerous, but I never felt more connected to the world than when I'm up there. I feel like I can be myself when I climb. And even though reaching the summit is the highlight of every expedition the journey sure is worth the risks."

"God, Bee. When I hear you talk like that I almost want to go back to that life. But you are a pro. No one in human history accomplished so much in such a short time. I mean four out of seven in four years."

"You make it sound so great" I say shyly.

"Bee, it is great. How many people can brag about having climbed four of the highest summits of the world, at fifteen nonetheless" he says smiling.

"I know, but still. I mean other than climbing mountains what can I really do?" I ask.

"Maybe you should just try something new, see if you like it. No one says to give up the mountains, but maybe it's time to make a change, especially now" he says.

"Yeah, maybe."

We finish our coffee in time to hear our flight being announced. We board the plane and wait to fly back home. Home. It seems so foreign to me. I was born and raised in Chicago, but for the past two years mom and I lived in Europe because of her business; she is a fashion designer. Dad and my brother, Caleb, stayed in Chicago, because of dad's job in the government and Caleb started high school. He is one year older than I am, but he skipped a year because he is so freaking smart. These past couple of years I was home schooled and it was great. My schedule was flexible and because mom felt guilty for dragging me all around the world she allowed me to pursue my dreams – which translates in she allowed me to go mountain climbing with strangers, although, over the years they became my friends and even somehow my second family. Going back to Chicago will change that, but for the first time in thirteen years I feel like I wanna take a step back, relax and sit down.

The flight is long so I put my headphones on and listen to a band I recently discovered in London. They are called Royal Blood and are an alternative rock band. My favorite song is Ten Tonne Skeleton. I let the chorus blast, helping me ignore my surroundings. Cut loose like an animal, fired out like a cannon ball, but I waited too long, yeah I waited too long. Got me high from a holy vein, crashed down in a hurricane, love has been here and gone, love has been here and gone. But I waited too long for you only. Love has been here and gone to die slowly. Going under again so don't follow me.

At some point I fall asleep and don't wake up until we reach Los Angeles. We have an hour to wait for our connection and then finally head back home to Chicago. Matt hasn't tried to make me talk again, which I appreciate.

The flight from L.A. to Chicago doesn't seem as long as I would have expected. I have to admit I'm nervous about seeing my parents again, especially after they found out about my expedition. I couldn't talk to them for a few days, because I was still on the mountain and it took me nearly a week to get to Kathmandu and to the hotel. When I finally called they yelled at me and told me that I was irresponsible and that I was grounded. They said that for the next year I won't be allowed to go anywhere near a mountain, especially alone and that for the next school year they will enroll me at the same school Caleb and my two cousins, Shauna and Lynn, go. I'm not particularly happy about that. I was never good at making friends. Well, not my own age. I never found anyone to have anything in common with me. Hell, not even my family has much in common with me. I wanted to protest, but kept my mouth shut. I understand why they are doing this. What I did was wrong and stupid and they don't even know half of it. But I couldn't just tell them over the phone. So, I called Matt to come pick me up, which he thankfully did. I know that I will have to tell them, but for now the only thing I can do is be happy to be back home, safe and sound. Something that others don't have.

The final descent goes smoothly and we soon land. I get up and get my small backpack and head out. Once we are inside the airport I pick up my mountain rucksack and turn to look at Matt who shrugs and then tilts his head to the right. I follow his direction and see my parents. I swallow hard and without realizing it I start to cry. I put my luggage down and run toward my dad who wraps me in his arms. Both my parents are confused about my outburst and ask Matt what is going on. I hear him say that I should be the one to tell them.

"Bumblebee, what's going on?" my dad asks, his voice full of concern.

"I can't, dad. Not yet" I say through tears. I can hear mom say "Let's go home" and we start moving. Dad is still holding me when we get into our car. Mom drives and Matt sits shotgun. I keep crying, while dad is holding me, trying to comfort me.

"Bee, I can't help you, if you don't talk to me" dad says.

"Uncle Andrew, she can't" Matt says.

"But what is going on?" mom asks.

"Bee, can I tell them?" he asks and I nod. I hear him sigh before starting to explain what is going on. When I called him to come pick me up I told him what happened, a part of it anyway. "So, yeah. Six people are dead" he concludes.

"Beatrice" I hear mom say.

"Aunt Natalie, don't. She feels terrible. I've never seen her like this. Give her time, you guys."

"I wanna go home" I say into my dad's chest.

"We're almost home, baby girl."

We finally stop and I drag myself out of the car. I feel exhausted, even though I spend most of the flight sleeping. I can't wait to lie down in my bed and escape this reality for at least a few hours before it all comes back. I want to take my backpack, but dad insists on carrying it upstairs to my room for me. We go inside and just as we enter the house a bunch of people jump up and yell surprise. I look up and recognize a few of them: my brother, my cousins, including my six year old cousin, Hector, who is Shauna's and Lynn's brother, my uncles, Joe and Cameron and my aunt Ellie, as well as a few strangers, who I presume are Caleb's friends. I look around at their smiling faces and look up to see a banner that says "Welcome home". I turn around to look at my parents who look at me apologetically. I can't take this. I run upstairs and slam the door to my room. I walk to my bed and let myself fall down. I cry myself to sleep.

A/N: Let me know what you think so far. Is this story appealing to you or do you think it's not worth continuing?