Hey guys! Ready for the next installment? Can we try to get more reviews? Sorry it means the world to me, but a ton of people are reading it, and almost none reviewing. It just makes me feel like you guys don't like it. And I apologize in advance for the mid-chapter POV change. I would have split it, but that would mean a really short chapter. What do you guys prefer? As always, happy reading.

Tobias POV

I slip into black jeans and a tight grey t-shirt before walking out of the bedroom, and into the living room, where Tris is sipping a cup of coffee. I pick mine up off the counter, and walk over to her. Friday is both of our days off, so we woke up late, wanting to spend the rest of the day chilling, and getting ready for the club tonight. I flop onto the couch sighing and look over at her.

"What?"

She says. Though her voice is quiet and gentle, it extends across the room like a bird in flight, slowly gliding through the air as if on a breeze.

"Nothing."

I reply.

"Just exited for tonight. I mean, sometimes our friends can be invasive, disrespectful bastards, but you gotta' love 'em."

Tris throws back her head and laughs.

"How true. Hey I was wondering, Christina asked me to go over to her house to get ready. You know, with Marlene and Lynn, and Shauna I think is coming over."

I nod in agreement, while sipping my coffee. Just the way I like it: black.

"Oh. Uri also told me that you're welcome to come over to their apartment to get ready as well."

I gaze at her over the rim of my mug. Swallowing I say:

"Will Al be there?"

Though she scoffs at me, there is a small grin on her face. I groan in protest.

"Oh my, gosh, Tobias. Seriously, you need to get over this."

She chuckles light heartedly.

"He's not going to do anything to you, or to me, so I think you should just let it go."

I sigh deeply before turning to her on the couch.

"Tris, I don't think you get it. I don't want him anywhere near you after the ambush deal, plus the way he looks at you.."

I shake my head.

"How does that not creep you out?"

She takes a deep breath before responding.

"I don't know, Four. I mean, it does, but we're friends, and it was more Peter than it was him. I mean. I didn't hear him at all. Peters the one who threw my shirt in the Chasm whilst dangling me over the edge. He's a good guy. You know that. Have a little faith."

"Whilst?"

"Oh, you know what I mean."

I laugh while standing up to put on my shoes.

"And your going…?"

I turn to her before grabbing my keys.

"To the grocery store, wanna come?"

"No thanks."

She stands up and stretches, before cringing every so slightly. Her hand flies to her ribcage. She puts a placid expression on her face, and tries to feign an itch. But I notice.

"Tris."

I turn from the door, and stand in front of her.

"What's wrong?"

A small smile appears on her lips that doesn't quite meet her eyes. She takes a deep breath through her mouth, before turning her eyes up to mine.

"Tris."

She takes a deep breath.

"Um. Nothing. Nothing really. Uh… just haven't been feeling that well lately I guess. I mean-just this morning and last night a little bit. But uh… just sharp rib pains. I don't really know. But, I doubt its anything."

I raise my eyebrows at her. She's always trying to hide her pain, even when it is in the best interest of her to admit that she's in need of help.

"Really! Four… I just. I don't want to draw unnecessary attention when it's really not that bad. I swear."

She takes a step closer to me, and loops her arms around my neck.

"I'll tell you if it gets worse. I promise."

"Alright. But I swear. I can tell your weaknesses."

I narrow my eyes at her, and back away slowly. Making the I'm-watching-you gesture with my hand. She laughs and heads to the bathroom.

When I get back from the grocery store, Tris is in the bedroom, reading. Huh. Not like her to just stay home.

"Hey."

I discard my shoes and jump on the bed next to her, propping myself up on my elbows.

"You feeling okay? Not like you to just…chill."

She sighs and puts her book down.

"Yeah I'm good. Just a little tired. Resting up for the party tonight."

I grin.

"Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Have you got your clothes picked out?"

She nods.

"Well, I don't, but Christina says she has 'just the most perfect thing' for me to wear. I'm being sarcastic of course. It's Christina, who knows what could happen."

She continues reading, and I lay my head on the pillow, hoping to catch a few Zs myself. Suddenly, there is a knock on the door.

"I'll get it."

Tris jumps up, hesitates slightly, and then walks to the front door. I realize she only has on her pajamas, and lean across the bed so I can see the front door. Tris pulls open the door.

"Caleb! How nice to see you! Yeah, yeah, come on in. We were just…chillin."

I hear them sit on the couch. I groan inwardly. It's not that I don't like Caleb, I do, honestly, but he doesn't like me. At least doesn't like me 'fooling around with his sister'. Plus things have been awkward for us since the first time he found out that I was dating Tris was when we happened to making out in the corner of the dining hall. I stand up and walk to the doorway, first checking to make sure; hey we both have clothes on this time for a guest.

"Caleb. How ya' doing, man?"

He stands from the armchair and shakes my hand.

"Good, good. Not bad yourself, I reckon?"

I nod. Before taking a seat next to Tris, careful not to get to 'handsy' with her while Caleb was around.

"So what's the occasion?"

Tris asks, before pulling her knees up to sit Indian style on the couch. Caleb takes a deep breath, before finally settling in on the chair. He rubs his hand over his face and through his hair as Tris' smile fades.

"Caleb. What is it?"

Caleb's eyes find hers.

"Mom's sick."

I hear Tris' breath catch in her throat. She inhales and exhales deeply, her face and breaths unbelieving.

"But. Mom? She sick? With what? Is she going to be okay? When did the happen?"

Caleb sits up in the armchair, putting a hand out to Tris.

"It's, it's complicated. They don't know for sure what she has, but she's been in the hospital for two nights, and they say she has to stay there a little longer. They don't know what to do. They're running all kind of tests, and… I don't know. I just don't know. My girlfriend works in the hospital, but only the delivery room, but she keeps me updated enough. I'm… sorry I couldn't tell you more, I just thought you should know."

Tris nods her head too fast, and too many times. There are tears brimming in her eyes. Caleb nods too, and slowly stands. Tris' eyes stay focused on the floor her hand working at her neck. I stand and let show Caleb out, biding him a good day, and walk back over to Tris. As soon as I sit down, I turn to face her.

"Tris…"

She turns to me, tears down the sides of her face. She snakes her arms around my waist, and I pull her close, stroking her hair. After a minute or two, the tears stop.

"Hey. We can always contact Caleb and see how she's doing. She going to be okay, Tris. It's probably just some research. That's all they're keeping her in for."

Of course, I don't really know, but it's my assumption. Tris pulls back, and rubs her eyes with her hands. She turns to me.

"Does it look like I've been crying?"

I chuckle.

"No. I say. You look beautiful. As always."

Tris laughs and shakes her head.

"Oh my god. You are such a nerd."

"Yeah but a nerd you like."

I kiss her on top of the head and stand.

"So. We have an hour to kill before you need to head over to Christina's. I think I'll head to Zeke's place after you leave. What do you want to do?"

She stand and walks into the kitchen, picking up a banana before putting it back, crinkling her nose at it. My eyebrows furrow. Tris loves bananas. She covers an enormous yawn with her hand before twisting her torso to crack her back. This time I hear her gasp before her face contorts and her hand shoots to her side, rubbing it with her thumb.

"Tris!"

I walk quickly over to her before turning her around, gently, by the shoulders. I stare at her.

"Tris."

My voice is quiet.

"Tobias, I don't want you to worry. This happened when I was little. It went away. It will go away again. They said it was probably growing pains. I have a really small ribcage."

She shrugs, and shoulders her way past me into the bedroom. I stand there, putting my head down in defeat before following her. I crawl over to my side of the bed before lying down and looking over at Tris on the other side of the room. She is fishing through the closet, looking at various things.

"Watcha doin?"

She turns to me, a smile on her face.

"Looking for something for you to wear. You have nice dress clothes, but-ah. Here we are!"

She pulls a black tux out on a dry cleaners hanger and holds it up in front of her. The suit is bigger than she is. I groan.

"Really, Tris? You're making me wear that?"

"I'm doing you a favor!"

She scoffs at me, but I can tell she doesn't mean it. She turns and lays the suit carefully on the dresser. She turns, tilts her head, and walk towards the bed, slowly and seductively.

"Plus, you should be grateful. The favors I offer to men…often have little to do with clothes."

She crawls over the bed until she hovers over me, her voice as soft and cool as silk, her hair falling around her face like a golden halo. I grab her waist and flip her over so that she is laying to next. I laugh, and lean in to kiss her slowly.

That is how we wake up forty five minutes later. Tris groans, her eyes still unfocused and bleary from sleep. She glances over at the glow of the digital clock.

"Shit!"

She curses. She jumps out of bed, and throws on a pair of shorts and a tank top before running in to the living room to grab her keys.

"I was supposed to be at Christina's place twenty minutes ago! I love you! See you at the Chasm at 22:30. She grins before marching out into the hallway, the door slamming shut behind her. I grab my tux and a water bottle, shoes and a tie before heading to Zeke's place.

Tris POV

I walk quickly to Christina's, jogging the last 200 meters. I rap on the door quickly before Lynn answers the door. She puts her hands on her hips and look at me.

"Why are you late? Christina's gonna woop your ass, let me tell you that right now. She is pissed off!"

I walk quickly inside, and cough at the hairspray, perfume, and other unidentifiable odors that are clouding her apartment. As I round the corner, my eyes open wide as I see that Christina has turned her kitchen into a salon. There are plastic tarps covering everything, with spinning chairs, hairdryers, curlers, ironers, and a million other things that I don't even know what to call.

"Christina?"

I call into the haze, for the amount of cosmetic products in the air truly is creating a visible cloud now.

"Beatrice Prior! Where the hell have you been? You were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago!"

Christina's tall frame looms out of the cloud, as she stomps up to me with her arms folded.

"I'm sorry! We both fell asleep, we didn't mean to!"

She raises her eyebrows, but then her expression fades, replaced with one of excitement.

"Okay, well, never mind that. We're all here now. Marlene!"

Marlene scampers into the room in a pink silk robe with her hair in curlers, and her makeup all applied. Honestly, she does look good.

"So, I will work on Tris in the bathroom, and Marlene, you take Lynn out here. Shuana should be getting her any minute, she told me she was going to be late. Marlene, do you mind doing double? I want to make Tris here extra special for Four on his birthday dinner party day."

I roll my eyes, but once Marlene agrees, Christina leads me into her gigantitron bathroom, which is in the same state as the kitchen. How Will is going to deal with this all when we get back, I don't really want to know.

For at least three hours, I sit in that damn chair, being poked and prodden with brushes and metal things, and god knows what. All I did was close my eyes and try to bear it. I also tried not to breath in the fumes. Next was the dress. Christina pulled me into her bedroom, which was surprisingly neat and surprisingly big, trying to avoid mirror. She said I couldn't see myself until the 'final production'. From her massive closet, she pulls out a flowy, black dress. Once I put it on, it fits perfectly. It comes down to just above my knees, and it has quarter sleeves that have huge holes in them, which makes my arms cold, but Christina says that it's stylish. The back dips down to my butt, and has flowy wrinkles in it, making it movable. With the push-up bra that Christina forced me to borrow, it gives the illusion of the cleavage I will never have, but it sure does look nice. Since Lynn and Shauna are done, and Marlene is still working on her makeup, Lynn and Shauna come to watch. As soon as they walk in, both of them are amazed.

"Christina, you are a makeup goddess. I am not kidding you. Seriously. If Four's jaw doesn't drop, I'm gonna push him over the ledge."

I laugh nervously.

"Please don't. He's a good guy, really."

She laughs.

"I'm only kidding. But really though, you look good."

"Thanks."

Christina walks to the front of the chair and looks at me like a winning racehorse. Like her project. I sigh inwardly.

"Okay. Now for hair. We have to make it 'wow!'. Since the gold accessories are subtle, the hair has to be the perfect complement to the dress. I'm thinking gentle waves that transform into rings, but only at the very end. Oh, plus the Maxi Volume gel. What do you think Marlene?"

I didn't even hear her come in, but there she is, standing in the doorway.

"Oh yeah, totally. With this look,"

she gestures to me with the hand that isn't holding a makeup palate,

"That's the only way to go."

After hair pulling, hair styling and brushing and whatever else the hell she did to it, she tells me that I can look into one of her many full length mirrors. I walk to the closest one, and look in. I can't even believe it's me. I look… well I look amazing. I think.

Ten minutes later, the five of us are walking across the Pit towards the Chasm, where we can see the guys sitting around and talking. As the rest of them walk majestically in their heels, I stumble down the path, trying my hardest not to fall. We reach the end of the path, the Pit wall blocking out view of the guys and their view of us. When we turn the corner, all eyes are on us. Of course, the other girls are a good ten feet ahead of me, all of them, even Lynn, capable of walking in heels. But when I turn the corner, literally all they eyes are on me. It's kind of embarrassing. I walk to the where everyone else is gathered, and just kind of stand there awkwardly, twenty feet from the main group. When Four sees me, he stops mid-laugh at something Uriah said, and gapes at me. I hope that's because I look good.

"Woah. Tris."

He walks towards me, clearing the space in three paces, and places his hands on my hips. He leans in whispers in my ear:

"You look good, Tris."

This makes my blush, but I pull back and kiss him full on the mouth, anyway. I grab his hand, and pull us back over to the main group, who have collected all of their stuff and are ready to go.

"Hey Tris! Where's that limo you were talking about?"

Uri asks me, his arm around Marlene's waist. I shrug and look at the clock on the jumbotron on the uppermost wall of the Pit.

"Should be here any second, I suppose. Come on, lets go wait outside the Pire."

Once we have climbed the ledges and hiked up the stairs and across the glass building, we step outside, and wait by the train tracks. The roads out here are foul, but eventually, we see two bobbing headlights in the distance. A couple minutes later, a sleek white limo pulls up, silent as ever. We pile inside. The blue and purple lights illuminate the interior, which is classy black leather.

When we arrive at Tupelo's, everybody is drunk on the night already. We are alive and we hear the music in the air. We walk to the entrance of the bar, a sleek red carpet with gold poles lining it. Tobias waits until I have caught up to him. He puts a hand on my lower back, and walks us into the club.

"Reservation for…"

He looks at me.

"Prior."

I answer for him. We smile at each other, and we all walk into the club. As soon as we are over the threshold, blasting music pounds my ears, lights are everywhere, and the whole place carries the smell of alcohol, dancing and a strange mix of perfumes.

"Come on, guys! Hey, girlies,"

Christina yells at us over the music.

"Let's go dance!"

She pulls Shauna, Lynn, Marlene and I over to the dance floor. I turn my head to look apologetically at Four, but the guys have appeared to pull him over to the bar. A pinprick of fear leaps into my chest at the thought of Four getting drunk again, but I know he will keep his promise. I start dancing to an upbeat, catchy song with Christina and Marlene, and we get lost in the music. After and hour or two, we go to the bar, where Christina and Lynn have beers, and Shauna has champagne, and Marlene and I have red wine. It is slightly bitter, but leaves me with a warm feeling after two glasses. We go back to the dance floor, then get a booth in the corner.

"Hey Shauna, go get the guys. I think that we're going to get some food."

Shauna nods and gets up, disappearing into the crowd. A couple of drunk guys come up to us, most of the wondering about Christina and Lynn, and all their 'heavenly beauty'. I crane my neck to try and scout out for the boys, but no such luck. About ten minutes later, Shauna comes back, the guys in tow. Zeke and Uriah are definitely drunk, but Tobias and Al look all right. Until he sits down next to me. He leans in to kiss me, but I taste the alcohol on his breath. I don't kiss back. I pull away, and instead focus on thee table.

"Tris. What did I do this time?"

He mumbles at me, sounding annoyed. He wasn't drunk drunk, but he definitely had a buzz.

"Nothing."

I shake my head at him.

"We can talk about this later."

Our food comes, and everyone eats up the French fries and hamburgers. Everyone picks at the salads. The guys head off sometime between the salad and the dessert (chocolate lava cake: yum!) but the girls stay and chat well into the night. When my watch beeps two, I look at everyone.

"I think our reservation is up. We should probably find the dudettes and make sure they haven't done something stupid."

The others agree, and we all get up to leave after sharing the tab. We find the guys outside, all of them now heavily intoxicated. I punch myself for trusting Four. I should have known. All the girls go to their appropriate guy, and start him towards the limo. I crouch down and pull Tobias up by his shoulder.

"Tris."

He slurs at me.

"You look pretty."

I groan and finish pulling him up, shaking my head.

"Come on Four."

We all pile in the limo, which now reeks of beer, and drive back to the compound. I say goodbye to the crew, and begin to slowly drag Four back to our apartment. Once we are inside, I sit him down on the couch, and go to the kitchen to grab him a Gatorade. I flop down beside him, mindlessly tossing him the half empty bottle. Before I grab the remote, he grabs my neck roughly and starts kissing me. He tastes so foul I push him back with more vigor than I intended.

"Four!"

I snap at him, turning back to the TV.

"You know I hate it when you call me that."

He growls at me. I have never seen Four this drunk before. Or this mad. I scoff.

"If you hate it so much, then stop acting like him!"

Time slows down. In the two-almost-three years that I have known Tobias, I have never been afraid of him. Sure, I have been afraid of doing things with him, things happening to him, but I have never been afraid of him. Then his hand pulled back, and my head snapped to the side, red with blood blush, a bruise already starting to form. He hit me.

I am afraid.

I am afraid.

I am afraid.