A/N
Longest thing I ever wrote, to be honest. (Not counting a research paper and my finals paper in Philosophy)
Hope you enjoy, guys.
I'd be having a break in two weeks from college so hopefully I can upload the next chapter by then. (If I won't be busy studying.)
Anyways, review. Follow and favourite.
Part I. Chapter 2
I.
Four didn't want to be here. Or he was too sad to be here. He couldn't get the concept of his girl friend just dying. It didn't seem to be real and other than that, he was missing class because of these interviews.
Who knew he actually cared about class?
They were sitting in the principal office waiting room, waiting for whatever needs to happen next. They didn't know how they'll do this question and answer thing. Were they suppose to stay here or go down to the police station?
Whatever is happening it's making Four mad and irritated and more or less angry at himself that he wasn't there for her.
Why wasn't he there for her?
Tori entered the room.
"Can we go, Tori. We didn't kill Tris." Four suddenly said. He knew that was idiotic because they just needed leads. That's why they were here.
"If you're looking for suspects, then don't haul us up." Four continued. He didn't know what he was saying, or even if he had control on what he was saying. Tori was just listening.
"If you wanted a murderer, why not interview Peter first? He's capable. He already tried when we were children." Peter's hand twitched. He was holding the camera in his hand and he was fidgeting. Nobody did not know about the incident when they were about seven years old, how Peter stabbed someone's eye out. He didn't mean it. He was an impulsive child.
He had a mental problem and everybody knew that. The only reason why he joined photojournalism in the first place is too be able to control his impulses. Instead of trying to attack, he was focusing all his energies in his pictures.
Tori knew when something was going too far and this was one of it, so she stepped forward.
"Four, I don't need you blaming anyone. We're not looking for suspects today, we're looking for leads." Tori said. Four knew that but he was too broken to function properly. Besides, no broken thing actually functions properly.
"Then why is Zeke here?" He continued.
"He never had a direct relationship with Tris. Who knows if he actually knows her?" Everybody shifted. They knew something.
Four saw.
He thought about what they were hiding. Does he not know something they do?
He looked at Zeke and noticed him flexing his hands as if trying to control the fist forming.
Did he say something offending? Last time he checked, Zeke never cared for Tris. He knew that Zeke knew Tris by association and that was that but never anything more intimate.
He shook his head and took a seat. There were more important things to think about.
Tori sighed.
"I know this is a hard situation but each other is all you got. So play nice." She said eyeing Four.
"Christina, I'll talk to you first." Tori said and went to the other room. Christina stood up, feeling Uriah squeeze her hand. Will didn't seem to notice or didn't want to notice. He felt an ache in his heart thinking that he can never do that. Even though it was a simple gesture of friendship, he knew he couldn't.
"Good luck" Will muttered and he can see the slight twitch in Christina's lips as she walked out of the room.
II.
"Don't be scared, Christina" To be honest, Christina didn't how to feel. She was still crying which caught her off guard because the tears are supposed to be dried up right now, right? She felt that all that her tear ducts just kept refilling because this was the only thing she could feel right now. Her heart was probably crying too.
She started to hiccup.
Christina saw Tori motion to one of her colleague who just arrived a few minutes after Tori dropped the news. He sighed and walked out the door only to come back later with a glass of water.
Christina just stared at it.
"I want you to relax, Christina" Tori said. Christina shook.
"How can you say that?" she tried, trying so hard to keep her voice from quivering. It's futile, she knew because the red in her eyes wouldn't even hide the tears that has been shed.
"I know it's har-"
"I lost a best friend." Christina interrupted. They didn't get it. They wouldn't know how much Tris Prior changed her life. They didn't how much Tris meant to her, how she was the first person to approach her at camp that May day. It was a surprise that they found each other enrolled in the same school. Tris was there when Christina's parents divorced, or when she had eating disorder, trying to puke everything out until her body was only skin and bones. Tris was there when she wanted to just stand at the edge of the building's rooftop so that all her pain would just end; it was Tris who called her that day. Tris was the one who called her to preserve her life.
And now, Tris was gone and Christina felt so guilty because the words that was spoken last Friday night might probably changed the situation today if only the words weren't spoken in the first place.
And thinking about this now, Christina cried again.
III.
Will kept looking at his watch and at the front door. He was muttering silent prayers but his head was so unfocused that he stopped and took a deep breath. Praying was the only thing that can help him right now. What could his father think if he knew Will was caught up in the middle of a murder case? He didn't know what hurt most, seeing Christina cry her soul out and knowing the reason she was crying that way in the first place.
Though Will knew that his personality crashed with Tris and that most people don't mostly associate his type of people to be with the type of people Tris was, but Tris was nice enough to him so he actually tolerated her.
He looked around the room and saw the people sitting there, trying to observe them. He wasn't a keen observer as Peter and Zeke were but from years of being surrounded by people with so many stories, he knew how to read body languages and he couldn't fathom how people are natural pretenders.
He looked up at Zeke.
He was muttering under his breath, looking at his phone. Uriah lay down beside him, often twitching. His eyes were red and Will knew why. Four was on the corner, head tucked on his knees. He didn't know if he was crying. Peter was looking at his camera, twisting dials here and there and Caleb was just there, sitting down. He didn't know how much this affected the guy, he just lost a sister.
Tris wasn't a bad guy like most rumours said. Yes, she was a bit enthusiastic about things and rebellious on how they were going to do these things but Will knew Tris was a nice girl. Tris was the only one he could actually invite to the Church. She went there occasionally and she knew some of the people. It made him smile how committed she is but the heart of Tris isn't meant for good things. Her heart turned black too much that it was hard to change. Will wanted to change her, to change the broken hearted girl that she is and Will just bit his lip, feeling guilty that he wasn't even able to introduced Tris to the church completely; if he could've, they might be in their classes now and not trying to piece up her murder.
With this in mind, he knelt on the floor and started praying, not caring on what the others are talking about.
IV.
Four didn't know what to do, to be exact.
In the silence of the room, he couldn't help but think of every brutal possibility of how Tris died. She was found under a bridge, and he couldn't understand how it could've happened.
He wished there was at least music in this room.
He tried singing but his thoughts would always just go back to Tris. Not only about her murder but also everything that happened between them.
Tris was his other half, that was nothing to doubt about.
They met when they were children, when he was juggling a football on his front yard. A girl suddenly walked towards him and asked if they could play, he agreed back then and he was glad he did.
He cursed himself and it didn't escape anyone's notice though everyone ignored it. He wanted to talk to someone, just so that conversation will cloud his mind on what is happening today but he couldn't find someone to talk to.
Christina was head bent and crying in the other room and who knows what they were talking about.
And the other person he wanted to talk to was keeping a secret from him. He eyed Zeke and wanted so badly to find out about that anger that he was trying to hide a couple of minutes ago. He knew Zeke and he knew Zeke's only connection to Tris was him. Yes, he saw them talking a couple of times but it was just small talk, it couldn't have been anything serious.
And then he remembered something serious. Everyone knew about his fight with Tris last Friday, who wouldn't? They were shouting at each other at the centre of the plaza but what they didn't know was why.
And he shouldn't have done it.
He knew it was all his fault but his pride wouldn't let her get the upper hand.
He didn't want to say it. He wanted to forget the past and just not tell her what happened that May Day Eve but the only reason he did it so that he wouldn't lose her. Lose her to another. See her everyday but think that she isn't his anymore but thinking about it now, he'd rather lose her that way than lose her like this.
V.
Zeke cracked his knuckles.
He still looked at his phone as if miraculously Tris would still contact him.
He hated himself now especially looking at Four at the other side of the room. He was suppose to be there for him; he is Four's best friend but he couldn't muster up the courage to walk towards him.
Especially after what happened. Zeke knew Uriah doesn't tell secrets. So he knew that he couldn't have told anyone about him liking Tris but apparently it was obvious.
They wouldn't have shifted like that if they knew Four was right, if they didn't know any better.
He silently cursed himself for not noticing that people noticed.
But of course, classic story.
The one who should've cared to know was oblivious of the whole thing and it sucks being the friend that hurt him indirectly.
But if Four only knew what happened Friday night, confessing to a little crush would've have been better.
He knew of course that Tris was pushy and reckless in everything but a shouting match with Four and then going home drunk with him isn't actually putting him in the best position.
Of course nothing happened.
He isn't one to do it with drunk girls though Tris tried to kiss him.
He wanted so badly to but of course, she wasn't his; she was his best friend's.
Zeke should've done something though. Drop her off her house was one but she insisted that she didn't need a ride home. He should've just made sure she was safe before he let her go, or that she had somewhere to go.
Looking at Four, Zeke thought that maybe he was right.
Maybe he didn't know Tris at all and the only side he saw of her, was the one that shadowed Four and he didn't like that.
He wanted to know her better.
But there wasn't any chance of that now.
VI.
Uriah didn't know what to do. To be honest, he shouldn't even be caring. Yes, Tris was nice. Yes, Tris was okay. Yes, Tris was his friend. But he hated her. Nobody knew about what happened three years ago, not even Tris. Well, Tris knew most of it but not the whole part of the story.
She didn't know about how he stayed there throughout the night just so that nothing bad happened to their companion even though something already did.
She didn't how nobody found her.
Why didn't anyone even report her missing?
Nobody cared because Tris didn't like her, and so nobody gave a second glance.
Once a Prior labeled you worthless, you were and that's why Uriah hated her. Uriah wanted to congratulate the person who killed her for finally getting rid of the queen bee but shook it out of his head. No matter how evil Tris can get, she was still his friend that he wanted to strangle and each ice creams with.
No matter how many times he'll close his eyes it was Tris that came to mind.
Before the incident three years ago, Uriah and Tris were inseparable. Only after Tris met Christina did her friendship with Uriah falter.
They talked but she was more important now. She wouldn't have noticed him if she hadn't met her prior to that.
But they both knew how much because of Tris he changed.
He became slightly better yet more worse with Tris. He even remembered the kiss. Tris was Uriah's first kiss though who knew how many she had before that. She toyed with his feelings that's why today, it's just futile to have them. He wanted so badly to warn his brother not to fall for the Prior charm but he did. And now he's snickering thinking that the time that he actually fell in love with someone worth loving, Tris had to interfere.
She had to be there three years ago.
She wasn't invited, but she was there.
Uriah knew she shouldn't have confronted her about what happened three years ago last Friday night, because past is past.
He just couldn't accept that she still didn't know.
He knew if he kept quiet she'd be alive today. That was a fact.
I mean, if he kept quiet she wouldn't even get drunk and go home with his brother in the first place.
For the thirteen years that Uriah was friends with Tris, he knew her enough and he knows that a fighting match with Four wouldn't make her drink. No, she would've just walked it off and tended her wounds at home but Uriah had to butt in.
Uriah doesn't want Tris to be dead. He doesn't want this. Even with all the pain she caused him, Tris did not deserve this.
She deserved better.
And his heart clenched thinking that maybe the reason she wouldn't get better was partly because of him.
VII.
Peter looked at the photos he had taken from the last week. Tori would probably ask about what happened Friday night and his mind was a bit foggy to remember anything.
It didn't slip his mind though about the screaming outside his father's mini market that day. It was what everyone was talking about and he heard every thing, like most people did.
They didn't pay any attention to it. What was so important from two teenagers fighting about superficial thinking other than amusement? But Peter cared enough. Part of his sickness was that he thought about things to much. Every time he closed his eyes, things would be flying in his mind trying so hard to catch his attention. That day, in the silence of the mart and with the fighting outside, his mind just kept going back to the source of the noise and couldn't think of anything else. A lot of questions rushed in his mind. It was quixotic to think of it that way but even though it was only shouting, he thought that maybe someone might get hurt physically, or worse died. He laughed at it then, took a picture of them fighting and on the things in the shop to focus his mind on something.
He didn't laugh now.
Especially since someone did die.
Even though that someone was someone he really didn't care about.
Maybe Tris Prior was so used to attention, but Peter won't be one to give that to Tris. She already had that luxury from her boy friend and from his boy friend's best friend who shadowed her every move.
Zeke thought nobody noticed but everybody looking at them did.
Maybe that's why Four didn't, because he was never behind Zeke. He would've never seen the longing in Zeke's eyes for Tris.
He sighed.
Looking at the pictures on his camera of Friday night, he thought that maybe he did give Tris some attention.
And that was the first time Tris actually gave him hers.
Thinking back on it, he wished that he acknowledged her more. Maybe if she only had someone to talk to, she wouldn't have died because as a very observant person, Peter noticed that attention was what the center of attention needed that day.
VIII.
Christina might be Tris's best friend and Four might be her boy friend, but Caleb was Tris's brother and this was killing him more than it did the other two. They cried but Caleb felt nothing. He couldn't fathom crossing Tris' room and not knocking on her door asking how she is. He didn't know how someone he grew up with could be gone in just a single night. He wanted to cry. He wanted to feel something but the hurt just walled his heart out.
He didn't know what to feel.
He hated not knowing what to feel.
He hated not being there for her.
She called him that night, asking for help, for companionship. He ignored her because he was impressing a girl and now he wanted to just go back.
If it was possible to go back in time, can he have that opportunity now?
No girl would be worth it to impress if Tris wasn't there. Besides, she was his number one girl. Despite the rumours and their whole array of differences, they loved each other because they were the only one each other had.
They couldn't depend on their parents because their parents wouldn't get it, they were never present in their lives anyways.
His parents have been calling him and he knew why.
Of course, the police couldn't have withdrawn this information with them and he didn't want to be the one to tell his parents, especially in the middle of a divorce case, that there daughter is dead.
He wanted to laugh.
Maybe this is the thing that can actually throw the divorce papers out the door and have them have the perfect family they had before.
Tris always wanted that.
And maybe in her death, in can happen.
But Caleb knew better. His mom will probably pack her bags and leave his father drinking down his alcohol in the kitchen.
Or he'll probably go around the city to buy himself a woman that will remove his thoughts from what's happening.
One thing Caleb hated about their parents, is they're cowards. He couldn't even remember the last time they didn't run away from something and now that there daughter is dead, what's the best way to handle it but run away.
IX.
You look around. Everyone was already whispering as to what had happened. Of course it didn't escape anyone's notice that Tris wasn't present and that her closest friends were hauled in the principal's office with two police officers with them.
The back of your hand is itching and you just want to come forward. You know what happened that Friday night.
Besides, you were the last one with Tris.
But you couldn't do it.
You don't know how to do it.
How does one confess to a murder anyways?
You hear your heart beating and everything around you was patterns. People were walking around you in a synchronized manner not knowing that a murdered was in their midst. Your hand was red.
You've been scratching at it since you've seen the first police car pull over.
It remember you of the redness of your hands back then, caked in blood.
You don't know why nobody is arresting you.
Don't you smell of Tris's perfume? Isn't your hands stained with her blood?
You suddenly feel scared and rush to the nearest bathroom.
Trying to wash every remnant of Friday night away from you.
You wash your hands even though there is nothing left there. You've washed the blood away but no matter how many times you turned your hand, you still see blood.
You take deep breaths.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
You lock the bathroom door and decide to do the right thing. You were caught in the middle of a prank gone wrong and you wanted to set things right.
Your hands shiver.
You put your phone on the sink and wash your face.
Look yourself in the mirror.
You find the recorder in your phone and press 'Record'.
You inhale.
"I want to apologize for every innocent person caught in this and also, I want to apologize for Tris Prior's death. I never wanted her dead but circumstances had to change. I will explain every thing in this recording, but first let me introduce myself."
You pause and think it over again.
This is the right thing to do. For once you're doing the right thing. You tell yourself.
"My name is….."
A/N
Okay.
First of all, I know Tris sounds like a mean girl, and she is sort of, and she is kind of not. There are two sides of the coin.
I had something in mind when I'm writing this story and I didn't want to Tris to be too much of a nice girl like she was in Divergent because I wouldn't have a reason to kill her.
It's not as if she's initiating a rebellion in this fic, right? :3
Second, I'm sorry about Uriah's back story about Tris. I didn't know who to pick to have that back story. Four's the boy friend so that wouldn't make sense. Will is a Pastor's Kid, so he can't possibly hate anyone. Zeke was infatuated with Tris. Caleb is the brother. And Peter has enough back story. So I pitched Uriah in for that story so yeah.
Anyways, if you have any more problems with this chapter or this story, review and I'll address every thing the next time I update.
Thank you for everyone who reviewed and I hope you review again and I hope reviews keep on coming.
It's nice to hear from readers :)
-eloise.
