AN: This is part 2 of a 2 part chapter, so if you haven't read chapter 2 you might want to hit that super nifty back button. If you've already read chapter 2 then by all means proceed. :)

Eight Months Ago (Part 2)

E: Eric Coulter. Is this Beatrice Prior?

I watch the dots on the corner of the screen, I wish I knew what she was typing.

No freaking way! Yeah this is Tris, I stopped going by Beatrice. How are you?

E: Yes freaking way. I'm good, I just moved back into town. Are you still in Chicago?

I pay for my cab and walk towards my apartment, watching my phone the whole time.

Indeed I am.

E: Would you want to get coffee or something one day?

The longest few seconds of my life pass as I'm watching the dots waiting for her response.

Sure. How about now? I just got off work and there's this great 24 hour diner that has the best coffee and pie.

Fuck. I've been drinking so I know I can't drive. The cab has already made its way out of my neighborhood.

E: So, I've been drinking, I'm certainly not drunk but I shouldn't drive. I'm sorry.

My phone rings and it's her. I answer.

"Hey!" She says, she sounds exactly the same.

"Hey yourself." I reply with a smile.

"So, I'm really not trying to be a crazy stalker, but if you wanna go with me I'll pick you up, I don't mind." She says.

"You don't mind, seriously?" I ask.

"Seriously. I haven't seen you in years, I'm excited." She replies.

I give her my address and we end up talking the entire time she drives to my apartment. She was only a few minutes away, apparently she works as a paralegal and she's been pulling late nights on a huge case for her firm. I'm walking out the door when she pulls up. She parks her car and throws open her door, quickly making her way to me and giving me a huge hug.

"Oh my gosh it's really you!" She says as she squeezes me. She smells fucking amazing.

"It's really you. Holy shit Tris. I took a chance half an hour ago texting the last number I had for you and here you are. You look great." I say as I pull back from her.

Her hair is pulled back in a bun, she's wearing a skirt and sweater, obviously something she wore to work but she looks beautiful.

"So do you. Damn Eric, you really must work out." She chuckles as she grabs my arm and squeezes.

"Maybe. So where's this famous diner?" I ask and she grins.

"Follow me." She says.

Tris and I talk the entire way to the diner and once inside we find a booth that's away from the action. We both order coffee and apple pie and begin talking as soon as the waiter walks away.

"So, tell me what's been going on in your life? It's like you fell off the face of the earth." Tris says as she adds sugar to her coffee.

"Yeah, I guess I kind of did. I moved out to California for a job, and the same company opened a branch here in Chicago and needed volunteers to relocate so I jumped on it." I reply.

"You just left? Did you have someone out there?" She asks.

"I had a fiancée but she left me for another guy. Moved out while I was at work one day." I shrug.

Tris gapes at me. "Are you serious? Who does that?"

"It actually worked out for the best. Have you ever loved someone but knew it wasn't quite right? Things were like that with Charity. She was a nice girl, and we got along but she wanted to be married and I didn't. Not to her at least you know? God I sound like such an asshole."

"No, I get it. You stay somewhere because you're comfortable, and you care enough to hope it develops into something more." She agrees.

"What about you? Is there someone in your life?" I ask. I can see her whole demeanor change and I wish I hadn't asked.

"Yeah, I'm with someone right now." She answers quietly.

"Tris, if it's a sensitive subject we can drop it. It's fine." I reply. She nods and smiles.

"Thanks. It's complicated and I'm not sure you'd want to hear about it." She says.

"I'm a good listener." I retort and she regards me curiously.

"Do you still talk to my brothers?" She asks.

"Mhmm, a little here and there. I wish I could have been here for Tobias and Lauren's wedding. I can't believe I missed that." I reply.

"We understood though. You were in Japan on business. It wasn't like you could just pop in." She smiled.

"I know but still. He and Caleb are some of my best friends and I feel like I've been pretty shitty at keeping in touch, I mean you and I talked all the time before I left and then... well..."

"I cut you off." She finishes as the waiter sets two slices of pie down in front of us and tops off our coffee.

"Why did you do that?" I ask her.

"I was mad you left. I felt like we had finally started to get somewhere and then poof you're gone." She says slowly.

"Get somewhere as in how?" I ask.

"I thought maybe you had started to see me as more than your best friend's little sister." She replies with a slight blush.

"I didn't think you felt anything for me." I reply without thinking.

"Eric, I had the biggest crush on you ever since middle school. How could you not have known?" She asks.

"I guess the same way you had no idea I'd had one on you for even longer." I reply with a grin.

"Shut up." She says with a smile. "You're lying."

"Nope, totally the truth. I'd liked you for years, but between your two super protective brothers and your dad I was scared shitless to ever make a move." I shrug.

"Things could have been so different." She muses as she pushes some of her pie around on her plate.

"They still could be you know." I try for nonchalance but inside I'm nervous as hell.

"Eric, things are really complicated in that aspect of my life." She replies.

"Why don't you explain it to me. Maybe talking about it would help."

"I haven't seen you in years and you want to hear about my complicated love life?" She asks with a smirk.

"Maybe I'd like to uncomplicate it." I smile and she shakes her head.

"I don't know how to explain it. We've been together almost a year. We actually live together. It's just, well, he's just kind of a dick." She shrugs.

"That's pretty vague." I prod and she shakes her head.

"I don't want to talk about him." She finally says and I drop it. Whoever this guy is doesn't seem to be worth her time, but hopefully she'll find some way to open up about him at least.

"Ok, we won't talk about him. Fair enough. So tell me about your job."

She smiles and starts talking about some of the cases she's worked on. Her entire demeanor has changed and her face lights up when she talks about her work. I can tell she truly loves what she does.

We spend over two hours at the diner, catching up on each other's lives. We are careful to avoid the subject of her boyfriend until she gets a text. I watch as she reads it and rolls her eyes.

"Right on time, bars closed." She says.

"Do you need to go?" I ask.

"Yeah, I probably should. He's drunk and he can be a bit much to deal with when he's like this." She says as she's getting up. I grab the bill and pay at the register, much to her protest.

She drives me home and we continue to talk, but I can tell she's nervous about something.

"Tris, what's wrong?" I ask.

"I hate to ask you." She says quietly.

"You can ask me anything." I reply.

She sighs as she parks in front of my building. "Can you be careful when you text? He gets jealous and sometimes he reads my texts. If I can talk freely, I'll let you know." She says. I can see how horrified she is at having to ask me this and I finally realize there's more than jealousy that fuels this request.

"How about a code word? If you use that word I know to cease the conversation until you use it again?" I ask.

"Oh my gosh that's perfect. What should it be?" She asks.

I think for a few seconds then smile at her. "If you send me a text and refer to your brother by his asenine nickname I'll know something's up."

She laughs a genuine laugh. "Why he would call himself Four is beyond me. That's perfect. Thank you for understanding, and thank you for the company." She smiles. I grab her hand from the center console and kiss it before opening my door.

"I want to do this again. Seriously, now that I have you back in my life I want to keep you, even just as friends."

"Me too. I'll text you soon." She smiles and I leave the car. I watch as she drives away and I smile to myself as I unlock my door.