CHAPTER FOUR: Four's Girlfriend

Tris

"So, you and Four 'got along fine', did you?"

I can't quite read his tone, but Eric is rarely jealous. He is a bit possessive and makes a show of it when we meet someone new- like he did today with Four- but otherwise, he's a confident guy, and I've never given him any reason not to trust me. I decide to assume that he's genuinely asking how it went last night.

"Uh, yeah," I answer as I pull my clothes back on. "We actually met downstairs in the dining hall earlier last night, so that made things a little less awkward. And he has an awesome collection of zombie movies." I love zombie movies, they're my favorite. Eric rolls his eyes. He thinks they're stupid.

Eric narrows his eyes slightly as I sit down on the bed next to him. "He have a girlfriend?"

I nod, and Eric looks more at ease. "I haven't met her yet. I did meet his other friends, though, and they're really nice! When we saw each other again here at the apartment last night, he said he was hoping to run into me anyway because he thought his friends would like me. So, I'm pretty excited about that," I ramble with a smile.

Eric scowls. He doesn't really like very many people. "What's wrong with the friends we have? We don't need new ones." I snort, getting up to leave the room, but he grabs my wrist.

"What, Eric, you mean Peter, Drew and Molly? In case you forgot, Molly has spent the past two years tormenting me, and I have no idea why you hang out with Peter and Drew, either. They're all assholes. They may be your friends, but they've never been mine."

Eric groans. "I don't have to hang out with them, do I?"

"What makes you think you won't like them? Do I have bad taste in friends or something?" I ask, annoyed.

Eric snorts. "I wouldn't know. You've never had any friends, since I've known you, anyway. And you sure didn't seem to get a very good read on your brother."

His words hit me like a punch in the gut. The comment about Caleb, especially, was a low blow. And the worst part is... he's right. I've never been good at making friends- I had always been encouraged to be quiet and modest, so I was. I may as well have been invisible. And after my parents died, Caleb may have kept me out of foster care, but he left me on my own the second he could- sixteen years old, alone and scared. I called and texted him for a while but he never responded, and eventually changed his number. I can only assume it was because my brother is such a coward that he decided a new phone number was easier than just telling me he didn't want contact with me.

Eric has stuck around, has been the one person who would actually notice if I just disappeared, for nearly two years. My roommate hates me, I already gave up my shitty apartment- which I struggled to pay the rent on each month- and I have no family or friends. Eric has been there through everything. I guess his feelings have some validity- change is hard for anyone, and he has always had me entirely to himself.

I sigh. "I know… you're right. Still, I'd like to try at least, to start fresh and make some friends. Maybe you could give them a chance?"

Eric glares, but eventually relents. "I shouldn't have said those things. I'm sure they will like you, and maybe I will hang out with you all once in awhile." Eric may not be the nicest guy, and this may be the closest he ever gets to giving an apology, but he's there. He's always still there. At least he knows he shouldn't have said it, even if it's true.

He sighs as he pulls me onto the bed, and I cuddle into him with my legs entwined with his, resting my forehead in the crook of his neck. "Tell me about your new friends," he murmurs.

I smile and trace nothings on his chest. "Well, last night I met Four in the dinner line. I was wearing my Chili Peppers shirt and they're his favorite band too and… I just hate eating dinner alone every night, you know? Anyway, while we were eating his friends Zeke and Uriah showed up- they're brothers. They're funny, and friendly. Then I met Shauna and Marlene at breakfast this morning- they're dating Zeke and Uri, and I really liked them. It will be nice to have some girlfriends, if everything works out."

"Mmm… that's good, baby," he mumbles sleepily. The late nights at his job really get to him sometimes.

"Like I said, I haven't met Four's girlfriend yet, but I'm sure we both will soon. All he really mentioned about her was that she says all the zombie movies are too scary," I chuckle. "But I hope I'll get along with her, anyway. You should come eat lunch with us." I wait, but he doesn't respond. Eric's breathing has become slow and even, so I sit up. Sure enough, he's fast asleep, so I pull the sheet over him and tiptoe out.

Four hadn't been there when I came out of Eric's room, though he hadn't mentioned going anywhere. Then again, why would he? It's not like it was my business to keep tabs on him. I just hoped that he hadn't overheard… things… and been uncomfortable. That was never something we really had to worry about before, since I was already living in an apartment on my own when Eric and I met.

I take the elevator back to ground level. As soon as I enter I scan the tables for my new friends- at least, I hope they'll be my friends- and smile when I see Uriah and Marlene just sitting down at an empty table. The line is pretty short today, but once I enter it and grab a tray, I notice Zeke and Shauna scanning their dining cards at the register, and recognize the back of Four's head about five people ahead of me, his arm around the waist of a girl with black hair and mocha skin. I can't see her face, but I can see her body and my stomach pinches with slight envy. I wish I had her height… her curves… the confidence to dress in short skirts and heels and skimpy crop tops like she does. I honestly have no idea what Eric has ever seen in me- he could easily be with someone that looks more like her. And with how attractive Four is, I am sure that her face is even prettier than the rest of her.

I shake my head to clear the thoughts as I put a salad and a plate of pasta. I really kind of felt like eating a sandwich, but all they have today is ham, which I hate. I'm tempted to also get a piece of Dauntless cake, but I am sure I won't like the number on the scale soon if I get into a habit of eating that at every meal.

When I sit down at the table, everyone greets me and Four's girlfriend, Christina- who is just as beautiful as I expected- introduces herself with a wave, since it's too far to reach across the table to shake hands. I wave back and offer her a nervous smile, and she smiles back widely, though I can't tell for sure if it's genuine. Of course it is, Tris, don't be so paranoid, I mentally scold myself. I just haven't had such great luck with the whole friendship thing since moving to Chicago- Molly started rumors about me the second Eric looked my way.

When I look at Four, he averts his eyes and the tips of his ears turn a bright red, his cheeks pink. I guess that answers the question of whether he heard Eric and me. Heat rushes to my face, even the tips of my ears, at the realization. I'll have to try to be quieter- and convince Eric to as well- in the future. I really don't want to make anyone uncomfortable.

Uriah looks between Four and me and chuckles. "I guess there must already have been an awkward situation, huh?" he mutters quietly- I only heard him because I'm sitting right next to him.

I elbow him in the ribs. "Shut up, Uriah!" I hiss.

"Ow!" he exclaims, rubbing his side. "Watch out for Tris, she's stronger than she looks!"

"That was nothing," I say, smirking, and Uriah shrinks back in fear.

Zeke guffaws. "Uriah likes to pretend he's all badass, but he's afraid of Shortcake over there."

"He's a wise man," I retort, and Shauna laughs.

"So, all of you are friends from high school?" I ask. They all respond with some form of agreement, and Marlene elaborates.

"Shauna and I have been friends since sixth grade, as well as her younger sister, Lynn, but she still has a year of high school left," Marlene explains. "Zeke and Uriah have been friends with Four since like kindergarten, so our groups kind of merged when Uri and I started dating two years ago." I glance at Christina, then look questioningly back at Marlene. "Oh, yeah, and Christina moved from Chicago hmm… two, two and a half years ago, I guess? Near the end of sophomore year. She became friends with Shauna and me, and then eventually she and Four started dating, after the rest of us had paired up."

I mostly nod along with their conversation, though they all make an effort to include me. It's all just kind of overwhelming, sitting with six strangers who all know each other well. I don't know what Four, Zeke and Uriah have said to make them all accept me so quickly, but the girls seem to have already decided that I'm a part of the gang, and Zeke is already teasing me like I'm his little sister or something. By the end of lunch, I've been roped into shopping with the girls tomorrow, and I think the nickname 'Shortcake,' coined by Zeke- I assume due to both my height and my interaction with Uriah yesterday over Four's cake- already seems to have stuck.

Four and Christina leave first, with Christina whining to him about wanting to see his new place. When I can't stomach any more fish sticks I say goodbye to the rest of the group before I get some food to go, to take to Eric.

When I arrive back at Eric's, his bedroom door is still closed. I can hear Four and Christina in the other bedroom, but the door is open, and I'm relieved that I won't have to listen to the same sort of show Four had to hear from Eric and me earlier. I set the food on the counter and quietly enter Eric's room.

He must have been ready to wake up, because at the slight dip of the bed when I sit at its edge, his eyes flutter open and he stretches with a low groan. "Hey," he says, his voice thick with sleep, resting both hands behind his head.

"Hey, handsome," I say, smiling at him. "I brought some food up for you, it's in the kitchen."

Eric nods, giving me a chaste kiss as he gets up and pulls on a pair of black basketball shorts and a red tank top. I quickly make the bed and pick up the dirty clothes he left on the floor before following him. I was raised to keep tidy, but Eric is an absolute slob.

When step into the living room, Eric is laughing with Christina and Four turns and looks at me with raised eyebrows. Finally Four clears his throat. "Uh… obviously you two already know each other…?" he says awkwardly. How would he know Christina? Didn't she just move down here from Milwaukee? Or wait… the girls said she moved from Chicago several years ago…

"Oh, sorry!" Christina says, moving back to Four and giving me a sickly sweet smile as she wraps her arm around her boyfriend's arm. "Eric and I work together."

"Yeah, Chris is the new cocktail waitress I mentioned… remember?" Eric says, reaching for the box of food on the counter. I actually do not remember him mentioning a new cocktail waitress, so I don't answer.

"Oh…" I say, because what else is there to say? "That's… cool…" I look to Four and he shrugs. I guess if he isn't worried, then I won't either. And Eric, after all, did put aside his jealousy this morning about Four.

I glance at the clock. It's nearly 1:30. "Eric," I say, but he has opened the to go box I brought back for him and doesn't seem to notice. I roll my eyes and head back to the bedroom. I have to work in half an hour. When I come out fifteen minutes later, he's nowhere to be seen. "What the hell?!" I mutter with a heavy sigh. I don't have a car, and it's going to be very hard, if not impossible, to make it to work on time without one. I was counting on my boyfriend giving me a ride. I should have gotten his attention and made sure he remembered before I went back to get dressed.

"Everything okay, Tris?" Four asks, appearing in his bedroom doorway.

"Not really," I mutter. "Eric was supposed to give me a ride to work and I don't know where the fuck he went now. It's only a few minutes away by car but there is no way I can get there on time without one." I pull out my phone, scrolling through my contacts to call my boss, internally cringing. This isn't the first time something like this has happened.

"Come on," Four says, grabbing his keys off the counter. "I'll drive you." I glance around nervously. Where did his girlfriend go? What if she gets upset? "Chris left to go shopping," he says, rolling his eyes, "and I think Eric was going to the gym."

I nod, grabbing my purse. "Thank you," I say quietly to Four as I walk toward the front door.

A/N: I just wanted to say thank you for reading and reviewing! I can be a bit shy so I don't do many author's notes, but I appreciate the favorites, follows and reviews so much! I'm trying to update twice a week- but I am not sure if it will continue this way, or if I may need to only update weekly soon. I don't want to rush myself too much, I would rather take enough time to write well. But I don't mind you asking (nicely) for updates- it lets me know you're wanting to read more!

XOXO
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