Hey there guys, it's Rose :)

Just a quick chapter, little bit of drama and a rare sighting of Four! He will become more prominent as the story goes on, but for just now he's a little wary. Not the party chapter, but that's next, and it's a big one ;)

Don't forget to drop a review, telling me any ideas or thoughts, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter IV

Tris

After lunch, which was just a lot of Jason and Lauren being welcomed back by random people. Max, Eric, and the other Leaders just ignored them, however I was dragged into introductions over and over again. I put on my most charming smile, knowing that I didn't want to become one of the Leaders who intimidated everyone.

"I'm going to go have a nap before tonight, something tells me there's not gonna be a lot of sleeping happening." I grin a little as the others chuckled at the array of implications my statement gave, and left. I would have another shower, but there's honestly no point. The steam would ruin my curled hair and I'm going to stink of alcohol and sweat before long anyway.

"Hey Tris, wait up!" I hear Tobias call, and I slow down a little as he jogs towards me, and we fall into step.

"What's up?" I ask, this is the first time we've spoken since my little outburst at the party, and I haven't really seen him around much either.

"I just wanted to say I'm really sorry." He said, and I look over at him. He looks genuinely guilty, and I know he never really meant to hurt me. "I think we both know our relationship was going downhill for a while, and I promise it had only happened a few times."

"I know, but it still hurt that you didn't have the decency to tell me." I say, speaking softly so he knows I'm not angry. "I honestly thought it was just because of the job offer that we were fighting so much, but now I realize. I think you were holding me back from properly becoming myself here at Dauntless. Being with you, and you having been Abnegation, gave me something from my past to hold on to, something I should've given up the moment I stepped off that roof." He looks a little annoyed when I say that but nods all the same.

"It hurts when you say it like that, but I know what you mean." He sighs deeply, stopping once we reach my front door. He touches my arm gently, holding his hand there whilst he talks, like he used to do when were together. "I want us to be friends, Tris. I don't want to lose you, before anything else you were a great friend."

"I know, I want that too, Tobias, but right now I just need a little time, a little space." I lean my forehead against his chest, and he wraps an arm around me. I don't know how long we stay like that, but a thought comes into my mind and I can't help but blurt it out. "I'm really sorry about telling everyone your name."

"It's fine, they were too shocked by hearing what happened to really remember it anyway." He chuckles deeply, and I nod, pulling away and taking a step back.

"I'll see you later on?" I open my door half way, and notice him peeking in. His eyes harden for a moment, before he looks back to me and nods.

"For sure." And with that he turns and walks away, and I head inside. I look around, trying to find what he saw that annoyed him, before rolling my eyes (even though I'm the only one in the room). One of Eric's jackets is hanging on the back of a stool at the breakfast bar, in clear line of sight of the door. For God's sake, they're so petty.

I check the time - it's nearly 2 o'clock, I was with Tobias for just over an hour. It feels strange to call him by his name, the name only I know him by. It has always been something so intimate between us, now that we aren't together I should stop calling him by it, even if it's just when I'm thinking to myself.

Despite the fact that I said I was going for a nap, I decide to get some work done instead, so I can have a lay in tomorrow to treat my hangover. I realize as I'm putting my shoes on that the cooling systems have kicked in, and I grab a jacket on the way out. It's not until I've locked my door that I notice the jacket I picked up is Eric's, but I can't really be bothered going to get another one, so I pull it on. It's his signature jacket, very noticeably his.

As I'm unlocking the door to my office, Lauren appears beside me.

"Hey," She smiles, and I return it. I motion for her to go in ahead of me, and I follow, leaving it open to make the space seem bigger - not that it's in any way small.

"What's up?"

"I just wanted to chat, y'know, girl-to-girl." She says, her voice slightly too chipper. I nod, slowly, and sit down, opening a drawer and taking out some files, discreetly pressing the button which records sound, which is on the inside of the drawer. I open a file, and motion for her to continue whilst I organize. My desk is a mess, and something tells me I don't really have to listen to this conversation too hard. "I just wanted to let you know that Eric and I, we're like, a thing." She interlocks her fingers in demonstration, as if I'm too dumb to understand what 'a thing' is.

"Oh really? He's never mentioned you," I say, and pull the jacket tighter around myself, subtly making it obvious. I'm not into him or anything, but he is a very good friend of mine, possibly my best friend, and the fact that she is this possessive over him when they are definitely not together, annoys me.

"Oh, well he just doesn't really want anybody to know if they don't have to. You know how it is, what with Four and such..." She trails off, trying to hit a soft spot and set me off. She basically just admitted that she was using her 'relationship' with Eric.

"Actually I don't, Four and I never really hid our relationship, that's what being in a relationship, actually means." I say, not trying to hide the sass that enters my tone.

I'd have never thought Lauren to be this sort of person. I hadn't exactly spoken to her much, but from what I saw she never appeared to be so... well for lack of a better term, basic.

"Look, just thought I'd tell you before you get too comfortable in his clothes, his apartment. Just a bit of friendly advice." She smiles brightly, outwardly friendly, and stands to leave.

"Thanks for the advice, but I'm quite comfortable to be honest." I smile back, just as sickly sweet, and she shoots me a glare before strutting off. "Oh my god..." I breathe out in a laugh, and pull open the drawer to press the button to stop recording. I have it sent to Eric's phone, and sit back in my seat. Picking up the first of the files, I set to work.

-=-TIME SKIP-=-

I look up, hearing laughter come howling out of the corridor. Eric and Jason appear in the doorway of my office, uncontrollably laughing to themselves. Eric is holding his phone out, the message I sent him playing. It's clearly not the first time they've listened to it.

"Oh my God, Tris, this is the best thing I've ever heard." Jason chuckles.

"It's rather amusing." Eric says - he doesn't laugh much in front of people, but I can tell by the look in his eyes that he finds it hilarious. "Comfortable, are we?" He smirks, and I roll my eyes.

"Yes, actually. I'm keeping this." I mutter to myself, smirking right back as he glares.

"Nuh uh, that's my favourite."

"Yuh huh, it's also my favourite, and I'm more important, therefore I win." I smile triumphantly, looking to Jason for back-up.

"She's got you there, mate." We grin at each other, and Eric rolls his eyes.

"Years of friendship and I'm betrayed because of a girl..." Eric mumbles, under his breath.

"If you're going to whine like a child, I suppose I could share it." I sigh dramatically, and smirk at Eric, who glares at me. "Come along, children, I believe we have a party to get ready for." I stand up, and walk out of the office, shutting and locking the door behind me. Eric's hand automatically goes to my back as we walk, as it usually does. I shake my head at how predictable he is, and they both shoot me questioning looks but I ignore them.

We reach my apartment, and I see Tobias standing there, obviously waiting for me. Eric shoots me a look, and I shake my head, telling him to go.

"Pick you up for drinks at 7?" Jason smiles, and I nod. They continue walking on to Eric's apartment, a few doors down.

"What is it, Tobias?" I ask, frustrated that he keeps showing up after over a month of radio silence.

"I wanted to ask you something." He says, noticing the jacket and frowning a little. I pull it tighter around me, a little self-conscious now, but still cold.

"Well? Ask away."

"Are you and Eric a thing? There's been some talk, and I just wanted to confirm whether or not it was true before I believed it." He says, and I smile a little, looking down. Despite all his wrongs, Tobias was Tobias. He's an honest, and caring person, although he might not always show it.

"No, we're not. We're just good friends." I say, and grin at the look on his face.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved." He grins back, and I can't help but laugh.

"You wanna come in and catch up a bit? A lot has changed." I say, and unlock my door. I notice Eric's door just closing when I enter my home, and roll my eyes again. They are forever going to be this petty, aren't they...

Hey guys, hope you enjoyed this update :)

There will probably be another one tomorrow, as I'm super excited to write the party chapter, but give me some ideas before then ;) anything you'd like to see, any perspectives or relationships you'd like to see, and I'll try and work them in if I can.

If you want the next chapter, however, I'm going to need at least 10 REVIEWS, think you can manage that?

Have a great day,

~Rose x