Tobias

Tris and I walk out of the cafeteria together and head towards Erudite History.

I don't know what has gotten into me. I've never really paid much attention to girls, but there is something different about Tris. It's not just her looks either, though she is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. She is so small and skinny. She doesn't have a lot of curve to her but it isn't a turn off. Her golden hair looks so soft and thick as it falls down her back. And her big, blue-gray, beautiful eyes. I feel like I could tell anything to those eyes.

She catches me staring at her as we walk and she blushes, "So what is Erudite History?" she asks.

"Well, decades ago Chicago was a city with a very tall fence around the entire perimeter. Its society was divided into these things called factions. There were five factions and all of the people were split based on their virtue. Erudite was one of the factions. They believed in everything having to do with knowledge and logic; that's why their headquarters became our school," I explain.

She nods and thinks about it. "What were the other factions?" she asks.

"Dauntless: the brave, Abnegation: the selfless, Candor: the honest, and Amity: the kind."

"You seem to know a lot about this faction stuff."

"Everybody in Chicago does. They make everybody take Erudite History every year."

"Why?"

"Well the system didn't work out. It became corrupt when the factions started to fight over government control. The fighting got violent and a lot of people died. Now we have this class so that we can learn from the past and its mistakes, so that it doesn't happen again." She nods, thinking. We arrive at the classroom and we take our seats.

The familiar teacher with blonde hair, in her typical blue pantsuit, stands at the head of the class. "Welcome to Erudite History. My name is Ms. Mathews," she says. "Are there any new students here today?" she asks looking around. I look at Tris out of the corner of my eye to see her hand slightly raised.

Ms. Mathews notices her immediately, "Hello, what is your name?"

"Beatrice Prior," Tris says. A blush is sweeping over her skin at having so much attention on her. I feel bad that she is embarrassed, but I love the color across her cheeks.

"Where are you from?" Ms. Mathews asks her.

"West Ridge High School in southern California," Tris responds.

"Alright," Ms. Mathews says as she walks back over to her desk. She pulls out a book which I recognize instantly. It is a book of Chicago's history. I feel sorry for Tris because I already know what is coming. "You'll need to read the first twelve chapters by Thursday, Tris," Ms. Mathews commands.

Tris looks a little dumbfounded but nods and takes the heavy book. There are chuckles and giggles from the back of the room. I recognize one of them instantly.

"Zeke, would you also like to read from the Chicago History text?" Ms. Mathews asks seriously. The whole class, including myself and Tris, turns to look at the back of the room.

"No, ma'am!" Zeke says. Ms. Mathews gives him a stern look but goes back to her desk next to the board. She points to a poster.

"These are my rules. I don't feel the need to reiterate them for a class of seventeen year olds. Obey, or accept the consequences. Those are your options. Now let's get started," she says. Ms, Mathews is nice, but she is very strict and uptight. "Open your books to page 388," she instructs. We all have our textbooks already, and we have all had them since elementary school. Ms. Mathews is the only teacher of Erudite History because she is the only one who sees it as necessary. And being a member of the school board, she gets to make choices like that. She told our class once in junior high that the reason she cares so much about Chicago's History, is because one of her ancestors was a member of the Erudite faction. A great grandmother or something.

The bell signals the end of class and I walk out with Tris. Zeke comes right up behind us. "Hey guys, what class do you guys have next?"

Tris looks down at her schedule and sighs, "Algebra."

I look down at mine. "Geography."

Zeke claps me on the back and grins. "Hey me too!"

We say goodbye to Tris and head in the opposite direction. I feel a strange sort of empty feeling as I watch her turn and walk away. Zeke and I walk to Geography together, and I notice a few girls glance at Zeke as we pass them.

"T, why don't you have a girl yet?" Zeke asks me.

I just shrug. "Girls keep looking at you," he says. "You could probably get any girl at this school."

I suppress a laugh, "Zeke, those girls are looking at you."

"Oh no they're not. You just think they are because I am so sexy." This time I let my laugh out. "But they are definitely looking at you." At that moment we pass another girl, and I realize: she is definitely looking at me.

I make a 'psh' noise and shrug again as Zeke punches my shoulder and looks at me like, 'I told you.' Sure, I worked out a lot over the summer, but I am not really all that attractive.

We make it to class and take seats in the back. I feel my phone buzz in my pocket.

Tris: Hey

Tobias: Hey

"Ooh who is Toby-woby messaging?" Zeke says in a babbly voice. I roll my eyes at him. "Nobody," I say. But I look back down at my phone.

Tris: Can I ask you a favor?

Tobias: Sure

Tris: Do you think you could tutor me in math?

I laugh to myself. It is only the first day and she already needs help?

Tobias: Already?

Tris: Yeah, I am really, really bad at it.

Tobias: Yeah, of course.

I can't help but smile at the thought of getting to spend more time with Tris.

"What are you smiling at?" Zeke says as and I look up at him from my phone.

"Nothing!"

"Oh it is not 'nothing'! Who are you texting?" he asks again.

I just shake my head.

"Are you messaging the new girl, Tris?" he asks. How the hell did he figure that out?

"What?" I say surprised. I can feel my face getting warm.

"You are! You already got her number? I told you the ladies love the T," he says through laughs. I punch him in the shoulder, a little harder than usual.

"How did you manage to get her number so fast? You like her?" he keeps asking questions so quickly that I don't even get a chance to respond to any of them. He is so loud, and he it's starting to attract the attention of other students.

"Dude, shut up!" I say in a yelling whisper. He puts a hand over his mouth but he is still laughing.

"You like her?" he asks again, but thankfully, quietly.

"Yeah, I guess," I say. The biggest grin spreads across his face. He silently claps his hands together in a grandiose fashion and gives me a proud look, "Well, my boy is finally growing into a man," he says, and I punch him in the arm again.

Finally the teacher, whose name I didn't catch, tells us to quiet down. The class goes by with the teacher dragging on about rules and expectations.

The end of class finally comes and Zeke says, "I think she said she has Chemistry next period." He winks at me because he knows I have Chemistry next period. I keep a straight face and just nod, but my heart skips a beat at the thought of seeing her again. This is absurd; she shouldn't have that kind of effect on me. I just met her!

We walk out of class and begin making our way down the hall; his class is on the way to mine so we walk together. "Hey, you going to invite her to the party this weekend?" he asks. He raises his eyebrows twice quickly and gives me a look.

"Maybe," is all I say.

He sighs deeply and says, "Just do it man," and walks into the room we're passing.

The thought of inviting Tris, the girl who makes it hard to focus and think clearly, to one of Zeke and Uriah's parties makes my stomach do flips.