Alex POV

Today is like every over day. I'm in the food hall having breakfast, sitting in my usual spot close to the leaders but not too close. Tobias is in his usual place, and we exchange a small look and smile when I first sit down. He is near his mother, on the leaders table. Christina, his ex girlfriends best friend is with him. She says something to him and he smiles, looks down at his plate and continues eating. Everyone is eating around me and engaging in a friendly discussion. I picked eggs and bacon along with an apple juice. It doesn't seem to be going down as well as I wanted it to, and I end up moving most of it around on my plate. I keep thinking about the day by the river. It was only a few days ago, but I still wish that we could have talked more. Four intrigues me. This boy who became a man in the faction system, when so many others could not. He is strong and protective. It must have been nice to be protected by him. Beatrice Prior must have felt safe. It was sad what happened to her and often I catch myself thinking what she was like. I heard she was brave. She must have been to do what she did. Overpower Jeanine, fall in love, train, leave her family...the list goes on. I smile to myself. Yes, she must have been extraordinary.

I notice someone sit across from me. I can tell its a man because from my peripheral vision the figure is large and muscly. Tall. I see his arms first, strong wrists and tanned skin. A sudden dread crosses my mind as I notice the arms look familiar. I look up and see Michael looking at me. Michael is here. With me. I must looked shocked, like I have seen a ghost. Worse. I have seen him, the person I wanted to escape. He nods to me as if to say it is ok. He is supposed to be here. I want to scream and shout. I want to tell him he doesn't belong here with me. I want to tell him to leave me alone. I swallow, my throat dry and reach for a glass of water. Im trying to compose myself incase someone sees my reaction. I decide what to say.

"What the hell are you doing here Michael?" I say under my breath while looking back down at my plate. I want to grab it and smash it across his face. How dare he come here. His body angles slightly forward and I feel myself retract. The fear and anger mix. I feel like a deer in headlights. Or worse. I feel small. Insecure. His eyes draw lazily down my body, stopping at my chest and then making their way up to my face. I wore a low t-shirt today and I instantly regret it. I feel naked under his gaze.

"I'll meet you at midnight, in your room. I'll tell you everything then. Its not safe now Alex" he says as he cracks his knuckles. The movement sends chills down my spine so I take a deep breath to compose myself. I hate this. I hate him. Why is he here. I took this assignment to escape him and our past. I don't want to let the memories in. I remember Tobias and turn my head slightly to look across at him. He is watching us, a deep crease settling between his eyebrows. He looks curious and worried. Worried about me. My stomach goes into a fit. It can't be. Michael turns his head and I see his body start to change from relaxed to tense. The anger is radiating off him and I know him well enough to know he is jealous. I regret looking at Tobias. I see Michael's knuckles tighten and just like that he stands and leaves. I can see its hard for him to go when he is the type to stay and fight. Just before he leaves he turns towards Four, and smiles. My jaw drops. He smiled at him. Not a friendly smile. No. A smile that I know is a threat. And Four knows it too. I see Four's knuckles tighten under the table.

Long after Michael leaves, I still see the smile he threw Four's way. I'm staring at the same spot on the worn out table, where a chip has been made bigger by years of picking at it. I think about the smile. The smile that said so much in so little movement. In that smile he claimed me. In that smile he threatened Four. In that smile, I realized that I will never be free of him. Michael still loves me. He still wants me. And our history will repeat itself. Not because I want it to. But because he would rather die than let anyone else have me.

Tobias POV

She picks at her food, just like everyday. I notice because I watch her. Watch her come into the hall, watch her pick her food and sit in her usual spot. Watch her look at me and smile. Every morning she seems to do the same thing. Something has changed since the day at the river and we both feel it. She looks at me in a way that says she wants me to speak to her. But I dont have the courage to do it. I don't have the will. Im not going to lie. I feel guilty and no matter how much I try and pretend its ok, I still cant do what deep down inside I want to. That's talk to her. Let her in.

A tall man sits across from her, his tshirt clings to his arms and muscles. I can see he trains because his body is that of a fighter. His hair is messy but he looks put together. I can't see his face, but I am guessing from the looks some of the girls around him are giving it is not ugly. Of course he sits in front of Alex. Most probably wanting to have her for one night or brag to his friends about her. Alex is the type of girl where every guy wants her and every girl wants to be here. I can tell Tris and Alex would not get along. Tris hated me having friends who were girls.

She is still picking at her food and smiles to herself, looking content. She looks up from her plate and I see the change in an instant. She looks him like she knows him. How does she know him? In an instant I see the fear register. She is afraid of him. She doesn't look around but I see him nod to her. As if to say its ok, im not here to hurt you. Im confused. Who is this guy? How do they know eachother. I have so many questions, and I wish I was next to her to see what this tool is going to say. The fear makes me on edge. If she knows him and is afraid of him, then something is not right. Is he from Washington? Who is he? Alex swallows and takes a sip of her water. Rage replaces the fear. I can tell by watching her body and seeing her chest turn red, her heart quickening no doubt.

She says something under her breath while looking back down at her plate. His body closes in, getting closer. I can see he wants to touch her, reach over. His body angles towards her in a way I know all too well. I used to do that with Tris when she and I would eat together.

He says something back to her and cracks his knuckles. He is tense too. She takes a deep breath and looks past him to me. Her eyes search mine. I don't know what she is trying to say. The look is only for a second but I start to get worried, feeling a deep crease between my eyes. Im curious too. Who is this guy?The guy suddenly turns his head and I see his body start to change from relaxed to tense. The anger is radiating off him and I know Alex looking at me made him jealous. His body looks like its about to charge at me, but I keep my face straight, not breaking eye contact. If he thinks I am going to let him hurt her, he is wrong. His eyes are dark, and he looks like a typical ladies man. A guy who is used to getting what he wants from girls. It makes me angry. In an instant he gets up and goes to leave. My eyes never leave him. He turns again, but not towards Alex. He turns and looks me dead in the face, and smiles. Smiles. I know exactly why he is smiling. My knuckles tighten under the table. I get his message loud and clear. Stay away from Alex,

Alex is staring at the same spot on the table. I know she is upset and shocked. I can see that. Anyone can see that. She still looks scared, angry and worried. Something about this guy has caught her attention. And now I know what I have to do. The smile was enough for me to know. I have to protect her. But most of all I need to find out who this guy is. The thought stays with me long after Alex leaves the hall.

**Please review. I would like to know if I should continue :)