A/N:

I FREAKING MISSED YOU GUYS! School is not cool and I've been waiting forever to update this baby. The only thing going through my mind during AV tech was 'I wish Fanfiction wasn't blocked on this computer!' ON WITH THIS STORY!

Four, Camden, New Jersey, 5:00 pm

Absolute hell. Those are the choice of words I would use to accurately describe the bus ride; hell. In the previous years I sat alone, and as pathetic as that sounds those were the good years. I didn't have to share a seat with a pissy, hormonal 16 year old that complained every time I moved.

4 hours earlier

"Can you stop shifting you smell like a freaking cigarette?" Her body is positioned towards the slightly smudged window.

"Actually it's more like weed." She scoffs lightly under her breath.

"Yeah you would know." I catch her glancing at me out of her peripherals. "Bastard."

….

The breaks were absolutely horrific. Many of the newbies scrambled off the buses towards their stored luggage most likely trying to smoke while the bus is parked. Marlene grazed through the aisles most likely taking this opportunity to swipe items. Marlene was different from the other newbies. She had this abnormal maturity that most of the new kids don't have. She was an old soul; wise yet insightful. Unfortunately she still had her flaws; stealing however she gave off such a unique personality as if she could conquer anything. But here she was stealing things from Mega Bus seats.

"Why do you do that?" She glances up momentarily then trains her eyes back on the seats.

"I told you, it's an addiction." She picks up a pen from the seats and pockets it.

"I bet you don't even need it."

"That's the thing about addictions Four," Her voice sounds helpless. "You might not need it but you crave it." Marlene takes a seat across from me and turns her body sideways so her legs are in the aisle.

"I didn't mean the pen."

"So you never got to finish your story." She changes the subject. Her feet tap anxiously like an excited little kid.

"It's not really much of a story."

"It's a story to me." Her lips pull up into a lopsided smile. That's the first time I've seen her smile.

"When I was a kid my dad….abused me and my mother was never around. I started shoplifting for ointment and food but then it turned into more than that."

"That's how we all start." She pauses for a moment a contemplating look crosses over her face. "I bet your life was hell."

"Blunt much?"

Johanna climbs back on to the bus.

"Why are you two still on the bus? A break means a break."

"I don't need a break." Marlene nods her head in agreement.

"Don't care. I don't want you pissing on this bus just because you 'didn't need a break'."

Tris, Camden, New Jersey 5:01 pm

That bastard, he shifted at least fifty times on this bus. Not even Simple pleasures could drown out the un-intoxicating smell of Four. Of course when we reach the city of Camden he stops completely.

"We were kind of behind schedule so we don't have time to stop at the hotel before the first session." Groans and muffled answers fill throughout the bus. And to be honest I was little pissed too; I most likely reeked of illegal drugs by now and I was kind of hoping to freshen up. Four says nothing as he shifts a little in his seat. Not as much as before but enough to move the smell around again. The bus pulls into the parking lot of the convention center where the whole thing is held. Marquee signs are everywhere notifying that the T.T convention was indeed here and that the chess club gala starts at 8 pm next Saturday. Johanna gets off first asking for Four to follow her.

….

Once Johanna gets us through the registration process with overly cheery administrators we are allowed to go in. To say the least the main section of the convention center was humongous and a little intimidating. Every few seconds a kid with tattoos an odd body piercings passes by you. But on the other hand there are many kids that look decent but in their hands they carry pamphlets for rape victims. Johanna doesn't require us to stay together; to quote her words she told us to "get lost".

Marlene pats me on my shoulder and then walks in the other direction. Maybe it was sign of good luck or a friendly gesture but it makes me feel uneasy; like I don't belong. I aimlessly take random pathways really not sure what direction to go to. I skip over the drug addictions table where an old man is having a deep discussion with a girl. Caleb. Caleb and addictions are just not two words you put together. I'm supposed to be the screwed up kid, not him.

"Excuse me miss do you mind giving me a few minutes of your time." I glance behind me making sure that he's definitely talking to me. I walk over to the booth. The Hancock Abnormal Eating organization.

"I don't really have an eating disorder."

"Denial is always the first step in healing." The guy reaches for a pen that sports the company's initials. He scribbles down a few words on to a sticky pad that matches the pen.

"You don't know how freaking wrong you are." He flashes me a smile and extends his hand.

"Uriah Pedrad nice to meet you."

"Beatrice Prior, you too."

"So no eating disorder?"

"Afraid not sorry about that." He puts the pen back and throws the used piece of paper away.

"Damn, I've been trying to reel people in all day and still no freaking luck." Uriah's skin is a light chocolate color which reassembles his eyes. He sports a wrist band on his right arm with the word Pansycake in scripted on to it. He organizes a few papers on the booth's counter before he looks back over to me.

"What does your wristband mean?" He glances down as if he forgot he was wearing it.

"Oh it's just some word I made up. It kind of means coward. I was going to pitch the idea at one of the H.A.E.O meetings but I decided to keep it as one of my private words so don't go around saying it."

"Don't worry."

"So what's your deal?"

"And why would I tell you that when I just met you?"

"A secret for a secret?" I nod my head. "Ok well I have an eating disorder, alcoholism for a few months until I started AA.

"Abused by my father." Uriah's eyes widen slightly.

"Hell of a childhood?"

"Most definitely."

There's Uriah! There you go Thea. Guys it's the 10th chapter anniversary for this story! Thank you guys for exceeding the goal of reviews it means a lot to me. I'm happy to finally give you guys this update after making you wait so long for it. I'm not really a cursing person and I'm not really allowed to but I did some in this chapter. I feel like such a rebel; now I feel lame. :( Also did any catch that I mentioned simple pleasures in the story? That's a song by Jake Bugg and also the trailer song for Houdini, which brings me to my QOTD.

QOTD: did any of you guys catch Houdini on the history channel? It was really good! QOTD2: I'm thinking about writing a 2k+ chapter, what do you guys think? I have a few shout outs to do. Shout out to Thea Writes and her amazing stories. A shout out to Onle Dowels who is a in the makes of an amazing stories. And last but not least a shout out to greaterinfinties and her story Love doesn't die. And a shout out to all of my amazing supporters; I wish I could list all of you. Until Next time…Goal: 145 reviews.

Peace&Love~MSC