Chapter 13

Tris P.O.V.

It's Monday. Over the weekend, Portman sent out a search for Evelyn. They can't arrest Jeanine yet because they don't have full evidence, so I still have to hear her boring lectures while glaring at her the entire time. I haven't gotten anything creepy from Peter today, unless you count staring and winking, then nope, nothing suspicious. Don't get me wrong, I still hate him for what he did to Shauna, and possibly other girls.

I'm in music class right now, Tori just assigned us to bands and she's reading off of the list of group members. "There are exactly twenty five kids in the class so five to a group," Tori says. I zone out until I hear "Tris, Four, Shauna," I perk up, until I hear, "Peter, and Molly." She continues and Tobias and I share worried looks at each other. She gives us time to work and this is when Chrissy, Will, and Mar give us worried looks. I mouth, 'it's okay' and they nod. We meet with them and Shauna and I are pretty shaky, her more than me.

"Hey, guys," Tobias says awkwardly.

"Hey," Peter says. "How are you Shauna?" he asks.

"Don't you dare even talk to her," I say in deathly calm voice. He just puts his hands up. "So what song were you guys thinking?"

"What about 'Welcome to my Life' by Simple Plan?" Molly asks.

I tense, "No. Please, just anything else."

"Why, the little stiff depressed?"

"What the hell does 'stiff' mean, Peter?" Tobias asks.

"Those two get stiff when they see me," he shrugs.

"Whatever," I scoff. "What about… Everybody's Fool?" I ask and they have blank faces. "You know, Evanescence?" They shake their heads. I get my phone out of my bra and go to my music. I look up and they seem surprised I have my phone.

"You know we aren't allowed having our phones, right?" Tobias asks. "And that you put it in your bra," he chuckles.

"Yes, Four, and does it look like I care?" I laugh and play the song. About three minutes later, they agree and we assign parts.

"So do you guys play any instruments?" I ask.

"Drums," Peter.

"Violin," Shauna.

"Guitar," Tobias.

"Molly?" I ask. She shakes her head.

"Tris, you should sing, you're really good," Shauna says and I shake my head.

"I was just going to play piano."

"All votes for Tris singing?" Shauna raises her hand and everyone else raises theirs.

"Fine," I glare. "Molly, do you want to be back-up? You have a pretty good voice, too," I try to say nicely.

"I know," she rolls her eyes and scoffs.

"Um, okay… So I'll find the sheet music for you guys tonight so you can play it." They nod.

"So, Tris, why do you like this song?" Peter asks.

"I—I, um…" I stutter, not wanting to give them reasoning. "I don't have to tell you," I glare and go up to Tori and ask for a bathroom pass. She gives me one and I walk out. I go to the bathroom then I wash my hands, looking at myself in the mirror.

You can't let them know, you can't let them know… I repeat the words in my head until they are engraved there. I get myself together and dry my hands. I walk back with a fake smile on my face, and hand the wooden pass back to Tori.

"Tori," I ask and she looks up from her paper work. "Can I ask why you put me and Shauna with Peter?"

"Well, I know he's been a bit weird around you, but maybe you guys can to each other better," she shrugs. "But, if he still creeps you out and doesn't leave you alone, beat the shit out of him," she grins and I do too then nod.

As I walk back, Tobias looks at me with worried eyes. 'Later' I mouth and he nods. We just talk for the rest of class and decide to meet tomorrow at six at Shauna's house because she has a little brother that plays drums and has a set. She also has a sister named Lynn that played guitar and left it behind when she left for college, so we figured it'd obviously be most sensible for all of us to meet there.

Tobias walks me to third period, English, and kisses me on the cheek. "Four, you are going to be late. You have history and it's all the way across the school," I laugh.

"I know," he shrugs, "and I don't care."

"Well you should, you'll get in trouble."

"We'll talk when you stop caring your phone around with you in your bra," He looks at my boobs and walks away.

"That'll earn you a smack later!" I yell. He turns his head and mouths 'I know,' and heads off into another hallway.

I walk into Reyes's class and sit just as the bell rings.

-Page break-

I hit the punching bag with all my might, wishing it'd be my father's face. Granted, I would not punch him repeatedly, my mother raised me right. Just once, I would like to punch him square in the jaw and get it over with. After this whole… situation is over with, I probably will never speak to him again. When my mom wakes up, I'm living with her. Hopefully she'll come to her senses and get a divorce.

Andrew is selfish. (2 punches)

He hasn't been part of my life. (4 punches)

Favored Caleb. (5 punches)

Didn't care about coming home for Christmas. (6 punches)

Treated my mom like shit after Caleb's 'death.' (8 punches)

Wouldn't come home to see Mom when she could be dead for all he knows. (11 punches quickly)

I realize someone is saying my name over my music, but I continue punching angrily with tears in my eyes. The person grabs my arm and gently takes my earbuds out and I realize it's Tobias. "Let me go," I squirm and he grabs my shoulders, but not roughly. I punch his chest. "Let me go," I sob and just fall down against him. He leads us against the opposite wall and we just slide down with me sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder. Luckily, there is no one upstairs near the bags seeing me break down. We just sit there until I control my sobs into silent tears treading down my face.

"Let's go home," he whispers and I nod. I wipe away my tears; thankfully I didn't wear any make-up today, so my eyes are just red.

We walk out with our gym bags and his arm across my shoulder pulling me closer. We get into his truck and I sit in the center seat, leaning my head on his shoulder. I feel his muscles flex every time he turns the steering wheel.

He parks the car in his driveway and we get out. He unlocks the door and drops my bookbag on the step next to the stairs to take up later. We sit on the couch and I just put my face into his chest with his heart thumping loudly.

"Tris… what was that about?" he asks as he plays with my hair.

I sigh. "Andrew. I just kept on thinking why he'd been such a dick lately and why he'd been so selfish. I just wanted to punch him in the face for not being a good husband or father. I'll probably never speak to him again." Tobias just pulls me closer and kisses my head. "Oh, I forgot," I smile and slap him in the face. Not hard enough to hurt him, but enough to get my point across.

"What the hell was that for?" he asks in shock.

"Phone. Bra. Enough explanation?"

"You were serious about that?" he laughs.

"Um, yeah, I thought I just clarified that," I smirk.

"I'm just admiring you body, you're beautiful," he whispers in my ear. I just blush and say nothing. He looks at my red face and kisses me. Being the teenage boy Tobias is, he tries to turn the kiss hungry but I keep my hands wrapped around his neck and nothing more. He moans in complaint and I pull back.

"Tris."

"Tobias."

"Bea."

"Toby." We go back and forth.

"Trissy."

"Four," I smirk, knowing it's the worst one and he glares.

"You crossed the line," he stands up and throws me over his shoulder. He carries me to the kitchen with me pounding on his back, and then I realize it probably hurts, he has scars there.

"Oh my gods, Tobias, are you okay? I was pounding on your back, I wasn't thinking—" He sets me down and kisses me softly.

"Tris, it's okay it didn't hurt that bad, or else I would have said something. And did you say 'gods?'"Then he goes to the fridge and hands me a Mountain Dew while he grabs… whipped cream?

"Yeah, I love Greek mythology. Why do you have a whipped cream can?" I ask while chuckling.

"So I can do this," he says and points the nozzle in his mouth and squirts.

"How mature, Tobias," I laugh. He points towards the can gesturing if I want some since he has his mouth full. I take it and do the same. As I am about to finish, Caleb walks in and laughs.

"Hut ohp!" I say with a mouth full of cream and that makes him and Tobias laugh even harder. After I swallow I start to laugh along with them.

"So, this is what you guys do together in your free time?" Caleb asks.

"Nope," Tobias smirks. I look at him with wide eyes and he shrugs.

Caleb turns serious and steps closer to Tobias and says, "Then what exactly do you do, then?"

"Um, we go to the gym a lot…" he stutters and I laugh.

"No," I say, "Caleb, we make-out." Caleb laughs. "No I'm serious," I say with a straight face.

"You mean you two are together now?" he asks, almost fuming like a cartoon character.

"Yes, Caleb. We didn't mention that?" I laugh and he shakes his head. "Well we are."

"Tris, are you sure you really need a boyfriend? I mean you're kind of going through a lot right now."

"Yes Caleb, I am, he's been helping me through a lot of it, and so have my friends."

He turns to Tobias, "And Four, I like you, I do, but just be careful, she's going through a hard time," he sighs.

"Right here," I mumble.

"I know, Caleb, we help each other, I've been going through a lot myself, too," Tobias glances at me.

"Okay, well I know that you're good to her," he shakes his hand and nods and goes back upstairs.

"That was basically your 'father to boyfriend of talk,'" I laugh.

"I know, but I wasn't nervous," he shrugs, "I know he likes me."

"Cocky much?" I laugh and roll my eyes, "He does like you, though, seriously," I say as I open another Mountain Dew.

"Tris, I think you have a problem," he glances at the green can I hold to my mouth.

"What? Do not." I gulp another few sips.

"Yes, you do, but I'm not going to fight with you, because I love the taste of Mountain Dew," he kisses me. He tries to pull back, but I pull his head closer to mine. He pushes me up against the island with his arms around my waist and I put my hands in his hair. I hear something on the other side of the door but I ignore it and keep making-out with my boyfriend. My boyfriend. I still can't believe he likes me.

"Hey Fo—ew! Guys!" I think Uri says. We pull apart and see the whole gang in the kitchen. Tobias and I fix our hair.

"Why didn't you text me and tell me you were coming over?" I ask Uriah.

"Four invited us!"

I look at Tobias. "I wouldn't have done that had I known they were coming over!" I yell at him and he shrugs. "So why'd you invite them?" I ask nodding towards them.

"Well, I have a pool, if you hadn't noticed and I thought we could go swimming because I'm really bored," he laughs.

"Four, it's forty-five degrees outside, if you haven't noticed," I laugh.

"But you'd be really hot in bikini," he whispers and I tense.

"Four, can I talk to you for a second?" I say looking at the door and he nods. "We'll be right out guys," I smile and look at them.

Tobias and I walk outside the kitchen door and I say, "I can't wear a bikini," I shake my head.

"Why not? Tris, if you're thinking you are fat—" I lift up my shirt and show him the scars on my stomach. "Oh, shit, Tris, I'm so sorry, I completely forgot. I told Chris to bring a bathing suit for you and it's probably a bikini… I'm such an idiot. God—" I cut him off by pecking him on the lips.

"I'll just run to Walmart or something and get a one-piece, okay? It's fine, I promise," I say and he nods sadly, as if I'm disappointed in him, which I'm not. "Hey, look at me," I cup his cheek. "It's okay," I laugh sweetly.

"Okay," he says and kisses me for about five seconds and we head back inside the kitchen. I open the door and hit something.

"You guys were listening!" I state more than question.

They nod and everyone looks at me expectantly, wanting me to explain. "I don't have a bathing suit, so Chrissy, can we run to Walmart or something?"She nods and everyone else goes to change into their suits.

We get into her car and she says, "So, Tris, what's the real reason why you pulled Four outside the kitchen besides telling him you don't have a suit?"

"Um…" I take a deep breath. "Chrissy, I have scars on my stomach."

"From what, exactly?" she asks softly.

"Myself," I simply say. She almost swerves into a ditch makes me let out a scream, flashing back to the worst night of my life. She pulls into the Walmart parking lot but doesn't get out.

"Tris, please tell me you don't do this anymore," she whispers and I shake my head.

"I've thought about it recently, but never followed through. I'm still kind of depressed though…" I trail off.

"But—but you seem so happy," she says. "Have you been faking this entire time? Are you actually happy around anyone or is this all an act?" she whispers.

"I'm mainly happy when I'm around you and T—um, Four. Occasionally the rest of the gang," I sigh and she perks slightly.

"You know Four's real name, don't you?" she half-smiles and I nod.

"Of course I know his real name, I'm his girlfriend."

"Yeah, but Tris, he's had past girlfriends and they didn't know his name. None of us do."

I smile. "Really?" she nods.

"Let's go," she says and we get out of the car.

"Shit, Chrissy, do they even have any bathing suits this time of year?" I ask and stop in my tracks.

"Yeah, and usually they're on sale!" she squeals, "But it's Walmart, so they can't be that good," we laugh. "But, hey, a suit is a suit," she shrugs.

We walk into the automatic doors and she leads me to the clothing section. "What about this one?" she holds up a bikini and I immediately shake my head.

"It has to be a one-piece, remember?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot," she sighs. We scan through the rack and I see a black one with slits in the back and ties around my neck. And it's $8.99!

"Chrissy, I want this one," I firmly state.

"Ohhh! Cute," she squeals.

We go up to the clerk, who looks about our age. He looks like a perv. "Hey ladies," he winks and looks at me, "I bet you'd look hot in this." Yep, perv.

"That's why I bought it," I say with a straight face.

"My shift ends in five, want to get out of here?" he asks.

"Sure," I say and Chrissy looks at me with big eyes. I wink at her and she doesn't understand. "I'll wait outside," I say and wink.

Chrissy and I walk out and she yells, "What are you doing?! You're with Four!"

"Chrissy, I'm waiting for him to get out here so I can punch him in the face," I laugh and she loosens.

"God, Tris, you really scared me there! Four really likes you," she smiles.

"Yeah, yeah, now go around the corner, you can watch from there, get it on video, I want you to be able to hear what I say," I grin and she does too.

I wait there for a minute and he walks out. "Hey, babe, you're hot." He looks me up and down.

"Thanks," I twirl my hair.

"You ready?" he asks.

"No, are you ready? Haha, probably not," I answer for him and punch him square in the jaw. "I have a boyfriend, you dick!" I yell and walk off to Chrissy who is laughing hysterically over the steering wheel already in her car and I join.

"That—" she laughs. "That was the best—the best thing I've ever seen in my life," she continues hysterically and drives home.

"Guys!" she yells when she gets to the backyard. You gotta get out and hear this," she laughs. They all get out and look expectantly. "So, there's this guy, right? He worked at Wally-world, and he was like 'You'd look hot in this,' to Tris," she says in a mock manly voice and Tobias tenses up. "and she was like, 'Yeah, that's why I bought it,' and he was like, 'hey want to get out of here?' to Tris, and—"

"Chris is there a point?!" Tobias asks angrily.

"Yes, if you'd just listen! It's hilarious what she does. Anyway, he asked that and she said sure—"

"What?!" Tobias yells.

"Four, calm down. So I was like what the hell, Tris?! Anyway she explains the plan when we were outside. I got the whole thing on video," she laughs and everyone crowds around her to see, excluding Tobias. "Four, watch this," Chrissy demands. He still looks angry, but walks over anyway. She plays it and you can hear what I'm saying and now Tobias is shaking with anger. He looks at me with hurt and I smile and nod towards her phone, motioning for him to watch the rest, he does. Then I hear my fist connect with the guys jaw and yell at him, where I grin, devilishly.

Tobias walks over to me and hugs me, "I'm sorry I got angry. That was the hottest thing I've ever seen in my life," he kisses me. I pull back and smile at him, and go change into my suit. Everyone else is inside the pool again, but Tobias is waiting.

He looks at me in shock, and I say, "If you are looking for my eyes, they are right above my mouth, I know you know where that is."

He shakes his head, "Sorry, you look gorgeous." I blush and walk over to him and hug him.

"Do really think I'd go sleep with that guy?"

"No Tris, of course not, but you were flirting with him, so I got really upset," he sighs.

"I know, but I couldn't just punch him in the store," I chuckle.

"I'm really proud the way you handled that." He pulls back and kisses me, hard. I immediately kiss him back with my palms on his chest and his in a bone crushing hug. Our tongues tangle and I finally pull back.

"We should get outside." He just smirks and put his hand on my waist, a little lower than usual. I smile to myself and go outside.

"Holy shit, Four! It's freezing!" I go to his chest for warmth.

"The pool is heated, c'mon!" I mumble a 'fine.'

I jump in and it feels like a glorified hot tub. Once Tobias is in he immediately grasps my waist. We lean against the edge, like all the other couples.

"So," Zeke says, "Chrissy says you know Four's real name?"

"Yeah," I say with a raised eyebrow.

"How does Chrissy know that you know my real name?" Tobias asks.

"I let the first letter slip out," I say, "Sorry."

He shakes his head, "It's okay."

"What's the first letter?" Zeke asks Chrissy.

Before we can tell her to stop, she says it, "T."

"Tony?" Zeke asks.

"Trevor?" Mar says.

"Tina!" Uriah yells which earns a laugh from all of us.

"Trent?" Shauna asks.

"Thomas?" Chrissy asks.

"Tod?" Will asks.

"None of those," Tobias and I shake our heads.

"I have something to tell you guys," Tobias says in a high-pitched voice. "I'm getting a sex change and I'm going by Taylor," we all laugh. "I'm not kidding!" he says even higher but he breaks down and laughs with us in his sexy deep laugh.

"But Taylor isn't your real name, right?" Will asks with disappointment.

Tobias shakes his head. "Why won't you tell us?" Uri pleads.

"Because that's only for Tris to know," he says firmly.

They all look at me. "Okay, his name is…" They look at me expectantly while Tobias looks worried. "Tina! Uriah was right! He's really a girl and I'm a lesbian!" I laugh and so does everyone else.

"I thought you were actually going to tell them," he whispers to me.

"Never," I kiss him shortly.

We go back to talking about random stuff, mostly brought up by Uriah, of course, until he asks, "So, Tris, why didn't you wear the bikini Chrissy brought you?" he asks casually, but it's what everyone was thinking.

"I… um, I just didn't want to," I tense and stutter.

"Tris, I'm sure you got some abs, you should show them off!" Mar says.

"Yeah, Tris—" Zeke begins.

"Stop. She didn't want to wear it and that's that," Chrissy yells and I give her a thankful look and she smiles back at me.

"You okay?" Tobias whispers and I slightly nod.

We talk about stupid stuff for the rest of the night.

I finally crash onto my bed, dreaming of a day in paradise, with no worries, a hammock on the beach, no one around for miles, where I can freely wear anything I want to and not be ashamed. Where I dreamed in paradise, when I was just a girl, I expected the world, but it flew away from my reach, so I ran away in my sleep.

I like reviews, but I'm not going force you and be like, 'BOW TO ME, YOU PEASANTS.'
Those were Coldplay lyrics btw ^ the dreaming one… Yeah those… No… The one right above. It's literally right there… Not in the author's note… NO ITS RIGHT THERE.