A/N- I think you guys may have cheated... going back and reviewing previous chapters... but OH WELL! 500 REVIEWS! The most I've ever gotten before was on my original Truth or Dare story with 478! :D Next early chapter at... 600? Maybe we'll make it ;)

I groan and slam my head against my locker, shutting it closed. I've been avoiding Tobias since history and it has not been easy.

Once the bell rang I had rushed out of history before Tobias could stop me. I heard him call after me, but I just speed walked away to my next class.

At every bell I had to run to get to my locker before him, and I failed twice. I had to wait for the bell to grab my stuff and charge to the classroom. Mr. Max threatened to give me detention for running in the halls and being late for math. It was so unfair though; Eric walked in a good five minutes after I did and Mr. Max didn't even blink an eye.

And now here I am dreading going into the cafeteria for yet another reason. But I'd rather tell Tobias how I feel about him then face Al right now. I shake my head and start to head over when I'm pushed against a locker.

For a moment I panic thinking its Peter getting his revenge for Friday night. But I calm down a bit when I see it's just the Blonde Squad.

Alison sneers at me. "What was that all about?"

"What was what all about?" I ask suddenly very tired.

"You and Tobias kissing." Caitlyn says taking a step forward to which Alison pushes her back.

I roll my eyes. "We're dating, that's what couples do." I tell her just wanting to leave.

Alison steps forward so close that I can feel her war breath on my cheeks. "Look. I was being nice before. Stay away from Tobias. Or things will get ugly."

We have a staring contest for what seems like forever when a familiar voice booms out. "Step aside bimbos! This girl has lunch to get to!"

Alison seems shocked and spins around to face Uriah, my saviour. "Excuse me?"

He says nothing but grins and throws his arm around me and directing me away. He sighs once we're out of their range. "What is with people bugging you? Seriously, a bitch is gonna die soon." I giggle despite my mood and he grins and kisses the top of my head and I blush a little. "Seriously, Zeke, Will, Toby and I are gonna go kick some ass soon if people don't back off."

I roll my eyes and sigh, leaning against him. "You know I love you right? Sometimes you're a better brother than Caleb." I say.

He smiles. "And you're the sister I always wanted instead of Zeke." I smile back. "And please. I am a better brother than Caleb. All he does is be your alarm!"

I laugh and elbow him in the ribs. "He's still my brother."

"Fine." He says sticking his tongue out at me. "Just go and crush my brotherly dreams!"

As we walk into the cafeteria, I feel like I was punched in the gut. No one but Uriah seems to notice though. Everyone is acting as if nothing has changed and for them I guess everything is. Everyone is still buzzing about the dance coming up in a few weeks, who's going with who and so on while I stand here panicking.

"C'mon." Uriah whispers, walking us over to our usual table. I walk along with him taking deep breaths and looking around for either Al or Peter.

I don't see them.

And I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

"Look who I found!" Uriah says with cheer that seems just a bit too forced.

Everyone looks up as I go to sit down, but am immediately tackled by Marlene. I wince lightly as she hit my ribs a bit uncomfortably and she pulls back enough for me to see her eyes, not shining with tears, but blazing with fire.

She pulls me to sit down next to her and Uriah takes the other seat beside me. "Sorry Tobias, but I'm stealing your girlfriend." Marlene says wrapping her arms around my skinnier one.

I look over at him just as he manages to tear his eyes off me. "Fine, but I'll want her back later." He says, the ghost of a smile pulling at his lips. Lips I kissed. Again...

I shake my head and look around our table. Everyone is watching me, almost like they expect me to break. But the looks they're giving me, even Lynn, say that even if I were to break, they wouldn't care. They wouldn't judge me over it.

Everyone is silent for a minute, everyone but me eating. My appetite completely gone. And then Lynn breaks the silence. "Holy shit..."

We all look over at her and see her eyes wide and her hand still up as if her fork fell out of her hand. I turn to see what she's looking at and when I do, I suck in a breath so quickly it sets off a coughing fit.

Marlene absently pats my back as we watch Peter shuffle across the room to his table. He obviously has to shuffle to subdue the pain. Both eyes are black and his nose looks lumpy, as if it were broken more than once. His lips are puffy and busted his arm in a sling and the other wrapped around his stomach. He looks over at us and our eyes meet for an instant before he quickly looks away and shuffles away faster.

I whip my head over to stare at Tobias shocked. He sits there, his eyes hard, following Peter across the room. His face is contorted in cold contempt and it scares me.

"You did that?" I ask, voice hoarse.

He watches a moment longer before turning to me. "I told you; I don't like the idea of anyone hurting you."

We all stare at him a moment longer before Zeke whistles. "Alright. I no longer want to ride your motorcycle because God forbid I crash it and end up like Peter. Uriah though. You can do whatever to him."

"Hey!" Uriah says turning to his brother.

Tobias smirks. "Well if you crash my baby, you'll end up way worse than Peter."

We all laugh, albeit some of us nervously, and the tension kind of just dissipates and I start eating. Conversation starts up again until I see Tobias tense and his knuckles whiten around his fork.

"Tris..."

I take a deep breath and slowly turn around. Al stands in front of me, his eyes red and puffy like he'd been crying recently. They look sad.

Like they did in the alley.

I swallow hard and stare at him. Everyone I silent. Even Lynn.

"Tris..." He shakes his head quickly, his dark hair whipping around so quickly that in the silence of the table, I can hear it. "I..." His voice cracks and fat tear slip from his eyes and down his cheek. "I'm so sorry."

I say nothing but stare blankly at him. He steps forward like he's going to touch me and a number of things happen all at once. I cringe and Marlene grabs my hand as I hear Tobias stand, but he doesn't get to him before Uriah is jumping up and shoving him back.

"Don't you dare touch her you pathetic son of a bitch." He snarls. I think the only time I have very heard Uri talk like this was when Eric was trying to get Marlene to go out with him before they started dating. It scares me.

"I... Can I please, please just talk to you, Tris?" He says standing upright again.

"Are you kidding?" Will is suddenly beside me, taking Uriah's spot. "You don't get to come near her ever again."

Al looks crestfallen. He and Will were childhood friends; therefore Will was always the closest to Al. This must devastate him. "Please, Tris." He looks over at me pleadingly, and then Tobias is there beside Uriah, partially obscuring my view of him. "I-I'm not going to hurt you." He says pathetically. "I never wanted to hurt you-"

Lynn snorts. "Well you sure did. I mean, c'mon. Even I'm admitting that was pathetic and cruel." I glance over at Lynn. Her usual smug smile is gone and in its place is a cold, hard sneer. I've never thought of Lynn as my friend really, but maybe she's more of one than I thought.

Al winces and closes his eyes, squeezing them tight. When they reopen they search mine, his wet and shining and mine cold and unforgiving. "I-I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I don't... I don't know what's wrong with me; I just... please forgive me."

My mother has always told me that I am one of the most selfless, forgiving people she knows. She always says that I know right from wrong and that I am compassionate and understand that sometimes people fall over the edge of desperation and that can lead them to do things they never would've thought of doing. And I've always thought she was overreacting since I can be all those thing, but I'm not usually. And this girl my mother thinks I am would understand that this boy, this crying boy, in front of me, really does mean what he's saying.

But today must be one of those days where he just doesn't feel like coming out.

I stand up and I can see those pleading eyes staring back at me between these two boys' heads. And I stare directly into them when I say, "Stay away from me. Never come near me again."

His face breaks into the picture of despair and more tears roll down his face.

"If you do, I swear to God I will kill you, you coward." I practically spit my last two words out.

Al stares at me, shaking his head slowly with his mouth hanging open. He starts to back away slowly before turning on his heel and rushing out of the cafeteria.

No one notices anything.

I take a deep breath and sit back down. Tobias and Uriah doing the same. We all sit in tense silence. Marlene gently squeezes my hand and Uriah bumps his shoulder into mine. I take a bite of my food, but it tastes bland, like nothing. And then suddenly a metallic taste fills my mouth and I let go of Marlene's hand and am racing for the girl's bathroom, Christina hot on my heels.

I make it there just before I unload the meager lunch I ate. Christina holds my hair up and rubs my back, saying soothing words in my ear.

When I'm finally done, I thought I would cry, but I feel... nothing. I am nothing.

"Wanna go back in there?" Christina asks softly. I shake my head and she digs through her bag and passes me a water bottle. I take it gratefully and raise an eyebrow at her as I take a swig. She shrugs and says, "Since I have gym today I figured I'd bring it. Mr. Amar has been making us do a lot of running."

I nod and take another drink, ridding my mouth of the taste of my lunch coming back up.

"Al... I think he was really sorry." She says quietly. I look at her as I hand her bottle back and she shakes her head. "I think... I think he meant what he said, but I don't think you were wrong for what you said either. If I were in your situation..." She trails off and gives a humourless laugh. "Hell, if I were in your situation I'd probably be sobbing my eyes out by now. My point is that no one blames you for what you did."

I stare at Christina, my eyes pricking with tears. I hug her tightly and she hugs me back, smoothing my hair back. "We're going to get through this, don't worry about that."

I nod against her shoulder. We sit hugging each other on the bathroom floor until the bell rings and we have to head to class.

I don't see Al for the rest of the day, and that is by no means a bad thing to me.

A/N- THERE YA GO! What'd you think? REVIEWS ARE QUITE LOVELY YOU KNOW! Do you guys know what tomorrow is though? ITS 4/6 FOURTRIS DAY! :D I don't think I'll update this because next chapter won't be very fluffy, but if you give me an idea I can write a fluffy one-shot hopefully! UNTIL NEXT TIME MY SWEETS! LOVE YA, BYE-BYE!