CHAPTER PLAYLIST: Nothing by The Script

POV's: Four, Uriah

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

FOUR

"Why don't we go ahead?" I mention out loud.

It was five minutes before the 'battle of the bands' and Tris was nowhere to be found. Uriah's group is starting to panic, especially the girls. My band mates all stared at me.

"Four is right. The winners might as well go first." Zeke backs me up. Lauren glares at me, but eventually agrees. We walk to the stage and before I step out onto the main platform, Lauren turns and kisses me.

Deep.

Zeke clears his throat.

"Oh, come on. Break it up you two. You can get a room when we accept our victory," Zeke says before shoving both of us on stage. The whole student body was in what I can only describe as 'picnic mode'. Pieces of cloth are strewn throughout the area of the inner oval and everyone sits on them, watching us.

Zeke is on drums while Shauna and I are on guitars. Lauren is lead. While she sings, she occasionally comes up to me.

Women.

The 'crowd' applauds and some even stand up as we finish and make our way backstage. I hear two people talking. One, I know is Uriah, and the other has an enchanting British accent.

"Oh, no. Of course I'll come. I just overslept," the British voice says. We come into the make-shift room then and the two break apart.

"Oh, you're here," Lauren sneers. She told us before the show that Tris was too scared of losing so she decided not to just show up; I nearly slapped her. Tris doesn't respond.

My band mates and I decided to watch Uriah's band's performance along with the whole school so we made our way out of the tent. Before I can stop myself I whisper a 'good luck' to Tris. I squeeze her shoulder and I feel that unexpected thrill I always get whenever I touch Tris. I walk out onto the oval before I say anything more stupid.

I see Lauren sitting on a red cloth with Zeke and Shauna. She catches my eye and waves me over. I sit down beside her and her hand immediately wraps around my bicep. Before she can make anymore of her 'moves' Uriah and the others are already on the stage.

Back in the tent, it was too dark for me to see anything or anyone clearly. But as Tris steps into the glow of the sun, I see her more clearly. She has on black leggings with worn high-top black combat-looking boots. She is wearing a blank tank top that shows off her arms.

She has tattoos.

On her left, there is this ripped ribbon that wraps around her forearm with some text printed over it that I can't decipher. On her other forearm is a skyline. Of what, I'm not sure. She has some ink on her collarbones too; three birds. I was surprised that she has tattoos and apparently, most of the student population, too.

"Whoa. She has tattoos man! "Zeke exclaims.

"She has some tats? I'm liking this girl more," I hear behind me.

"Wicked chick."

"Awesome body."

And before I can hear anymore praises about her, they start. The intro begins and Tris seems to be in character. She removes the microphone from the mic stand and starts running around the stage, head banging. She returns to the centre of the stage and starts singing.

I don't know how or why, but one moment, I'm just sitting there, marvelling how in-character Tris is and the next, I am on my feet along with the rest of the student body, pumping my fist into the air and singing along.

By the end of their performance, everyone is on their feet; even the teachers. Everyone was clapping and pumping their fists in the air as Uriah, Marlene, Christina and, Tris make their way to the front of the stage and bow. I look to my left. Lauren does not seem to be pleased. Just then, Ms. Shaw steps on stage and orders all of us to sit down and for the two bands to go backstage. The four of us get there and see Mar and Chris jumping up and down.

"You were soamazing Tris!" Christina says laughing.

"Yeah, totally. I mean, even the crowd stood up and sung along," Marlene adds, grinning. Tris just laughs and grins with them.

"I noticed you have some tattoos, too. I must say, I was surprised," Uriah says.

"She may be good, but we were the best," Lauren sneers. I look at her but she refuses to meet my eyes. I can almost feel the anger radiating from her.

"Oh, sure. But did the whole crowd stand up and sing along with you? Did the teachers pump their fist in the air and actually dance?" Christina challenges. Lauren was about to retort when we hear Ms. Shaw call us to the stage.

"And here is our first band! Lauren, Shauna, Zeke, and Four!" We walk out on stage. The crowd claps and some even whistle. We stand on the right side of Ms. Shaw.

"The second group; here we have Christina, Marlene, Uriah and, Tris!" And with that the four of them make their way to Ms. Shaw's other side. The crowd, the wholecrowd, stands up and starts clapping. But a lot of them pound their feet on the ground and pump their fists into the air. They shout "you rock's" and often some cat calls and whistles. It takes Mr. Max two minutes to contain the crowd. When everyone was now silent, Ms. Shaw steps in front of the mic stand.

"Let's cut the crap because I know all of you are only waiting for the results of this recent 'battle of the bands'," she says while making air quotes. The crowd shout in agreement. Mr. Max hands Ms. Shaw an envelope.

"Our winner, who will get the chance to perform during the school dance is," Ms. Shaw opens the envelop and grins. "Uriah, Christina, Marlene and, Tris!"

The whole crowd erupts in clapping. The four make their way to the centre of the stage. Grinning, they take a bow. I see Tris grinning, and it is infectious. Even if we lost, I manage to find a grin in me as well.

URIAH

We fucking won!

After the big 'concert', we were ordered to go back to our regular classes. The whole day, people would congratulate me and if not, they would talk about Tris. I have to admit, she really was the star of the show.

I make my way to the cafeteria. Earlier, Christina asked Tris if we could sit with her during lunch. She said yes. I go through the cafeteria doors and immediately scan the room for Tris and the others. I spot her usual table and see that it's still only her.

"Ah. Here's the talk of the town," I say, sitting down across from her.

"Hi to you, too Uriah," she responds, blushing. As usual, I see no lunch in front of her; just a thick book. Les Miserables it reads.

"You're really into reading, aren't you?" I ask while popping a fry into my mouth. She nods, still not taking her eyes off of the book.

"Earth to Tris!" Christina waves her hand in front of Tris, sitting next to her. Tris puts down the book and looks at us. Marlene slips in the sit next to mine and to the left of Tris.

"We should celebrate," Christina says.

"Yeah. We should celebrate. What do you guys think?" Marlene seconds.

"Sure. Why not?" I add, grinning. Marlene pokes Tris' side, making her jump from her seat and drop the book. The three of us laugh as Tris blushes.

"I'm sorry, what were you talking about?" Tris asks as she sits down again.

"We said, we should celebrate our win. Are you up for it?"

" Hmmm...I'm not sure. When?" Tris asks.

"Tomorrow; Saturday. At the Pit," Christina answers.

"Oh, I actually can't," she answers. We all look at her with questioning looks, asking her to elaborate.

"Cam asked me to go out with him this Saturday."

Everyone squeals. The girls because of delight. And my heart in pain.