Hi, beautiful people! To start off, I'm so so so sorry that this chapter is so short, but it's all I've had time and inspiration for. But the good news or bad news depending on how you think about it is that this story should be over in about 5 chapters! (I'm really bad at estimating, as you know if you read my other story Broken Together, but that is my current estimate.)

Anyway, big thank you to Chickenlover313, 1991-Old-school-kid, Jojoboo90, Guest, jvoosen, Charms22, LUCY1925, Guest, fairytalebliss182, Guest, It'sHardIKnow, Betheny, and FDFobsessed for your kind words! I'm so glad that you guys liked the last chapter!

Also to Chickenlover313: First off, cool name. I love chicken too. Second, no it's not abnegation Tobias. There have been a few mentions throughout the story that Tobias was an athlete in the past soo yeah, he's got something goin' on, but people avoid him in school because he's bullied so badly. Hope that clears things up!

How was everyone's summer? Just asking because mine went by way too fast so I'd like to live vicariously through you guys if that's quite all right.

Anywho, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Please let me know what you think! :)

Tris POV

Christina and I decided that we would do homework together on Saturday, and I know that I should be planning what we will study. But as I walk to her house, all I can think about it last night. I can't help but smile, as I think about it.

The way we just laid together after losing ourselves in each other for the first time. The way he kissed me, as he left. I can honestly say that it was the most beautiful experience of my life, and I have him to thank for being so careful and patient with me. I couldn't have asked for a better first time.

I take a breath and try to push it from my mind, as I step up to the front door of Christina's house. I knock lightly and wait for a moment until finally, the door swings open, revealing an older woman who looks a bit like Christina. She smiles at me, as she lets me into the house.

"You must be Tris," she says.

"And you must be Christina's mom," I reply. "It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, too," she says, still smiling. "Christina is up in her room. You can go right up."

I thank her before walking toward the stairs. Once I get to the top, I look down the hall and see that one of the bedroom doors is open, and I can see light coming out of it. I walk toward the room, guessing that it must be Christina's, and I am proven right when I reach the doorway and see Christina laying on her bed with her phone in her hands. She looks up as I enter the room and smiles.

"Hey," she says, as she pushes herself into a sitting position. "Take a seat."

"Thanks," I say as I walk toward her bed.

I sit down and drop my bag on the floor. I push myself back until my back is against the wall before venturing to look at her. When I do look at her, I realize that she is staring at me with narrowed eyes.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing, just..." she trails off, as she continues to stare at me. "You look different."

"Different how?"

I feel myself get a little nervous. I try to reassure myself that there is no way she could know about what I did with Tobias last night. But Christina has a strange way of knowing everything, it seems.

"Different, like maybe..." Her eyes widen a little. "Wait."

"It's nothing," I say a little too quickly.

She smirks, and I know that it is over.

"Were you with Tobias yesterday?" she asks so casually that you would think it was the start of a new conversation.

"Christina-"

"Oh my god," she cuts in. "Did you..."

I look at her, and I feel myself blush. I know that I won't be able to lie to her. She is basically a human lie detector. She gasps, as she makes the realization.

"Oh my god!" she nearly yells before lowering her voice. "Did you sleep with him?"

"Christina," I groan.

"You did!" She pushes herself onto her knees and bounces up and down a couple times. "Oh my god, you have to tell me about it!"

"What? I'm not gonna-"

"Wait, where did you get condoms from?" I stare back at her, and her smile fades. "You used a condom, didn't you?"

"Well... No."

"Tris!" she yells so loudly that I jump a little. "Are you crazy? Are you insane? Do you want a little mini Tris running around? Because that would be cute, but not yet!"

"It was just once!" I cut in. "Neither of us thought about it, I guess. It just happened."

"Well, it won't just happen again," she says, as she pushes herself off her bed. I watch, as she walks over to her desk and opens up one of the drawers. "I have something for you."

My face feels as if it is burning up with embarrassment by now, as she turns around, holding something. I realize that she is holding condoms in her hand, and I have to resist the urge to run and hide, as she saunters back over to me and hands the condoms to me.

"Here," she says. "Now you won't have to worry about any mini Tris's or Tobias's."

"Thanks," I mumble, as she sits down again.

I put the condoms in my bag, hoping that she will stop talking about this. But of course, it is never that easy with her.

"So, come on," she says, as I sit up again. "What was it like?"

"I really don't want to talk about this," I sigh.

"Why not?" she asks, seemingly genuinely confused. "Friends talk about stuff like this."

I stare back at her for a moment, as I consider this. I do feel that Christina has been a good friend, and I do enjoy having friends more than I would care to admit. Since friends have been so scarce for me in the past, I realize that it makes sense that regular conversations like this are out of my comfort zone. But I also realize that getting closer to my friends and stepping out of my comfort zone isn't a bad idea.

"Fine," I say. "It was... really amazing."

"Aw," she sighs. "Do you love him?"

"Yes," I say, smiling a bit. "I think I do."

"Aw," she says again before she leans in a little. "Is he big?"

"Christina!"

"Okay, okay," she says, holding her hands up in defense. "That's where we draw the line."

I roll my eyes at this, and she smirks.

"Fine," she continues. "We won't talk about it anymore. But there is something else I think we should talk about."

"What?" I ask.

"What are you guys planning to do about Peter and all of those assholes?" she asks. "I mean Lynn isn't always gonna be around to scare them off."

I nod and stay silent for a moment, as I consider my next words very carefully. I know that I can trust Christina, but I wonder to what extent. As I look up at her and prepare myself to speak, I realize that I am about to find out.

"I have a plan, actually," I say.

"Really?" she says.

"Yes. It's crazy, but I know it'll work. But you can't tell anyone about it, especially not Tobias."

She looks at me for a moment, seemingly unsure. She looks down at her lap, as if she is debating this in her head, but I decide to help her.

"It's a secret," I say. "Friends keep secrets for each other."

She looks up at me again, still clearly concerned. But this time, she nods slowly.

"Okay. Tell me."

Later that night, I sit on my bed with my phone in hand. I decided to call Tobias to see if he would come to martial arts with me tomorrow. I mostly wanted it to be tomorrow because Marlene said that she doesn't go on Sunday's, and I would prefer Tobias' first time there to be just with me.

"I think it would be really good for you," I say. "You could learn to fight and-"

"Tris, I told you," he cuts in. "I know how to fight. I did wrestling in my last school. That doesn't mean I'm comfortable with fighting."

"It's not about comfort anymore, Tobias," I sigh. "And besides, you didn't let me finish. It's not just about learning how to fight, it's also about building confidence. I think maybe if you had more confidence, you would find it easier to stand up to Eric."

There is silence for a moment, and I know that he is considering my words. But before he can say anything, I decide to try one more time.

"Please, just try it once," I say. "If you don't like it, you don't have to come back. Just once."

I hear him let out a sigh before he finally responds.

"All right," he says. "Just once."

"Thank you," I say, smiling a little.

"I guess I should be thanking you," he says. "For getting me out of my comfort zone. You know, I've never met anyone like you."

I wrap my arms around my legs, wishing that he were here in my arms instead.

"You know I'd do anything for you, right?" I say quietly.

I close my eyes and let out a sigh, as he responds that he would too. I feel guilt tug at me. He is about to find out just how much I would do for him.