A/N: I can't believe how badly I am failing you guys. You are all so supportive and great, and I should be putting you all as a priority, but my time is slipping, my writing is slipping, and you guys deserve more. I'm going to try to put in more effort now, anne give you the story that you guys, my wonderful online friends, deserve.

Chapter 23

Tris

When I really thought about it, my day had actually been pretty good. I had gotten some pretty good information about Jeanine, I beat Will during our afternoon Dauntless class, and then in my private lesson with Four, I actually was able to take him down. It was only for a moment, but I still count that for something. I'm lying down, deeply satisfied, when Christina swoops in, her eyes searching, hungry. He gaze reaches me.

"There you are!" She strides over. "So?"

I sit up, a little annoyed. I was so happy just sitting there, waiting for sleep. "What?"

She lets out an exasperated huff. "So, What's going on between you and Four?"

I rub my eyes. Its too late for this. "Nothing, Christina. Go to bed."

Unfortunately, she picks now to be insistent. "Nuh uh. Not going to cut it you literally told me nothing, and that in the lunchroom was definitely not nothing."

I sigh. "You really want to know?" I grumble. She scoots closer expectantly. "We are just friends. Just. Friends." I am barely able to hide the pain in my voice.

Christina narrows her eyes. "I still don't believe it."

I throw my hands up, surrendering. "Fine, you can believe what ever the hell you want, but thats the truth."

Christina softens a bit. "You like him," She whispers.

For a moment I just don't talk. Christina has a built in lie radar so if I deny it, she'll know and be mad at me, but if I tell her, she'll still know and just not be mad at me. Or I guess I could just stay quiet forever. She is staring at me, a knowing smile on her face. I realize that, even if I deny it, she'll just go on believing it anyways.

I stare at the floor, feeling a warmth spread up into my cheeks. "Yes," I admit quietly.

Christina leaps up in triumph, "Yes. Yes I knew it!" She exclaims. "Omigosh, you guys would be so CUTE together," She squeals. I try, almost successfully, to smother her excitement.

"It's not like it matters," I spit bitterly. "There's no way he likes me."

"And how would you know that?" She questions, a little condescendingly.

I purse my lips. "He is always saying how we are such good friends. I mean, I don't mind being friends. I love just being around him. He's so cool, and so sweet-" At that Christina scoffs.

"What?" I half-whine.

"Nothing, it's just that he doesn't quite…come off that way," She says hesitantly.

I shrug.

"Well," Christina continues, "As far as the "friends" thing goes, I still don't believe it for a moment. I think that the real problem is that boys suck at communicating."

I feel a small, incredulous smile creeping onto my face. "I doubt anyone is better than you are at talking," I tease.

She pretends that she didn't hear me. "So, what we are going to do, is make it impossible for him to not say anything."

"And how are we going to do that?" I ask, indulging her.

"The party." Is all she says. Uh-oh. I know that this is going to suck.

I was right. That last three days have totally sucked. My days started before dawn, going out in the freezing cold to run with Four. Then continued into boring, unchallenging classes, and worrying about Jeanine. Trying to figure out a way to get into her office, maybe into her phone. Then, lunch, grueling fights, worrying about my fight with Peter coming up, and tough private sessions with Four. And to top it off, Christina has been dragging my ass all over creation looking for an outfit that is 'hot, but still me'.

I'm not totally into this training session right now. Four is inches behind me, urging me on and giving me tips, but I'm not really listening. Even when he says to take a break, I continue to absently swing at the punching bag.

"Tris," He comes between me and the bag, his gorgeous blue eyes snapping me out of my stupor. "You alright?" Concern paints his face.

"Uh, yeah. Just kinda busy nowadays."

"Not too busy to come to the party tonight, I hope." He asks, trying to keep the mood light.

"Yeah, I mean, no, I'll be there." I say shaking my head clear of the fog.

His smile still has a worried tint to it. "Are you sure-"

"I'm fine." I cut him off, the daze wearing off.

He notices the change, and nods. "Okay. Thats it for today. Your gonna give Peter a run for his money on Tuesday." He grins.

"Wait, Tuesday?" I gasp. I didn't realize that it was coming up so soon.

"Thats the last day of our fighting unit."

"Oh, yeah." I bite my lip. I thought I had another week before the big fight. Thank God its the weekend. I don't think I could handle anything else right now. I just need to blow off some steam. "Alright, I'll see you tonight, Four."

"Do you want me to walk you back? You look a little off, Tris."

I wave him away. "Nah, I'm good." Unfortunately for my cause, at that moment I stumbled back and almost fell on a pile of gym equipment. I barely catch myself on the edge of the ring. Four throws his head back in laughter.

"Sure you are," He chuckles. He picks me up from my awkward crouching position, and helps me settle on my feet. I am intensely aware of the fact that his arm is still draped around me. "Come on," He urges, puling me along.

We walk back to the initiate's room. With the warm pressure of his arm draped across my shoulder, I can't say that I'm upset about his persistence about walking me back. The walk actually seems too short. When we reach my door, I frown. This can't be it. "You know that you didn't need to do that," I remind him.

"Oh, but I did," He teases, shuffling closer. "I couldn't responsible for you tripping and hurting yourself days before your big fight."

His closeness startles me. It sends thrills up and down my body. All I can do is let out a breathy laugh. He unravels his arm from my shoulder and slides it down so that his long, slender fingers are entwined with mine. My heart flutters frantically and my brain is thrown into overdrive. Suddenly, I notice the things that I never have before; how the little bit of stubble on his face is just a shade darker than his chocolate brown hair, how his eyes crinkle at the corners, like wrinkled parchment, how his mouth naturally turns down at the corners, making him look like a sad kid.

My thoughts are balloons that drift away as I just gape at Four. That is, until the door opens up from behind me, shoving me off balance, and sending me sprawling into Four. He catches me easily, gracefully. My forehead rests perfectly in the nook between his jaw and collarbone. It fits like a puzzle piece. But I am ripped from my ideal hiding spot too soon.

Four has jumped back up and put a good three or four feet of space between us. He has regained his soldier-straight posture, and his face is guarded, unreadable. Christina is standing in the door way, a knowing smile on her face.

"What are you two up to?" She wiggles her finger between Four and I.

"I was walking Tris back," Four states stonily.

Four's grave expression catches Christina off guard. It was obviously not the reaction that she was expecting. "Oh," She says, her excitement sated. She turns to me. "Tris, get inside. We have a lot of work to do."

I give Four a small, disappointed smile, then scurry inside. I allow myself one last look at Four over my shoulder. His face is expressionless, but his eyes bore into mine intensely.

Then, Christina slams the door shut.