A/N: Life has been busy... thanks for being patient while I took an unannounced week off from this story! Back to regular weekly updates, hopefully.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: Lately

Tris
January

"Is this seriously how this dude wanted to portray himself?" Marlene asks, wrinkling her nose at Henri Fantin-Latour's self-portrait. "Seriously, he looks totally fucking demonic. Look me in the eye and tell me I'm wrong."

I stifle a laugh. "You know, Mar… I can't do that."

Marlene, Shauna and I are hanging out, just us girls, for the first time since their return to Chicago after the winter break from school. They were back home in Wisconsin for just about a month. We texted a bit, and Marlene called me once, but that was the extent of our contact over the holidays. Today, we decided to take advantage of one of the Art Institute of Chicago's free admission days. We started with an exhibition of Japanese black-and-white, ink on paper artwork and are now in the Master Drawing exhibition.

We chat as we make our way through the gallery, and the girls tell me about the parties they went to and things they did back in Milwaukee over the school break. It isn't until we're sitting down with pastries and coffee at a little cafe near the museum that they really start grilling me about what Tobias and I did with our break here.

"So," Shauna says hopefully, "that whole 'we keep our relationship private' thing. Was that just an Eric thing, or does that apply to Four, too?"

I'm not sure how to answer her. I mean, yes, it was Eric that would have been pissed if I had given details about our relationship and he'd heard about it. On the other hand… I have never talked about this sort of stuff before, and I can feel the blood rushing to my face just at the idea of sharing all the dirty details. But maybe I can talk about our relationship a little… just not our sex life. Which, by the way, is really good. Really, really good.

"Um… it was mostly an Eric thing, but I still have my own limits. What do you want to know?" I answer nervously.

"Well… how did it finally happen?" Marlene asks, her eyes bright and hungry for information. "I mean, when we finished up the term you were barely back on speaking terms… but then he stuck around here and when we came back..." She wiggles her eyebrows and the three of us burst into a fit of giggles.

"Uh, well…" I run my fingers through my hair nervously- I'm just not at all used to talking about any of this.

I tell them about some of the things we did together over winter break, and eventually, I get to that New Year's Eve party. "So, do you remember the girl he was making out with at that last party we all went to?"

"Yes," Marlene laughs. "Uriah broke that up by spilling a drink all over her. He told me afterwards that he did it on purpose, for you, Tris."

"For me?" I gasp. "Why?!"

Shauna rolls her eyes. "He saw how you reacted to finding Four making out with that skank; you were obviously upset. And it was so clear to all of us that he likes you, too. Of course, by then, you were making out with what's-his-name. Four saw you and stomped off to the dorm to pout about it."

Wow, okay then. I guess I didn't know about most of the happenings of that evening. "Well, I'm glad that Uri spilled a drink all over her, because on New Year's, not only did she take the drink that Four got for me, right out of his hand. I told her off while he was getting me another… after he got her name wrong when he introduced her to me." Marlene and Shauna erupt into laughter. "But she spilled some gross red punch all over me when we were dancing later."

"Bitch," Marlene mutters before taking a bite of her cheese danish.

Shauna nods in agreement. "So what did you do?!"

"I didn't do anything, really," I admit. "Four did. He told her off and then asked if I wanted to get out of there, and I did, so we went back to his place." Shauna and Marlene are both leaning towards me, listening intently. "And then he asked if he could kiss me when the ball dropped, and I said he could… and when he did, one thing led to another, and by the next morning we were a couple."

My friends let out girly squeals and begin to discuss the part of Four and my relationship that I would really rather keep private.

"So did you guys do it that night?! From… what I've heard before… well, I always thought Zeke should ask him for tips," Shauna says in a hushed voice. Oh my god… I don't want to talk about this… or about Shauna and Zeke. Marlene, talking over her, shoots more questions at me. "Is he bigger than Eric? I mean, Christina told me Four was bigger than her ex in Chicago, but… I'm still curious."

Is my face on fire? Cause it just got really hot in here. Ugh, I'm sure I am bright red. Four is bigger than Eric, but I'm not answering that question for her. "Sorry, but this part of my relationship, I don't feel comfortable discussing it. All I'll tell you is that I am most definitely satisfied." I can only hope that Four is, too. "It's not like you've never heard details about Four before, he dated Christina for like a year, after all, and she's not at all shy. I mean, I'd think you'd already know." I lean back and sip my coffee.

Marlene shrugs. "True. You don't have to tell us anything you don't want to, anyway. We've just never gotten to talk about that stuff with you. Anyway, is he just super sweet with you? He seems like he would be."

I smile and tell them about the potted flowers he brought me last week, and how he remembered what I had said months ago about cut flowers. They coo and gush, and I blush, embarrassed at the attention.

"He was with Chris for a long time, but hearing about the way he is with you, well, it's not the same," Shauna says, shaking her head. "I mean yeah, he cared about Chris, but not like he cares for you. He's totally different with you."

"She's right," Marlene adds. "Like Chris was always dragging him along to things she wanted to do but with you... he wants to go along with you. And the way he looks at you… totally smitten. He wasn't like that with Chris, not even in the beginning."

I shake my head. "I doubt that." Chris is gorgeous, and I am not. They have to be seeing things. Things that aren't really there. I really don't want to argue about it, though, so I am relieved when Marlene changes the subject.

"How's your new roommate? She has to at least be better than Molly, right?" Marlene scowls when she mentions Molly. The pair have had several run-ins both last semester and already another this week; I think Molly must hate Mar just because she hangs out with me.

"Oh, anyone is better than Molly," I agree. "Yeah, she's alright. She got back from visiting her family a few days ago. Her name is Nari and she's a sophomore. She is an exchange student from South Korea. That's pretty much all I know about her… because she doesn't speak much English." Nari speaks some English, and I think she understands a lot more than she can speak, but we haven't truly had a real conversation. "She's quiet and she doesn't bother me. My only complaint really would be that she keeps her lamp on until two in the morning when she finally goes to bed, and I like to go running at six in the morning."

"No big deal, when you can always stay with Four, right?" Shauna teases, nudging my elbow.

I smirk. "Right."

Really, though, I just want to stand on my own two feet. I don't want to be so reliant on my boyfriend, or anyone else, anymore. So I don't let Nari's habits influence my sleeping arrangements; I stay with Four when he and I both really want that, but I won't allow it to become "home", like I did before with Eric. I am not that girl any more. I'm stronger now.

The snow crunches under my feet and my breath sends small, white clouds of mist into the air with each exhale.

"Are you sure you know where you're going? This isn't one of those guy things, you know, where you're lost but you refuse to ask for directions so you won't admit it?" During the few weeks we avoided one another, Tobias and I each found several new routes for our runs, and we're still showing one another new things.

Tobias shoots a glare at me. "No, I am not lost," he huffs. "I know exactly where I'm going. I've just been waiting for a nice day to show you this place! Have I questioned your ability to lead us back home when you've shown me your routes? I've lived here long enough to get my bearings by now."

I narrow my eyes at him, but can't hold back my smile for long. "Well, are we almost there? This seems a little longer than our usual route and I have a nine-thirty class."

"We're almost there," he assures me as we veer off out of the unfamiliar neighborhood and into a wooded area. "Don't worry. You won't be late on the first day, and you'll be back early enough not to rush too much."

"You know me so well," I laugh . As soon as I am quiet again, along with the crunching sounds under our feet and the rhythm of our breaths, I can just make out the sound of rushing water, and it gets louder as we continue on. Soon we slow to a walk, and then, a stream with a small but beautiful waterfall comes into view.

"Wow, this is beautiful," I breathe. Tobias lays his jacket down on the ground and pulls me down to sit next to him. "We should take a picnic here when it warms up this spring."

Tobias wraps his arm around my waist and kisses my cheek as he pulls me against him. "We will definitely do that." We cuddle up to one another.

"So, what's your first class this morning?" I ask. Today is the first day of the new semester, another fresh start.

"Speech at ten o'clock this morning," Tobias groans. "I hate speaking in front of people."

I cringe slightly, thinking of the career Marcus wants him to prepare for- a lawyer or politician, both of which require frequent public speaking. I want to point it out, but it isn't like he doesn't know, and I do realize it's not simple or easy to stand up to someone like Marcus. It has to be when he chooses, and it has to be when he is ready. But I have high hopes that he is working up to it, and that he won't allow his father to treat him this way forever.

So I say, "The core class that we all have to take?" Tobias nods. "Well, it's good to get it over with. You'll need that no matter what you major in."

"How about you? What do you have at nine-thirty?" Tobias says, pushing the attention off of himself. He caught what I was getting at.

"Art History. I'm actually really looking forward to that one!"

We quickly decide to head back to the dorm and get ready for the day. When we arrive back at the Dauntless dormitory building, Tobias walks me to my room on the fourth floor.

"Why don't you come up to my place to shower?" he suggests. "Then we can go down to breakfast together."

I roll my eyes and laugh as I unlock the door, but motion for him to follow me in and put a finger to my lips before gesturing to the person-shaped lump in my roommate's bed. Nari stays up late at night, and she also sleeps late in the mornings, so I do prefer to get ready at Tobias's. Plus, my floor doesn't have en suite bathrooms for each dorm room, and I definitely prefer a normal bathroom over the big girls' bathroom on my dorm floor. I quickly toss some clothes into a bag and grab my backpack before following Tobias out.

Besides, I am pretty sure Tobias has more in mind than just showering, and I would be lying if I said that the thought didn't make my heart beat a little faster.

Sure enough, as soon as the door to his apartment closes behind us, Tobias's arms wrap around me from behind, and his lips begin trailing kisses along my neck and jaw. I let out a moan as his teeth graze my skin. His hands begin traveling up my sides, raising the hem of my shirt with them. "Tobias…" I breathe. "Are we alone?" His roommate just got back on Saturday, and we aren't fully used to having someone else here just yet.

"Spencer?" Tobias calls out loudly. Receiving no answer, he grabs my hand and pulls me toward the bathroom. "I think he stayed at his girlfriend's place last night." I shut the bathroom door behind us as Tobias turns the knob and shuts the shower door, letting the water warm up.

A moment later, I am pressed between Tobias and the counter behind me, and he immediately traps my lips in a kiss. It starts out slow and quickly builds, turning passionate and hungry. His hands slide slowly down my sides as I tug at his curly brown hair, eliciting a groan. My tongue runs across his lower lip and he doesn't hesitate to let me in, our tongues soon fighting for dominance. We quickly undress each other, our lips only breaking contact when we pull our shirts over our heads.

Tobias gives me one more kiss, his hands on my cheeks, before stepping away from me; I pout in response. But then he grabs my hand and leads me to the shower.

I stand under the hot water and let the water soak into my hair before stepping back and letting Tobias do the same. I watch the water drip down the olive skin on his chiseled chest and defined six-pack as he grabs the shampoo I keep on the shelf and pours some into my palm. His fingers massage my scalp as he lathers it in my hair and I can't help closing my eyes and humming in appreciation. After I have rinsed my hair, I condition it then motion for Tobias to lower his head so I can wash his hair as well.

I lather the soap between my hands and slowly run my hands over his shoulders and arms, his shoulder blades and spine… then back to his shoulders and down his chest and stomach, feeling each dip and ridge from his defined muscles. When I reach his rock hard dick, I take my time, stroking him a few times and he moans in appreciation.

As the water rinses the soap from Tobias's body, I slowly stroke him a few more times and kiss up his chest and along his collarbone and neck. Tobias flips our positions and traps me firmly between his body and the shower wall, lifting me by my thighs. I whimper as I feel him rock hard, pressed against my thigh. Resting his forehead against mine, he grinds his hips against mine.

"Tris… I need to be inside you," he growls. Just the sound of his deep, rumbling voice sends a shiver through me. I lock eyes with him and nod, already breathless.

Tobias crushes his lips against mine, our teeth clicking together, as he enters me in one hard thrust. I moan into his mouth and dig my fingers into his shoulders as he begins to pound his hips against mine, setting a steady rhythm, not too slow and not too fast. I arch my back and lean my head back against the shower wall. Bursts of pleasure shoot through me. "Fuck," I pant. "Oh, god, Tobias… faster…"

Tobias's thrusts pick up speed and I'm seeing stars, tingles rolling through me in waves. "God, Tris, you feel so good," he moans; I just curse and babble, unable to form a thought.

Fire pools low in my abdomen and I feel a familiar tightening. "Tobias… I'm about to…" I stutter, trailing off as the tension inside me coils.

"Me too, baby," he grunts. With a roll of his hips and a nip to my earlobe, he pushes me over the edge. The tension in my core bursts, sending trails of fire outward, and the world around me becomes static. Tobias kisses me hard and muffles my scream as his thrusts become erratic. After a few more jerks of his hips, he stills and pants into the crook of my neck I hold on tight to his shoulders, breathless.

After we catch our breath, Tobias puts me back on my feet. He lathers soap in his hands and my breath hitches as he runs his hands smoothly over my body, especially when his hands run over the extra-sensitive skin between my legs and on my inner thighs. I turn off the water once I am rinsed clean and we each wrap ourselves in a towel. I can't help giggling as Tobias sticks his head out the door and glances around to make sure Spencer won't see me walking through the living room in just a towel. That was definitely better than showering in the girls' bathroom on my floor.

Art History was a lot less interesting than I had expected, but I'm hoping it will get better- it's only the first day, after all. I survived Algebra as well; it's a 100's level class but it won't be easy for me; math just isn't my strong suit. Tobias is good at it, though- I think he's taking Statistics this semester- so I'm sure he will be able to help me when I struggle.

Tobias' and my lunches don't line up today, but I did find Zeke and Uriah in the main dining hall on campus, so I was at least entertained throughout my lunch break. Now I am headed to my last class of the day- my only afternoon class this term, American History. I am about more than five minutes early, and only a few other students are here, so I take a seat near the far back corner of the room and pull out my phone. There's a sweet text from Tobias, wishing me a good first day of classes, and I send back a flirty, teasing response referencing our shower this morning. Because it's true- he definitely started off my day on a positive note.

I'm responding to the other text I have received- one from my friend Amber, who I met in photography class last semester, confirming that yes, we're in the same Photography II section and to please save me a seat next to her tomorrow. We transition quickly into brief questions and answers about our winter breaks. About two minutes before class is to start, I glance up from my phone to see Eric and Christina walking in the door.

Great, just great. I would have been happy to never see either one of them for the rest of my life, and now they'll be shoved in my face every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon for the next four months. Eric's eyes meet mine and widen, but he quickly looks away, guiding Christina with a hand at the small of her back.

They are some of the last people to enter the classroom, and of course, the only two seats together happen to be on this side of the room, just two rows ahead of me. I notice Christina pushing her desk a little closer to Eric's when she sits down and I roll my eyes. They hold hands in the empty aisle between them. Eric glances back at me nervously, almost looking apologetic. Whatever, why should I even care? I don't want Eric back, and I have Tobias. What we have is so much better than what I ever had with Eric. I don't care. I don't care, I don't care, I don't care.

But for some reason I do care, even though I truly don't want to be with Eric any more. I become distracted several times from the lecture, instead watching the happy couple.

The lecture doesn't last long; first, the usual first day stuff- going over the syllabus and the professor's office hours and expectations. He does give a short lecture, but lets us go only an hour into the class, which is scheduled to run for two hours.

As I pack up my backpack, I hear Eric and Christina arguing a few yards ahead of me. I didn't catch what started the argument, but as students clear out of the classroom and there is less background noise, it's hard to ignore the tail end. As I make my way to the door, my ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend following a little ways behind, I hear Christina laying right back into Eric and then his apology.

What?! Eric apologizing? It's all I can do to keep walking instead of stopping dead in my tracks and turning to stare at him. Eric and I dated for over two years, and I could probably count the number of times I heard the words "I'm sorry" out of his mouth on one hand. Their dynamic seems so completely different from what he and I had.

I can't help but wonder… maybe Eric was never the problem at all.

Maybe it was always me.