AN: A few quick things before I let you read this chapter. A few of you have asked about my trilogy. I have posted the first five chapters on fictionpress. The link is on my profile if you are interested. Please be aware, this is a very early version, unedited, and may change before the book is published. I just wanted to give my fanfic followers a preview. I'd love some feedback on it.
Also, another guest review had me floating on air yesterday. Since I don't know who you are, I can't thank you in person. But, to the person you wrote this, thank you from the bottom of my heart: This story really is brilliant, and it is the rare authors like you that are the reason I read fan fiction. Truly a gem of a read. (That was just a piece of the review.) I seriously got teary eyed after reading it.
Finally, I owe my beta Eunice339 an extra thanks. This chapter wouldn't have happened without her great ideas. You are the best!
I was sitting on the edge of the hotel room bed waiting for Four. I wasn't afraid to be alone, but I did wish he was already back with me. He promised he'd only be gone for a little while. There was a shopping plaza right around the corner from the hotel we found in the center of town. He went to pick up some food, clothes and a few necessities. I used the time to take a quick shower, hoping he'd be back before I was done, but I suppose that wasn't very realistic.
I wrapped the white fluffy robe tighter around my body, letting the events of the last few days sink in. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Not to mention hungry and desperate to hear from Christina. I wondered what she and Will were doing back in the real world where life and classes continued on without me.
I was pulled back to reality when the front door opened up with a click from the electronic lock. Four pushed through the door, arms full of bags. The smell of food spread through the air of the small room and my stomach growled in response. "That smells good. What is it?"
"I got us some Chinese food. I don't know about you, but I'm starving." Four deposited the shopping bags on the floor beside the bed. "I hope that's okay."
"Yeah, that's great." I reached out for the paper bag and pulled out the different white boxes. The lo-mien caught my interest so I scooched back in bed with it, leaning against the headboard as I loaded the tender noodles into my mouth with a pair of chopsticks.
Four sat down beside me after kicking off his shoes. "Oh, yeah." His eyes rolled back in his head. "This is good." He mumbled between mouthfuls.
"What have you got there?" I leaned over, peaking into his box, then reached in to pull out a piece of saucy chicken with my chopsticks.
"No. Mine." He laughed, holding the box out of my reach.
"Come on Four. You need to share."
"You first. Give me some of that."
I grinned as I fed him a pile of noodles. Does this count as sharing utensils? He didn't seem to mind. As he let out a low moan. "Oh, that's really good too."
I was surprisingly comfortable sitting on a hotel bed with him, sharing Chinese food, while wearing a only a bathrobe. Our interaction felt natural and conversation was easy as we ate. He wasn't quite as graceful with chopsticks as I was, and I couldn't help but laugh when he dropped a chunk of pineapple on his lap.
"Are you really laughing at me right now?" He frowned at me, but I could still see the smile hiding behind it. "After all I've done for you. I bought you some clothes, and food, and a toothbrush. And how do you thank me? You laugh at me."
"I'm sorry. You just seem to be so good at everything else. I wasn't expecting sweet and sour chicken to be your downfall."
"Hey, nobody's perfect." He looked at me, smiling. "Seriously though, I bought you a few pair of pants, and some shirts, nothing fancy." He pointed at the pile of bags with the wooden sticks in his hand. "And some food for the next few days. You should be all set for a while."
His sudden change in topic didn't sit well with me, and I made no attempt to pretend I was pleased. I set down my carton of food and turned to face him. "Do you really expect me to stay here while you go face Eric?"
Four stopped chewing, and looked directly into my eyes. "Tris. You are completely safe here."
"I'm not worried about myself," I blurted out. "I'm worried about you. I want to go with you. I want to help you."
Four rolled his eyes. "We already talked about this Tris. You wouldn't be any help."
"You don't know that. You told me yourself that I was brave during the robbery at Carlos's store. And I'm a quick learner."
"That was totally different." He looked annoyed now. "That guy was an idiot. He had no idea what he was doing or who he was messing with. Eric is not a common criminal. He's a trained professional killer."
"That's why we'd have a better chance together than you would alone. Two pairs of eyes, two pairs of hands, two weapons."
Four's expression turned skeptical. "No. I'm leaving in the morning, alone."
"Just teach me how to shoot. I saw a shooting range on our way here."
He snorted. "You really think that's going to make a difference? A few hours shooting at a stationary target?"
I felt a knot forming in my throat. "I can't do it Four, I can't"
He shook his head ever so slightly. "Do what?"
"Sit here in a nice hotel room, wondering if you're okay, and if I'll ever see you again."
His eyes closed as he exhaled loudly. "Tris," he set his food on the bedside table before taking both my hands in his own. "You're not soldier material."
His comment immediately angered me and so I pulled my hands free. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you don't follow directions. I told you to stay in the truck this afternoon. But the first chance you got, you jumped out and put yourself in danger. I can't keep you safe if you don't listen to a word I say."
"I would listen if you'd be reasonable."
Four let out a fake laugh. "Oh, you think I should be reasonable?"
"Yes! I was just trying to help. You were outnumbered five to one."
"I didn't need your help, did I? You were lucky. When you got out of the truck I already had the situation under control. What would have happened if I didn't? One of those goons would have hurt you." Four grabbed my hands again. "I'd never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you."
I tried to fight the tears that threatened to overpower me. "And how do you think I'd feel if something happened to you and I didn't even try to help? You're too important to me. I can't lose you. My God!" I forced my hands out of his again and raked my fingers through the front of my hair. "I can't believe I'm that girl."
His eyes locked onto mine, his face the picture of an internal struggle. "I never wanted this for you. I should have stayed away."
"No." I took in a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. "That's not what I meant. I just never pictured myself the kind of girl dependent on a guy. I never thought I'd…" I lowered my eyes, unable to face him with this confession.
"You'd never thought, what?" His fingers tipped my chin up, forcing me to look into his intense eyes.
I pushed my lips together before speaking. "You called me your girlfriend."
"Was that a bad thing?"
I blinked hard. "No. Actually, I don't know when hearing a few words has ever made me so happy."
The corners of his mouth curled up into a bashful smile. "So, does that mean it's ok?" His eyes stayed steady on mine, before looking at my lips for a brief moment. "Can I call you my girlfriend?"
"Only on one condition." I smiled when his eyebrows lifted in interest. "You need to kiss me right now."
He buried his hands in the back of my hair and whispered in my ear. "I think I can manage that." His lips met mine in a tender caress. I breathed in his scent deeply, while intensifying the kiss. My lips parted and his tongue found mine.
I pulled my body away from the headboard, enough so I could lie down comfortably. He followed my lead, pulling himself in closer to me as we continued kissing each other passionately. I smiled against his lips as they slowly slid over to my neck, sending goosebumps down my arms. His lips on my body caused a reaction I'd never experienced with anyone else and I suddenly needed him closer than he already was.
"I think that shirt looked better on me." I bit down on my lip, and looked up at him through my lashes, hoping he found me as irresistible as I found him.
His face brightened into an immediate smile. "Oh, you think so?"
"Hmm, maybe not." I gave him the sexiest look I could muster. "Maybe I just prefer you without a shirt at all."
His eyes locked onto mine, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing as he pulled me against his lips again.
