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"You have a hella lot of explaining to do," I snap at Christina as soon as she answers my FaceTime.
"I'm so sorry, Tris. I should have stuck up for you."
"It's too late, Christina. We're done."
Her face falls. "Please, Tris, it was a stupid mistake. Forgive the gang. In fact, if you're going to be mad at anyone, you should be mad at Zeke. He suggested it."
"I was a part of the gang, Christina. You had no right to create a dare that involved me when I didn't know you guys were playing. You knew I had a crush on Four. It's just too much."
"Why are you talking in past tense?" Christina asks, sounding confused. I roll my eyes.
"Clearly you don't get it. I'm done with you guys. I've moved away, started a new school, and already adjusted to life at my great-aunt's." For some reason, I don't bother to tell her about Fleet. It seems like my little secret.
She looks horrified. "No, Tris! You're overreacting. Please, just come back. Think it over one more time."
"Christina. I'm done."
"What about Roth High? What about … about everything you've created here that you've loved?"
"It's all gone," I say without remorse. "I've reconnected with Susan Black, and since we're in Maine right now, we're going to do weekend sleepovers and stuff. It's going to be so much fun."
"Tris, do you want a best friend's opinion?" This is clearly a rhetorical question, but I don't care.
"Sure. I'll go ask Susan her opinion," I respond curtly, inwardly smiling, as her eyes bulge. That was perfect.
"Tris – I'm your best friend."
"No. You were my best friend. Goodbye, Christina." With that, I shut the computer.
I pull out my phone and text Susan.
Tris:hey, we meeting up this weekend?
Susan:totes. rob's driving me.
Tris:fab.
Susan: i'm also bringing a hottie w/ me if that's ok. he's interning somewhere around here and im giving him a ride. if ur interested in potential relationships, i have a feeling ull like him.
I feel a thirst for rebellion.
Tris:bring it on, sistah.
Susan:i 3 u bestie
I grin.
Tris: c u soon.
Susan: c u.
"Tris! Come on down! It's time for your lesson with Fleet!" Edith calls. I do a little happy dance and then rush downstairs.
Things are looking up for my life.
"Tris, this is Logan Gordon. Logan, Tris." Susan introduces us to each other by gesturing with her hands, which I find adorable.
Man oh man, Logan is the package. He has medium-length, wavy brown hair and emerald-green eyes. Muscles bulge from his tight shirt and his jeans and sneakers are particularly attractive for some reason. He also has an adorable right dimple against his tanned skin, which is just perfect.
He holds out a firm, callused hand and I shake it. He smiles and I smile back.
"Welcome, Susan and Robert," my mom says, ushering them inside. She does a double take when she sees Logan. "Well, hello. And who is this?"
I smile slightly. "Mom, this is Logan Gordon. He's interning around here and Susan agreed to give him a lift."
Her eyebrows raise slightly and I turn and make sure my eyes murder her. She shrinks back a little bit instinctively.
"Well, come on in, Susan and Robert. Logan, do you want to come in too?"
He smiles at her. "No thank you, Ms. Prior, I'll just wait outside."
I want to impress him somehow, and suddenly I know how. "Hey Mom, where's Edith? I noticed Fleet was a little dirty from yesterday and I think she missed a spot when she was grooming."
Silently, I tell her to go along with it, and finally she nods. "Oh, I think she went out to the store. Go ahead and hang out with Fleet. I'm sure he'd love the company."
I smile. "Perfect." I turn to Logan. "Hey, Logan, do you want to come with me? We're going to see Fleet, my great-aunt's boarded horse. I take care of him mostly. Do you like horses?"
He shrugs. "Haven't had much experience with them, but I'd love to see this one particularly."
I grin this time, not a smile. "Amazing. Follow me."
As I pass, Susan wiggles her eyebrows at me, and I stifle a giggle.
Yes. This is how life should be.
Christina POV
"Guys. It totally backfired. Tris is really done with us." I hate telling them this, but it's necessary. I've called them all in – except for Lynn – to talk about the situation. "She reconnected with Susan Black, started a new school, everything. I just don't get how she can move on so quickly."
"She's been doing it her whole life, guys, and I'm betting Chicago was one of the places she stayed at for the least amount of time." Shauna sighs slowly.
"But she seemed so close to Susan! Why not us?" Marlene has been crying for quite some time now. She's almost been a more emotional type, and she was pretty close with Tris – but I was closer.
"I think she stayed in Maine with Susan since seventh grade. She's known her for a much longer time than we have," I comment.
"It just seems so …wrong, though," she whispers. "I thought … for some reason … that she would want to stay with us."
"Guess we were wrong, then," Uriah says bitterly. I walk over to him and sling an arm around his shoulder.
Looking around at all of my friends, I brace myself and try to smile. "Guys. Come on. Let's not let one girl ruin our friendship. Let's play truth or dare tonight. My place. It's been a while since we've had beer. I'll get my mom to buy the food and drinks. We'll party to no end. Huh? You guys in?"
"I'm pretty tired," Marlene mumbles. "I think I'll pass."
"If Marlene's out, then I'm out," Uriah says, which is so unlike him I almost take a step back.
"I'm with Marlene, whatever she does," Shauna adds. They seem to have developed a very close friendship.
"Shauna and Uri are out? Then I'm out," Zeke tells us.
Will looks at me reluctantly. "It's not much of a party without Zeke, Uri, Marlene, and Shauna. I'm sorry, babe."
I shrug, more disappointed than I let on. "Whatever. Have fun tonight, guys. Don't mope. Be happy."
"Right," Marlene mumbles again. "I don't feel so well, guys."
"I'll take you home, babe," Uri offers, and scoops her up, bridal style. She wraps her arms around his neck and he carries her out of my room.
Shauna stands up. "Well, I'll see you around, guys," she says sadly. "Text me."
"Will do," I respond. Zeke nods.
She leaves, and then Uri comes rushing back in with Marlene still in his arms.
"Uh … Zeke? I need the car keys," he says, and I want to laugh at his stupidity, but I can't, because everyone is so sad.
Without a word, Zeke tosses him the keys and he catches them, then walks out of the room.
Then Zeke rushes to the door. "Damn it. I gotta go. If Uri leaves, my ride is gone. I'll see you then, Christina."
"See you, Zeke."
He runs out, and just Will and I are left.
He sighs. "I have news, Christina."
"Good or bad?" I'm not sure if I can take any more bad news right now.
"Cara and Caleb …" he trails off.
My eyes widen. "Did they break up?"
He shakes his head. "The opposite. Cara wants to move to Maine to be with him, and … it's possible I might go with her. Then, of course …"
"You'd see Tris almost every day. You guys would be like siblings," I finish, and bitterness rises up in me. "Oh hell no."
"Look, Christina, Maine is a really great state, and I want some change. Cara's eighteen, and my parents have given permission for me to move."
"I can't move to Maine, Will! My mom is Carrie Kravitz! We can't just go to another house!" I see the truth in his face and stop immediately. "Hell. You weren't even thinking about me joining you. You want to go alone."
"Look, Tris has never had much of a problem with me. She already had a fight with you, and she definitely doesn't want to be near Zeke or Four. Uri is too happy and too close with Zeke. Marlene and Shauna are just like you – I have a feeling she doesn't want to be with them right now. But honestly? I think I'm the best person to go and see her in person … and possibly live there."
I put my foot down. "Absolutely not, Will. You do this … we're done."
The words come out of my mouth before I can stop them, and immediately I want to take them back. I open my mouth to apologize, but he interrupts.
"We've been dating for two and a half years, Christina." His voice is very, very cold. "It's this easy to let go." He states it as a fact, not a question. "This easy … to let all we've been through crumble to dust like that." He snaps his fingers, and I flinch. "I've made up my mind. I wish we didn't have to break up. Do that long-distance relationship thing." He shakes his head. "Clearly, though, it means nothing to you."
"Please," I plead. "I didn't mean it. I'm just desperate and … and so sad. Please don't go live in Maine. I wouldn't be able to stand it."
"I'm sorry, Christina." He gives a small smile. "I'll FaceTime you from Maine, alright?"
I watch helplessly as my first love walks out of my sight. Forever.
Man, that's some sad stuff. Sorry about that, people. But this is real. This is real.
Please review.
Be brave.