TRIS POVChapter song :Where were you in the morning? By Shawn Mendes
I wait at the carnival with Chris where we were supposed to meet the boys. I wasn't in the mood for dressing but Christina being so desperate to get me a boyfriend forced me into a pink halter and jeans, a shit load of makeup and boots.
I look at myself into my camera once more.
God why am I being so nervous today. Its just a date right?
"Trissy listen, Will's here" her phone to her ear. Probably talking to Will.
"I'll go real quick and give them their tickets. Wait here babe okay!" Chris says.
"Yeah sure" I smile at her.
My mind wandered to things. I have changed. A lot. And what surprises me the most is that it took only one night.
I was like a girl. Looking for senseless love. Waiting for something that never was supposed to come. For the perfect one. But now. It's just... Different.
I haven't been able to get that night out of my head, the morning after. The senseless kisses, the dancing, the se-.
Stop. You fucking said you will forget about him. It was just your stupid needs. Just a freaking desire. It was all physical. I was drawn to him. He was drawn to me and we just did it. So freaking stop.
"You must be Tris", I hear a voice. Smooth, sultry, almost rhythmic.
I see sneakers, my eyes moving upwards to an extended hand, tattoos on arms. A tight T shirt and jeans.
Jesus.
This guy works out. His face is... Ummm well.
"You areee..." I shake his hand.
A hand snakes around his shoulder, Will's, "that's my cousin Tris! All the way from LA"
"Hi, I am Eric. Eric Coulter.", damn that smile.
"Hi Eric, I am Tris... Tris Prior."
He has a lot of tattoos and his face is pierced. Hell pierced a lot.
Its not that bad... But its okay I mean. I don't mind.
"So Eric, Tris is your date tonight. Unless you want to challenge Will and swap dates." Chris extends her hand and places it on his arm.
What the hell.
My head swaps to hers. She is smiling at Eric. Will's right here and she is flirting with him. What the hell is wrong with you Chris.
She laughs it off and tries to divert the attention, "Nah, just kidding."
"He is my man.." she clings on to Will's arm.
He has a look, a bit wary.
"You're funny" Eric laughs.
"Okay come on, it's time to enjoy." Chris pulls away from us and drags Will with her.
Eric extends his hands to me, "So... shall we".
I smile as I take his hand. It is rough. Gritty like a man's but he is careful. A stance of caution as he pulls me.
After 3 rides, 2 beers each we sit down tired.
Chris and Will start making out... as usual and as expected.
"Let's give them some privacy shall we. Come on I want to show you something" Eric says.
"Where? I mean we are in the middle of a carnival." I ask a bit apprehensive.
"Hey, trust me. Come on its a surprise."he chuckles.
" Okay. Don't get any wrong ideas though. " I laugh off the comment even though I totally mean it.
" Never" he raises his hands in the air.
We walk out of the carnival through a cut in the fence right near the big Wheel. Its nothing just thick bushes and shrubs which transcend into somewhat woods. The path is rocky and curvy.
"Where are we going Eric? "
"I told you, it is a surprise. Okay let's play 20 questions just the cliché of first dates."
I chuckle.
"Okay my first question is... Where are we going?", I fold my arms and smile at him trying to gauge his reaction.
"You are a real piece of art Tris Prior, did I tell you that" he says "it is still a surprise... But nice try".
"Phew you are persistent aren't you.", I roll my eyes.
"Okay now me, your favourite place or idea of a perfect date"
"umm ... Let me see. Well... Umm i think it would be something more... Adventurous. You know i like getting out. See the world." I say.
We continue on our path.
"Wait why did you ask me that?"
"You know, to... Prepare for our next date."
A smile creeps into my face, involuntarily. "isn't that a bit presumptuous of you" I say in my fun voice.
"Well you see. I am not like other guys."
"Sure you aren't... So Will is from your mother's side or you're father's si-?" I ask, sincerely curious.
"Well. I am related to Will's mothers side. Her brother happens to be my step-dad. He is amazing believe me. And my mom, she left my actual dad, 9 years ago... So she dated a few guys thinking that the 9 year old me would you know... Need a father figure for growing up. Nothing clicked actually until 2 years ago. They are happy now. " he says.
" Wow that is so great. Its cool they found each other. You know its hard to get the right guy. These days. "
" Yeh I am happy. " he smiles at me briefly and turns ahead to continue." okay so your turn, Missy. What about your parents? "
"Um actually they work for the government. You know interstate affairs. So you know a lot of travelling and stuff."
"Oooooh"
"what's with those tattoos?"
He gives me a look.
I can't help but smile. "You get that a lot huh?"
"Yeah you guessed that right".
We round about a tree and the place is blocked, Eric takes a right turn.
"I worked in a tattoo parlour back at LA."
"What do you mean by worked? As in past tense? You don't, anymore?" I ask.
"Actually we are moving in here, next week. I just came early. You know to adjust to school and stuff."
"So you'll be coming to our school ?"
"yepp"
Wow. "that's great".
He chuckles a bit, "Yes it is".
"Yeh here we are" he pulls me to a rock.
"This place? "
" Ohhhhkay I don't think you get it, come here", he sits on the rock and pulls me down, "this big boy", he pays the surface, his hand close to mine. "is my think rock. When I need some time for myself I come here."
"You don't even live here, how do even know this place?" I ask, my curiosity peeking up.
"I came here last time I visited chicago. Good thing we are moving." he says looking at me.
I CAN'T look away. He demands my attention, holding my stare.
I breathe deeply. Something is up with me.
"You want to play the silly version?" he says. His voice low.
"What" I smile at him.
"You know, questions thingy?" his voice smooth, like silk.
"okay" I whisper.
"Favourite colour?" he starts.
"Blue and black at equal footing. No further arguments. Yours?"
"Black. Favourite sport?"
"Cheerleading, no debating. I consider it as a sport. Favourite food? "
"Jeez... Cheeseburgers, yours?"
"The evergreen pizza" I say spreading my arms open. Eww I am so dramatic.
"Dream city?"
"okay you got me, It is still LA by tit will soon be Chicago" he winks.
"How many boyfriends have to you had"
"none"
"I don't believe you"
"Oh please do because it is true."
"Come on Tris"
"how many many girlfriends have you had"
"That would be you assuming that I am single"
"Well I feel my assumption is true"
"Okay 2 till date."
"Weirdest place you've had sex in?"
That catches me off guard.
"What? "
"Weirdest palace you have had sex in... Come on", Eric says.
That... Caught me off gaurd.
"Um why would you ask me that?"
"It is just a part of the game" he says.
I open my mouth to reply but close it again at loss of words.
"How are you so comfortable talking about this?" I ask. Bewildered.
"ummmm... You're not?"
"Of course I am not... Come on its just the first date."I exclaim.
"Look before everything escalates further, I... anything happens between us ever, you know... partners should know each other's preferences."
"Eric, nothing is happening"
All this time he had been speaking while looking at me but he averts this time, his gaze.
"Yeh, I didn't mean it like that."
"No like... Why should we even go there..."
"Its just sex, nothing much right" he says.
"What do you mean nothing much."
"Sex is just... Physical. What's wrong in that. Two people touching each other and meeting each other. That is all"
"so you're telling me that it has... No emotion in it."
"of course not."
Memories come back to me. That night when he looked into my eyes while hovering over me. Was there really no emotion, no feeling. But that intensity...
"See its purely physical. I just need to make sure that we know each other's views on it before we date."
"Ohh..ok yeah so. You don't have emotions or feelings for the person whom you have sex with"
"Some people do. And if we are interested in that type of a relationship, let me know before I can catch feelings." he chuckles. "But i have always found that stupid. Its just a body part. Why do you have to be emotional about that. What do you think?it is Just exploring yourself"
I remember Four, his mouth on me, taking me to heaven and back. That was just physical right. Just as I had thought before. I could get him out of my mind. I dont think I was catching feelings for him. It was just physical and will be. The stares must have meant nothing. All this talk with eric had done was to confirm my views. Make me more sure that those heartbeats and those stares meant nothing. It was just momentary heat of the moment. This morning at school, it was normal... Wasn't it? He was back with his cocky ass comments and I was back to my own world. So while it lasts... Why not enjoy it.
"hmhm Interesting theory. Actually I was like that... For a moment, I though maybe I was wrong." I chuckle, "sex maybe does bring on feelings like they show in our own cliché romcoms."
"well, now, you just confirmed my thoughts" I smile at him.
He is cute and... Smart and so clear in his opinions.
"well I think i have come to the right person finally" he sighs.
"Tris, I am not here to push you into anything, I am here to know you. It was just my opinion that i wanted to share. Because many girls don't like this thing about me. So don't you ever get pressured into anything. I just had to say it... I am sorry"
"I totally understand."
I smile at him for he was being honest. Ready to give me my space. Our views were same. I once believes that i would wait for the "one". But I had been so wrong. I should just enjoy it. Exploring myself, my likes and dislikes. Realisation about the complete lack of relationship between sex and emotion had hit me much earlier, when I thought my body was craving for Four Eaton. But when I was beneath him. He changed it for me. Turns out it was not true. It was some dumb heat of the moment thing that had made me feel that I was catching feelings. It was nothing but lust and desire. Eric just made my views a bit clear. And I was ready, to do what I have to. To explore my world around and not sit like a dumb bitch thinking about my non existant "the one".
"You never answered my question" I hear him.
I laugh.
"Okay i am so sorry to disappoint you but it's just the bedroom. What about you?" I ask.
He laughs as if the memory was very clear and pictures were hanging in front of him, "okay so one time, I was at this beach and this girl I was dating was with me. Apparently the porn we were watching was too much and well she pulled me up behind the rocks on the corner of the beach and that was it. 13 orgasms, 2 porn films and 3 hours later we got back home. God it was awesome. " he chuckles.
" I look at him. Too much detail Eric. " he made me feel comfortable. To talk about this. And i was.
We talked for a few more minutes before we decided to get back to stop Chris and Will from going too far with their PDA. And Eric dropped me home.
This was it.
I knew what I wanted.
I picked up my phone and a bit of doubt lingered in my mind. I pushed it back and clicked over Four's contact.
I texted him and stared at it for a couple of minutes.
"Do you want to do it again?"
(AN: Suggest songs for this chapter please. I was a bit lost on this one.)