AN: Another update 4 uuuu. This chapters useless shout out is Favorite: TheProfoundNight! If you want to win this prestigious honour Favorite the story.
Leather jackets, leather pants and leather boots, I seriously wonder just how much leather one person can own. These people definitely had a style, almost everything was black or distressed. But it's cool, it feels powerful and secret.
"Hey, need any help" A voice asks. I quickly turn to face a petite woman with straight black hair. I feel as though she's come to remove me, as if she figured out, I don't belong here. Her small, dark, angular eyes narrowed down on me before resolving into a smile, when she smiles the corners of her eyes crinkle.
She's small and looks kind but tough. "Yeah" I respond, "I'm in need of an update" I motion down to my poor ensemble.
"You don't say" She said with a critical eye.
"It's the best I have" I said exasperated, this made her eyes smile.
"Normally you don't ask here" she said hesitantly, "but your young, why are here at 2:30 in the morning?" Now that's a tricky question. In any other place I feel my 'escaping from my strict parents by coming alive at night' wouldn't go down to well, but I get the feeling she wouldn't really care.
"Well, these are the best clothes I have, and I think that tells you all you need to know about my parents" She once more assesses my plain runners and grey hoodie.
"Stiffs?" she questions. Ahh stiffs, a name Eric and many others call mine and a few other families. Whilst we are not exactly 'known' around town, we are known for our selfless lifestyle. The dull clothing and act of 'losing yourself' or being selfless is usually good indicators of a 'stiff'. It's not particularly a word I like.
"Was it really that obvious?" I joke with a bit of a smirk.
"So, I have a runway stiff?" she questions to herself "How life repeats itself" she laughs, I wonder what she means by that. "I'm Tori by the way" she offers out her hand. In many ways 'Beatrice' feels wrong.
I extend my hand to hers "I'm Tris" I say shaking her hand.
"Come on, I'm sure I've got something for you" she motions me further into the store.
She pulls out a couple of options, very nice clothes, black shirts with mesh and patterns, that are designed to hug the body just right. The first thing I look at is the price, which is way out of my tiny budget. "These are great, but there's no way I can afford these" I say.
She thinks for a moment "Look Tris, I like you, I'll give you the employee discount" she said.
"Really that's.."
"and you can pay me back when you start working here" she cuts me off. Work here?!
"Tori there is no way I'll get my parents to allow me to work in The Pit." I emphasise. They would rather I jump off the roof.
"You'll be fine, plus I own the Tattoo Parlour on the third floor and It's swamped, I could use some help around here" she said whilst she continues to nonchalantly find clothes, her back to me.
I move to the other side of the rack she's at so I'm fully facing her. "As much as I want that there is no way I'll be allowed".
"It'll be fine" she says turning around to another rack. "I'll give you shifts straight after school, you don't have to tell them your working here. OH, this is nice." she gets side tracked pulling out a studded shirt. "Just tell them you want to make money to give to charity or something".
Hu, lying to my parents, it could work.
She seemed to take my silence as acceptance "Great, it's settled" she said once more turning to face me. "I'll just have to grab your cell number".
I just painfully smile and shrug.
"Seriously stiff you don't have a phone!" she says.
I leave Tori's store with a small assortment of new clothes; a job and she was even kind enough to give me her old phone. It's an old model but It's one of the first things that's mine and just mine and I'm extremely grateful.
It's four am now and I'm rounding the street home, I feel I'm about to pass out from exhaustion.
Before I get to sleep, I hid all of my new possessions. I don't need people finding them.
Ms Mathews face was looking even blurrier today, I think It my late nights were really taking a toll on me. I almost fell asleep in class; a class room desk has never looked comfier.
The bell rang and I let out a yawn. It was hell trying to force my body out of a sitting position. I throw my books in my locker and cut across the quad to get to the cafeteria. As I'm walking out in the open, I feel a hand sling around my shoulder and start walking at my pace.
"Hey Cake girl" Uriah energetically says, hanging off my shoulder.
I'm too tired and irritable to deal with this "Funny I'm not sure I remember approving that nickname" I say. Ok maybe too harsh. "I'm Tris" I say.
"Well then Trissy poo..." he responds with his boyish charm.
I stare daggers, screw trying to be nice. "Unless you know some where good to nap go annoy someone else". He just laughs off my rude attitude, his laugh has an infectious quality, I've only spoke to him once and he's easy to get along with.
"Actually…" he begins "you've come to the right person" and quickly pulls me off too right. I don't even try to tell him he's the one who came up to me. I'm too tired to fight him off and I strangely trust he's not planning on murdering me.
Five minutes later we're in front of a random hallway door. "Wow a door!" I say sarcastically I reach out to open it but its locked. "ohh and its locked!".
"Ha-ha you sure are grumpy when tired" he reaches out to the handle and turns it upward "Pro-tip" he says as the door pops open.
Inside is a few a book shelves and a couch. I look down at the couch, my body is aching to lie down on it.
"Its an old storage room, not many know its here and even less know about the handle trick. You should be able to have a decent nap." He steps aside allowing me to walk in.
I turn to Uriah ecstatic "I could almost hug you!".
He smirks "I'm not stopping you" he smirks, a shameless flirt.
"I said almost" I quip.
I go to lie down on the couch it envelops my body. He turns to leave the room "Uriah, thank you" even with his back to me I can see his smile.
