Coppercurls

by an anonymous geek

A/N: I just want to thank the two nice reviewers who left positive reviews, the first two totally positive reviews I've ever received. You made my day!

disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Chapter Two

Tris was sleeping peacefully when she heard someone calling her name. At first she thought it was part of her dream, but then she opened her eyes to see a man standing next to her bed. She was completely surprised and confused.

"Tris."

Tris stifled a laugh when she realized it was just Briar. "I'm up. I'm up," she said drowsily.

"You'd better be. Everyone's waiting for you downstairs."

After Briar left the room, Tris changed out of her nightclothes into a plain dark green dress, and shoved on her glasses as she walked downstairs. As soon as she got to the bottom of the stairs, she saw that everyone had already started eating.

"Thanks for waiting for me," she mumbled sarcastically. She took her old seat next to Briar and ladled some porridge into her bowl. She did not take too much, because she was on a diet, and she was pleased to realize that it was finally paying off. Tris looked over to Briar to see that he was no longer shoveling food into his mouth like he used to .

"All those years with Rosethorn really taught you manners, didn't they?" she asked Briar, waiting for some rude retort from him.

Instead of answering, he just looked over at her and smiled. She smiled weakly back at him and quickly turned away. When he had smiled, it had made her simply melt inside, but she surely did not want him to know that. Rather than staying there and letting everyone find out what was bothering her - since the four had a special connection with each other, and she as sure that everything was so evident in her face - she quickly excused herself from the table. She needed some time to think.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Briar wondered at Tris's strange behavior as she left the room. Had he done something to offend her? Once he had smiled at her, her face had turned pale, then pink, and she looked away and excused herself from the table. This confused him immensely. She's probably just still a little tired from her journey back here, he told himself, but he wasn't too sure that was what was ailing Tris.

He finished his breakfast and stood up and started clearing his dishes off the table. Soon everyone started doing the same. He saw Rosethorn look around.

"Where's that girl gone to now? Boy, fetch her and tell her to come down." The stern, but beautiful woman looked around the room at the occupants of the cottage. "Just because you're older now doesn't mean you can be excused from your chores. Sandry, you'll be doing. . ."

Rosethorn's voice faded away as Briar walked upstairs to find Tris. He walked up to her room and knocked on her door. "Tris? Coppercurls? Are you in there?"

No answer.

When he opened her door, expecting to find her staring out the window dreaming away like she used to, he found her room empty.

"Tris," he used his mind to contact her. "Where are you?"

"Up on the roof. What do you want?"

"Rosethorn says to come downstairs so we can commence cleaning. I'd do as she tells you. She still used the threat of hanging you in the well."

Cutting off their connection, Briar walked downstairs and back into the kitchen to see what he was needed to do.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

okay, I know, I know. This is a really short chapter. But I can't think of what to do next! I would be able to update sooner if you guys would give me some ideas. You can review or email me at lightninggirl21@yahoo.com. So, I need ideas! Please!!!!!