Chapter 4

TRIS POV

I let myself in the front door and drop my keys in the bowl. Four waits until I am inside before he leaves; he will be back in an hour or so. As I head upstairs to drop my backpack and change into running clothes, I hear my phone ding with a text message.

Mom- Call me when you get home. I want to hear all about your first day before I go on shift.

I call her back when I get to my room.

"Hi sweetie, that was fast!" I didn't expect you to be home yet."

"Oh, yeah. I guess even with the stop it's faster than the bus."

"What is faster than the bus?"

"Riding with Four."

"I don't understand. What's Four?"

"Not a what, a who," I chuckle. "I take it you haven't talked to Dad today? He set me up with a ride to and from school with his co-worker's son. His name is Four."

"Like the number?"

"Exactly like the number; it's a nickname."

"I see. Tell me about this boy."

I sit down on my bed and start unlacing my chucks. "I don't know all that much about him yet Mom. He seems nice. Dad says Marcus says he is a good student, on the paper and he's on one of the teams at school. He is a junior and I saw him this weekend when I was running, but of course I didn't know who he was at the time. He is in my Spanish 2 class, or I am in his class I suppose. I am the only sophomore in the class, so it was nice to see a familiar face. After school he stopped so I could get colored pencils. He came into the store with me but something happened. He was really upset, but trying to hide it."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know how to describe it Mom. It was like he was OK, then he went pale and almost grey. He shut down, not literally, but it was like someone closing the shutters on a house. All the light went out of him. When I got out to the car, he was a little better but said he didn't want to talk about it, so I still don't know what happened."

"Hmm, that is strange, but you can't force him to tell you what caused his reaction. Whatever it was, he has a right to his privacy."

"I know. I didn't pry or anything. I just, well, I invited him to go running with me. I don't know why I did that. I wasn't planning to do it, and then the words were out and I couldn't take them back."

"What did he say?"

"He should be here in a half-hour or so to walk with me to the lake path."

"Then it sounds like you said the right thing. How was the rest of your day?"

I launch into a re-cap of the day for the next thirty minutes, then have to get off the phone to change clothes and pull some ground turkey out of the freezer. Four will be here any minute. Something makes me believe he is always on time.

FOUR POV

I drive slowly to my house after leaving Tris. I waited until she was safely inside before I put the car in gear and now I'm just sitting in the car in the driveway. I have to go inside. Marcus won't be home for at least an hour. I have no idea how to go about making a girl like me. Surely almost having a panic attack in front of her is a step in the wrong direction. Tris surprised me by being so understanding. She didn't look disgusted or freaked out, just concerned, and she didn't ask me any questions except whether I was alright. Why did I agree to run with her tonight? God knows I need the release, my emotions are way too close to the surface right now. I will never be able to hide them from Marcus. But why did I say yes? Surely she is going to want to know what happened at the store. What can I tell her?

I told the truth when I said Mom was gone. But the way I said it, implied that my mom is dead. Do I let her believe that or do I tell her the real truth - that she just left and we don't know where she is or if she is even still alive? No. I'm not sure why, but I don't want her to know that. Yet. I don't want anyone to know.

I haven't had a meltdown over Evelyn in nearly six years. It has been eight since she disappeared. No signs of fowl play… I can still hear the detective downstairs relaying facts and leads to Marcus. He never bothered to tell me. All I know is that my mother got in her car one day to go to work, but never showed up. They found her car in a parking lot across town with the keys locked inside. None of her things were missing except the blue glass sculpture.

That is why I know she left. It wasn't an accident. She wasn't forced. And she isn't coming back. She took that hunk of glass, but she left me behind. With Marcus.

A nine year old boy is no match for a man. Especially one with Marcus' temper.

Over the last eight years I have learned how to appease him, how to anticipate his needs and wants, to gauge his mood and react accordingly. Now the beatings are worse, but less frequent. Now the punches and kicks are delivered on the backs of snide comments and condescending judgement. He bruises and batters my soul instead of my body now, well most of the time. The last time he used his belt on me was two months ago. It was the week of July 4th, after I had been with the Pedrads for a barbeque. I lost track of time and it was almost dark by the time I made it home and Marcus wanted to teach me a lesson about responsibility and respect...if he only knew how little respect I have left for my family, he would kill me trying to instill it.

No one knows what really goes on inside this house, except perhaps my mother. Now that I am older and can see him for what he is, I suspect my mother suffered at Marcus' whim before she left. This makes it so much harder, knowing she KNEW what she left me to face alone. A nine year old boy, alone with a monster. How could a mother do that to her only child?

I shake my head to dispel the old memories and feelings then check the clock. I need to change if I want to be on-time back to Tris' house. I pen a note and leave it on the kitchen table for Marcus, explaining where I am and what time I expect to be back. Maybe he won't mind if I am with Tris.

I knock on Tris' front door at five minutes to 5:00 p.m. She opens the door smiling and I can't help but notice how her running shorts show off her toned legs and narrow waist.. She looks strong, and fast. She is still in her bare feet and holding a pair of socks so she ushers me into the family room while she finishes getting ready.

"I was on the phone with my mom and I lost track of time. Now I'm running behind - no pun intended." She chuckles at her bad joke.

"No worries. I was early anyway." I look around the room taking note of the family photos and how welcoming the room feels. My house is not like this. "Listen, Tris… about before, when we were in the store and.." I fade off, floundering for how to say what I want to say without saying too much, but there is no need.

She just shakes her head slowly and looks up from tying her shoes, "No worries" she calmly gives my words back to me. "You don't have to explain. I was worried about you, and confused at the time, but I realize now it is none of my business. We barely know each other. It hasn't even been 12 hours yet since we met, and I am pretty sure that was a moment you wish NO ONE had seen. I won't push you to explain, but if you decide at some point that you want to confide in someone, I am willing to listen or help if I can."

I just nod. Words are not possible right now. I don't trust what would come out if I open my mouth. What is it about this girl that makes me want to tell her everything, when I know I can't tell her anything? How does she have such a read on me?

I follow Tris to the back of the house and she grabs a single key to tuck into the side of her sports bra after locking the door. I try (and fail) to not think about that key as we walk toward the lake.

Andrew Prior POV

Driving home from work, I pull into my driveway and there is a boy walking away from the side door of the house. I wonder if that is the Eaton boy. If it is, what is he doing here now? He should have dropped Beatrice off hours ago. I shut off the car and collect my briefcase and jacket from the passenger seat. As I step out of the car, I am surprised to see that the boy is still standing there at the side of the driveway.

He steps forward with only a slight hesitation and extends his hand. "Good evening Mr. Prior. I am Four Eaton. Tris and I just came back from a run around the lake."

He stands perfectly still and makes eye contact with me while speaking. Well that is something of a rarity among young men these days The interns in our office certainly haven't mastered it. "Hello, Four is it?" I say as I step forward and shake his hand.

"Yes sir. My first name is Tobias, but only my father calls me that. Everyone else uses my nickname, Four, sir." His shake is firm but not overly drawn out. Good. Some boys don't know how to shake a hand, but this one, he acts so much more like a man. He looks so much older than my Beatrice. I hope I made the right decision about carpooling.

"Ah, okay Four. Thank you for driving Tris. I didn't have a chance to meet you this morning before school. No matter. We will have plenty of time to get to know one another tomorrow at dinner. Your father has invited us to join you at The Club tomorrow night."

"Yes sir. I will see you tomorrow night then. Have a good evening, sir."

I watch the boy turn and continue walking toward the sidewalk at the edge of the street, then turn myself to go into the house. When I walk into the kitchen, I stop in the doorway to the mudroom and stare. Tris is at the stove making turkey bolognese and bouncing a little to the music playing from her phone on the table. I can't help but smile to myself as I watch her. I haven't seen her dance in ages, but tonight she seems to be happy. This move has not been easy for her, but she has barely murmured a complaint. It is nice to see her in a good mood. I hang my keys on the hook by the back door and walk into the kitchen. I put my briefcase down, kiss Tris on the cheek and say, "Dinner smells good, thank you for getting it started." I wait a beat then continue, "I met Four outside." Watching carefully for her reaction. Could he be the reason she is in such a good mood tonight?

"Yes? We just got back from a run around the lake."

Hmm, no hesitation and not much of a response. I wish Natalie was here, she is so much better at seeing the things that I miss. "He said that too. Very polite boy, Marcus was right. I am glad you seem friendly and finally have a running partner. We have been invited to join them for dinner tomorrow night. A nice break from cooking. Now, give me the spoon and tell me how your first day went?"

Four POV

As I make my way the two blocks to my house, I think back over the events of the day. I was pleasantly surprised this morning to find that Tris was the girl from the lake this weekend. This afternoon, I was even more pleasantly surprised to see how fast she is. I had fully intended to take it easy, expecting that with her small frame and shorter legs than mine, she would have a hard time keeping up, or keeping up for distance, but that was not the case. She would be an excellent addition to the cross country or Track teams if she doesn't make the soccer team.

I was looking forward to our run, for some reason being around her is very soothing to me. I hadn't recognized it during my narrowly avoided panic attack this afternoon, but she is probably the reason I was able to come down so quickly, and completely. I feel perfectly fine now. No jitters, no nausea, no pent up anxiety. She helped me, and she doesn't even know that she did it. Her simple offer to run with her sometime was like a lifeline being thrown to a man treading water.

Back at my house, I jog up the steps to the back door and hang my keys on the hook, place my shoes in the cubby under the bench, and I hear Marcus warn against tracking in dirt. I smile to myself and call back that I won't as I wipe my socks off on the mat. Well, at least he is consistent.

"Hi Dad." I say as I walk into the kitchen. "I am going to take a quick shower and then can get dinner started. I will be back in fifteen minutes."

"Very well. You can tell me about your day when you come back. Did you forget your course catalogue?"

"No sir, I will bring it down with me."

I start the water for the shower and catch my reflection in the mirror. I look much more relaxed than I should after this afternoon. I was right about the run with Tris helping. Marcus also looked relaxed. I wonder what he saw in my face, and once again I wonder about what his scheme is as I reach for the shower door.

Fifteen minutes later I am peeling carrots as a pot of rice cooks and some shrimp are thawing in a bowl of water on the counter. Marcus is sitting at the kitchen table with a scotch and looking over the course catalogue for a class I should take instead of Study Hall. I can't help but feel tense. He never sits in here while I make dinner, and having him behind me makes my stomach clench. The feeling of peace and relief I felt before my shower is gone now.

"Tobias, I can't believe there are so few meaningful electives being offered. What is that school teaching, really?" he sneers as he takes another sip from his glass. "The only suitable options that don't completely disrupt your schedule are either Music or Anatomy. Music is rather bouchoise in highschool, so I want you to transfer into the Anatomy class. It will be good if you go pre-med in college."

It is a good thing I am facing away because Marcus would question the expression on my face if he could see it. That must be the Anatomy class that Tris is in last period. What are the odds that I would have two classes with her? But, I don't say anything. Sometimes Marcus will intentionally take things away from me if he knows that I want them. I have to remain neutral.

"Yes sir."

"Over dinner I would like to hear your progress with Beatrice."

"Yes sir. Dinner should be ready in 30 minutes."

"Fine. I'll be in my study."

Dinner is usually a relatively quiet affair. Marcus talks and if he asks me questions, I try to answer them as succinctly as possible. Tonight is different. I feel as if I am in uncharted territory. He wants to hear everything about my interactions with Beatrice today. He refuses to call her Tris, just as he refuses to call me Four. He asks me several follow up questions about our conversations, and thinks it is remarkable that we have a class together. I had to admit to him that I think she is also in the Anatomy class. Nothing good will come if he thinks I knew and intentionally kept it from him. He is especially encouraged that we went running together. I feel the need to gently remind him that Beatrice/Tris may not be interested in me as more than a friend. She may not want a boyfriend.

"Nonsense! What girl doesn't want a boyfriend? Especially a popular, athletic, smart, upperclassman with a car? You have to make her want to be with you. It seems you are doing well even if it is by accident. You need to focus and hone your strategy. We will have dinner with the Priors tomorrow, they are coming to The Club. I don't have to tell you how important it is that you behave well while we are there. I am keen to see this girl for myself. Andrew says she is pretty, but I don't trust the word of a father. What is she like?"

I take a sip of water to stall a moment and think about how to answer that question, "She is pretty. Petite, with long dark blonde hair, blue-grey eyes, athletic build but femenine. She is smart and polite, and observant. She seems kind and considerate. I am sure I will have more insight after I have known her a little longer."

"What did she wear to school today?"

"Wear? Um, she wore dark jeans, a green shirt that said 'hope' on it in script and she had a light jacket of some sort, and little silver earrings." I answer, though the question confuses me. I feel like this is a test. For me or for Tris I am not sure, but we must have both passed because Marcus asks no more questions, and dismisses me to clean up the kitchen.