Chapter 6

Four POV

Will was flirting with Tris when I sat down in Anatomy. I swear I heard him ask her out, sortof. Would teaching someone how to swim count as a date? My mind is wandering as I make my way back to the house after dropping Tris off. I go upstairs to make sure my shirt is ironed for dinner tonight and get started on my homework. It is only the second day of school, but I have questions to answer for Pre-cal and I have to read a chapter each for my History and PolySci classes. This is going to be a heavy homework semester it seems.

An hour later and all I have left is the History, so I take a break to get ready for dinner. I shower and shave before changing into dress clothes. We are going to the Country Club, so Marcus can show off his wealth and success to his junior colleague, I am sure. The fact that Tris and Mr. Prior will be there tonight both excites and frightens me. I am ashamed to admit how afraid I am of my father. It is so much better when he is dismissive. I would rather feel invisible and unworthy than to have his hyper focused attention on me. He sees every detail when he wants to. Most of the time he only looks to find fault; something that he can scold or berate me for later when we are alone. He is very careful to be pleasant and fatherly when we are in public. He is not careful when we are alone.

Dinner is supposed to be at 7:00 p.m., so at 6:00 p.m. I head downstairs to find my father. I don't know when he will want to leave, I just have to make sure that I am ready before he is. It will not do to keep Marcus waiting, especially not tonight.

He comes down the stairs ten minutes later and I stand for him to approve the shirt and slacks I have chosen to wear tonight. Dark grey dress slacks, black dress shoes, a dark blue button down shirt with a blazer the same color as the shirt, and a dark grey tie with a narrow white diagonal pinstripe. I feel like a fraud in these clothes, but all that matters is that Marcus thinks it suits the occasion. He looks me up and down as I stand before him, and he purses his lips slightly. He saw all of these items when I brought them home from the store a couple of weeks ago, but he has not seen me wear them yet. The dark blue shirt is more modern than he would have selected himself, I know, but I like that the color is just a few shades darker than my eyes. I have my father's eyes, but his are so cold at times that I forget they are the same. My mother always said she loved my eyes.

Marcus says nothing about what I am wearing, so it must meet with his approval, and he simply walks past me to pick up his keys. In the car on the way to The Club he is silent. I have nothing to say. When you're alone with Marcus, it is like being alone with a police officer: anything you say can and will be used against you.

Instead I think about Tris. What am I going to do about her? I think I could like her. I could want to be her boyfriend. I could definitely enjoy spending more time with her. I could happily never hear someone else try to ask her out, that is for sure! What was Will thinking, offering to teach her to swim. Who doesn't swim? I mean, she's 15 years old, how could she not know how to swim?

I have lost track of time and we are already pulling into the parking lot of The Club. The valet takes the keys from Marcus and I tug on the sleeves of my jacket to keep them from bunching at my shoulders. Marcus and I walk to the front door, where uniformed employees open the doors for us and wish Marcus a pleasant evening. I just follow in his wake like a faithful devotee. Mr. Prior and Tris are already here and sitting at a small table in the Lounge area. Tris looks amazing, she is in a shimmery light green blouse, like the color of the inside of a cucumber, that has long sheer sleeves and black trousers that make her look taller than she is, or maybe she is wearing heels tonight. The idea of Tris in heels gives me an odd flutter in my stomach, but I don't know why. She smiles at me when she sees us walk in, and I see her eyes widen slightly. Both she and her father stand up when we approach and we all walk to the seating hostess to give her the name for the reservation. No name is necessary, they all know who Marcus is here.

We are shown to a table near the window that overlooks a lake between the clubhouse and the golf course. It is not quite dark yet, but the fountain in the lake is illuminated from below, and the sun is setting off to the west. There are about fifty shades of pink and orange in the sunset right now, and it is quickly fading to blue and purple. I see Tris looking out the window with a far-off look on her face as I pull her seat out for her. She sits and I help to scoot it in for her before taking my own seat to her left, across from her father, and next to mine. She apologizes, "I am sorry, my mind was somewhere else. My art class today, we had an assignment to mix primary paint colors to make custom colors. We had to pick colors from things that were visible in the art room, and I was just wishing that I could have chosen the sunset tonight." She flushes a little as she explains.

Marcus is watching us intently and I feel a tiny stab in my stomach. What is he up to? I would feel so much better if I knew what his end-game was here. I don't want to drag Tris into whatever he has in mind, but I think I really do like her. I turn my head and look out the window for just a moment and say, "Tonight is a really good one."

The menus arrive and after the waiter has finished reciting the chef specials and taken drink orders, we are left alone again, the four of us. I feel the need to fill the silence, but I suspect it is not a good idea, so I keep my thoughts to myself as I look over the menu. The specials change from night to night, but the menu items only change seasonally. Marcus and I eat here a couple of times a month, so I am very familiar with the menu. I don't need to look it over, but I do need something to do with my hands right now. I am afraid my palms are sweating.

Tris POV

How did I not notice that Four has such dark blue eyes? That shirt he is wearing makes it so obvious, I find them very distracting. I keep sneaking glances at him when he is answering questions from my father. Poor Four, this must feel like an interrogation and not just a colleague dinner for our parents. If he hadn't let me in on the secret this morning, I would have absolutely known by now that my father sees him as a potential suitor. That sounds antiquated, even inside my own mind, but there is no other way to describe what is happening at the table right now. I am eating my risotto and watching my father interview Four. I swear the last ten minutes have been nothing but question and answer. I have to do something or he won't have a chance to eat his dinner. What can I say that will turn the tables for a few minutes? "Mr. Eaton, I wanted to thank you for suggesting to my dad that I ride to school with Four. It has been nice these last two days to have a friend, and riding the bus is not exactly conducive to meeting people."

Mr. Eaton smiles and responds, "You are very welcome, Beatrice. I know that Tobias and I are happy to be of help to you. How are you settling into your classes? I understand you have two classes together."

"Yes Sir. We have Spanish 2 and Anatomy together. The first and last class each day."

"What are your other classes, Beatrice?" Hmm, I guess it is my turn to answer questions now.

"Besides those two, I have Geometry, English, Biology, History and Art. I have tryouts tomorrow, and I hope I will make the girls soccer team. I played at my old school and had expected to be a starter this year."

"Impressive indeed. You are clearly gifted to have placed out of an entire year of foriegn language and to select such a lofty elective, I am impressed."

"Thank you Sir. I like knowing how things work. As for the soccer team, we will see." I shrug my shoulders and say, "Four introduced me to Shauna McKenzie today in Spanish. She is the goalie and she in turn introduced me to the two captains from last year. I am hopeful that tryouts will go well tomorrow."

I glance to the side to see my dad watching me and smiling. He looks proud of me, which feels good. I know he loves me, but I have always been closer to Mom and Caleb has always been closer to Dad. Maybe this time is an opportunity for the two of us to become closer.

Four POV

Dinner passes pleasantly enough and after the dads order cognac, they suggest that Tris and I take a walk out to the patio to admire the view.

Summarily dismissed, we get up and make our way outside. I feel awkward, but Tris doesn't seem to mind. There is a slight hint of Autumn on the air, and with the breeze and the fine mist from the fountain, Tris shivers on the way to the railing. I take off my blazer and offer it to her, "Here. Put this on, there is no need for you to get chilled. I have no idea how long they're going to make us stay out here." I say, glancing back toward the window where I know my father is sitting, no doubt watching my every move.

"Thank you." She says as I settle my jacket around her shoulders. "You make it sound like you don't want to be out here with me." She turns and looks out over the lake and the fountain.

I lean my forearms on the railing of the deck, and sigh. "No, that isn't it at all. Believe me. I just don't like how obvious they are being, trying to push us together. I am glad that I told you the truth this morning, but after sitting at that table for the last hour, I am sure you would have figured it out."

"Yes. My father is as proud as can be, though I don't know why. I am sure this was your father's idea. My dad has never once shown an interest in my love life. It was always my mom asking about boys from school."

"Did you leave someone behind at your old school?" I am not sure what I want her answer to be. If she does in fact have a boyfriend back in Colfax, then I don't have to worry about her being sucked into whatever scheme Marcus is working up, but at the same time, that would mean that she isn't interested in me. The more time I spend with her, the more I wish that I could have made this choice freely.

"Me? Oh no. Not a boyfriend anyway. I left friends and teammates, and I do miss them, but it's not the same."

"I imagine not." We are both quite for a few minutes just watching the fountain and the clouds pass in the breeze.

Tris brings up a new subject, trying to get conversation going again. "Will said he was on the baseball team with you."

"He is, he plays shortstop. He also swims, as I am sure you know. I overheard him offering to teach you to swim." I must have not hidden the smirk from my voice, because Tris gets very quiet.

"He offered to help me when I told him that I don't swim very well. I think he was trying to be kind."

"He may have been trying, but he was also definitely trying to get his arms around you in a pool of water."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"He was asking you out, Tris. It's a tactic we use sometimes. We find out that a girl we like needs help with something we are good at, and it is the perfect opportunity to spend time with her one on one, and maybe get your arms around her."

"Hmm, this has been a very strange day for me."

"Why is that?"

"Well, if you count yourself, and our meddling fathers, I have been propositioned three times today."

I am still leaning on the deck railing, and not expecting those words at all. I raise my eyebrows and look at her pointedly sideways through my eyelashes. "Who else?"

"Oh it's not important. Al asked me if I'd like to go see a movie this weekend, that's all. I told him that I am going to visit my mom this weekend and that maybe next weekend we can all go see a movie as a group. I hope that I got my point across without hurting his feelings or embarrassing him."

"So you don't want to go out with Al. What about Will?"

"No. I don't. They both seem nice, but like I told you this morning, I have only been at this school for two days. I don't really know anyone. I don't really have any friends. I don't want to get pigeonholed into a relationship that I might later regret because I rushed into it before I knew the guy."

"That is smart." I concede, "Listen Tris, what you said before about us. You are right. Our dads can want whatever they want, it doesn't have to change our decision. I am happy spending time with you, but I need you to tell me what you want when you want it. I have no experience with this."

"And you think I do?"

"I just assumed…" My voice dies out in my throat and my ears are burning. I am so glad it is dark out here and she can't see me blushing right now.

Tris steps back from the railing and turns to face me directly with a challenge in her eyes, "What exactly did you assume, Tobias?" She says sharply. "I have never had a boyfriend. I have never been on a date. I have never even been asked out before today, and today it happened three times over, sortof. Not that ANY of that is any of your business."

Embarrassment follows quickly on the heels of relief, "I am sorry. I assumed you had dated at your last school, because you seem so confident and popular now. That's all, I swear!" I am back pedaling now, and she knows it.

"Four, I am not confident or popular. I have no friends here. You only think I do because Uriah knows eight-thousand people and made sure to introduce me to half of them yesterday. I am the new kid, the anomaly, nothing special, and when everyone realizes how unremarkable I am, it will all go back to normal. I might still be special for being the only Sophomore in Spanish 2, for making the varsity soccer team, or for my stellar work on the yearbook staff, but otherwise I will fade into the background like I always have. No one will notice me, they never do."

The breeze has blown a few tendrils of her hair across her face and I find them very distracting. I reach out slowly, hesitantly, and tuck them behind her ears one by one and I wonder if she realizes she just called me Tobias. When all her hair is tucked back behind her ears, I have no choice but to drop my hands. I look at them for a moment, then glance back up to search her eyes in the light of the fountain and say quietly, "I think you are wrong about that. Would you do me a favor, Tris?"

I don't know when I stepped closer to her, but when she looks up at me, she has to lean her head back to see my face, "Sure, what can I do?"

"Would you call me Tobias? It feels good to hear my name again, when you say it anyway, but just when we are alone if you don't mind?"

She looks at me for a long moment, considering. I wonder if she will ask me what I mean, because she has heard my father call me Tobias all night. But she doesn't ask; she simply nods and says, "Yes, I can do that." She smiles and turns to look at the fountain again.

"One more thing, Tris?"

"Sure. What is it, Tobias?

"Don't say that you don't have any friends here. You have me. No matter what ideas our dads are hatching back there, I am your friend." I smile and gently nod my head back toward the dining room.

Tris POV

My dad is humming along to the song on the radio and barely keeping time by tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. He is so happy, I can't help but smile. He turns his head and sees me smiling, "Honey, did you have a good time tonight?"

"I did, yes. Marcus, I mean, Mr. Eaton, isn't what I expected. He doesn't look anything like Four except they have the same eyes. What is he like to work for Dad?"

Andrew shrugs his shoulders. "Marcus? He is a lot like he was tonight at dinner, quiet and observant, then authoritative and demanding. When he speaks it is usually impactful, and he expects excellence in all things. I think you really impressed him tonight."

"You think so? Hmm. I guess that is a good thing. Gone are the good ole days of the trophy wife, now you need a trophy kid! What did you think of dinner, and of Four? You were pretty hard on him, you know."

"Me? Why do you say that? I have a right to get a feel for the young man my daughter is spending time with, don't I?"

"Of course you do, Dad, but normally you'd have conducted your interrogation BEFORE you agreed to him driving me to school. You agreed to that idea because Marcus suggested it, didn't you? Why is it so important to you that he likes you, and how do I factor into it?"

"It's not like that Sweetie, he is my boss, my supervisor, but we have been with the company the same number of years. I don't like feeling inferior to him. I let my pride rest on his good opinion, and now that you make me think about it - I put you in the middle of it, in a potentially very awkward situation. Tell me the truth, do you want to ride the bus instead of carpooling with Four? If you do, just tell me. I will make excuses to Marcus."

"Thanks Dad, but I don't think that is necessary. I like Four. He has been very kind to me, and I would like to continue riding with him to school as long as he also wants me to ride with him. I don't think his dad gave him a choice either."

"Ok, the next time I get ahead of myself like this, please tell me. Your mom is usually the voice of reason in this family. I miss her. She is going to be so mad at me!"

"Speaking of Mom, can I go visit her this weekend? I can take the train easily enough."

"You'll take your schoolwork with you? The return train from Bloomington doesn't get in until late on Sunday."

"Yes, I promise to take my books and complete any weekend homework. I can do most of it on the train I bet, or before we go to the station."

"Alright, I'll check with your mom and make sure she doesn't have to work."

"Thanks Dad." I turn back to face the road. We are almost to our neighborhood now and my mind is wandering back to the conversation I had with Tobias by the lake. I feel like something has shifted with us, but I can't really put my finger on it. He is my friend, he said so….it's what he didn't say that keeps tugging at the edges of my mind. He didn't say that he wanted out of our Dad's scheme when he found out about it. He didn't say he doesn't want me to go out with Al or Will. Could he possibly want to go out with me, to date me, to be more than friends? If so, then what was that thing this morning with Shauna at the end of Spanish?

Oh, I hope that mom doesn't have to work this weekend. I really need to talk all this through with someone who knows more than I do.

Four POV

In the car ride home, Marcus is quiet. I can't tell if this is good quiet, or he will explode when we get home quiet, and it is making my stomach churn the closer we get to the house.

After fifteen minutes of silence, Marcus comments "You did well this evening. I am surprised by Beatrice. She is quite lovely. You and Andew didn't do her justice. She wants a bit of polish, but that will come with age and experience. I am sure she suffers without her mother here."

"Yes sir. She has said that she misses her mother and wants to visit her this weekend."

"Giving her your jacket was inspired. I didn't think you had it in you to be so gallant. However did you think of it?"

"I saw her shiver when we were walking toward the railing. It wasn't a contrived action."

"Tobias, you will do well to keep your too-soft heart and emotions out of your relationship with Beatrice. If you are foolish and fall in love with her, she has power over you, and you have handed your enemies a tool to use against you. Remember that you must always maintain control, and keep the upper hand in every relationship."

"Yes sir." The churning in my stomach intensifies. I wonder if this philosophy developed after my mom left, or if he was always like this: cold and calculating, incapable or simply unwilling to just love or be loved. I don't dare ask though. I can't afford to provoke him.

When we get home, I head upstairs to change and to finish my homework. An hour later I am laying in bed and thinking of Tris.