Chapter 21

Saturday Night - Part 3

FOUR POV -

After I hang up the phone, I just lay in the dark and stare at the ceiling for a while with my hands behind my head. My thoughts drift back over our conversation and the things that I learned. The Lake House. She said yes to the Dance! She feels safe with me. She likes to stargaze.

Tris said she likes me for my honesty, but I haven't been honest with her.

I lie to her all the time.

She thinks that my mother is dead. The very first day I met her I led her to believe that and never bothered to correct her. Why should I? Everyone thinks my mom is dead. Marcus insisted on having a memorial service a year after she disappeared. When there were no new leads to her whereabouts, he said she must be dead. He ordered a headstone. I remember standing next to him in my suit. It was itchy wool and too tight because I'd had a growth spurt and he hadn't noticed until it was too late to get a new one. There was no hole in the ground, no one to bury as if it was a funeral. No, that day it was like we just planted a stone in the ground, and never talked about her again. After that day, whenever I mentioned mom he would beat me. After the fourth time, I never said her name out loud again. My friends didn't know me then, and they believe the lie Marcus has perpetuated that she is dead.

I lied to Tris tonight.

I wasn't late to the phone because Marcus was talking to me. I was two minutes late for my curfew tonight and he wanted to make sure I knew that wasn't acceptable. The lecture ended with him grounding me for a week. He threatened to change his mind about Tris and supporting our spending time together if it continued to have a 'negative impact on my behavior.'

My 'behavior'…what a joke...I am a 17 year old boy, who spent my entire Saturday helping my girlfriend's father with a DIY project, and left a Saturday night out with friends at 9:45 p.m. to make sure I had time to drop off the aforementioned girlfriend and see her safely in the house before being home at 10:32 p.m.

Two minutes late, and now I am grounded for a week. No hanging out with Tris or Zeke after school. No Thursday afternoon date. No Friday night pizza and dominoes. I am grounded until Saturday morning for deck building.

But I didn't tell her that. I didn't say a word. She went on and on about how she appreciates my honesty and I just lay here and lied to her again. What will she think of me when she learns the truth? Not just that I am grounded, but that I was grounded for being late for curfew. She will think I was late because we sat in the car too long, or because I waited for her to get inside the house.

Maybe she won't find out. How would she find out if I don't tell her? I'll just tell her I can't hang out on Thursday because I have to study or work on a group project. Friday night, I'll say my dad needs me for something, or the church youth group. I'll come up with something that keeps me busy on Friday. I have all week to work out the story. It will be ok. She doesn't have to know that I lied to her.

It's a good thing we aren't working on the deck project again tomorrow, I need to spend the afternoon on homework since I didn't do any today. I should talk to Tris and Will about making an anatomy study group. I should ask Will for his list of editorial topics for the paper. I should ask Zeke if he and Shauna want to double with me and Tris for the dance next month. I wonder who Uriah will ask? I wonder what Christina is going to do about her parents? I wonder what the Festival will be like. I wonder if Mrs. Prior will like me?

I wonder….when the sun came up? I must have fallen asleep and now the alarm is going off. I have to get up and get ready for church.

- Monday Morning -

I pull up to the house and watch as Tris jogs down to the curb and tosses her bag in the back. I feel my face match her grin.

"Are you always smiling on Monday mornings?" I ask.

"I don't usually. I'm just happy to see you this morning. Didn't you tell me the other night that Monday was your favorite day of the week?" She leans over and gives me a quick kiss before settling back to put on her seatbelt.

"Yes, I did say that." I can't help but watch her. I want to absorb every detail because I know I won't get much time with her this week.

"Well, then why poke at me when I'm happy to see you?"

"I'm not poking at you, Tris. I'm happy to see you too, why else would Monday be my favorite day of the week?"

"Awww. You don't mean that. It isn't because of me."

"Sure it is." I am amused that she doesn't have a comeback for that and just blushes a little and fusses trying to get her hair to stay behind her ears. I put the car in gear and we head off to school.

I said it on Saturday and I meant it, I wish that the drive to and from school took longer. Too soon we are parked and walking toward the school building. Tris holds my hand as we walk and swings it forward and back. We part ways in the lobby to go to our respective lockers before Spanish Class.

Zeke is waiting for me in the corner by my locker, "You two are seriously too sweet man, I almost can't take it," he says while grinning widely.

I smile back at my friend. I know he is happy for me and Tris, but I don't see why he has to tease me. "Shut up Zeke. How was the rest of your weekend?"

"It was good. Dad was home this weekend so we barbequed on Sunday and he set up the smoker. We had enough ribs to feed, well, to feed me and Uriah I guess because we pretty much killed them. I mean, I think mom and dad got a couple, but I know Uri and I must have eaten a full rack each."

I shake my head and smile at the very clear mental picture I have of them devouring ribs. "It's a wonder your mother didn't give one of you away to the circus. You must cost a fortune to feed!"

"Har har. Whatever man. It's alway a party at the Pedrad abode when papa is home, you know that. He said if he is off this coming weekend he will come and help us finish up the project over at Tris' house. I think he and Mr. Prior will get along just fine. They can keep Caleb busy while the three of us finish the actual work. How does that sound?"

"He wasn't that bad Zeke. Ease up. I don't want Tris thinking we don't like her brother."

"Four…" Zeke leans in and holds his hand up to his mouth to whisper behind his fingers as he continues, "We don't like her brother."

"I know that. I just don't want it to be obvious to Tris, okay? I still need her to like me, remember?"

"Fine. I'll be nice, but he better not ask me any more questions about the inner workings of a drill or reciprocating saw, okay?"

"Zeke, I make no promises on Caleb's account, but will try to run interference if he is there, okay?"

"You don't think he will be there?"

"Honestly, we didn't need his help last weekend. He was pretty much in the way, and didn't seem to be enjoying himself. I bet you ten bucks he finds a reason not to come."

"You're on! If you are right, we are spared the nerd king's presence. If I am right, I get ten bucks. It's a win-win for me."

"Alright. I gotta go or I'll be late to class. See you later, Zeke."

As I walk to Spanish class, I think about Caleb Prior. The guy is probably alright, somewhere deep down, I mean, he was raised in the same home, by the same parents with the same values as Tris was, but on the surface he is an arrogant, judgy prude disguised as a nerd. How is it that he and Tris are related? She is probably every bit as smart as he is, but she is just so much more down to earth and friendly and nice, and well, normal. I just need to show him that I meant everything that I said to him about my intentions with Tris. After some time goes by, maybe he will relax.

- Lunchtime -

Tris plops down in the empty seat next to me at our table. My physics class is in the corridor closest to the cafeteria so I am usually one of the first at the table. Today, Tris is earlier than usual and no one else is here yet. She has a huge grin on her face and her cheeks are flushed.

"Hi, what has you so happy, Tris? Your grin is wide enough to break your face."

"I am happy. I just got invited to a party on Friday night!"

"Oh yeah? Whose party?"

"I don't know him. He is a Senior on the football team. The party is after the game at his grandparents house."

I know it is ridiculous, but knowing another guy asked Tris to a party makes my stomach clench up. I have never been jealous over a girl before, but I also have never had a girlfriend before. This is new and uncharted territory for me. I don't want to overreact though, so I keep the smile on my face and ask about the party. "He? A Senior guy invited you to his party and you said yes?"

"Well, it wasn't like that. Relax, Tobias. He didn't invite me specifically, he invited everyone who was within earshot. It is a party. Everyone is invited."

I still don't like the feeling I have in my stomach, but I guess that is better than another guy asking out my girlfriend. I look back at her face and the twinkle of excitement in her eyes is very hard to resist. "You want to go."

"Of course I want to go. Don't you want to go?"

"No. Actually, I don't want to go."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to go because if it starts after the football game, I will have to leave before I can even get there. Having a curfew really sucks sometimes. I don't like always having to leave early. I will just sit this one out I think."

Crestfallen, she looks down at the food on her tray. "Oh. Ok, yeah that makes sense. I'm sorry, I didn't think about it. I was just excited to be invited to a Senior party. We don't have to go."

"Don't be silly, Tris. You should go. I am sure that Zeke and Shauna and Uriah will be going. You'll know lots of people, you should go."

"I don't want to go without you."

"That isn't fair, Tris. To you or to me. You know I have a strict curfew and it won't be worth me going. If I take you, it will just ruin your night too and I don't want that. Besides, this could be a good opportunity for you to hang out with your other friends."

"I guess you're right. It will just feel weird being there without you."

"You'll have fun. I'm sure of it. Just make sure you have a reliable ride home lined up. Zeke and Uriah sometimes drink at these parties, so have a backup plan if they are your ride. Promise?"

"I promise."

- After School -

TRIS POV -

Tobias dropped me off after practice and didn't linger. He said he had homework he had to get started on, some research paper for his PolySci class or something. I am trying really hard not to read anything else into it, or the fact he doesn't want to go to the party with me on Friday. I mean, I guess it makes sense that he wouldn't want to go if he couldn't stay, and it is a good idea for me to spend time with my other friends. It would keep Mom and Caleb happy, too. I just can't shake the feeling that there is more going on that he didn't tell me.

It is my turn to make dinner. Dad and I have settled into a schedule of me cooking Monday and Tuesday, him cooking Wednesday and Thursday, we order carryout on Friday, and wing it on the weekends. It seems to be working well enough so far.

I have chicken defrosting in the sink, and ZZ Ward playing on my phone. While I prep vegetables and wait for Dad to get home, I try to figure out the best approach to ask if I can go to the party. I got a little ahead of myself when I was so excited today at lunchtime. I need to make sure my dad will even let me go to this party. I don't know why, but I feel like Dad won't like the fact Tobias will not be going.

All through dinner, I make polite small talk with dad. I ask him about work, about his current projects and fellow team members he has mentioned in the past. I get him onto a pretty good tangent talking about his upcoming conference in Milwaukee. He and Marcus are teaching a seminar at the conference and Dad is very excited about it. His first major presentation since taking this new position in the Chicago office and he is ever willing to talk about how the presentation is coming along.

I am stalling. Why? He isn't likely to say no as long as I promise to be careful and home at a reasonable time.

Finally, as we are clearing plates and he takes mine from me I decide I can't stall anymore. I made dinner, he is on clean up duty. I turn back to him after I hand him my plate and say, "Dad, I've been invited to a party on Friday, after the football game. Is it okay if I go?"

Dad is somewhat distracted, adjusting the tap to warm and reaching under the cabinet for the dish soap, "You and Four are going to a party?"

"Not exactly. It will probably just be me and my other friends there."

"Four isn't going?"

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"His curfew. He doesn't want to go and have to leave early."

"Oh, I see. Maybe I can talk to Marcus about it, get his curfew relaxed?"

I rush to persuade him not to, "Dad! Please don't do that. I am sure he wouldn't want that. We have talked about the party already and he wants me to go. It will be a good chance for me to spend time with my other friends, don't you think? I just wanted to make sure you were okay with me being out late on Friday. I don't know what time the party will wind down, but I will be home by whatever time you want me here."

"You've never had a curfew before, Beatrice."

"I know, but I also never had these kinds of invitations back in Colfax. I think it is a good idea that we have a set time when you expect me home. I am fifteen. It makes sense that I should have a curfew."

The sink is full of warm water and bubbles. Dad shuts off the faucet and braces both hands on the counter, staring at the bubbles for a minute before he answers. "I am surprised, Beatrice. Pleasantly so. Four has been a good influence on you."

"You make it sound like I was bad before, Dad."

"No. I don't mean it like that. I mean that he has been a good example. I didn't choose my words well. I agree, you should have a curfew. I would like you home by midnight on weekend nights and 10:30 during the week. How does that sound?"

"Wow dad, that is really reasonable of you!"

"Well it is a party after a football game, so it won't really even get started until 10 or so."

"How do you know that?"

Hegives me a lopsided smile. "I was once a teenager myself, Beatrice."

His hands are all soapy, but I don't care. I give him a big hug. "Dad. Thank you."

"B-Tris. Sorry, honey I will remember the new name one of these days, I promise."

"It's okay Dad."

"How are you going to get to and from the party? I have gotten used to Four driving you."

"I don't know that yet. If you can drop me off at school for the game, then I can ride to the party with Zeke or Shauna and I imagine one of them can drop me off after. I'll have something arranged in the next couple of days and let you know who will be driving."

"Okay. Just remember, if you need me to come get you from the party, don't hesitate to call me."

"I will."

"I mean it. You need a ride, you call. I won't ask any questions."

"Thanks Dad."

"You're welcome Pumpkin."

"Dad? I don't mean to push my luck here, you've been really reasonable."

"What is it, Sweetie?"

"Why are you being so reasonable?"

"Like I said, I was a teenager once. I remember what it is like wanting to go out and do things, see things, attend parties, spend time with friends, and have a sweetheart. Your mom reminded me the other night when you and Four were out on the porch swing and it made me think. We were not much older than you and Four are now when we first started dating. You wouldn't know it to look at us now, but Pop was really hard on me when I was a teenager. He made me work for every minute I got with your mother, and I shouldn't tell you this, but we ended up sneaking around behind our parents' backs. I don't want to make Four work that hard. I don't want you guys feeling like you have to sneak around and lie to us. He is a good kid, you are a great kid, and I want to trust that you will be responsible and not take advantage of a long leash."

"Thanks Dad. I will do my best to not let you down."

"You won't let me down. Even if you make mistakes, I will always love you. I'm sorry you won't have your boyfriend with you at the party, but I am sure you will have a good time with your other friends."