A/N: Hey readers! My life has been pretty busy lately. If you couldn't tell since I haven't updated in a while. I won't point any fingers or name any names, but when you review telling me to update faster, it's not gonna happen. I update and write when I can. I'm so busy this summer, like damn. Anyway, without further ado, here is the next chapter…

Drowning Eyes

Tris POV

Blue eyes. Deep blue eyes. Enough to penetrate into your soul. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I can't get those eyes out of my head. It makes me wonder who he is…

"-think? Ms. Prior?" I look up and feel a blush grow on my neck and begin to crawl up to my cheeks.

"Ahem- sorry. What were you asking?"

"We were asking about what you thought of these designs for the cover of your newest book."

I look them over closely. Then up at the people sitting around me.

"Where's Logan?"

"What do you mean ma'am?"

"Where is the artist who designed these? I'll go over the drawings when the artist is present. The book release can wait for that. I will not make any decisions until then."

"Alright. Any other concerns?" They really get on my nerves. With their posh attitudes and rich ways. I doubt they've ever known real struggle, other than deciding which wine to get for what occasion. Then again, it doesn't really matter what I think.

"No. Thank you. I think that's it for now." I watch as they begin to relax back into their rich attitudes. I watch for a while as they sip their expensive wine and eat their expensive salads or steaks, making sure not to get a drop or dribble on their expensive clothes. "I'm sorry but you'll have to excuse me, I have some work to get done and I think I'd be better able to concentrate in my hotel room. Thank you for this little lunch get together." With that I get up and retrieve my things before heading towards the door.

"Drew, wait!" I turn around and see my agent quickly closing the distance I've made between me and the table, quickly remembering I usually have everyone call me by my added middle name.

"Hey Matthew. What's up?" I ask him ditching the formal language mostly.

"I saw you make your escape and figured it was a good idea to make mine as well."

"Ah right. I can't believe them. It's only 2 and they're already beginning to get drunk. Not to mention the lengths of those stupid meetings when we literally only talk about actual material for maybe 45 minutes. The meeting started at 10am. It's 2!" We laugh for a while as we continue walking. Matt is understandable of my crappy humor and brash comments.

We continue to walk around New York until we reach the crossroads between my direction and his. Since he lives in New York, he has an apartment closer to the office. I don't need to stay in New York that often, but I do own an apartment and stay there when I do come. Vacation or work. A vacation to New York doesn't seem all that grand, and it isn't not really, but it's enough for me. My apartment isn't as close to our main office/ workplace because I like to walk a lot and always take the longer routes.

"Ya know what? It's only 4:30. I think I'll head to the workplace to see if Logan is in or anything. Or just see if I have any messages since I last came." I tell Matthew as we continue on our way together. As we are walking I look around us at the peaceful chaos that is New York. Most people wouldn't describe it that way, but I'm not most people.

"Here we are. Are you coming up Matthew?"

"I think I will. Just to make sure my office is locked and everything."

We walk into the building and get on the elevator as the doors open and the crappy music starts. It's not a long way up. Just a few floors. When we get to our floor I see that Logan is there through the glass walls that separates the hallway from his design office.

"Hey Logan! It's good to see you. I didn't know if you'd be here or not. How have you been?"

"Oh hey! I've been good. Still working at the science museum and Brian is doing good too. I've actually got to meet him for dinner right now so I'll see you later. How long are you staying in New York for?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon. I'll see you later though." I watch as he leaves before going to Matthews office where he hid away to. Giving me time to talk to Logan without interrupting.

"Hey. Um… Drew. There's something I need to tell you."

"Ok. What's up? Is something wrong or anything?"

"Oh no! Nothing's wrong. I just- I" I wait patiently as Matthew tries to form what he wants to say. He's never been the most open about things. "I like you. I know it's wrong to like your boss but I do…"

"Matthew.… You're fine. I don't really feel the same way, but you're ok. Don't worry about it. It's not like I'm going to fire you or anything" I try some humor to break the I've a little and get a small laugh out of him.

"I understand. I hope I didn't change anything between us."

"Definitely not."

"Alright. Good. Shall I walk you out?"

"Of course kind sir." I take his arm as we laugh off the awkwardness of before and head out of the building , eventually going our separate ways.

"Alright. I probably won't have time to see you guys before I leave so goodbye for now. I'll see you guys later."

I walk my separate way and as I'm walking to my apartment I see a gym that has recently opened and decide that I'll go to my apartment and get a change of clothes and come back. It's still early in the day.

—

I am using a punching bag when I hear it. A snicker and heavy breathing matched with heavy footsteps.

"If it isn't little Beatrice Prior. My you've filled out a bit. It's nice. I like it" I recognize that voice. I would anywhere. I turn around and am met with a menacing sneer.

"What do you want Eric?" I spit his name and watch as he inches closer.

"I want to see that beautiful face of yours again. I want to kiss you and hold you." He tries to grab for me but I step back. "Won't you let me?"

"No. I won't"

"Well why not?" His temper is rising and so is his voice.

"Because you're a sick bastard!"

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. No one talks to my friend that way." Peter. Great.

"Or what?" I turn to him, challenging him. Bad idea Tris. Run. Get out of there. Run.

I ignore my own thoughts to see the two men standing in front of me. Bad memories begin to surface but I'm stronger now. I can stand up to them…hopefully.

Before I register what's happening I'm being shoved against a wall- trapped.

I should've ran.

My head bangs against the wall and my vision goes blurry for a few seconds. I feel fingernails digging into the exposed skin on my hips where my shirt has lifted slightly. Hand prints likely being embossed on my skin in the form of a bruise. Someplace easy to cover though. In the moment that I forget there are two people I spit into my attackers face, briefly distracting him, before being grabbed around the middle by Peter in my short lived burst of energy, thinking I was free.

Peter slams me against the ground, efficiently bruising my back most likely. Then he punches me in the face effectively giving me a bloody nose and takes his chance to get off me, just to be replaced by Eric sitting on my stomach.

Peter holds my hands above my head while Eric grabs me around the throat, choking me and cutting off my air supply.

My vision starts to go black at the edges.

This is it. This is when they are finally going to succeed in killing me. There are no witnesses around. They could just say they walked in and found me like this.

I feel something cold and sharp against my neck.

"Remember this bitch?" Eric maniacally laughs. "We had so much fun didn't we. You and me. And sometimes I invited Peter along for the ride." Another short stop for laughing and a breath of air next to my ear. Taunting me. "I see your scars haven't faded completely away yet. Maybe we can make them more visible…and deeper." This is how I'm going to end.

I can hear a belt being undone, then a zipper. No. This isn't going to happen again. I begin to thrash as hard and as much as I can. He won't do this to me again. Eric momentarily let's go of my neck to readjust himself. He grabs hold of my arms and places his knees on them before grabbing my neck once again. Harder this time. My vision starts to go black at the edges once more, well that of it that I had momentarily regained.

I feel like I'm floating. Like I'm weightless, a sure sign I'll pass out soon. Good. At least I won't have to be awake for the horror to come. He slaps me. Seeing my eyes roll back.

Commotion.

I can breath again.

I'm coughing up some blood.

I'm on my side.

Someone is standing above a sprawled out Eric.

Peter is sitting there shocked. Eyes wide.

I'm helped to a sitting position. Then to a chair.

I'm hunched over and bleeding.

My body stings.

And aches.

"Are you alright?" A voice laced with concern. Male.

Shocked. My eyes grow wide. Male

I'm to my feet in seconds in a loose defensive stance, much to my body's protests. I begin to sway a little, then he has me, this mystery man, and carries me back to the chair.

"Hey. You shouldn't have stood up so fast." I shove his hands away from me.

"I can handle myself." I spit at him. My vision has slowly been returning to me.

"I could definitely see that when you were being choked." The mystery guy tells me sarcastically.

As my vision clears further I look up, just for my eyes to grow wide once again from what I'm seeing. It's the man from the sidewalk. Great.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. Thank you for helping me." I tell this… soldier boy, is what I'll call him, with a hint of sarcasm in my voice. I can tell he notices it too.

"My pleasure." He replies.

I watch as he stands up and goes to get me water. I don't need this. He hands me the glass then puts is hand on the side of my face to make me look at him, accessing the damage done.

"You're going to have some cuts on your face as well as some bruises for a little while. You're neck looks bad but not as bad as it could've been."

"I know that." I keep my voice clipped so he knows of my annoyance. He rolls his eyes slightly but not slightly enough for me not to notice.

"This has happened before hasn't it. You knew those guys didn't you." They are our more as statements than questions.

"Look. I'm fine. Just don't tell the police or anything. It doesn't matter." I say as I turn and start for the door.

"How do I know they won't come after you again? Who were they?" He asks after me.

"You don't need to worry about me. Just forget everything that happened today. Goodbye." I leave before he can say anything and don't turn back.

3:30pm the next day

I get off the plane and text Tori and Christina that I landed and am just going to take a cab back. I also text Tori that I will be at work tonight. I get a reply from both of them before walking out the airport doors.

I hail a cab and put my duffle bag in the back seat next to me before telling the cab driver my desired location. It takes about 15 min to get to Christina's and my apartment building from the airport. I take the time to look out the window and watch the different buildings pass by.

As soon as the cab stops I pay the driver as well as thank him before getting out and walking up the stairs to get into the building. Our apartment is on the third floor and I wait for the elevator doors to open when I spot Will walking up the steps. The doors open before he gets into the building so I hold the doors for him, knowing he's here to see Chris before we have to go to work.

"Oh hey Tris. Thanks for holding the doors for me." He says once he's in the elevator next to me.

"Yea no problem." He looks down at my bag then back at me.

"You went to NY right?"

"Yea"

"So I have an old friend that's going to move in with me for a while before he can find his own place. He was in the military and I was wondering if I took him to the bar if you could give him a discount or something?" Will asks me tentatively while we wait in the elevator.

"Yea. We still do the military discounts. Just make sure you bring him to my area. When does he come?"

"Well he's coming tonight but he probably won't want to go out anywhere until tomorrow night."

"Well I work both nights." I assure him.

Just then the elevator stops it assent and the doors open. Will allows me to get out before him like a gentlemen then we both head to my apartment.

When I unlock the door, Will standing patiently next to me, Christina is in the kitchen making a sandwich for lunch. After the door closes she turns to look at me.

"What the fuck happened to you?" Oh Chris, as candor as ever.

"I had a run in with Eric and Peter." I say with a wave of my hand, dismissing it.

"What happened?" Chris once again demands.

"They had me pinned down, someone came and helped me. They won't say anything though."

"Who was this someone?" This time it's Will that asks the question.

"It was a guy that had bumped into me on the sidewalk earlier yesterday. He happened to be going to the gym." Chris seems to cringe at my disinterest in my alliant.

"What did he look like?!"

"Chris, leave her alone. She's probably tired." Will says, coming to my rescue.

I give him a look of thanks before turning to head to my room.

Don't get me wrong, I love Chris. Sometimes she can just be a bit pushy.

I've known Christina and Will since elementary school. We've been best friends since we met in pre-school. Chris and Wills friendship just happened to bloom into something bigger. They started dating around junior year and have been together since.

We have all had our rough patches in life and we've all been there for each other no matter what.

After laying on my bed and eventually falling asleep for two hours, I get up to take my shower before work.

When I go to the living room I'm not surprised to see Christina and Will curled up together on the couch.

I shake my head.

I don't see why they just don't go to Christina's room or something.

I turn out of the room and go back down the hall to the bathroom.

I turn the hot water on in the shower and steam begins to ever so slowly creep it's way onto the mirror. I make quick work of undoing the haphazard messy bun a top my head, allowing my hair to tumble down my back. I meet my eyes in the mirror after grabbing the brush and begin running it through my hair, getting any tangles out.

After brushing out my hair I undress, not daring to look at my body in the mirror. I get into the shower, letting the water soak my hair so it's heavy on my head before massaging shampoo into it. After putting soap in my hair I reach for the body wash, looking down at my arm, seeing the scars that haven't quite faded.

They probably never will.

Who would ever want someone that has a body riddled with scars? Self inflicted or not.

I lather the soap on my body, temporarily covering all the scars from view.

Disgusting.

That's what I am.

I rinse the soap out of my hair before putting conditioner into it and combing it through with my fingers.

After I'm all rinsed off I turn the water off and step out of the shower to dry off. I have a few hours before work so I don't bother blow drying my hair and instead letting it air dry into its natural waves.

When I get to my room I look through my clothes to find my work shirt and a pair of shorts to go with it. Knowing Christina she won't let me leave the apartment in my long sleeve shirt so I just save the trouble and put the crop top on. It comes about 3 inches above the waist of my jean shorts. Looking at the time I fix my hair and put my shoes on before waking Will and Christina up.

"So…are you going to tell me what happened? And what about this mystery guy? What's he about?" We had just gotten to work and were wiping down the bar counter when Chris decided to bombarde me with questions once again. Unfortunately I don't have Will to save me this time.

"There isn't much to say. Basically I went to the gym and Eric and Peter caught me off guard. The guys came and helped. I don't expect to see him again." It's the truth. I don't.

"But was he hot?"

"Chris!" I exclaim laughing at her.

"Well?!"

"Yes. We was nice looking." We both laugh and begin our shift as people start coming in.

Eventually Will gets off work and comes to have a few drinks and wait for our shift to end to take Chris to his place.

"Hey Tris. So my buddy is coming tonight. I have him directions and he should be here soon." Will tells me after seeing Christina.

"Ok. Sounds good."

It's a little while before Will tells me that his friend just got into the parking lot and goes to meet him. I'm wiping down my counter again and taking someone's drink order when the man sits down a few seats down.

I recognize him.

It's the guy who helped me. He probably saved more than helped.

I clear my throat and walk up to him after giving the other man his drink.

"Hello. What would you like?" He looks at me and I'm reminded of the intensity in his eyes.

"I'll have a jack and coke on the rocks please. I'd also like to open a tab if that's alright."

"Certainly. I'll have that drink for you in a moment."

I turn away and begin making his simple drink. It doesn't seem as though he recognizes me. Which is good. I hand him his drink and attend to other people at the bar all the while glancing at him now and again and getting him another drink when he asks.

"Hello little lady." Great. Smile. Just smile. I turn to the man trying to get my attention.

"Would you like another drink?" I ask as politely as I can. He's clearly drunk and what he needs is to leave.

"I'd like something other than a drink." He smirks, thinking he's smooth. He's disgusting.

"Sir, I think you need to go home. You're drunk." I wave to Al, our bouncer.

Before he can get over to me, the man has grabbed the back of my neck, forcing my head closer to him. I'm fighting him and the next thing I know he's no longer touching me. He's now on the ground and I turn to see it's the man I met in New York that helped me once again. Al comes to get the unconscious man and call a cab for him.

"Thank you." I tell the man.

"No one should touch a woman like that." He replies to me.

I nod and give him a slight smile before dragging myself out of his drowning eyes and continuing to work. What am I doing? He's getting in to my head.

"Hey. Do I know you?" He asks me when I return to get him another drink. Shit.

"I don't see why you would. You don't look familiar to me." I try to shrug off the question and am very thankful I had to learn how to lie well.

"No. No I think I do." Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Maybe I just have one of those faces. Some people say I do..."

"You're trying to hide something."

I look at him. He knows and I can't really deny it now...

A/N: Hey guys. What's new? So this is actually a really long chapter. The reason being is because I was working on it for a long time. I really hope I can continue writing long chapters. I haven't started chapter 4 yet so it will be a while before its up. Have a good night/day!

-sunlightstars