A/N: Hey guys! I am so, so sorry I've been gone for a while. School started, and it's been really hard to keep up with school and the story. I'll try harder to write when I can and upload ASAP.
BTW, this is an extra long chapter as an apology. Enjoy this chapter, about that barbecue Tori mentioned earlier.
I wake up Saturday morning to the blaring of my alarm.
After shutting it off, I look at the time and see it's 9 in the morning. I have a hard time getting up because yesterday, I spent all day in town with Tori. We went shopping for some food for the barbecue today, and even a bit of clothes for us.
As much as I love shopping, coming home late after a whole day of it can be exhausting.
I get up and get ready for the barbecue, putting in a little extra effort. The whole gang is coming, as well as their parents – who are apparently great friends of Tori and Amar – and of course, Addie and Four.
Even though the barbecue is around lunch time, I woke up to go help Tori and Amar set up.
I lay the last bowl of salad on the table, and go over to Amar on the barbecue for the last bit of hot dogs. There are two large picnic tables set up, now covered with all kinds of delicious food.
I step back to look at the finished product, when I hear the doorbell. "I'll get it!" I yell.
When I open the door, I see Christina and her mom, looking fabulous as always, carrying a pie. "Hi!" I exclaim, while hugging her, happy to see her. Christina and I have become really great friends, and she's probably my best friend out of the group.
After leading them to the back, they greet Tori and Amar and place the pie on the table. It's not long before I hear the doorbell again, and when I go to open the door, I am met with a pair of deep blue eyes. I smile.
"Twis!" I hear, as Addie let's go of Four's hand and runs to me.
"Hi there, Addie! You look beautiful," I say, picking her up. She is wearing the cutest yellow dress.
"So you're the famous Tris. I've been looking forward to meeting you. I'm Evelyn," says Four's mom, extending her hand.
I shake her hand and give a weird look to Four. Famous? Does he talk about me? Or maybe she just knows Tori well.
I lead them to the yard and put down Addie. I smile. Today's gonna be a fun day.
About an hour later, the gang is sitting on one of the picnic tables, while the parents are sitting on the other. We're all laughing at Uriah, trying to stuff 4 hot dogs in his face. I shake my head and try to control my laughter.
When he finally manages to eat and swallow them properly, we fall into a pleasant conversation.
Later, we decide to play never have I ever.
"Ok, since our parents are right over there, I think we should stick to non-alcoholic beverages," Shauna advises, bringing the jug of lemonade. We all laugh, and she starts to pour cups for everyone.
"Does everyone know how to play?" asks Marlene. I nod, I played this with some of my friends back in Chicago. You say 'never have I ever…' and in the group, whoever has done what is said, has to drink a sip of alcohol. Or in this case, lemonade.
"We'll go around in a circle. I'll start," says Zeke. "Never have I ever gone by a nickname."
I take a sip, and so does Four.
"Never have I ever… eaten four hotdogs at once," Shauna says, trying to contain her laughter.
Uriah takes a sip and we all burst out laughing.
"Never have I ever crushed on someone younger," continues Marlene.
I try to rack my brain for possible crushes, but they don't fit the category. I glance around the circle and see that Will, Uriah, Zeke, and… Four take a sip. I understand, all of their girlfriends are slightly younger than them. But Four?
Will's voice snaps me out of it. "Never have I ever… been into fashion?" he says, for lack of a better idea.
Christina takes a sip right away, followed by Shauna and Marlene. I awkwardly sit there, because I'm really not into fashion. I shouldn't take a sip but I don't wanna be viewed as 'masculine' or something.
"TRIS?!" yells Christina, earning a few weird looks from the adults.
Too late.
"What?" I reply coyly.
"You are a girl! Take a freakin sip!" she says, slightly quieter. Slightly.
I look down at my clothes. "But I'm really not that girly," I say, and Uriah laughs. Four is just looking at me smiling. Don't know what that's about.
"Eh, who cares. Let's just keep playing," says Zeke.
"I'LL GO!" Uriah yells. My friends are great, I laugh quietly to myself. "Never have I ever… gotten a speeding ticket."
Zeke takes a sip and says, "That's not fair! You don't have a car. You haven't even been out of town!"
"I have a truck… no speeding tickets," casually says Four. We all laugh, as Zeke gives Four a threatening look.
We play for awhile, but eventually run out of things to say. For now…
After we finish playing Never Have I Ever, the parents gradually leave with their children, until it's just me, Christina, Four, and Will. Christina gets up for a minute to say goodbye to Will and his family as they're leaving, and I give her a wink and a smile. She just rolls her eyes, but I see a smile forming on her lips. "They are so getting together soon," I say, turning back to Four.
He chuckles, "Yea, it sure seems like it."
I laugh and look at Addie balancing on the picnic bench.
"We'll be the last singles in our group."
My head snaps toward him. I really wish he would stop hinting at things that will never happen. I bet he knows I like him, and is just messing with my head. Wait… I like him? But why would a guy like him ever like a girl like me?
"Tris! Help me put away the leftovers, would'ya? Christina, hun you too?" yells Tori from across the yard. "Oh Four, could you help Amar clean up?".
"Sure thing, Tori!" he yells back as we go off in different directions. As soon as I get into the kitchen with some plates, Christina asks "What's up with you and Four?"
"Believe me when I tell you I have no idea," I reply, earning a scoff and a laugh when I slap her arm. "What about you and Will?"
"What about me and Will?" she responds, and I give her a look that says "you know what." She sighs, "Fine. I maybe… kinda… like him," she says almost inaudibly.
"I knew it!" I exclaim, "I think he likes you too," I say a bit quieter.
"Really?" her face lights up. "Wait, how do you know? You've known us for like 2 weeks."
"I can tell. The way he looks at you, and you guys are always talking. I think you guys make a cute couple," I tell her as she looks at her feet and tries to hide her smile.
I find myself looking over at Four. He and Amar are moving a picnic table from one side of the backyard to the other. His toned muscles peek through his shirt.
Christina breaks me out of my reverie. "You are totally into him."
"That obvious?" I sigh.
"No. But I think I know you."
I decide to mock her a bit. "How do you? You've known me for like 2 weeks."
"Ha, ha," she says sarcastically.
I roll my eyes and look back at Four.
"By the way, he's totally into you too.
I quickly look at her again. "What? What makes you think so?"
"Please. You're not that obvious, but he is. We all know him and his hard exterior. He's only had one real girlfriend some years ago and she was a bitch. It's only Zeke trynna set him up on dates."
"And why would he be into me?" I interject.
"You're a real catch, Tris! Trust me, he smiles whenever you're around. That's rare. He has problems with his dad, and he hasn't really been happy for awhile."
I smile a bit to myself, I really didn't realize the effect I had on him. But I'm still not sure. "Wait, problems with his dad?"
"He doesn't really talk about it. I've known him for years, and he hasn't opened up much. I've known him for years and we still aren't as close as you two."
I blush a little.
"Tris, I'm sure he'll tell you when he's ready."
I nod and finish saran wrapping leftovers. I wonder about Four. Seems I'm not the only one with a troubled past.
After a while, Christina and her family leave, and Tori and Evelyn are chatting outside.
I go to wash my hands in the kitchen. Four startles me with his deep "hey" and I jump a little.
He laughs a bit. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," he says, but keeps laughing.
I try and fail to hide my smile, and hit him on the arm. This only encourages him to keep laughing.
I dry my hands with the dish towel on the stove handle, but when I go back I slip. Clumsy me. Apparently I spilled water because I was messing around while washing hands.
Four catches me right before I fall, and my face reddens from embarrassment and because of his strong grip around me. All joking around, and even breathing has stopped. It's as if time itself has stopped. We stare into each other's eyes, until Addie comes into the kitchen.
"Twis!" she runs towards me, and we let go of each other. I try to clear my head but fail.
I put on a smile and pick her up, but my thoughts are racing. I bet it's obvious I like him, despite Christina's reassurance.
"Let's get you to your momma." I don't look back at Four. If I did, my face would turn into a tomato again.
A/N: Please review! You have no idea how nice it is to receive feedback (good or bad)! The next chapter is actually done, and I'll upload it within the next few days. Promise!