Chapter ▪ Ten

Tris

"Tris! Tris, wait!" I hear a familiar dark voice calling my name, followed by footsteps. I cross my arms when I turn around. My ponytail swings around my neck. I see Four coming from the other end of the hallway. I try my best to avoid a conversation whenever I see him. But this time it is different. It doesn't seem like he just wants to chat. It seems urgent and it makes me listen to his words without hesitation.

"I need to talk to you. It's important." he says after he stopped right in front of me. I notice beard stubble on his otherwise soft skin and it makes me wonder if he just forgot to shave, or if it is some kind of new look he tries on himself. I don't want to judge. I simply shouldn't care, but I have to admit that it looks good on him.

"Okay." I nod, not looking at him. I open my mouth to speak, but his voice stops me.

"Let's go to the cafeteria. There are not many people at such a time." I would have prefered to stay here in this hallway. Here, where nobody can get sight of us. Where especially Eric won't catch us.

Catch us — I begin to frown at my own thought. I make it sound like I would do something forbidden. But I don't. I follow his steps until we take a seat at one of the tables. He sits in front of me, leaning a bit forward and I do the same.

"How have you been, Tris?" he asks quietly. His voice sounds serious and caring. Like he actually is interested in how I am doing with Eric now. I just look at him, shaking my head slightly. I still don't feel like talking about me and Eric, especially not with him.

"Okay, good. I got it. Nevermind." he sighs and leans back again. Maybe I was acting too fast once again. Maybe he really just wanted to make sure I am fine, even though he knows that I am. Maybe it was just supposed to be a nice touch. "Anyhow, I think Eric is up to something."

"What?" I ask, acting surprised. I knew it since that day when I was listening to him and Lauren talking in the office. But I keep on telling myself that it's not true. He is not up to something. It was just a personal problem between the two of them. Nothing more. "This is rediculous."

"This is not rediculous. I've talked to Lauren and we assume that he is working with Erudite. I'm not exactly sure what it is, though. You know ..." he hesitates while he looks at me. It is like he is thinking, trying to find the right words in my eyes, but I turn away. I don't want him to stare at me like this.

"You could find out for us. You two, well ..." he shrugs, clearing his throat quietly. "You are probably the closest person to him right now. Maybe he will tell you."

"I'm not going to do this!" I protest louder than I planed on doing. What is he expecting from me? I'm not going to ruin my relationship, snooping around in his business just for a proof that Four was actually right. I don't want to find out about what Eric does — because there is nothing suspicious about him.

I sigh loudly in frustration. I know I'm telling myself the same lie over and over again. I need to find out what is going on.

"Fine. I'm trying to find something out." I stand up. I don't want to spend any more time with him. I feel bad for doing this, but still it doesn't feel as wrong as I want it to feel like. Before I go I turn around once again. "I'm not doing this for you, Four."

"Of course, you're not. I know."

I walk up the stairs to Eric's apartment. The talk I had with Four an hour ago didn't do me good. My head hurts, probably from thinking way too much. What is Eric up to? Does he really work with Erudite? What do they work on? Is it something harmful for Dauntless? Is it something harmful for me?

I take the apartment key Eric gave me, opening the door and closing it loudly. I just want to crawl into bed with Eric by my side, convincing myself that it's all not true. It can't be true. It probably is just something Four came up with for whatever reason. Jealousy, revenge, it can be anything.

When I walk in Eric is not the first person I see. I stand still, thinking about an excuse to get Lauren's questioning and wide eyes off me. But at the same time I'm waiting for Eric to say something, explaining why exactly she is here.

"Where the hell are you coming from?" she asks, standing up from the couch she was sitting on. Eric stands in front of her and crosses his arms. I don't like the way he looks at me now. He makes me feel like I did something wrong, like I shouldn't be here. Then he walks towards me, his hand touching my shoulder as he gently presses against it. It causes me to go backwards and I finally notice that he leads me to the door. He wants me to go.

"It's none of your business." he growls at Lauren before he turns his head to me again. We reach the door but before he can go any further I stop, crossing my arms. I shouldn't be the one he throws out of his apartment. Lauren shouldn't be the one to stay.

"Why is she here? And why can't I stay?" I ask angrily. This doesn't make any sense to me. "You're throwing out the wrong person."

"I'm not throwing you out. Just come back later and I'll explain, okay?"

I shake my head and open the door. I am upset for him throwing me out, letting Lauren stay instead. Upset for not knowing anything about why she is there and what they talk about. I walk outside the door but his voice stops me.

"Please come back later. I promise I will explain it but I really need to clear things up first." He takes one step closer, close enough to press his lips against mine shorty. Then he turns around and closes the door, leaving me just like this. Alone and unknowing.

"What happened?" I didn't see Four coming but his voice didn't surprise me either. He comes closer with a smile but I'm not smiling back. I don't know why but I am not moving, staying in front of Eric's door like I would hope for him to change his mind and let me inside again. That's rediculous, I think to myself and walk past Four.

"Nothing happened." I say, letting my voice sound disintereded on purpose. I wanted to go downstairs and see whoever is down in the pit. Anyone but Four. But then I turn around and look at him. I didn't make a promise to him, but yet I told him that I would try to find something out. I should be knowing that it is not me he is interested in. It's the posible information he wants to ask about. It makes everything feel a little less wrong. Talking to him, actually spending more time with him than necessary feels easier now.

"Lauren is in there and talks to him. He didn't let me stay. He said ..." I hesitate. Am I betraying him for talking about what he said to me? For talking about him and about his business behind his back without even hearing his explanation? I don't think I have ever felt as confused as I do now. "He said that he's going to explain to me later."

"That's good." he nods and comes closer to me. "Tris, this is important, you understand? You definitely need to let us know what he told you. Lauren and I, we have an assumption."

"What assumption?" I ask, now turning around completely, walking towards him as well and we stand face to face.

"Well, Lauren and I think that it has something to do with Divergents."

A/N: I'm sorry that this chapter is rather short! Currently I don't have much time to write due to my finals. Also I apologize if you expected less Four and more Eric and Tris in this chapter but you know. It's not really working without Four and this story needs to progress. I wanted to concentrate on Tris this time and how confused she is. Next chapter will be better! :c

I'd still appreciate a nice review. With that you guys keep me going! :