Chapter 4

Tris POV

I don't go to school the next day. Tori had to pick me up early the day I got beat up. Look, I'm just glad that I didn't have to tell Four that Lauren was cheating. I don't need that on my shoulders.

I'm home by myself because Tori won't be back from the restaurant until late. I sit on the couch, channel surfing, until I hear someone knock on the door. I figure that it would be Christina, but when I open the door, I'm met with blue eyes. The eyes that can only belong to Four.

I stand there, and he looks at me, until I motion for him to come in. He comes into the living room, and sits on the couch. He hasn't said anything yet, and I don't want to be the first to break the silence. Finally he says something.

"How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess."

He comes to me and inspects the bruise on my arm, where Peter grabbed me. It hurts when he touches it and I wince, but I don't think he notices. If he does he doesn't say anything.

He checks my face to make sure there's no damage, but I already know there isn't any. All of a sudden he stops and just looks at me. We stand there, staring into each other's eyes for what feels like forever. That is, until there's another knock.

I go to answer, and see Lauren. Luckily, Four didn't follow me, so she doesn't know he's here.

She looks me up and down and says, "You little bitch. I can't believe you told him."

I start to open my mouth to say I didn't, but her hand clamps over my mouth and I'm cut off. She looks at me and says, "You better watch your back. I still like Four, and have plans to get back with him. Just you wait. So stay away from him, or you'll be hearing from me."

And with that, she leaves.

I turn to look at Four, who has a look of terror in his eyes, like he's scared for me. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me, and I almost start to cry into his chest, but I stop myself. I can feel his breath in my hair, and he says, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

We break the hug at the same time, and he places one small kiss on my forehead, and leaves.

It's almost 7:00, and I'm really tired. And sore. I take a shower and decide to call it a night. I'm almost asleep when Tori comes home. She opens my door, and comes in. She puts the blanket more over me and leaves. "Goodnight Tris."

Four POV

When I wake up, I think of Tris. I remember her yesterday, being beaten. So helpless. It made my heart ache just thinking about it. Peter should suffer. So should Lauren. I hate them both. I never really liked Lauren, but I've always hated Peter.

When I get to school, I don't see Tris here. I'm guessing she stayed home. When I get to lunch, almost everyone in the cafeteria is talking about Tris. They're talking about how badly she got beaten. A black eye, broken wrist, and a bruised leg. None of which are true. I hate rumors.

I sit down and start eating and I hear Christina talking.

"Did you hear what happened to Tris?"

"Yeah I heard she got beat pretty bad." Says Shauna

All of these rumors going around. I clench my fists, resisting the urge to punch Peter in the face for what he did to her. No one notices, and I sprint out of there when the bell rings.

When the school day is over, I just zone out, not even knowing where I'm going. When I pull into a driveway, I realize I'm at Tori's house.

I get out and knock on the door. Tris answers. God, she's so perfect.

I stand there awkwardly, and then she motions me in. Neither of us have talked. Finally I say, "How are you feeling?"

All she says is, "Okay, I guess." She doesn't really say much else.

I get up to see her arm, and she winces when I touch it. He left a pretty bad bruise.

Even though I know there's no face damage, I check for some. Mostly because I just want to look at her face.

I look into her blue-grey eyes, and she looks into mine. It seems like that's forever, but then there's a knock in the door. She goes to answer it and it's Lauren. I can see her, but she can't see me. I hear her call Tris a little bitch, and saying how mad she is that Tris told me. Told me what?

Then she says something so low that I can't hear it. Then she leaves. Tris looks at me, and she looks scared, so I think it was a threat.

I go up to her and wrap my arms around her. She leans her head into my chest and I feel like she's about to start crying. I lean down and whisper in her ear, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

We both release each other from the hug, but before I leave, I place a small kiss on her forehead.

When I get home, there are police cars everywhere and even an ambulance. I get worried and see a body bag that I can only assume my dad is in. I ask a cop, and it's true. My dad is dead. They said he died of a heart attack.

I do the only thing I can think to do. I run. Run away. I drive to Tori's. I'm closer to her than anyone. Maybe she can help. When I get there, she let's me in, and I talk to her. She says I can stay at her house while I sort things out. While my dad beat me, I still loved him. He was my dad.

I pass out when my head hits the pillow.