Tris sat in the canteen the next morning eating breakfast with Tobias and her friends. She would look up, smile and nod at appropriate intervals during the conversation going on around the table but her thoughts of a certain Dauntless leader and the events from the previous night had her preoccupied.

Flashback

Just as her hand touched the door handle, Eric finally spoke. Desperately trying to keep his voice from wavering, he said. "I think it's best for everyone's benefit that we end this tonight."

Before Tris could voice her objection, Eric raised his hand to stop her. "You can't keep going back and forth between the two of us. It's not fair to me. It's not fair to you. And, I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's not fair to Number Boy either. After you walk out that door, don't come back."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes. Yes, I do. I'm fucking tired of having my guts ripped out every time you leave me and go home to his bed. I fucking want to throw his ass in the chasm every time I see the two of you together. I just can't do it. I can't and I won't share you with him anymore."

Tris swiftly walked to Eric and wrapped one arm around his waist and cupped his face with the hand of her other arm. "Eric, I don't want to lose you."

"I'm sorry Tris, but I've made my decision. It's over." Eric disentangled himself from her embrace and held her hands in his as he guided her towards the door, despite her protests. Once he opened it, Eric wrapped his arms around her and pressed his forehead to hers. "I will never regret our time together." He placed a lingering kiss upon her cheek. "Take care of yourself, Tris." He turned from her and then closed the door.

End of Flashback

Tris was suddenly thrust back into the present when the canteen doors flew open forcefully, crashing into the walls behind. Eric's boots thundered across the concrete floor as he walked. Tris always found his domineering stature to be impressive. His demeanor commanded attention and respect, which he deserved as a leader and he got it too and rightfully so, in Tris' opinion. It was one of the things she loved about him not only as a leader but as the man she had fallen in love with as well. Although not everyone agreed with his manner or the methods he used to achieve it, including herself sometimes, he was impressive as a leader for his young age.

Eric's eyes scanned the crowd. They locked with Tris' eyes for a few moments longer than they should have, but moved on as he sought out the person he was looking for, Max. Tris couldn't help but return the half smile he gave her before looking away, thankful that no one seemed to notice, or so she thought.

Eric leaned down and spoke to Max for a few moments before he turned on his heel and walked out. Tris was saddened when he did not cast anymore looks her way before he left. She willed a single tear in the corner of her eye away so no one would notice her disappointment. However, it was quickly replaced by anger as she focused into the current conversation at the table.

"I see 'Sir Asshole of Dauntless' has another stick up his ass today. I wonder who managed to piss him off so early this morning." Christina spat out.

With disdain in their voices, her friends gave various reasons on what could have put Eric into such a foul mood. Despite all of their guesses, they were all wrong. Tris knew the truth; it was her. When Tris could no longer stomach to listen to their contempt for the man she loved, she spoke up with an equal amount of disdain in her voice.

"Maybe if you walked in his shoes for a day and had the burden of running an entire faction on your shoulders, you wouldn't be so judgmental. Maybe you would understand the reasons why he acts and does the things he does. You should all be ashamed for being so disrespectful to our leader."

Unable to comprehend why Tris would defend Eric against them, Tobias and Christina rolled their eyes while the other people at the table looked at her with gaping mouths. Tris stood up and stepped away from the table. She discarded her food tray and walked out of the canteen after casting them an annoyed glare. She desperately tried to calm herself down as she walked to the tattoo parlor to begin her shift. The last thing she needed was Tori jumping on the bandwagon with her friends about Eric.

As she walked by the chasm, she felt a hand on her elbow. She turned around and saw Eric nod his head towards an alcove. When they were out of sight, Eric wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. Instinctively, Tris molded herself to his body. She felt safe in his embrace as his warmth and love filled every fiber of her being.

"Thank you for defending me to your friends." He pressed his lips to the top of her head and kissed her. Tris felt them linger there before he began to pull away. Desperate to hold onto the feelings flowing throughout her body, she refused to loosen her embrace.

"Don't go." She begged him.

"I don't want to Tris, but it's just too difficult being around you right now. Maybe in time we can get back to what we had before. Regardless of how I feel about Four, I'm going to respect you and your relationship with him. I just wanted to thank you and to tell you that hearing you defend me means more to me than you will ever know, even though I don't deserve it."

"You do deserve it, Eric. You are an extraordinary man and leader and you need to be treated as such. I will always defend you. I will always be on your side."

Tris raised her hand and cradled Eric's face. Eric closed his eyes and leaned into her palm, relishing her touch. Her words of devotion burned themselves into his heart. When Eric tried to pull himself from Tris' embrace she refused to let him go. "Kiss me."

"Tris, I can't."

"Eric, please. Just one kiss and I will let you go." She begged.

With a sad sigh, he relinquished his willpower and pressed his lips to hers. Eric was taken aback when Tris threaded her fingers into his hair and deepened the kiss by thrusting her tongue into his mouth. Despite his head screaming at him to pull away before it got any more intense, his heart won the battle when their tongues began dancing together in perfect harmony. Tris poured every ounce of love she had for the man before her into that kiss hoping to convince him to not end their relationship.

Unfortunately, it didn't work and too soon for her liking Eric pulled away from her. Tris could barely hold back the tears when she saw the painful look in his eyes. Before she could say a word, Eric pulled himself from her embrace and walked away. As soon as he disappeared from her sight, Tris fell to the floor and began to cry. When her body no longer heaved from her sobs, she texted Tori to tell her she couldn't make it in to work that day. Tris then proceeded to make her way to the rooftop, above the net, to think about her life.

Thanks to everyone who followed or favorited my story and for all the reviews. I didn't expect it to get such an overwhelming welcome. I love and appreciate your support. I hadn't planned on posting this chapter so soon but I couldn't keep you waiting. Unfortunately, it will be a few days before I have the next one ready but I promise I won't leave you hanging too long. BTW, I plan on bringing in one of Tris' friends who noticed the little exchange between Tris and Eric in the canteen but I can't decide who it should be or if they should be supportive or not. Let me know your thoughts.