Massive thank you to everyone that has followed/favourite this story! As always thanks for the reviews and to everyone who thinks my story is worth a read : ) As promised this chapter is in Four's perspective (gettit…it's chapter four *badum tiss* god I'm terrible.) I've read it over so many times and I'm sorry but he is a little OOC, I've tried to change it but he seems to have a mind of his own : P Look forward to finally getting to see more of the camp and other characters in the next chapter. R & R, lots of love.
Chapter 4
Four Pov
I stretched out on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I had already changed into my night clothes and was waiting for Tris to finish in the bathroom. The night air brushed against my exposed arms making me shiver, I hoped the cool breeze would calm the thoughts that whirled rapidly in my head.
We had just gotten back from checking the cabins and I know I had confused Tris with my ever changing attitude today, but how can I tell her that it's because of her. No one had ever had that much of an effect on me. I'd known her for what, half a day and I already fell like we've been friends for years. My thoughts travelled back to the beginning of the day.
ooOoo
I had tried, really I did. I didn't talk to her when we were with Max or when we were driving out here, except for that one comment. She had started babbling about how the factions were different and I couldn't help but think how if I was stuck with any other babbling idiot I would probably push them out of the car, but with Tris it's just…endearing.
I had this need to talk to her but I didn't want her to know anything about me, whenever I tell people about me they either shy away or give me looks of pity or disbelief. I don't want Tris to pity me. I helped her with her bags, I can be a gentleman when I want to be, and started giving her a background on what had changed in the camp and when she makes no move to stop me I just keep going.
I stopped walking and smiled at her, a genuine smile, because just being near her seemed to make me feel better. She tells me that it's been five years since she's been to camp. That means we were in the same faction for a while, I'm surprised I can't remember her; she has such a striking presence. Her eyes clouded over and I knew that look, it wasn't a good sign. I had called out to her and accidentally used the nickname I'd mentally given her.
Well done Four, it hasn't even been an hour and you've already managed to embarrass yourself in front of a cute girl. Wait cute? I'd rubbed my neck, a habit I'd picked up from my friend Zeke, and tried to 'casually' explain that I thought it suited her better. I spun away before I could embarrass myself further and started rambling about the factions again.
We stepped inside and I trailed off as she took in the room. It's not much but it has a kitchen and full bathroom, for which I'm immensely grateful for. When I was a camper I had to wait until everyone else was done showering before I could go in, I didn't want anyone to see me…questions would just make it worse. I brought myself back to reality and saw her staring wide eyed with her jaw open at the room; it really was a step up for the camper's rooms. I let out a chuckle and received a glare from her. Note to self: don't piss off Tris.
When we chose beds I just laid down on mine and closed my eyes. I knew we had to go out and check up on things but I just wanted to lay here and think about the girl that was not even four metres away from me. She asks about the sorting and I leant up so I could see her face, it was stained pink; I don't think she had even noticed. My shirt had ridden up and some small part of me wanted her to be blushing because of that. I left my shirt where it was. I finally finished explaining the sorting and she was just sitting there, thinking deeply about something. Rather than disturb her I put away the few things I brought with me. I packed light because I planned on bringing all of my stuff up with me this weekend; I only brought a few sets of clothes, a book and my camera.
I started to think about when the campers would get here. The first week is always the most exhausting; with everyone settling in, making friends and catching up with people that came every year. The only part I hated was the teenage girls. For some reason nearly all the girls between the ages of 15 and 18 thought that it must be fate that we, along with about fifty other people, ended up in the same faction. The thought made me angry. They don't care who I am, just that I'm older and 'attractive'.
I stormed over to the kitchen and grabbed two flashlights. I needed to get some air and we both really needed to check the cabins before dinner.
We checked the cabins top to bottom in no time at all and started to head back, not much needed to be done and I feel a lot more human now. I felt Tris stiffen beside me but it was gone in the next second, it was so fast I almost missed it. But I didn't, I'd become quite good at picking up on people's emotions; if I hadn't I don't think I would have survived this long.
ooOoo
The door to the bathroom opened and I quickly shut my eyes. I couldn't help myself and I risked a look out from under my lashes, Tris' bare legs peaked out of her purple sleep shorts and the gray shirt hung loosely on her small frame. She put her dirty clothes in her bag and turned to me. I shut my eyes fully, hoping not to be caught in the act of fake napping.
I could hear her walk quietly over to me. She stood there for a while before I felt her kneel down next to my head. This might be fun, I think to myself as I turned my head and opened my eyes, 'waking up' to the sight of Tris' face ten centimetres from my own. Her eyes were such a striking colour, a misty grey with sparks of blue, which put so many others to shame. I let a small smile settle on my face as she fought down a blush. I sat up and almost laughed as she shot to her feet at lightning speed, heading back to her bag and began searching through it so fast I doubt she'd find what it is she's looking for.
"Thanks for waking me up." I said, humour evident in my voice. I decided not to play with her anymore, for some reason the thought of Tris being angry at me made my chest ache in a way it hadn't in a long time. I walked over to the fridge to check if they had stocked it already or if we had to pick our food up tomorrow morning. Luck must be with us because we have enough food for both of us to have at least three meals here, I hate having to drive all the way to main camp just for food. I turn to see Tris has come up behind me, probably curious as to what I'm up to.
"We have enough food here that we could just do dinner here tonight and have breakfast here for the next two days as well, if you wanted that is?" I tell her. I really hope she does because I'm in no mood right now to sit around everyone else and hear the eager new leaders go over their plans in minute detail. Either she's thinking along the same lines or just doesn't want to be mosquito bait on the drive there because she agrees immediately.
After making sure she doesn't have any allergies I told her I'll whip something up if she wanted to unpack the rest of her things. I was blessed with an amazing smile from her as she bounced off towards her area.
Going soft already are we Four, we're going to have to fix that now aren't we. I pushed the voice away, not thinking about how much it sounded like my father. I decide on making seared chicken, peas and mashed potato. Relatively easy and something I don't have to concentrate on, which is probably a good thing right now.
Dinner is a quite affair. Tris mocks me for making her 'stiff' food, but in the same breath says I made it much better than the staff did when she was here; so I refrained from flicking my peas at her. We talk quietly about each other and I find out a few things that make up the girl known as Tris Prior.
For starters I discovered I do actually know her. Her parents were friends with my father but we didn't really see each other much so that's why we don't recognise each other. I didn't tell her I knew her because then she would know who my father was and as much as I liked her (what?), I wasn't anywhere near ready to tell her that. I also learnt she has a brother, Caleb, who is an erudite leader this year. I can tell that it's a shock to her. She must feel that she doesn't know him as well as she thought she did. I didn't know what to say so I just reached across and squeezed her shoulder comfortingly. Her breath hitched and I quickly removed my hand and sat back down. Nice going mate. I now know that her favourite colour is purple; she's ten months younger than her brother; she loves books but has a bad habit of falling asleep during movies; she hates cauliflower but loves broccoli and her childhood dream was to learn karate.
Even though a small part of me was desperately shouting at me to just shut up and go to sleep, I felt like I needed to reciprocate; even just a little bit. I told her how I loved to cook and that reading was a passion of mine too. I told her that this would be my third year as a leader of dauntless and that I spent the last two years with my friend Zeke. She freaked out a bit then when she thought she had pushed Zeke out of the job, but I reassured her that he just wanted to be a camper again. She really is too kind for her own good. I told her that my favourite colour was grey; that I wasn't discriminate against cauliflower (she stuck her tongue out at me then, no one had done that since I was, what nine?) and with a smirk firmly in place I told her that it just so happened my part time job was as an instructor at the dojo near my house.
We talked for a little longer until she started yawning and I insisted we needed to sleep, we needed all the energy we could get for tomorrow. Set up was always draining. She settled into bed and I flicked the switch near the door, dousing us in darkness. I slipped beneath the covers and punched my pillow until it was a more comfortable shape before lying down for the night.
"Goodnight Tris," my voice was soft in case she had already fallen asleep. A minute later I heard her quite reply;
"Sleep well, Four."
