Chapter 3: Up close

Who I'm guessing is Zeke walks into the cafeteria wearing gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt. It looks like he is about to go work out, which he probably is. He waves to a few people and then sits down. He jumps up almost immediately.

"Looks like someone had a little accident," a pretty brunette says pointing and laughing at the huge wet spot on the back of Zeke's pants.

"Shut it, Shauna," he says in a voice that makes her keep quiet.

Zeke scans the room and sees me laughing, standing next to Four. Standing very close to Four as well.

"Four," he roars striding his way over to us.

Four gets behind me pushing me in front of him to shield himself. "Have you met Tris-Detective Prior yet?" he asks

Zeke's eyebrows raise for a moment then he nods his head, "Nice to meet you, Tris, is it?"

I nod and smile.

"Well, do you mind if I beat Four up now?" he adds.

I just snicker. I'm having a lot of fun on my first day and my work hasn't even started yet. I feel like a teenager again. I turn to look at Four. Those deep blue eyes tie me in, like I can't escape them. I don't want to. But why do they seem so familiar?

Toby.

Tobias.

Could it be you?

"What?" he asks and I realize I've been staring at him for too long.

All I can say is, "Nothing."

His eyebrows furrow but he lets it go.

I used to have the biggest crush on him. My neighbor, Susan, always told me that boys had cooties but I knew she had a thing for my brother, Caleb. And we were seven!

Caleb goes to Harvard Law School now. Our parents would've preferred if he had gone into a career to help people, but Caleb claims that he could help people by being a lawyer and fighting for them. I chose the more dangerous form of helping people and my parents and Caleb constantly worry about my safety. They are very proud of me just the same, though.

"Hey T-Four?" crap I almost called him Tobias.

His eyes widen. "Yes Tris?"

"Oh, um I was just going to say it's our turn in line now." I can't think suddenly. He knew what I was going to say. He knows I know. Does he know?

He chuckles. "Well pick out what you want then since I'm buying."

I didn't expect him to be this kind of guy. I assumed he would be a cocky jerk. But Four-Tobias makes me feel like I'm a little girl again.

We join Christina at a Table where Zeke, Lauren, Shauna and five others sit.

Christina introduces them to me. "This is Will, Uriah, Marlene, Lynn and Al. Guys, this is Tris."

I hear murmured "hellos" and I smile and wave to everyone.

I take a seat next to Four. He takes a bite of his taco and flashes a crooked smile at me. A big chunk of meat falls out of his mouth and I laugh so hard my sides ache. The entire table howls.

His cheeks flush bright red but then he laughs with us.

And the rest of the day goes like this. New friends and good vibes.

I'm told that all slow days are like this. The team I'm now a part of gets the biggest cases because apparently "we're the best."

I have a feeling that this will be a wonderful start to this new chapter in my life.

The next few days at work are slow so I just hang around my new friends and Four. We eat lunch together and play a couple of games of poker. I have collected many pieces of Dauntless cake. Winning is sweet. Literally.

About a week after my first day of work, I get my first case. I'll be working with Four on the scene. He tells me they normally don't send rookies out but he recommended me.

Sweet of him.

Four hands me my vest and I thank him. He helps me put it on, too. He's such a gentleman. But I need to focus on my work. I can't get distracted by him today.

He drives us to the crime scene which is only about five blocks down the street. We get out of his car and approach the scene.

"Be brave, Tris." Four tells me in a low tone.

There isn't much evidence but Four thinks we can try to get a partial print off the tire tracks. I take pictures of the still warm body. He hasn't been dead long. I get closer to his face and see that I recognize him. I gasp and my body begins to shake.

Four hurries over to me and asks me what's wrong.

I'm too shocked to speak so I just shake my head. I don't cry though. Not in front of all of these people.

Four keeps trying to calm me down but there's no use trying. I sit on the side-walk and rock back and forth. The sight of his mangled body is permanently etched into my brain.

Four coddles me but nothing is helping. He gets up to talk to Zeke who is there because Four called him. "Got an ID yet?" he asks, his voice strained.

"Yep, a one Robert Black."

I hear Four suck in a sharp breath.

"What is it?" Zeke questions.

He doesn't speak right away. "He was her neighbor; my neighbor too." Four whispers the last part but he doesn't know I'm listening.

"Oh, man I'm really sorry. What can I do?" Zeke asks thoughtfully.

I stand up and approach them, "You can help us solve this case and find the killer." The last time I saw him was at his sister Susan's and my graduation. He was cheerfully and happy. He had a crush on me and he told me so that day. He pulled me aside and he kissed me. I didn't have the heart to tell him I didn't feel the same. And that was the last time I saw him. Alive.

"Tris, I don't know if you should stay on the case," Zeke states.

Four doesn't say anything and I wish he would. He knew him. They were even friends.

"I can control myself. I will decide if I need to be removed. I know my own limits," I don't mean to, but I spit out the last part. "Sorry," I grumble as I see the surprised expression on Zeke's face.

Finally Four speaks up, "Well then we're set. Let's stop wasting time and get this figured out." He is cold now. He is determined. He would probably scare most people, but not me. He makes me feel stronger and confident. I know I will get through this now. With him.

I get home to a worried Christina. I tell her about my scarring day and I allow myself to cry.

After lots of tissues, Christina manages to bring up the one thing that can cheer me up.

Four.

I deny all of my feelings for him but I can tell that Chris knows I'm lying. So I distract her and ask her about Will. I have noticed that she eyes him often.

"Well, I really like him and he's super fine, you've seen him, so you obviously get why I say this," I laugh and she continues. "He's funny and he's smart and he's quite mature for the guys our age, you know?"

I nod and smile. "So like has he like asked you out yet?" I question her and act as much like a teenage girl as I can.

She laughs but then her expression changes. "I doubt he likes me," she says sadly.

"And why do you say that? He'd be crazy not to, Chris!" I reassure her.

We hug it out and fall asleep to a movie about best friends who had their wedding on the same day and fought about stupid things.

So this chapter is kind of messy. Sorry about that. I wanted to update because school starts again soon and I'll probably only be able to update on the weekends but we'll see.

Can you guess what movie I was talking about at the very end of the chapter?

Are you liking my story? Please tell me! More reviews get me more motivated to edit and write more chapters for you! Please give me any suggestions if you have any:)

Divergent is written by Veronica Roth, not me.