"TRUST"

Today has just been one of those days.

First, my alarm didn't go off even though it was set, so I was late to class. Then, in my rush to make it there, I ran into some poor girl and her coffee, which somehow spilled all over me and completely avoided her. On top of that, after an excruciatingly boring class where I felt like I was somehow lost of every single topic, I ran smack into Al. I apologized profusely, and even though we haven't spoken in close to a year and have only seen each other around campus maybe three times, he had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to go and get a coffee.

"No I don't want to get a coffee with you!" I spat at him.
"But you look like you're having a bad day."
"I am." I walked away before he could say anything else. It was the last thing I needed to deal with today.

At least it's Friday, I think as I fumble with the lock on our door. I wish it was to Tobias' house. Our house. I decided that I would stay in the dorms with Chris for at least this semester. By then I should have enough money saved up to get a car of my own. The monthly stipend I get from my parents insurance isn't a lot, but if I'm careful, I can save.

Tobias tried to do his best to convince me that we could make it work with just his car, but I politely reminded him that it was already paid for, so I might as well use it and save the both of us the inconvenience.

My key sticks for a second, and when I finally get the door open, I step on a note that was slipped into the room. I pick it up after throwing my stuff on my bed and see its for me. I have a delivery waiting with the RA.

I knock on her door, not really knowing what to expect. Maybe it's something from Caleb? Instead I am greeted with a big grin and a rather large bouquet of roses.

"Either you have one hell of a guy or he really fucked up and he's kissing your ass. Hard," she adds with a wink.
"Uhh, thanks?" I say, not really knowing how to take that comment.

I smell them as I walk back to my room, and place the vase on the little table that holds my laptop. I smile one last time as I look at them, and take a long, hot, much needed shower.

"Hi."
"God, am I glad to see your face," I say as soon as I see Tobias. A wide grin nearly splits it in two. "And I'm sorry you had to work late."
"Me too. But last minute changes and deadlines and shit. Anyways. How was your day?"
"Literally the worst. But it got better when I got home. Thank you."
"You're welcome?" His eyebrows knit together in confusion. "You just got home?"
"No. I got home at four." Now my eyebrows scrunch together.

"Why do I feel like we're not on the same page," Tobias says as there's a knock on his door. "Hang on." He moves out of frame and I hear Tori. She and Tobias talk about a couple of things before he comes back, Tori in tow. She waves from behind him, and I wave back.

"Sorry. I gotta get going. I'd offer to call you after, but I probably won't be home until…I can't even begin to guess."
"Sorry, Tris," Tori says, a little pout on her face.
"It's okay guys. Don't worry about it. And don't stress about work. Just call me tomorrow when you get a chance."
"Okay. I love you."
"Love you too. Oh wait!" I try to get out, but it's too late. Tobias has already clicked off.

I grab my phone and take a picture of the flowers. Thank you. I send along with it. It doesn't even take five seconds to get a response.

- For?

- The flowers you dork.

My phone rings within seconds of the text being read.
"I tried to thank you before you hung up."
"Tris," he says, "I didn't send you those."
"What?" My heart races as I stare at the flowers. If Tobias didn't, then who did?

"Is there something you need to tell me, Tris?" I know that tone of voice.
"What? No! Tobias, I honestly thought they were from you. I…I have no ide—" I trail off as a thought crosses my mind.

"Who was it?" he says quietly. I can hear him breathing hard, and the typing I heard before has completely stopped.
"Al. Maybe. I ran into him today. Like, full on into him. I was running late, and some girl had already spilled her coffee on me, and it was just a bad morning, and after class I was still frazzled and wasn't paying attention and I just smacked right into him. He tried to ask me out for coffee. I said no," I add as an afterthought.

"You don't need to tell me that," he says quietly. "I believe you."
"I…thank you."
"You're welcome. But please, be careful. And let me know as soon as something happens again."
"If," I say. "It could have been a weird fluke or something."
"Tris, you're pretty sure he sent you flowers."
"Yeah," I whisper.

"I have to go," he says again.
"Okay."

I settle into bed with some homework and my notes from the day, but I can't concentrate on anything but Al. Why on Earth would he send me flowers? I search the flowers again for a card, but there isn't one. I sigh, peeved that this is happening, and grab my phone. I need answers. I don't know why, but I never deleted Al's number.

- I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me. Did you send me flowers?

I wait patiently for his reply, not knowing which answer is worse.

- Who is this?

- It's Tris.

- Oh. Hey Tris. No. Why?

- No reason. But you're sure? Because if I find out you're lying, I'm going to be even more upset.

- No Tris. I swear.

I don't have a reason to not believe him. He didn't even keep my number. I sigh and toss my phone aside, flopping down on my back. I can't figure this out. If Tobias didn't send them, and Al didn't send them, then who did? Could they have possibly not been for me? I fish the note out of my pants pocket again, and see that it is in fact my name on it.

My heart races as another idea runs through my mind. I shudder as his name leaves my lips.

"Eric."

A couple months after school started back up, Uriah and I were walking to meet Marlene. Eric saw me and gave me a smile that made my skin crawl before his face dropped. He looked panicked and took off, and I haven't seen him since. And neither has Christina. Or Will, or Shauna or anyone else. That seems even less logical than Al.

I try to keep my nose in my schoolwork, distracted, until Christina comes home from work.

"Oooh. Flowers," she says as she drops down on her bed.
"Don't oooh just yet. I don't know who they're from."
"A secret admirer? Even better," she says, smiling.
"Be serious for second, Chris. They're not from Four. I asked Al, and he swears they're not from him. What do you think about the possibility of them being from Eric?"

"Fucking slim." She throws her head back in a laugh, and I'm sure I have a look of total confusion on my face.
"There's no way he's that stupid. Not after what happened with Four."
"What happened with Four?" I ask, feeling dumb that I have to find out about my own boyfriend's shenanigans this way.

"Well, you know what he did on the ship. But afterwards, he saw him on campus that first time he came to visit you."
"No. I didn't know that."
"I think he might have…reiterated his point a little, because he made sure that Will and Uriah and Zeke knew to look after you. It's actually kinda sweet, Tris, so don't be upset."
"I'm not."

I just wonder why he never told me himself. But I guess I have Tobias and Uriah to thank for not having to see Eric around. Good. Maybe he went back to Chicago. So really, that just leaves Al. Who lied to me. I sigh.

"Don't stress. It's not like Al's gonna do anything," Chris says, sensing my thoughts. "It was just one harmless bouquet. Now if he does it again, well, he's gonna have to deal with me. And if it's a secret admirer, they're gonna have to deal with me, too."

A/N:

Song - Rockwell- Somebody's Watching Me