There you go, hope everyone is happy with this chapter. Buzzed Eric and Tris plus some more touchy feely for everyone, especially Myhusbandsaprick and all my lovely reviewers! Do tell me what you think about it ;)
By the way I am currently finalizing the next chapter for Last Resort, hooray finally! :)
I do not own Divergent or its characters.
Next morning Tris woke up and when she headed towards the door her eyes fell on Eric's jacket. She picked it up and holding it to her face she smiled breathing in his scent one more time, before she opened the door. She froze when she found a note at the door.
I'll come in later. Keys are under the rug. Eric
Lifting the rug she found the keys and looking at his door Tris sighed in disappointment. She went over to his door and listened briefly, it was quiet and with a sigh she hung the jacket on the doorknob.
It was almost lunch time when Eric showed up, Tris looked up with a smile which soon faltered because Eric didn't come over to greet her. "Good morning, nice to see you!" she called with an edge of annoyance. Tris heard him shuffle to his feet and a moment later he poked his head into her office, "Good morning, did anything happen?"
Other than me brooding over the fact that we had a great night and you seem to have forgotten already, no.
Tris faked a smile, "Nah, everything has been quiet!" He nodded biting his lips obviously uneasy about something, "Great, let me just answer some e-mails and then we can leave," he smiled apologetically and went back to his office which made her roll her eyes.
Half an hour later Eric leaned in the doorway and motioned for Tris to follow him. She frowned at him sideways but his face was an expressionless mask as usual. Though somehow he was off and she tried to keep up with his fast pace through the corridors. In the cafeteria Eric snatched two sandwiches and placed his hand on her back to usher her out.
In silence they went to the train station and once they were inside Eric started the engine and the train rolled into motion. As soon as it did Eric turned to Tris with a smile, "Thanks for returning my jacket by the way, I had completely forgotten about it."
Tris nodded absent-mindedly and frowned at him, "Where are we going?" Eric smirked which bordered on a grin, "No point in telling you," she looked at him curiously and he bit his lip, "You'll see."
Shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket she watched him sit down. He handed her one of the sandwiches, "Be a good girl and eat up." She eyed him with a frown but took the sandwich nonetheless. Wondering briefly why he was in so high spirits she sat down next to him. Looking up she saw him watching her with a knowing grin and tried to hide the blush she felt creeping up into her face.
When they had finished Eric stood and looked out. Tris got up and noticed that they were closing in on the fair where they had the capture the flag match during initiation. She was so absorbed with the memory that she didn't notice Eric leaning towards her. And when he husked close to her ear, "Get ready," it sent goosebumps across her skin.
Soon enough Eric took a step back and leapt outside. Tris followed suit and they strolled in silence towards the fair. Looking up at the Ferris wheel Tris thought back to when she had climbed it together with Four. Back then everything had been nice and she wanted to be with Four so much. Now it only sent a bitter frown to her face.
She heard Eric sigh heavily and snapped out of the memory. She saw him frown at her so she smiled nervously. He bit his lip rubbing the back of his neck, "Damn, we should have come here at night. It looks so sad.."
He lay his hand on the small of her back and pushed her gently forward, "Close your eyes, Tris." She raised an eyebrow at him and he nodded in encouragement, "Trust me?" She nodded and closed her eyes, his warm hands took a hold of her hand. He pulled her forward and she stumbled slightly, she heard him chuckle softly and she held onto his arm.
After a couple of feet he stopped her and told her to open her eyes. Tris blinked looking at the carousel in front of her. She looked at Eric who grinned sheepishly and she looked back at the nostalgic carousel with her eyebrows raised. He tilted his head while she was at a loss for words. "Definitely should have come by night.."
"No!" she exclaimed and cast him a smile, "It's just... I didn't expect that!" A grin broke out on his face and he grabbed her hand to pull her closer to the big old carousel. Tris had never been on such an installation and she wondered why it was so special that he would take her here.
They stepped onto the platform and he led her to one of the wooden horses. She gasped when he grabbed her hips and lifted her up onto the horse, "Now hold on!" Her grip on his shoulders tightened and she watched his eyes narrow. The corners of his mouth lifted in a handsome smile, "Tris?" She could only hum in response and his voice lowered to a mumble, "The horse, not me."
Blushing furiously she turned away from him and he went to the engine in the middle of the carousel. Tris flinched when the old rusty application went into motion surprisingly. Eric came back to her and swung up onto the horse next to her.
Strangely the bobbing motion soothed her and she looked out at the world spinning past her with a smile. After the world had turned around her for countless times Tris turned to Eric to catch him watching her with a faint smile, "Eric? Why are we here?"
Without an answer he hopped down from the horse and stood next to her. His eyes were bobbing up and down while he held her gaze, "Does it matter?" Tris swung her leg over and tried to hop off the horse clumsily. Eric stepped forward and extended his arms to catch her mid fall. She stumbled slightly placing her hands on his chest for support and looked up at him.
Eric drew his lips into a thin line and she could feel his heartbeat. It wasn't racing but it wasn't exactly calm either. When he spoke it sent a shiver down her spine, "I wanted to take your mind off of number boy. You seem to miss him, even though he doesn't deserve it."
After a moment the words sank in and Tris attempted to smile, "It worked, thanks." She wanted to tell him that not Four but he himself was on her mind the whole day already but she didn't have the courage. Eric nodded and went to shut off the engine while Tris walked over to the edge of the platform. She was mesmerized by the peaceful world that was spinning gradually slower until it came to a halt.
Eric playfully bumped his shoulder against hers and she looked up in surprise, "Feeling a little better?" Tris bit her lip and looked away from him, "Kind of," she lied, she didn't feel better at all, if anything she wanted to tell him now even more. She glanced back at him to see the corners of his mouth lift a fraction but he only nodded in reply and brushed past her hopping off the platform. Tris watched in disappointment how he started to walk in the direction of the train tracks. He stopped briefly and looked back at her, "Come on, we have to get back."
Her mind whirred on the way back, Eric was quiet the whole way and it made her uneasy. They ran for the train and when they were running in parallel he jumped up and helped her inside.
Catching their breath they sat down next to each other and she smiled at him. To her surprise he smiled back and it made her heart flutter. "I never thought I could be friends with you," she mused. He chuckled low in his throat and raised an eyebrow, "Now we're already friends?"
Her smile faltered and he added in a low voice, "I just couldn't stand you brooding over the jerk and looking all gloomy since yesterday." She looked away hiding a blush, "Eric?" He looked up at her serious tone, "Why did you come in late today?"
Rubbing the back of his neck he grimaced, "Lauren showed up in the middle of the night. She stayed until dawn and I needed some more sleep." Tris' heart sank, "I see." Whatever good mood he had been in, it was suddenly wiped away and he averted his eyes.
The rest of the ride as well as the rest of the day in the office they spent in silence. It was an uncomfortable silence and Tris hated it. Biting her lip she glanced at Eric when they left the office at the end of the day. She took all the courage she could muster and told him, "Chris, Will and I are going to have some drinks. Would you like to join us?"
He eyed her curiously and when he didn't answer she rolled her eyes at him, "Come on, we have the whole weekend off for a change!" she whined and he waved at her in annoyance, "Fine!"
After a few hours everyone was pretty much beyond being tipsy. As it was already getting late and Chris had to work the next day they said good-bye leaving Eric and Tris alone.
While Christina and Will took their leave Tris played with her long hair absent-mindedly and when they were alone she informed Eric formally, "I think I'll cut my hair!" Finishing the last of his drink Eric grunted, "No." Shaking his head slightly to emphasize how he was against that made Tris chuckle, "Do you know what I really really like about you?" She put a hand on his shoulder leaning heavily against him in her drunken haze.
He raised both of his eyebrows at her bolt invasion of his personal space, "No, but now I'm really really curious to find out." She locked her eyes with his, "That you're really honest. I really like that," she murmured drunkenly and when she lay her chin on his shoulder her hand glided down his back slowly. And before she could stop herself she muttered, "Plus, you have really nice eyes."
Eric rubbed his chin in amusement as Tris blushed and the grin on his face broadened. He pointed a finger at her nose, "Then let me be really honest with you now," he paused to lick his lips, his eyes dropping to her lips, "I honestly think you had too much to drink." Tris hummed in annoyance and rolled her eyes but otherwise kept her head propped down on his shoulder, "Maybe."
Tris watched him gasp as her fingers snuck beneath his shirt and brushed over the sensitive skin of his lower back. She felt her hands shake slightly because she hadn't realized she was actually going through with it. She had wanted to but actually doing it sent a wave of heat into her cheeks. In an attempt to cover her insecurity she pressed her full palm against his back.
Too late she realized it could send a different message to Eric. Her heart was hammering so loud in her chest she wondered whether he could hear it. He grinned and leaned close to her face, their noses were almost touching, "Tris?" She hummed dreamily watching his eyes turn a shade darker. "Your hand is down my shirt."
"I know," she whispered, "It feels so good, you're so warm." She watched him bite his lip and was totally hypnotized by the blood rushing back into it when he released it through his teeth that she was surprised when he grinned with mock concern, "Are you cold?"
"No, why?" she blurted out, but as soon as she did her eyes widened at the realization of admitting that she was doing this because she wanted to feel him. She withdrew her hand and saw a flicker of disappointment cross his face. He snorted, "Alright, you had enough! Let's call it a night." He grimaced as he slurred the sentence out and Tris giggled at the realization that she was not the only one who was more than just a little bit tipsy.
Tris didn't know why but she couldn't care less when Eric took her to his place instead of her apartment. "Sit down!" he commanded in a serious tone and Tris complied, slumping onto the couch.
She bit her lip when she watched Eric remove his vest, leaving him in a tight black tank top. Watching him toss the vest to a nearby chair Tris sighed at the sight of his upper body, the tight fabric accentuated his muscles perfectly and she longed to be encased in his strong arms. He missed the chair by a foot and waved his hand in annoyance, it made Tris giggle and he shot her a glare over his shoulder.
She had missed the training this morning, she had wondered what he'd do or say as there had certainly been some chemistry between them. It couldn't have only been in her imagination but after all he had been tipsy as well as her. So it was probably only her wishing that there was something.
When Eric came back from the kitchen he offered her bread and a glass of water, "Eat and drink this!" Tris sighed over dramatically sticking out her bottom lip in a pout, "But I would like to have cheese on it!" He raised an eyebrow at her, "Are you serious?" She nodded and he sighed getting up, "Alright, cheese it is." Tris almost burst out laughing when he ran into the armchair and cursed quietly.
While he sauntered back into the kitchen Tris couldn't help but travel her eyes up and down his body. She had watched him already several times but tonight was different, she couldn't quite pinpoint whether it was the alcohol or her general attraction towards him, but she wanted more of him.
She shook her head to get rid of the fog that had covered her mind, she also wanted to enjoy this. She had never been alone with him, at least not like that. And she regretted drinking too much, though if she hadn't she would probably not be here. Tris let out a long breath when he came back a few seconds later and handed her the bread, this time with cheese. The movement of the couch shifted her slightly towards him when he sat back down.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked between bites and he nodded. "Why is it..." the rest came out as a mumbled mess as she tried to speak around the mouth full. "Maybe you should take another bite, I guess I'll understand better then," he bit out sarcastically. She did as he told her and giggled to herself when she didn't even recognize herself what she was trying to say. He sighed in exasperation, "Alright, eat up and then you can ask me anything you want."
Tris gulped down the last of the bread a minute later and he looked at her expectantly. She looked at him with wide eyes and he gestured for her to ask what she wanted. "How come you are so nice now but during initiation you were such an asshole?" He raised an eyebrow at that and snorted, "I was an asshole?" She nodded vigorously as if it was the most obvious fact and Eric should have known.
He leaned back against the couch and draped his arms on the back of it, "I was under a lot of pressure back then, after all it was the first time I played a major role in grading initiates and deciding whether one of you got kicked out or not." Tris leaned back and sighed when her head connected with his arm, she turned and rested her cheek against the bare skin of his forearm and locked eyes with him, "So you were just nervous and we all misunderstood you? I mean, you hung Christina over the chasm because..."
He cut her off, "Tris...," rubbing his eyes he sighed in frustration and Tris sat up to scoot a little bit closer. He opened his eyes again and they widened when he saw that she was so close to him all of a sudden that her legs touched his thighs.
But before he could further go on with anything he wanted to say she mumbled, "You know, you haven't called me Stiff in a long time," she sighed with contentment and leaned her cheek against his upper arm, "I like how you say my name."
Tris felt the alcohol wear off slowly and decided that she didn't want him to know that she was fully aware of herself getting closer to him than she normally would, so she offered him a lopsided smile. She noticed how the muscles in his arm flexed and he licked his lips.
He regarded her for a very long moment and when he leaned towards Tris, her eyes dropped to his lips and started closing on their own. Only to fly open when she felt him shift and remove his arm from behind her head. He had sat up almost causing her to topple forward. Eric sighed rubbing his face and Tris had to strain her ears when he mumbled, "God, I'm drunk, Stiff, go to bed!"
Suddenly she was completely sober and stared at him in disbelief. When she didn't move he looked back at her over his shoulder, "I'm serious, I don't want you or me to do anything either of us could regret." Tris was at a loss for words and got up numbly.
Before she got to the door though Eric was suddenly behind her, "Tris?" She turned feeling tears sting her eyes and he encased her in his arms, hugging her close to him he mumbled into the crook of her neck, "I'm sorry, good night." She patted his back sadly and went to leave his apartment.
When she opened the door Tris was face to face with Lauren who was just about to knock. Setting her jaw tightly she greeted the other woman and without looking back she almost ran back to her apartment. Slumping down she let the tears fall freely. Biting her bottom lip in frustration she wondered when she had started to have feelings towards Eric and how she was supposed to keep working alongside him having to hold back her growing affection towards him.