Four POV:

I drop off Tris and head back on my motorcycle. I don't head back home, but drive around the city for a while. I feel the 'ding' of a new text from the phone in my pocket and pull over.

Yo bro, u can crash at my house 4 2nite if u want 2. parents r out of town. ~zekeyboy

I roll my eyes but then consider it. A night free from Marcus, is something I'd do almost anything for. So I get back on my Harley and go to my house to pick up a change of clothes and my backpack for the morning. When I get to the house, I open the door, and hear a strange noise, almost like a snicker. Must be a coyote, I tell myself, because Marcus has a meeting tonight, right?

Then I go upstairs and hear another noise. I roll my eyes and stuff a spare shirt and pair of jeans into my backpack. I zip it up and sling it over my shoulder. But when I go down the hall, and pass Marcus' room, I see a figure hunched over his computer.

I'm no fan of Marcus, but I cannot resist the urge to kill that figure. Because when I see it from a better angle, I see Eric laughing at Marcus' email and muttering words that are better not repeated at the computer. Damn you, Eric. You shouldn't have messed with me, Tris, or the mayor.

So I put down my backpack and creep up behind him. Thankfully, Eric is so interested in Marcus' files that he doesn't notice me.

Then I attack and put him in a half-nelson and punch his other half-face until it turns dark purple. Eric screams and flails his arms immediately. I chuckle at this then punch his temple a few times. My knuckles are bleeding but I shrug it off. Eric falls on top of me, but I flip it around so I am on top of him. His nose is bleeding and was dripping on the floor. Great. Just great. If Marcus finds out Eric was here, he'll beat me.

Eric screams again, "Whoa man! Four! Stop it! Why are you doing this?!"

I put my hand around his mouth, "More important, why are you doing this? Who sent you?"

"No one man! It was just a prank!"

I roll my eyes, "No it wasn't. Who sent you and why? Was it Dr. Matthews?"

"Man why do you care? I thought you hated Marcus. Ooh, you're a daddy's boy!"

I shake my head, "The opposite actually. Why are you doing this? Who sent you?" Then I punch his face again.

"Aah! Okay, I'll tell you. Dr. Matthews sent me because Marcus has some sort of file. It has to do with the gangs in the city or something. Apparently he's a leader of one."

"Tell me more," I barely make out.

"That's all I know."

I knee him in the balls.

Eric winces, "All I know I told you."

"Why does Dr. Matthews want the file?"

"She wants power over the city."

"Is that why you beat up Tris and me? To threaten Marcus? Don't you realize that Marcus has done much worse to me?!"

Eric nods, "It was all Dr. Matthews' ideas."

I take a deep breath in, "Fine. Close out of your program and leave."

Eric nods and slowly gets up.

I sit on the bed. Thankfully, he's too weak to advance on me. Eric closes out of his program, and slips a hard drive into his pocket.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You know what I mean. Turn over your pockets."

Eric does just that and the thumb drive falls out. Eric lunges for it, but I reach it before him. Without thinking, my foot stomps and crushes it.

Eric winces. Dr. Matthews will not be happy.

I point to the door and Eric slowly walks out. I hear him trip on the stairs. So I run down them and drag him out to the driveway.

Then I pick up my backpack from upstairs and change my shirt. Then I head out on my Harley for Zeke's place.

Zeke POV:

Since our parents are still out of town, Uriah and I decide to invite some friends to spend the night. I invite Four and Uriah invites a few guys from the football team and Will. Then I get an amazing, if I do say so myself, idea: what if we played 'Spin the Bottle'?

So I text a few girls to come over around 7.

Then I go to the garage and get some snacks: a few bottles of cola and a few bags of party pack sized Lays.

"What are you doing?"

I turn around and sigh, "Now what Uriah? It's past your bed time."

"Very funny Zeke."

"I'm grabbing some food for tonight."

Uriah looks at me for a minute and then takes the chips and carries them up for me. I smile and we set them on the kitchen counter.

"What time is it?" Uriah asks.

"Um...around 6:30. Why?"

Uriah looks at me like I'm stupid.

Then I realize it. "Crap! That means we only have half an hour before people arrive!"

Uriah nods like this is not new to him.

"Okay, you take the kitchen, I'll tackle the living room! Go!" I shout.

I hear him scramble to do the dishes as I put some stain remover on a spot on the carpet where somebody spilled coffee. Then I vacuum the carpet and soon enough, seven o'clock comes. I straighten the magazines on the coffee table and wipe away some dust with my sleeve.

Then the doorbell rings. Uriah answers it.

"Oh, hey Four...yeah, Zeke's in the living room...ha. Okay. I'll be sure to do that."

I only heard pieces of the conversation, and it confuses me.

Then Four walks in and sits down next to me, shrugging off his bag.

"So..." Four starts.

"Yes?"

He shrugs, "Just trying to break the awkward silence."

I nod. The doorbell rings again. Uriah answers it, again. It turns out to be Will, Edward, and Adrian, from the football team.

A few more minutes pass. I turn on the Bear's game.

We all watch the end of it and chat. Uriah and Adrian end up having a burping contest while each drinking about a liter of cola.

Everyone laughs. I stare at the clock, waiting for more people, particularly Shauna, to arrive.

A minute passes. 7:09.

Then another minute passes. Four goes to get cooled drinks for us from the fridge.

The doorbell rings, and this time, I answer it.

"Tris?"

"Zeke."

She looks scared.

"C'mon," I motion for her to come in.

She does, dragging a drawstring backpack.

We walk to the living room and sit down.

A few guys stare at her.

Tris wipes tears from her eyes.

"Tris? Are you okay?" Uriah asks. Then he turns and looks at me funnily, like Why did you invite her?

Tris shakes her head.

I look back to Uriah, Yeah. Got a problem?

He shakes his head bluntly.

"What happened?" Will blurts out.

Tris closes her eyes and slowly says, "Al. Again."

Uriah hugs her.

Then Four walks in the room.

"Tris?" he asks, while he takes a sip, nearly spilling soda on himself.