"My words are unerring tools of destruction, and I've come unequipped with the ability to disarm them."

Richard Campbell Gansey III, The Raven Boys

Tris's POV

My parents put a small amount of food onto their plates as I sat down at the table. They both look cautious. They never eat that much, but they didn't want to take a bite of it yet. Something was bothering them.

"You made this, right Caleb?" my mom asked in an overly polite tone. I frowned.

"So-" he began to say as I elbowed him from underneath the table. "Yes," he amended. There was no way I'd let him say that this was parents. My parents might hate my cooking, but they hate takeout even more. They'll find out years from now, when it's too late for that factoid to bother them.

My mom shared a relieved look with my father, and I couldn't help but feel hurt. I mean, I know I'm not a good cook, but I don't think I'm that bad. No one else seems to think that it sucks as much as my family does.

"Do you guys like living here in Chicago?" my father asked us. Our family home is in Washington D.C., but Caleb and I both moved to Chicago so we could follow our dreams. Our parents decided that it was best for us to go somewhere that has a great rink. Those are my parents; always so selfless. And it's not like they could move away. My father's a politician, so he's always working, and we don't have enough money to get plane tickets for my dad to travel all the time. So I live in this house, and Caleb lives in an apartment. We used to share it until Caleb decided to move out. So that's history.

"It's great," I said. "It's just as cold as New York is in the winter, but after spending so much time in the rink, I've gotten used to the cold."

"You and me both." My dad glanced over at Caleb, who had just spoken with his mouth full. Manners have always been a big thing in my family. Caleb looked a bit guilty. "Sorry!"

He turned to our father. "I picked up this book on the development of agricultural systems throughout world history last week and…" I decided to tune out. Caleb reads anything he can get his hands on, no matter how impossibly unreadable the book may seem. He even reads instruction manuals if he gets bored. Like, who does that? Only Caleb.

I glance over at the small pile of food I ordered, which is almost gone. Caleb and my father have finished their food, and are engrossed in a conversation about agriculture in who cares what classical society. My mom is still politely finishing her second pancake. She isn't a big of them or many indulgent foods.

"It's nice to see you and your brother again Beatrice," my mom told me. "Are you ready to go to the food bank after this?"

"Of course. It is the season for giving, after all." My mom smiled at me. We never got gifts during Christmas. The spirit of the season was to give to others, not to get gifts from others. And there was no one else my family would rather give to than those in need. That's how we ended up volunteering at The Abnegation Society's food bank for the poor and the homeless every Christmas.

It's certainly different than most people's traditional Christmas celebration, but it's my family's Christmas and I wouldn't have it any other way. While handing out bowls of food to the needy may seem like a chore, seeing a smile light up the people's faces as they accepted them made it pretty rewarding.

Sometimes, I do wish that my family would do something normal for once. Caleb never seems to mind going to the food bank, but I wish that we'd do something fun afterwards. We always go home and talk for the rest of the day. It's never more exciting than that.

After the food bank was over, I decided to call Christina.

"Hey Chrissy! Are you busy?"

"I wish. My parents and sister got snowed in, so I couldn't go over to their house today. It sucks."

"Bummer. Do you want to do something together?"

"Of course! It's not fun partying by myself."

"It's not that bad. What do you want to do?"

"You'd know, wouldn't you Trissy? Well, let's see. I spy a movie in our future."

I laughed. "And which movie do you see?"

"I see Antman. At one o'clock. I already have the tickets. I was going to go with my sister."

"Fantastic. See you in an hour."

"See you in an hour. Bye Trissy!"

"Bye Chrissy!"

I smiled. For once, I was getting the chance to do something for Christmas. Sure, I loved spending it with my family, but if I have to be honest with myself, it got boring after a while. We don't watch TV or play games. We'd just sit and talk until lunch and dinner. My parents might think that it's selfish, but I wanted to move on from their traditions, just this once.

Just to be safe I arrived at the theater twenty minutes before the movie started. When I left, Caleb and my parents were trying to find a way to make the food bank better and more inclusive. I was helping, but all of our ideas were too expensive for the Abnegation Society to afford. After hearing one too many unusable ideas, Caleb volunteered to take my parents over to his apartment so he could cook them an amazing meal, one that I'd never be able to cook. Before he left, he shot me a look that made me figure out that he knew I had other plans and that I'd better show up at his apartment as soon as I finished them. I nodded, and decided to tell my parents the truth. That Christina's family couldn't come over because they got snowed in, and that I was going to watch a movie with her to make up for it. They both smiled at me, and said that it was nice that I'd do that for her. I smiled back and left for the mall.

So that's where I am now. Sitting on the stone cold bench outside the theater in the Chicago Ridge Mall. Christina texted me to inform me that she was on her way, so I was stuck sitting on this cold bench in this frigid weather freezing. I didn't want to go in any of the shops in case I missed Christina, and it would be weird to walk around in the small space in the theater that laid before the ticket guy. Or ticket girl.

Plus, since it's Christmas, crowds of people are coming in and out of the theater every

minute. What people aren't doing is sitting down on the benches like I am. In this wintry weather, sitting down outside was undesirable, even if you spent every day on an ice rink. The rink's chill doesn't compare to the frosty weather that comes the day after you get snowed in.

As I continued to shiver from the cold, I saw someone who look vaguely familiar approaching. I squinted, hoping that it was Christina. It was about time that she got here. I didn't want to spend more time in this wretched cold. As the figure came closer, I realized that it wasn't Christina. The other bad things was that it was someone I knew. It was Four.

The sight of him made me act nonplussed for a few seconds. Why was Four here, and by himself? Shouldn't he be with his family or the people closest to him? And out all the places he could be why was he here? He didn't strike me as goes-to-the-mall type of person.

While I don't always agree with everything my family chooses to do during the holidays, I couldn't imagine spending my Christmas any other way. I look down at the ground. It would be weird if Four caught me staring. I didn't really want to say hi to him, but my parents were always stressing how important it was to greet anyone you know even if you don't like them. Especially if you don't like them.

I looked up and saw that Four was about to pass by my ice-bath bench. I couldn't feel my butt anymore.

Ugh, I thought to myself. Why couldn't Christina have come faster?

"Hey Four!" I said as enthusiastically as I could.

He turned, surprised. "Oh," he said once he saw me. "Hello, Tris." Hearing his voice reminded me of what my parents had asked me to do earlier.

"Do you mind if I ask you something? It's a favor for my parent's friend."

"Ask away."

I took a deep breath. "Okay, so parent's friend Marcus is looking for his son Tobias. We used to visit their house a lot, but we never saw his son. The only thing that Marcus knows is that his son used to play hockey before you became the next big thing. Do you have any idea where he is?"

Four's gaze turned as hard as stone. He took a few steps forward until his face was a few inches in front of mine. "I don't know where he is,: Four said coldly and softly, " and I don't want you to mention him or his father to me ever again." And with that, he turned around and walked away.

I just sat there for a few minutes, stunned. Why did he react like that? Maybe they're a sore spot for him during this time. Whatever the reason, that was not how i expected the conversation to go. I sat in shock until Christina came.

"Ready for some fun, Trissy?" Christina asked me.

"I would be, if I wasn't so busy freezing"

"What's wrong?" She asked me hearing the edge in voice. I meant to say the last part in a joking tone, but it obviously didn't work they way I planned it.

"Nothing. It's just, I've never done anything other than go to a food bank during the holidays," I added to hide the real reason I was bothered.

"Oh, Trissy!" She looked sympathetic. "This will be fun! I heard that Ant Man was supposed to be really funny. Let's go! I don't want to miss it. We'll have a great time. Different isn't always bad."

I smiled. For now I would enjoy myself. I would have time to figure out how to act around Four the next time I inevitably saw him later. But right now, I'm going to have some fun.

I smiled. For now, I would enjoy myself. Later I would have time to figure out how I was going to ask the next time I saw Four. But right now, I'm going to have some fun.

Hey guys! I'm so sorry for not updating earlier. I've just been going through a lot. My family and I moved across the country a few months ago, and then we went on vacation to LA. I used to live in LA, so it was nice to back. I miss being able to go to Disneyland and Universal Studios all the time. I used to take it for granted, and now I miss it a lot.

On the bright side, I might be able to update again soon because I have to get up at 6:00 to run and have the rest of the day to goof off(and not go back to sleep or sleep in.

Anyway, I also started three new series. The Lunar Chronicles, which is great, The Selection, which was interesting, and The Raven Cycle, which is one of my favorite series. Plus, Maggie Stiefvater reblogged one of my posts on tumblr! HOW COOL IS THAT!

Question of the Chapter: Who are your favorite fictional characters?

I like Barry Allen, Leo Fitz, Skye, Red, Ruby, Leo Valdez, Tris Prior, Regina Mills, Maxon Schreave, and Tony Stark. Richard Campbell Gansey III is my son, and I will do everything to protect him. He's the ultra fave.

See you soon!

~DauntlessPokemonRide