I walk up the stairs to my apartment. Stairs. Home. It all feels so unreal. Dreamlike. Unbelievable. I cannot believe I have a home. With Christina. That I am alive. I miss my friends in the army, but I am glad for the change. I needed that. I know that even though I have only been here for some few weeks, I know that this change – it was the best I could make for me. At this stage in life. Even though, I am having some difficulties dealing, moving back to Chicago was the best thing I could've done.
I unlock the front door and take my jacket off. It's early October already, so the cold is coming pretty quick. I walk into the living room, but quickly change directions, when I hear noises from the kitchen.
"I cannot believe you are having people over in less than half hour, and you still have no food." A person, I don't know, says, I don't recognize the voice.
"I don't cook, you should know that." That's Christina, definitely Christina.
"I know, that's why this is so hilarious." She replies laughing. "Oh, hey, you must be Tris. I am Marlene." I look at her. She has blond hair and is the same height as me and Christina, if not maybe a little bit taller than Christina. She looks about the same age as us and she is beautiful.
"Hey." I reply, not really knowing what to say. I look towards Christina and she smiles.
"Okay, so, this is Tris, Tris, this is Marlene. She works with me at the hospital as a general surgeon." Christina replies and Marlene nods.
"Hey Marlene, it's nice to meet you."
"You too, I have heard a lot about you." Marlene says smiling.
"Now, can you please help me with this cooking. People are coming in thirty minutes and I still haven't gotten anything ready yet." Christina tells me, freaking out.
"You haven't made anything?" I ask, not really understanding why she wouldn't make any food if people are coming in less than thirty minutes.
"No and yes. I tried, but I accidently burned everything. Now, please can you just help me! Please, you are like an amazing chef. I need your help." She says again and I laugh.
"Of course, what were you planning on making?" I ask.
"Just, I don't really know. I don't care what you make, just make something. Anything, for that matter."
"Okay, okay." I reply. I go over to the sink and wash my hands and start looking through the ingredients on the kitchen bench.
After half hour, later, I have made a Caesar Salad, which is currently in the fridge, some chicken wings, and some baked potatoes, which are still in the oven. People still haven't come yet, but I bet they will be here before I know it. Christina and Marlene have kept me with company the whole time, even been helping me a little bit.
I have gotten to known Marlene also, she is 26 years old, and has a sister named Molly. She is also dating a guy named Uriah, whose brother I met yesterday. I think Zeke was his name. She has worked at Dauntless Hospital since she finished Medical school, and right now she is telling me how much she loves working at the Hospital.
Christina comes in after setting the table and smiles at us. "It's great knowing my sister and my best friend gets along." She says smiling.
It's refreshing to know that Christina is surrounded with wonderful people all the time, even when I was gone. I still haven't met everyone, but I know from just listening to Marlene talking just now, I know they are wonderful people.
"So, who is coming?" Marlene asks after she finishes speaking about her love for the hospital.
"You know, everyone at the hospital." Replies Christina.
"Everyone? I haven't made that much food you know." I say smiling, while Marlene laughs.
"Not literally everyone. That's not what I meant, but like everyone, I hang out with at the Hospital, plus Will." Christina replies smiling.
"I would believe you "hang out" with everyone." I reply smiling.
"I do, but like my really close friends." She says smiling. "You know what I mean."
"I do, I was just joking with you." I say laughing. "Did you set the table?"
"Yep, I did. It's all good."
"Is Bird coming?" Marlene asks.
"Yes, she is."
"Who is Bird?" I ask, no one in particular.
"Bridgette. She was at the accident place yesterday, remember? She has blond hair – "Christina says, but I cut her off.
"Oh, right, I remember. She was driving the ambulance."
"Great, now you know another person then." Christina replies smiling.
"Why did you invite her?" Marlene asks. "You know how Four doesn't like her."
"This party isn't for Four or anyone for that matter. I like Bird and she is nice to me, so I invited her. It's too late now anyway." She replies.
"Who is Four? And what's up between Bird and Four?" I ask, not understanding anything.
"It's a long story, short version, is that he, Four, – "Marlen started, but was cut off by someone ringing the doorbell.
"Well, I guess story time is over. Who wants to open the door?" Christina asks smiling.
Christina and Marlene walk over to the door, while I get the last off the cooking done. I keep wondering back to this Four guy and this Bird. Who names a guy "Four"? I know I wouldn't name someone a number. I have been through a lot and met many people, and never have I ever came across a person whose name is a number. Hopefully, he has a reason. Maybe, it's a nickname. I wouldn't know, but if his name is "Four", like the number, I am sure he gets a lot of questions about it, just so I am on the safe side, I don't think I will ask any question towards the name.
I take the baked potatoes out of the oven and put it on the kitchen bench. Following, I check the chicken wings, making sure they are ready. After making sure they are done, I take them out of the oven and put them next to the baked potatoes. I look around, the kitchen is a mess from Christina burning what she calls "food", not sure if you can really eat it, though. I guess cleaning the kitchen while I wait, is a good idea.
I start throwing away the burned "food", and start doing the dishes. I can hear everyone talking with each other. It reminds me of my workplace in the army. I miss my friends there. Most of all I miss –
"Tris!" I can hear Christina shouts, bringing me out of my thoughts. I wash and dry my hands and walk towards the living room. "So, this is my sister Tris. Tris, this is everyone."
"Hey." I say smiling, looking at everyone. My eyes find Will right away and he smiles at me.
"Hey." He says. "Did you speak with Caleb?"
"No?" I reply, not really knowing what he means with Caleb.
"Well, Cara called and they are expecting."
"Expecting? Are you serious?" I ask. I am all in for Caleb having children, but now? They started dating a year ago, it's a long time, but shouldn't they like, I don't know, get married first.
"It was a surprise for them both. I don't think Caleb, though, wanted to have children before they got married, if they even got married." Will replies. I nod. I agree. Caleb has talked about it before, about how he always wanted to do it in the right order, first marriage, then kids.
"Well, I guess I should give him a call later then. How is Cara with all of this?"
"She is ecstatic. She is really happy about all of this, and I think that's the only thing keeping Caleb sane right now. I think it might be a good idea, if you do call him later, yes." He replies smiling and I laugh. Yeah, that's probably right. Caleb is probably freaking out right now. It wouldn't surprise me, let me tell you that.
"Okay, now let me introduce you Tris." Christina says, breaking up my conversation with Will and I smile and nod at her to continue. "This here is Zeke – "
"Yep, we met yesterday." Zeke says and Christina smiles.
"Hey." I reply.
"This is Uriah, his brother – "
"Yep, I also met you yesterday." Uriah says. We shake hands and Christina moves on to that really handsome guy I met yesterday. I guess I need to stop calling him that.
"This is Four." Christina says. Four? The number guy? His name is Four? The really handsome guy, is named after a number? Oh, God.
"Hey." I say and shake hands with him.
"Nice to meet you." He replies smiling and oh god, his smile, I think a part of me just fell in
love. Tris, get a grip! Right. Right. Act normal. Normal. Yes.
"Likewise." I reply smiling.
"You probably don't remember me, but my name is Bridgette, everyone just calls me Bird." Okay, so that's Bird. "I don't think I got a chance to introduce myself last time we met."
"No, I can't recall that. It's nice to meet you, I am Tris." I say smiling shaking her hand too.
'This is my sister Molly." Marlene says and I nod to Molly and shake her hand smiling.
"And this is Peter and Albert, but everyone calls him Al." Christina says looking at the two guys left. I nod smiling at them. "Lauren, Shauna, Fernando, and Lynn couldn't make it. They are on shift."
Everyone nod and they all start to get into a conversation with each other. I decide that I am no longer needed here and decide to continue doing the dishes.
Walking back into the kitchen, I start getting to work. A few minutes later someone comes in. I turn around and see Four standing in the doorway.
"Hey." He replies walking towards the chicken wings and the baked potatoes.
"Hey." I reply, turning back to the dishes.
"It smells amazing in here." I turn to look at him and smile. "When we have these dinners, or whatever you are going to call it, I usually make the food."
"Did you?" I ask.
"Yep, I did, now Christina told me I didn't need too." He laughs. "This looks amazing, though."
"Thank you, it's just some baked potatoes, a Caesar salad, and some chicken wings." I reply, looking back at the dishes.
"Do you need any help?" He asks coming towards me.
"No, I think I am almost done now." I reply," thank you, though."
"Should we eat?" Christina comes in, looking at me. I finish washing the last plate and turn to look at her and nod.
"Sure, let's eat." I reply. Walking over to the food and take it over to the table.
"Should I take anything?" Four ask.
"If you could take the Caesar Salad out from the fridge." I reply and he nods.
I walk towards the table and put the food down. After I sit down, Four comes in with the salad. I am now seated next to Peter and Marlene, Uriah is next to her, and then Zeke. Four is above me next to Bird and Molly, Christina is next to Will and Molly, and then Al and then back to Peter.
"It smells amazing." Molly says and I smile.
"That's good, I just hope it tastes as good." I reply.
"I bet." Four says smiling. I nod back and look around the table. I find Christina looking at me with a huge smile on her face, which automatically makes me smile as well. Everyone starts to take some food and passes it around, soon conversation is going on.
"So, what do you work as?" Al asks looking at me.
"Right now, I work as a tattoo artist." I reply, looking at him and he nods.
"Do you like drawing?" Four asks, and I turn to look at him.
"I do. I do love drawing." I reply nodding.
"But, you said you were a surgeon yesterday." Zeke says and I nod. "Which I do believe, by the way, you were amazing in the OR."
"Well, thank you. It's nice hearing that, and you guys have an amazing OR, I don't think I have worked in an OR that nice before." I reply smiling. "And yes, I am a surgeon. I recently came here, after I ..." I stop mid-sentence and look at Christina. What am I going to say? I came here because I couldn't handle the army anymore? No, I can't say that, because first, it's not true and second, well I would've loved to continue working there. I can't say that I was fried, or maybe I can, because well, my "boss" said I should take some time off, to sort everything out, kind off. But, no, that wouldn't be right either. "… after I – you know, it's just really complicated."
"Oh okay." He replies and looks toward Christina. I look at Christina and she gives me an apologetic look, and I give her a small smile.
I continue eating, looking down at my food. They are all talking about something. They all have a life here, and friends. I miss my friends. I really miss my friends. But being here, I know it is good for me. I know it was a smart move, coming here. I just wish, I didn't come here because of the circumstances that are happening now.
"So, Tris, how long have you been here now?" I look up and find Four looking at me.
"Hmmm, a few weeks." I reply.
"You like it here?" He asks and I nod.
"Believe it or not, I grew up here." I say smiling. Enjoying the change of subject.
"You did, that's cool." He replies smiling and I smile back. "Is that how you know Christina?"
"Yes, we have been best friends since kindergarten." I reply, smiling at the memory of little me and Christina running around in my backyard. "And you? You lived here long?"
"Yes, I have. I guess half my life." He replies smiling and I laugh.
"Yep, that's a long time." I say smiling. "And you work as a Neurosurgeon?"
"Yes, I do. Both Molly and I." He replies and I look at Molly who nods.
"Really, that's nice. How long have you worked as one?" I ask.
"Well, after I finished medical school and my resident years, I specialized in Neuro. I haven't worked for that long, and I not that good – "He starts, but Molly cut's him off.
"That's a lie. He is the best Neurosurgeon at the whole hospital, if not the whole Chicago." Molly brags about Four and I smile.
"That's amazing. You enjoy it?"
"I love it." He replies smiling and I smile back.
AN:
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I haven't been able to work on a lot (I guess that's why I not really feeling it), but I hope you all enjoyed it anyway. I have a lot of working and homework to do this week, so I don't know if I will be able to update on Saturday, but I'll try. Anyway, please review, favorite, and follow. Looking forward to hear everything you guys think about this chapter
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Cinder Luna: Well, I try to make sure that there are non-grammatical errors, but I am still learning. I really suck at grammar though. Hope this chapter was good as well
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