Author's Note

Hey, guys! Here's Chapter Five. Please review and tell me if you like it. Also, I'm open to ideas! Enjoy!

Jumping Through the Stars

Chapter Five

As Locker Boy, Caleb and I walked into the kitchen, I noticed a note on the counter. I walked over to it and read it. It was from Aunt Jeanine, saying how she wouldn't be home for dinner and at the bottom of the note, it said she had registered me for a horse show the next day.

"Caleb, Aunt Jeanine said she won't be here for dinner," I said.

"Okay. Did she say anything else?" Caleb responded. I sighed.

"Yeah, she signed me up for a horse show without telling me."

"She did?"

"Yes!"

"Whoa, okay. Chill," Caleb said. I narrowed my eyes at him. He did it back. I narrowed them more. He did, too; I narrowed mine even more.

"I win," I said. Caleb grumbled something inaudible. I looked over to Locker Boy and saw him wearing a confused expression. "Aunt Jeanine signs me up for a ton of horse shows without telling me. She doesn't tell me about them until a day or two before, so I have to get everything ready really quickly. I've asked her a million times to stop signing me up for the shows without talking to me first, but she still does it. She says it's good for me to be riding in a lot of shows if I want to become a professional. I see where she's coming from; I just wish she'd talk to me first. I don't even know where this show is and I have to be all ready to go by tomorrow after school! But don't get me wrong, I love riding in shows; I wish I didn't show so often, though. You know what I mean?"

"Uh, yeah." I could tell Four didn't really understand, and I can't blame him. There isn't really anything wrong with showing; I just show too much for my liking. That's okay, though, I guess.

"Anyways," Caleb butted in. "What are we doing for dinner?"

"I could make macaroni and cheese," I offered.

"Okay," Caleb said. "Do you like macaroni and cheese?" He asked Four.

"Yeah, I do." Four nodded his head.

I headed to the cabinet to search for macaroni and cheese. I continued rifling through the boxes and cans of foods, but I didn't see any macaroni and cheese. I told the boys.

"Why don't we just go out to eat?" Caleb said. "I'll pay."

"Okay!" I agreed

"Okay, but I'm not letting you pay for me," Four said.

I groaned. "Shut up. If he isn't paying for you, then I am. We aren't letting you pay this time."

"Yeah," Caleb agreed.

"Fine, whatever," Four huffed. I nodded.

"Alright, let's go," I said. "I'm driving!" I joked.

"No you aren't!" Caleb said. I don't think he knows I was joking.

"Fine, but I call shotgun then."

"Nope, the guest gets shotgun," Caleb said. I rolled my eyes and playfully glared at Locker Boy as he and I walked outside to Caleb's car, trailing a few steps behind my brother. Locker Boy put his hands up.

"I surrender," He mouthed to me. I smirked, but still sat in the back seat, letting Locker Boy take the passenger's seat. Caleb hopped into the driver's seat and started the car. We pulled out of the driveway and set off down the road.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I noticed it was one I'd never been to before. I looked up at the large sign over the entrance. It read Eric's in large dark blue letters.

"Have either of you been here before?" I asked.

"Yes," They said in unison. I laughed.

"Sometimes we meet here to study," Four said.

"Do they have good food?" I questioned.

"Yes," They said I unison again. I laughed and so did the guys.

"You two have, like, mind connection or something," I said. We smiled and walked into the restaurant. At the front register, a boy with dark hair was looking down at his computer. "Um, hi," I said, trying to get his attention. The boy looked up and smiled.

"Hey, Tris!" The boy said. It took me a second to realize who the boy was. He was wearing an Eric's uniform with his name on it.

"Hi, Peter; I didn't know you worked here!"

"I do. So, what can I do for you? A table for one?"

"Um, no," I said. I gestured to my friend and brother behind me. "I'm here with these two dingbats," I said playfully.

I saw something in Peter's eyes harden. "Is one of them your boyfriend?"

"No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no." I pointed to Caleb. "He's my brother; his name is Caleb." I pointed to Locker Boy. "And this is Four. He's a friend."

"Oh, okay. Sorry. Anyways, so, a table for three?"

"Yes. Can we please have a booth?" I asked.

"Sure, no problem." Peter led us through the crowded restaurant to a booth in the back.

"I'll be your waiter. My name is Peter, as you may already know. I'll leave you three to browse the menu and I'll be back shortly to take your drink orders. Okay?" We all sat down at the booth, Caleb on one side, Locker Boy and I on the other; I was sitting closest to the wall.

"Alright, we'll see you in a few minutes, Peter." I smiled and he smiled back, and then he walked away.

As soon as Peter was out of sight, Caleb smirked at me. "He likes you."

"Caleb! I've only known him for one day, just like Locker Boy. I don't know if it's possible to develop a crush that quickly. Anyway, I'm hungry. Let's get this show on the road." With that, I picked up one of the three menus that were placed in the middle of the table and began browsing through it. Out of my peripheral vision, I saw the boys shrug at each other and each pick up a menu. I continued browsing the menu, and ended up deciding on a cheeseburger with fries and a side salad, with a chocolate milk to go along with it all. A few minutes later, Peter walked over to our table, smiling and holding a pad of paper and a pen.

"So, what can I get you guys to drink? Ladies first." I smiled.

"Chocolate milk, please," I said. He scribbled my order down on paper.

"Alright, now for you two."

"Um, I'll have chocolate milk, too, please," Caleb said.

"Copy-cat," I muttered under my breath, jokingly, making sure it was loud enough for my brother to hear.

"Hey!" He exclaimed. I shrugged innocently and smiled. "Oh, whatever," Caleb laughed.

"Okay, and for you, Four?" Peter said.

"Uh, I think I'll copy, too, so chocolate milk, please," Locker Boy laughed. I hit his shoulder playfully and narrowed my eyes at him. He shrugged innocently and smiled at me.

"Oh, whatever," I said, copying what Caleb had said to me when I did the innocent act.

"Great! Now we're all copy-cats. Okay, are you two ready to order your meals, too?" Caleb questioned. Four and I both nodded. "Okay, I'll have the steak please. Oh, and fries."

"Um, I'll have the cheeseburger with fries and a small side salad," I said.

"Okay, and for you?" Peter questioned Four.

"I'll have the ribs and a side of fries."

Peter scribbled our orders down on his pad of paper, nodded, told us he'd be back with the food soon, and walked away. The three of us just sat there looking at each other for a moment before Caleb made a fake sweet face. "'Ladies first.'" He mimicked in a fake sweet voice.

"Yup; that guy likes you, Miss Nosy," Locker Boy said and flung his arm over my shoulder.

"Even with a broken nose!" Caleb exclaimed jokingly. I scowled at him.

"Not funny."

"Okay; sorry, Tris. You know I love you!" Caleb put his hands up in surrender.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever; you say that almost every time you get in trouble with me."

"So? It's true."

"It better be," I smiled. A little while later, Peter re-appeared with our orders; he passed them out to us, leaning a bit too close to me for comfort.

"Uh," I said. "Thanks."

"No problem! Enjoy your food, Tris." He walked away, not saying anything to either of the boys. I laughed at this.

"Do we need any more proof that that boy likes you?" Caleb asked, noticing that Peter only talked to me.

"Yes," I responded, and began eating my cheeseburger. Caleb shook his head.

"Sometimes, Tris, you can be so oblivious." I just shrugged.

After a while of eating and talking about random topics, we all had finished our dinners. Peter came back over and asked us if we wanted anything for dessert.

"Um, yes, please," Caleb answered. "I'll have a hot fudge sundae."

"Can I have a caramel ice cream sundae, please?" Locker Boy said. Peter nodded.

"And for you, Tris?" Peter asked. I quickly scanned the dessert section on the menu, and one thing caught my eye.

"I'll have a piece of your, uh," I glanced at the name of the dessert. "Dauntless Cake, please."

"Alright, good choice. I'll be back with the desserts shortly." Peter walked away from the table.

A short time later, three delicious looking desserts were placed in front of us. I picked up my fork and took a big bite of the soft, chocolate cake with creamy, rich, chocolate frosting. It was amazing.

"How are your desserts?" I asked.

"Good," Four said; Caleb nodded in agreement.

"That's good." I finished the small piece of cake and waited for the boys to finish eating as well. Four looked over at me and began to turn away but did a double take. He laughed lightly.

"Miss Nosy, you seem to have a bit of frosting on your cheek." Four smiled at me. I felt heat rise in my cheeks as my brother looked over at me and laughed.

"Ugh, move," I ordered Four.

"What?" He asked confused.

"I said, move. I have to go to the bathroom. Please step out of the seat."

"Oh, okay." Locker Boy scooched over in the seat and stood up; I climbed out after him.

"Thanks," I said. He nodded and sat back down. I walked around the restaurant, trying to find the bathroom. After a few minutes, I found my way back to the boys' table. Four slid out of the seat, thinking I was going to sit back down.

"Um, actually, I can't find the bathroom." Caleb laughed and stood up.

"Come on," He said. "I'll show you where it is."

"Okay." I followed him down a series of halls and past a ton of tables, trying to keep track of where we turned and the things we passed so that I could find my way back.

"Okay, the girls' bathroom is right there." Caleb gestured to a door a few feet away. "I'm going back to the table. Are you going to be able to find your way back?"

"Uh, yeah, probably," I said, pretty confident. I was hoping I could find my way back to the table; the restaurant was huge!

"Okay." Caleb turned on his heel and began heading back towards our table. I turned and walked into the bathroom. I quickly went to the bathroom, and then washed my hands. I got a tissue from the box on the counter and wet it slightly. I then brushed it against my cheek a few times, getting the frosting off of my face. After that, I tossed the tissue into the garbage can. I opened the door and stepped out. I started down the hall, and a moment later I saw Peter walking toward me.

"Hi, Tris. Um, I was wondering… will you go out with me?"

"Uh, I'm sorry, Peter. It isn't that I don't like you; I just don't know anything about you. I just met you today. I don't want to date anyone right now. I'm sorry; the answer is no."

"Oh. Well, are you sure?"

"Yes, thank you, though," I said, feeling slightly bad.

"Tris, at least think about it. I mean, like, are you positive?"

"Yes, Peter. I hope we can be friends, though?" I asked. Peter's face hardened.

"No, we can't be friends." With that, Peter stormed away. I just stood there a moment, shocked and feeling bad. It's not that I don't like Peter; it's that I just met him this morning. He seems nice, but I want to get to know him a little better. I don't know anything more than his first name.

"Tris?" I heard a voice ask. I turned around and saw Locker Boy. "I came to look for you; Caleb and I thought you might have gotten lost again."

"Okay, thanks," I said. "Let's head back to the table. We can talk for a while." We walked through Eric's and eventually found our way back to our table. We sat down and told funny stories about things we'd done as kids. For example, Four said, when he was nine years old, he'd climbed a tree all the way to the top and pretended to be a gorilla all day; whenever someone walked by, he'd make monkey noises and the only thing he ate all day were bananas; he refused to eat any other food.

Author's Note

Tell me what you thought; I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Thank you so much for reading this story!

~MoMaster