Author's Note:

I AM SOOO SORRY! I definitely took too long to update, I think, and I know some of you do, too. I am super sorry! I've been distracted with my other story and then school, but there's not really an excuse. I wanted to thank Hannah for telling me to update; it totally reminded me of how long it's been - so sorry! I can't believe it's been, like, I don't even know, about four months? I apologize. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the chapter! And also: thanks for everyone being so patient with the update schedule! I need to get back on track.

Quick review of what happened last time: The new gym teacher at Chicago High is Four's mom, and he told Tris some personal things. Tris was comforting him, and she put her right hand on his shoulder (which was paralyzed, along with her right leg), meaning she can now move it.

Enjoy!

Jumping Through the Stars

Chapter Fourteen

"Tris!" Four gasped, taking my hand off his shoulder and into his hands. He wiggled one of my fingers, so I flicked him. "You're healing."

"Clearly!" I laughed, snatching my hand away. I held it out in front of me as if I were admiring a ring or something. "Well, this'll certainly make things a lot easier!" He smiled.

"It will."

I kept looking at my hand, making all sorts of different shapes and signs with it, before I said to Four: "You know, I'll be with you when you see your mom." I dropped my hands into my lap, and folded them, grinning, then turned a bit more serious. "So you won't be alone."

"I know," he joked. "You never just let me be and leave me alone! So annoying," he grumbled. I smacked his shoulder lightly, then said, "Of course not; we're friends; I'm not supposed to let you be. It' my job to annoy you." He smiled.

"Yeah. Thank you." I leaned on his shoulder.

"No problem, buddy." He laughed, and we sat there for a few minutes, talking about random little things, like our favorite restaurant - mine being iHop, his Friendly's - before deciding to head back. He stood up and held a hand out to me. I took it and he pulled me up, helping me balance on my left foot.

"You know," I pointed out. "I don't really need too much help balancing; I've gotten the hang of it."

"That's okay, I'll help you anyway."

I smiled and he held onto me with one hand on my left elbow, one around my shoulders, helping me as we unhurriedly headed back to my car, where he insisted upon driving.

"Um, no," I frowned. "I got me all the way here, I can drive us back."

"Oh, okay, I'll totally let you do that, aside from the fact that it's illegal."

"Really? I would've done it anyway."

"No! It isn't safe, especially with you only having one moveable leg."

"Whatever, I did just fine on the way over here."

"Sure, but that's not safe, so no."

"You know something funny? You're trying to insist upon driving, but really, you can't unless I want you to."

"And why would that be?"

"Because I have the keys." I pulled them from my pocket and dangled them in the air on the side of the car I was standing on - the driver's side - and smirked.

"Well, that is a minor problem. I can easily change that." He smiled.

"Nope!" I laughed, and flung open the car door, then hopped inside, closing it and locking the doors before he could open his door. I grinned and rolled down all the windows about a centimeter. "So, Locker Boy, have I won yet?"

"Whatever," he grumbled. "Sure."

"Say: 'Yes, Tris, you amazingly wonderful girl, you did win, and you totally kicked my butt in this little argument. I did not fully understand your fantastic abilities at winning.' Then, maybe I'll let you in." He repeated what I told him to with a scowl. "Mmmm . . . now say it like you mean it." He perked up, getting a huge grin on his face, and said the words in a very happy voice. "That's more like it!" I unlocked the car door, and when he reached for the handle, I locked it back up just as he went to pull it open. I laughed, then unlocked it again. He sat down and pulled his car door shut, then looked over at me, a smile appearing across his face.

"Oh wait! Hold on, I think I dropped my wallet. It must be just around the other side or something," he said, unbuckling and throwing his door open. I unbuckled, too.

"I can help look," I said.

"No, no, it's fine. You'd probably be more comfortable here than hopping around on the grass and stuff. I'll just find it real quick. Maybe leave your door open." He started heading over to the tree, looking around. "It'll be easier to hear you that way, and you can look around the parking lot from your seat." I nodded, and opened the door, glancing around the small gray parking lot. I didn't see his wallet. I looked back at him, walking toward the car. He didn't seem to have found his wallet. He came over to my side of the car, leaning slightly on the door.

"I didn't see it," he said. "Did you?"

"No."

"Okay," he said, and looked around the car. Then, back on my side, I started to ask if he wanted me to get out and help look, when suddenly he dove forward, smiling, and reached his left arm under my knees, his right around my back as he lifted me out of the seat.

"What are you doing?" I laughed. He was laughing as he adjusted his hold on me, then began walking to the other side of the car. "Hey! There has to be some kind of rule about picking people up and moving them!" I lightly smacked his shoulders, telling him to put me down, but I didn't sound too serious through my laughter. He set my down in the passenger's seat, and smiled as he closed the door.

"I can just grab the keys, you know!" I said, turning away from him to the steering wheel, going to pull the keys from the ignition: not there. I turned back to him and saw the keys in his hand.

"Grabbed 'em when I picked you up." I scowled as he walked over the the driver's side.

He hopped in and I glared at him.

"I still win."