Chapter 19

"Alright team captains are you ready?" I shout, hopefully loud enough for Zeke to hear.

"Yeah!" Four and Zeke both scream simultaneously.

"Then on my mark. Ready…Set…GO!" I yell even louder.

Everyone starts running forward except for me. I start looking around and then I see Four stop running and look back at me.

"I'm trying to figure out where the other team is. If we all just charge at them like that, they might be ready for us and we'll lose." He nods.
"So what are you thinking about doing then?"

I look to my left and there are three bunkers. Nothing I can use. I look over to my right and see a tree. Well that could work. I run over to it and tug on the first branch that I can reach. It's sturdy, hopefully enough to hold me.

"Four give me a boost."

"You're going to climb that?" He said. His eyes widening.

"Yeah that's the only way I can see the other team."

"But that's a 30 foot tree."
"I'm not going all the way to the top, just half way."

"Okay fine, but I'm coming with you."

He puts his hands around my waist and lifts me up so that my foot can reach the branch. I go up one more branch and look back to see him pull himself up onto the first one. I keep climbing until I get to about 9 feet off the ground. I look out to the paintball field and can only see the big hill in the middle of the field. I 'm about to start climbing when I feel Four right behind me. His face just above my shoulder.

"We're going to have to go higher aren't we?"

"Yep. Still can't see the other team." I say turning my head a little. Our faces are just inches apart. I find myself looking into his deep blue eyes and he's standing there looking into mine. I don't know how long we stay like this but I don't really want to move. I start to lose my balance and end up falling backwards. He snakes his arm around my waist and catches me before my feet leave the branch.

"Um, thanks."

"No problem." We go back to looking into each other's eyes again. I forgot what we were doing but then I came back to my senses.

"We should probably start climbing now." I say looking up at the branches above us.

"After you." Four says.

I start climbing again and he's right on my heels.

"I can see them. Four come here." I look down to where he is and he's looking down too, but at the ground. His breathing gets heavier and faster. Is he scared of heights? I look out into the distance and the other team is hiding under the bridge. I can see their flag hanging out the window of the wooden bunker to the left of the bridge. I look back to where the rest of Zeke's team was stationed and see him and Shauna fighting about something. I laugh and then see Shauna slap him. I would hate to be on that team with them. I climb down a couple branches and find myself right in front of Four again. His eyes are shut and he's trying to steady his breathing.

"Four, look at me."

He hesitates but then opens them.

"Here." I say taking his hand. I put it right over my heart so he can feel my heartbeat. "Breath when I do." I breath steadily and he copies me, his hand still on my chest. He calms down and we both drop our hands.

"Thanks. Now where's the other team?"
"They're under the bridge. Marlene is guarding the flag and Zeke is a little distracted." I say laughing at the last part.

"Why do you say that?" Four asks narrowing his eyes.

"Shauna's over there yelling at him." He laughs a little and then I say, "so here's what I think we should do. They think we'll be coming straight on so we go around the sides and come out behind them. Christina and Uriah will go to the left and get the flag from Shauna. If they do it right, the rest of the team shouldn't even know they have it. You and I go to the right and start taking down the team under the bridge. When Christina and Uriah get the flag, we all charge at them and they won't know what hit them."

"Nice job Tris."

I go over to the left side of the field and find Uriah and Christina camping out. I explain my plan to them and they both nod in agreement. They start heading to the other end of the field and Four and do the same on the other side. We're careful not to step on any sticks or anything else on the ground and make it about five feet from the bridge within three minutes.

"This isn't going to work I'm telling you. We need to charge at them."

"Shut up Shauna this is my team. You weren't even supposed to be here."

"You never listen to me and that was one of our problems when we were together. If you listen to me this time, you could win the game."

Four and I just sit there and laugh. It's pretty funny just sitting there watching them fight. We even forgot what we were supposed to be doing we were so entertained. I look over to my right and nudge Four. Christina runs for the flag at the same time Uriah meets Marlene. He shoots her in the arm and puts his finger up to his lips, telling her to be quiet. With his other hand, he pulls out a dollar bill from his pocket and hands it to her. They start running for the bridge and Four and I walk out into the clearing. We all start shooting at once and ten seconds later a bell goes off telling us that the game is over.

"How did you know where we were?" Zeke asks us confused.

"I told you! Zeke we lost because of you, it's all your fault. You should have listened to me." Zeke gives his brother a death stare as if to ask "Why the hell did you bring her here?" He gets the message and grabs Shauna by the arm.

"Shauna it's time to go." Uriah says dragging her away from Zeke. She starts yelling profanities at him and Uriah just drags her and practically throws her in the car. Zeke rolls his eyes and then turns back to us.

"Tris figured it out. She climbed a tree and saw where you were and where the flag was. She came up with the plan."

He walks over to me and stands right in front of me. He looks like he's about to punch me but I know he won't. We just stare at each other, our faces intense. Everyone is watching us. He takes a deep breath and then picks me up into a hug.

"Good job Tris. Smart thinking."

I smile and we all just start talking about the game while we walk to our cars.

"Hey um, Tris?" Four says putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think you could give me a ride home? Marlene and Zeke are going on a date from here."

"Um yeah sure, I'm supposed to take Christina home but…" I point over to her and Will. They were sitting in Will's car making out, "I don't think they'll be done anytime soon." I say and we both start laughing. I unlock my car and we both get in.

"Alright where am I going?" He tells me his address and I head for his house.

"So tell me about Samantha." I say trying to make conversation.

"Well she's my sister's daughter. She just turned four last month. She's very smart and my favorite person in the whole world. She adores me for some reason. I'll pick you up from your house tomorrow at 11:00, if that's okay." He says looking at me.

"Yeah that's fine." I say smiling.

"Um, by the way, since she's family, she doesn't call me Four. She calls me by my real name. That means that you are going to find out sooner or later what it is." He says looking out the window. I don't say anything and just wait for him to continue. He takes a deep breath and then says:

"My name is Tobias. Tobias Eaton."