I feel nervous standing outside this dorm. Maybe it's everything that Tobias told me about this place. The way that they act and the way they think they're better than everyone else makes me sick to my stomach.

I wonder if coming here is a good idea, considering how they've tried to bring Tobias into the dorm. If he's right, they'll stop at nothing to bring him in. What extremes would they go to, just to get what they want? How far are they willing to go?

All of this information is racking around until my brain. Trying to make sense of it all is a bit of a task, but I'm definitely up for it. However all that I know makes me curious to see how my brother has been changed. Is he still the same Caleb that I knew before he left all those months ago?

I chew on the inside if my cheek as I shift from foot to foot. I'm fidgety and it's more than just a little obvious. "What time is it?"

Tobias glances at his watch. "We agreed upon nine. We've got a few minutes." He looks at me. "I really wish I could hold your hand right now. I hate seeing you like this."

I take a breath. "Oh this? This is nothing. Just a mild case of panic."

He chuckles. "No matter the stage of panic you happen to be in, I still wish I could comfort you."

The front doors open and I stand up straighter. "Well you're going to have to hold that thought," I say as my brother comes down the steps to greet us.

He looks so different already. It's been less than six months since I've last seen him. He looks older, wiser. And with his dark blue clothing, there's an edge to him that causes me to be wary of him. Wary. Of my own brother. I never would have thought I'd feel uneasy around Caleb. He looks at the both of us as he approaches. I feel small under his scrutinizing gaze.

He holds out his hand to greet Tobias. "Hello, you must be Four."

I go to correct my brother, but then remember that I'm the only know him as Tobias.

They shake hands.

"Thank you for responding to my correspondence," Tobias says. "Tris was very anxious to get in touch with you."

Caleb raises a brow as he looks at me. "Tris?"

I shrug. "Wanted a fresh start. New life, new me."

"New tattoo," he nods at the birds on my collarbone."

"And why not?"

My brother shrugs and grins. "Why not indeed."

My face breaks into a grin as he embraces me. I had hadn't realized just how much I missed him in the short time he's been away. I have to remind myself that I am no longer this person and withdraw myself from his hug. He looks grateful for it. I'm very aware of how he's changed and I'm not sure it's for the better.

"So Four said you wanted to see me, was there a something you needed to discuss?" Caleb is now more formal than I've ever seen him.

My eyebrows come together on my forehead and I'm not quite sure how to answer his question. "What… what do you mean?"

"There must be a reason you've made the trek from Dauntless to Erudite on your day off," Caleb says, glancing up at Tobias. I follow his gaze and am surprised to see a scowl on his lips. What's upset him?

I look back at my brother and I am stunned to see that he looks nothing like the boy who just greeted me. How does that happen in such a short amount of time?

"Um," I pause, searching for the words. "I just wanted to see you. I wanted to check in on how you're doing."

Caleb's mouth twists up and he's looking at me with, what? Pity? "Why?"

"Because you're my brother, Caleb," I say, a little offended now. "Didn't you want to see me? Weren't you the least bit curious when my birthday came around?"

I can feel tension radiating from Tobias and I don't need to look at him to know that he's pissed. And I know him well enough to know that pissed Tobias can very well be dangerous.

Caleb sighs. "No, Beatrice, I wasn't interested in seeing you."

I take a step back. I feel like I have been slapped. Stunned, I struggle to find my words. "Why?" It comes out as a horrified whisper.

"Because you're not my family anymore."

And there's the familiar feeling of getting punched in the gut. Funny, it feels even worse than when Molly did it. I stiffen and bite the inside of my cheek so that I don't cry in front of him. If he's not my family anymore, I don't need him seeing me in such a vulnerable state.

"I'm sorry I wasted your time," I say as formally as I can before spinning on my heels and hightailing it out of the shadow that is Erudite as fast as I absolutely can.

Once I know he can't see my face, I let my tears fall. I hear Tobias' low voice come out in a growl, but I can't make out what he's saying. But it doesn't sound like they're exchanging pleasantries. So after there's a thud and a cry of pain, so I turn and I am not surprised to see my brother on the ground clutching his nose.

Tobias shakes out his hand with a curse as he turns and joins my taking my hand with his uninjured one. I swallow, unable to say anything to him. I can't get the words past the lump in my throat. But he just squeezes my hand.

We don't go in the direction We arrived in and I don't have it in me to question him. We approach a couple picnic tables and he sits down next to me, staying close, his hand still holding my own.

As much as I'm enjoying the silence between us I know I have to ruin it.

"Aren't they watching?" I ask going to pull my hand from his. He doesn't let me though.

"Not here," he says, his voice soft.

"I though you said always."

"I'm not always right, Tris," he says. "Even though I like to pretend I am."

Somehow I know he's not talking about the cameras.

"You couldn't have known about him," I say, rubbing his back.

He chuckles. "Are you really soothing me right now?"

"Yes?"

He grins and leans in to kiss me softly. "You're amazing."

"Obviously not amazing enough to keep as a sister." I tried to keep my tone playful, but my voice breaks on the last word.

"Hey," Tobias says. He's the one soothing me now. How much I love him is so scary. "Don't think like that. I told you what Erudite is known for and what they do. What Caleb did and said just now has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"It feels pretty damn personal to me," I say.

As much as it hurts to be tossed aside by my own brother like that, Tobias comforting me is really helping. I lean against him, letting out a breath. "What can I do?" His voice is strained and it wakes up a flurry of butterflies within me. He cares for me so much and it's obvious. I don't know know how long I can keep up the pretending back at the dorm.

I shake my head. "What you're doing is perfect," I sigh happily. "Also that punch was pretty sexy too."

He smiles and I'm glad to see it. When Tobias is nervous and doesn't know what to do, it makes me anxious.

"I probably should not have done that, but I couldn't stop myself. I couldn't let him get away with talking to you like that."

I shrug it off. "He doesn't see me as family. He can talk to me however he wants."

"No he can't," he says. "And he won't. Not if I have anything to say about it."

"You're a good guy, Tobias."

He smiles shyly at me. "Only with you," he says.

"Right now that is really all that matters to me."