A/N: JerkZero and JerkNone here to bring you another amazing chapter! Thanks for all the reviews!
***Tris's POV***
I get in the passenger side of Four's Jeep, and he gets in the driver's seat. "Can't stay away from Peter can you?" Four asks chuckling.
"He-he found me," I say and check my pocket for my phone, and don't feel it. "Four that douche-canoe still has my phone!"
"Douche-canoe?" he questions the nickname my friend Julia and I came up with when we were in kindergarten. I don't talk to her anymore though.
"Ya douche-canoe, synonymous for douche-bag, but since D-bag is over used, we use D-canoe. But he still has my phone," I say.
"Be right back," Four says, "And please stay inside the Jeep. We don't know if Peter is planning to sneak up on you or anything Tris. Lock the doors when I get out. Okay?"
"Okay, okay," I say.
"Good," he replies, getting out of the car. I lock the doors.
I sit in the Jeep for a while. Where could Four be? I unlock the doors and step out of the Jeep, wanting to check on Four. I start towards the house, stepping in the mud that covers the driveway.
I feel a hand clasp around my mouth and the attacker's other arm wraps around my waist. "What do you have against Peter, Beatrice?" asks my attacker. The only one that has called me Beatrice in the last decade have been a couple teachers and Eric.
"Eric, let me go!" I say, but the words are muffled by his hand.
"Not today princess. Should have stayed in the car like little Four told you," he says, laughing maliciously.
I try to bring my leg up to kick him, but I can't. I try squirming, with no such luck of getting out of Eric's grasp.
I look to see Four coming back out of the house. He sees me and slides my phone into his pocket. He comes sprinting at me. Eric yells, "Stop or she's getting it."
I look down to see a knife at my throat. Well this escalated quickly. "Eric just stop," I say.
"Eric, put the knife DOWN," yells Four.
"Get in your little Jeep and go away cowboy, then the knife will come down, away from your cowgirl," says Eric.
"You're not going to hurt me Eric," I say confidently, "You aren't going to hurt me because Peter wants me in the per-," I am cut off by Eric touching my throat with the knife and a little dot of blood starts streaming down my neck.
"What were you saying Tris?" asks Eric and I gulp.
"911?" I ask Four.
Four shakes his head and says, "They won't come. They will think it's just kids trying to find their mates. They don't go to those calls. Trust me, Tris."
I see Peter start to walk out of the house. This couldn't get any worse. I feel Eric's attention change to Peter and I take my opportunity. I push Eric's arm away and kick him in the groin like I saw Four do. He doesn't fall and I decide I didn't kick hard enough. I kick him again and he falls to his knees and I see the anger grow on his face. I kick him again in the jaw. Once he hits the ground I keep kicking and kicking.
I hear Four yell, "Get in the Jeep. Let's go!"
I turn and run to the Jeep and get in. We pull away from the House o' Torture and Four starts heading toward my house.
"How did you find me?" I ask Four.
"I was going to teach little Peter a lesson, and you just happened to be there," he replies, "What did you think? That I was stalking you?" Four then laughs and I fake laugh along with him. I did think he might had been stalking me.
"Why did you get out of the Jeep?" asks Four, his face reads that he is serious.
"You were taking too long," I reply.
"I had to find your phone and I found your tank top, so I decided I might need to return it," replies Four.
"Oh," I say.
Four pulls my phone and tank top out of his hoodie. I look at my phone and I see multiple texts from Caleb: Mom wants to know when you'll be home. Christina says you aren't with her. Are you okay? Do you need rescuing?
I decide I need to reply. Four saved me again. Talk to you when I get home.
"Who was that?" asks Four.
"My brother," I reply.
"You mean the best brother to walk the planet?" asks Four.
"I guess," I say.
I look back at my phone and see the countdown app I had started. Only three weeks till the town dance. I had nearly forgotten. I'll have to remind Christina later. We need to go dress shopping!
"Watcha lookin at Tris?" asks Four.
"Instagram. Wanna take a selfie?" I ask, hoping Four doesn't realize I was lying.
"Okay, Selfie time!" he says. I pull up Instagram and change it to the front facing camera. I aim it so I get both Four and I in the shot and snap the pic. "What should the caption be?" I ask.
"Haters gonna hate," replies Four.
I type Haters gonna hate.
"You have an Instagram?" I ask Four.
"No, that shit's too mainsream," he says, "I try to stay under the radar."
"Well then," I say.
"We are here," says Four. I look up and we are in my driveway.
"Thanks again Four!" I say and get out of the Jeep.
I notice he got out too, "You trying to ditch your rescuer?"
"Ditch?" I ask.
"Ya, you're trying to leave. Ditch: verb, to abandon or go away from. Johnny and Sue ditched school for the day," he replies.
"I know what the words mean! But what do you mean ditching? You want to come into my house?" I question.
"Yes, but no," he says.
I twist the door knob open. "So you want to come in?" I ask.
"No, but be ready at 11, we are going to a corn field party. Okay?" He asks.
"Okay," I say.
"I'll see you at 11 then! I'm picking you up Tris! Don't be late!" He says while walking back to his Jeep and getting in.
I turn to walk into the house and run into my dad. I hit him face first. "Who was that?" he asks.
"Four," I reply.
"He looks familiar, but I can't name the face," he says, "What's his last name?"
"Ummm," I search my brain and I can't think of his last name. Probably because I never asked. "I don't remember."
"Well have fun tonight," my dad says, "Wait, how old is he?"
"Three months till 18," I say.
"You two might just end up together," my dad says while walking out the door. "I'm going to the grocery store. Do you need anything?"
"A big tub of cookie-dough ice cream?" I ask testing my luck.
"We'll see Tris," he says as he gets into his SUV. Then he rides off down the road, the same way Four was going.
I turn to walk into the house once again, but this time I run into Caleb. "So Four?" asks Caleb, "Dad want you two to get married." Then he makes kissy faces.
"Really Caleb?" I ask.
"Yes Tris. There's a corn party ton-," he says but I cut him off.
"Yes, I know. Four invited me to go. He's picking me up," I say.
"Oh," Caleb says, "Uriah is picking me up."
"That boy that gave us beers then you two ditched me?" I ask.
"Ditched?" Caleb asks and I find the perfect opportunity to use what Four said to me against Caleb.
"Yes, Ditched: verb, to abandon or go away from. Johnny and Sue ditched school for the day," I retort.
"I know what it is!" Caleb says.
I reply by sticking my tongue out at him.
"There's this band called Archer's Arrow playing," Caleb says.
Christina wanted me to go with her! Despite her "FBI skills," she doesn't even know the date of the party. I should probably text her that I'm going with Four, even though she'll kill me. Maybe I could convince him to pick her up.
Christina, being a psychic friend, decides to text me. Before reading it I look to Caleb.
"I've got to get inside; Christina just texted me," I say, walking in the door. I turn on my heel. "Oh, and you can expect mayonnaise in your shampoo bottle tomorrow for texting her."
I run upstairs and throw myself on my bed. Luckily there's not another passcode on my phone this time, or else I'd be screwed and would have to call her on the landline.
Hey! The party's tonight. Pick me up around 10 so we look like groupies arriving early? :)
I sigh. How do I put this gently? Maybe she'll be happy I have a date…
Four already said he'd take me. Sry. Can u get a ride?
It only takes a minute for her to reply, but I still bite on my lip in anticipation.
OMG! Four? I can get a ride from my parents, I guess, but u have to introduce me to him!
I breathe out a sigh of relief. She's not pissed, and that's good, because when she is no one ever has a good time. I lock my phone and push myself up. The clock says it's seven, and I feel another shower is needed to scrub the Peter germs off of me. My neck is no longer bleeding, and upon inspection in the bathroom mirror I conclude that there's barely even a scratch.
I take a shower, grab a towel, and practically hop into my room with excitement. I was kind of dreading this party at first, thinking I would only know Christina, but with Four there… Butterflies tickle my stomach while I try to find something decent to wear. I suddenly feel like my closet has absolutely nothing worthy of Four in it.
After a few trials I find some skinny jeans, black boots, and an Abercrombie long sleeve gray shirt that I have to throw a tank on underneath. It's supposed to get cooler tonight, the summer air practically frosting over as night falls. I grab a Hollister hoodie, apply some makeup, and scurry downstairs. Caleb sits on the couch watching TV in simple jeans and a t-shirt. Even in something like that, I can tell he's going to be a few girls objectives tonight.
He doesn't even glance up at me when I come down. Working on a farm, we barely have any time to watch our TV, and savor every minute we get. Well, my brother does, anyway. I don't care for it that much; I prefer reading.
My mom is in the kitchen making herself a snack of apple slices. She smiles at me when I take a seat at the counter.
"Hungry, sweety?" she asks, holding out a slice for me.
"Not really, I had a late lunch," I reply. When I think about it, I had lunch with Christina before Peter kidnapped me, again.
Her face turns maternal. "Are you going somewhere? Caleb mentioned a cornfield party…"
I smile despite myself. "Yeah, Christina's crush is in the band that's playing there."
"And Tris is going with her new boyfriend, Four!" Caleb calls out. I glare at the back of his head.
"Oh, Tris, that's lovely-" my mom begins to say, but I cut her off.
"He's not my boyfriend, mom. We've just randomly met a few times."
She frowns. "Oh, does he have a girlfriend already? Well, maybe he has some friends that you'll be interested in."
I let her think he has a girlfriend for my own sake. "Maybe…"
The doorbell rings, finally. I run down the steps in an attempt to intercept my mother's plan of interrogating Four. Alas, I am beaten by her.
"Hello," she says enthusiastically. "You must be Four. Come in."
He stays rooted to the patio. "No, thank you, I'm just here to pick up Tris."
I scoot in front of my mother to get out the door. "See ya, mom! I'll be home around one or so!"
I grab Four's hand and lead him to the Jeep in a hurry, and can hear the front door closing. I let go of his hand once I reach the passenger side.
"Sorry about that. She's a bit, overzealoused when it comes to boys," I tell him.
He laughs. "That's fine! I know how it is; my parents are always after me about finding a mate."
Inside the dark car, it still smells like cake and leather. I look in front of us in my driveway and notice my Bug isn't there. Where did it… Oh, right. Peter gave it to Christina. Hopefully she'll get it back to me soon, because if it's even scratched, my parents will be mad.
"You okay?" Four asks, putting the car in reverse and leaving my house.
I nod a bit too quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, I just sorta got lost in thought there."
I steal a glance over at him, and blush when my gaze falls directly in his lap. I look away, but remember he wears dark jeans, dark sneakers, and a black t-shirt and sweatshirt. The entire ensemble makes him look a bit intimidating.
"So, you know anybody in the band?" I ask him, still looking out the window.
He nods his head. "Yeah, I know the drummer, Edward. You?"
"Christina and I were talking to Will at the restaurant earlier before Peter showed up, and kidnapped me," I reply.
"Haha, When I was hanging out with Edward the other day, Will was there and talking about some chick with black hair! Does Christina have black hair?" he asks.
"Yes," I reply, "Does Will like Christina?"
"Apparently!" Four says.
"Christina with the ditto!" I exclaim.
He gives me a devious smile. "Think we should try to set them up?"
I laugh. "I don't think much encouragement is really needed for those two."
We sit in an awkward silence for a minute before Four says, "What is your goal after you get married?"
I think about the question, "I've never actually thought about it. The government will pair us with jobs, so it never has crossed my mind. What about you?"
He scratches his head. "Uh, not much. I've always like fighting, like martial arts, so I wanted to go into that field. It won't happen, though…"
"Martial arts, huh?" I ask. "No wonder you beat up Peter so well."
He chuckles. Suddenly he asks, "If you could have any superpower, what would it be?"
I smile while I contemplate this. "To keep Peter and Eric away!"
"I can see why you'd want that," he says. "So, you grew up on a farm with your brother. How'd that go?"
"Uh, well, we almost killed each other a few times, but after school was done we were able to work together better. He's annoying, but I love him. What about you?"
He tenses ever so slightly. "My dad's a politician, and him and my mom don't really get along. He's not exactly a nice person, which is why I took up fighting; to protect myself."
I stay quiet. His father would hurt his family? I can't imagine my father ever doing that. My mother and him were lucky enough to both be chosen as farmers after their tests. The Aptitude Test tells you what job you'll take based on your strengths and weaknesses. My parents get along alright, and at least never hurt each other.
I try to make the topic less heavy. "What about your mom? What's she do?"
He sighs. "Not much. She retired early, but she was a nurse at a hospital."
"What school did you go to when you were younger?" I ask, curious to know if we attended the same one. In our city, there's only about three schools.
"Prepchester Academy. I remember seeing you in the halls sometimes."
I blush. I don't remember him. How could I not? Wasn't he always this… stunning?
Then it hits me, "Tobias?" I ask
His cerulean eyes meet mine. In the darkness they remind me of inkwells instead of water. He doesn't smile, and I don't either, but the recognition is there. He doesn't have to answer, we just sit in silence.
Is that why our parents separated us? Did they know of his abusive father and fear I would be exposed to that, or worse, that Tobias would end up being like that? I don't know, and I'm not sure Four does either.
"I didn't remember till now! I've missed you since forever!" I say.
The car stops beside the corn field. He looks at me with those deep blue eyes. I can see myself in them. Next thing I know Four- or well Tobias's lips are on mine. My stomach churns with a strange feeling, and I kiss him back. I scoot closer, but suddenly he draws back. We both breathe heavily.
"I'm sorry," he whispers.
"Don't be," I say, gazing into his blue orbs.
He pulls back and opens his door, leaving me feeling dumbfounded. I just kissed him! How stupid am I? Didn't he just say the other day he's not looking for a wife? Then I remember that he kissed me, and I take a steadying breath.
The door beside me swings open to reveal Tobias waiting for me. I get out and he immediately reaches for my hand, causing my heart to jump. Every little touch sends me shivering from a jolt of electricity. I wonder if he feels the same way.
I can see my Bug parked on the side of the street and realize Christina must have taken it here for me. I frown at the prospect of having to drive myself home.
The band hasn't started playing yet, but they're warming up. I feel Tobias's warm palm pressed into mine. Will can be spotted holding an electric guitar, and I have to wonder how many extension cords it took to get the amps out here. No one looks familiar to me yet.
Tobias leads us to where Edward is at the drums. On the way I bump someone's shoulder on accident and mutter an apology. The voice that responds sounds eerily familiar.
"Four!" Edward says.
"Hey, Ed. You guys about ready to start?" Tobias asks.
Edward wears all black, like the other band members. "Just about. We've got a few songs on the setlist tonight that I think you'll like."
"I hope so."
Edward looks at me as if just now noticing my presence. "Who's she?"
Before Tobias can introduce us, I stick out my other hand. "I'm Tris. Nice to meet you Edward."
He appraises me for a moment and then winks at Tobias, who spins on his heel and leaves. "Every time," he mutters, causing me to laugh.
I see Will and Christina talking, and she gives me a wave and huge smile, but continues her conversation. This time she's wearing an Archer's Arrow shirt. Where did she get that? Another face stands out as familiar; my brother talking to some girl. Tobias looks at what I'm staring at.
"Her name's Susan. It looks like they like each other," he nudges me with his elbow.
I'm about to respond, when someone runs into my shoulder again. I open my mouth to tell them off, knowing it was on purpose, when a white smile and shiny black hair greet me. His dark green eyes are sparkling with iniquity.
"Peter," I say through gritted teeth. Tobias's grip on my hand tightens considerably as he steps in front of me. I hear footsteps behind me. Eric.
"Hey, babe," Peter says. "You ran away pretty fast last time, huh? And here I thought we were bonding."
Eric steps closer behind me and his hands hits my butt. Oh, that does it, I'm going to kill that son of a-
"Get. The hell. Away from her," Tobias snarls. Eric comes up even closer behind me, his body pressing into mine. I scoot closer to Tobias, and feel his back is clenched tight.
"You know, Four, I've always really hated you," Eric slurs. He's been drinking. Fan-flipping-tabulous.
"The feeling is mutual, Eric."
Peter laughs. "Hey, Eric, why don't you go look at Four's Jeep? It's pretty slick."
"Tris?" someone asks. I let out a breath I hadn't noticed I was holding. Caleb.
"Who are you? Another guy trying to steal my Tris?" Peter asks.
"I'm her brother, dipwad," Caleb tells him. Then, he dumps the contents of his can on Peter's head, effectively soaking him in beer. Tobias and I laugh as Peter struggles to clean himself. Eric comes back before making it to the Jeep.
"Hey!" he yells, just as a guitar starts blasting.
"We are Archer's Arrow, and thank you everyone for coming out!" Will is saying. He points a finger over in our direction. "You guys, stop fighting!"
Everyone looks back at us, causing Peter to grumble something about shitty music and Eric to agree with him. They leave. I smile up at Tobias, who's grinning at my brother.
"Nice one! You're Caleb, right?" Tobias praises.
"Yeah. You're Four, Tris's future husband. According to our parents, that is."
I blush. How can Caleb go from being so fantastic one minute and so stupid the next? I think he's bipolar. Yes, that must be it. Tobias glances down at me, his dark lashes covering the top half of his eyes.
He clears his throat. "I'm Four, yes. I saw you talking to Susan…"
Caleb takes a few moments to recover. "Uh, yeah, she's nice."
I look up at Tobias then back to Caleb in time to see Peter behind him dumping a bottle of beer over him. Caleb turns and kicks Peter in the groin and he falls down on his knees, probably still hurting from when Tobias did it.
I look up at Tobias, who is still looking at Caleb. I look back to Caleb and see Eric behind him. Eric wraps one hand around his waist and one with a knife, near his throat. "Give us Tris and poor little Caleb here won't get hurt, or die."
"You lot! Stop fighting now, or else we're kicking you out!" Will says after the song ends.
Tobias yells, "Peter and Eric keep attacking us! He has Caleb at knife point. Kick them out!"
Will sets down his guitar and walks over, attracting the attention of everyone. He shoves Eric off of Caleb and onto the ground, Peter in tow.
"I said, no more fighting. Now listen, Four and Tris were invited here, and last time I checked, you two idiots weren't. Get out!"
Christina is watching me carefully, and I know I'm going to have to explain everything to her later. Sure enough, I get a text on my phone. Sleepover at your house? I'll bring the Bug. I simply look up at her and nod in agreement.
Peter and Eric stumble out while being pushed by Will, who's personally escorting them to their bikes. When Will comes back he smiles at Tobias, Caleb and me, and then shoots Christina a wink, before picking up his guitar and shredding it for the next song.
The music isn't exactly bad, it's just loud. There's already a group of headbangers up near the front dancing it up. Four is standing closer to me than before, and Caleb has gone back over to Susan. They really do look like they like each other…
"How do they keep finding me?" I ask Tobias.
He looks at me then says "I have no clue at all."
Tobias grabs my other hand and brings me closer to him. "I will never let them hurt you, ever."
"They keep finding me though. They found me at the restaurant and then here," I say, feeling defeated.
"They will not lay another finger on you," he says through clenched teeth.
Christina walks over to us. "What in the hell was that all about? Are you guys okay? Is Caleb okay?"
"Peter wants to be Tris's mate, we are okay, and I think Caleb is fine except for a little fright and a beer poured over his head," Tobias says, answering Christina's questions.
"Well then," Christina says, "I'll leave you two so you can kiss," she says, then winks at me and walks away.
I look up at Tobias, and find my hand brushing his jaw. He flinches, almost imperceptibly so. I run my hand through his hair. He stays still while I do this, but once I move to put my hand back to my side, he grabs it.
He gives me a soft smile as he presses my palm to his face. The wind is picking up, and the song is coming to a close. I try my best not to shiver, but he notices.
"Let's take you back home," he says. "You've had enough for tonight."
I nod my head, agreeing, and he picks me up in his arms, holding me bridal style, much unlike how Eric had carried me away from the last party. He carries me all the way back to the Jeep and he sets me down on the passenger side. The wind blows and I shiver again.
Tobias notices and starts pulling off his sweatshirt, "You're cold Tris, here wear my hoodie," he says. He pulls it over my head, and I stick my arms through the sleeves. "There you go, princess."
I feel the warmth of the sweatshirt, smell the scent of Tobias throughout the hoodie, and see that it is a bit over sized on me, since I am shorter than him. "Thanks," I say and smile a big grin.
Tobias opens up the passenger door and says, "Your ride awaits."
I get in and Tobias shuts the door after me. He climbs in the driver seat and looks at me. "Warmer in my hoodie?" he asks.
"Sure am," I say smiling like a big dork.
He leans in closer to me and pulls the strings of the sweatshirt so that one: They are uneven, and two: the hood is now tight around my head, covering my forehead and part of my chin. "Now you're even warmer," he says.
"True," I say.
Tobias leans in closer to me so our heads are inches apart. I close the distance so our foreheads are touching- or at least his forehead to the hood. I tilt my head 90 degrees and his lips hit mine. He moves his body closer to mine and I wrap my hands around his back, while he places his on the back of my head, pulling me closer.
We are kissing more passionately now and my hands slide up his shirt. Tobias moves his hands and slides them under all my layers.
As our kissing gets hotter I don't even notice the tapping on the driver side's window, until Tobias breaks away and looks out it. The figure outside is Peter, with Eric in tow. Tobias cracks the window and hollers "Ya?"
Peter answers by holding up a gun to the window. "What are you doing with my Tris?" he asks.
"What are you doing with a gun?" asks Tobias. He then lowers his voice to a whisper, "Don't worry, the rubber on the tires are indestructible, the windows are bulletproof, and the paint on the side, is unscratchable."
"Just let Tris out of the Jeep, and let her come with me," Peter insists.
"No," Tobias says putting the car in drive and putting the pedal on the metal, pulling away from the corn fields. Peter and Eric jump away from the side of the car, frightened, while flipping us off.
Tobias keeps his foot on the gas, accelerating the car, faster than the obvious speed limit. After about three minutes, he slows down when he gets on the highway. He had to be going at least 90 mph, if not faster.
"I'm sorry, Tris," Tobias says.
"Don't be," I say, looking at his deep blue eyes.
"No really," he says.
"Tobias, don't be," I reassure him.
We ride the rest of the Jeep ride in silence, shocked from our kiss, plus Peter and Eric armed with a gun.
We pull up outside my house, and I don't see the Bug, meaning Christina isn't here yet. Tobias walks over to my side of the car, opens the door and shuts it once I get out. He walks me up to the door and says, "Sweet dreams," then walks back towards the Jeep.
I holler, "Your sweatshirt?"
"Keep it for now!" he hollers back.
I wave then walk inside. Planning to wear it all night, smelling the scent of Tobias.
***Tobias's POV***
I wait till Tris enters the house, and give her some time for her to go to her room before I decide to go knock on the door, hoping Tris doesn't answer.
Her dad, Andrew, opens the door. "Good Evening Mr. Prior, I wanted to ask you something," I say.
"Okay, go for it," he says.
"Well the town dance is coming up and I was wondering if you minded if I took Tris," I say hoping he'd say yes.
"So Four... how are you going to ask her?" Andrew asks.
"I was actually hoping you had a good idea," I say.
"I do, but you'll owe me," he says.
"Owe you?" I ask.
"You have to answer one question for me," he says.
"Okay, hit me with it," I say.
"What's your last name?" He asks.
"Eaton," I say, knowing I may have just ruined all this for myself.
"Tobias?" he asks.
"Yes my name is Tobias Eaton," I say.
"Long time no see," he says, frightening me, "Come in."
A/N: What's the worst thing you've done to somebody bothering you, like when Caleb doused Peter in beer? Tell us in a review! :)