Chapter 4

Tris went in to work at seven that morning, even though she was supposed to be there at eight on normal days. She had a big case laid on her desk and a minimal amount of time to solve it. Not only did she have to wake up early, but the fact that it was Monday alone was too much to handle.

She was almost to her desk when someone poked her sides, causing her to jump and squeal.

Luckily there was no one but about three others in the station at the time, because she squealed pretty loudly.

She turned around to see Tobias with a smug grin planted on his face. "Hey."

"Never, ever, ever, ever do that again, Tobias Eaton," she said much too seriously.

"Hey, hey, I'm sorry. I'm just teasing. I'm sorry if I hurt you," he said, sticking out his bottom lip.

She chuckled. "It's fine. Why're you in so early?"

"Couldn't sleep," he said with a shrug. "You want to grab a coffee?"

She sighed a little. "I don't know… I've got a big case. That's why I came in early."

He dramatically sighed. "Okay… Maybe next time." He stuck out his lower lip again. "I guess I'll get a really crappy coffee from the break room… again…," he said, then sighed again.

She chuckled at his actions. "Fine. But we'll make it quick."

Tobias and Tris headed for the exit of the station, side by side.

"So," Tobias said, "what are your opinions on cupcakes?"

"Those sound fantastic right now, especially since I'm on my time of the month," she said with a groan.

Tobias laughed. "I'm sorry. That has to suck."

"God, you have to be like the only guy that thinks it sucks, because whenever a girl gets moody guys always assume we're on our freaking periods or something! Like, no, maybe you're just acting like an asshole today!"

Tobias laughed again. "Okay, that was pretty funny. I'm always here if you need to cry or laugh or be angry at someone. Or all at the same time." He smiled at her.

"Ugh. You rock."

"I try."

Minutes later, they arrived at the coffee shop. Tobias held open the door for her like any gentleman would.

They entered the shop, which was pretty busy. They got in the line of about five people.

"It's on me. What're you getting?" Tobias asked.

"No. I'm not letting you pay," she told him. "You already paid for my dinner on Friday."

"Tris. Don't be ridiculous. I seriously don't mind at all."

She playfully glared at him. "Well I appreciate the gesture, but no thank you. I can handle myself."

"I know you can, but just let me do this. Let me be a non-fuckboy for once."

She chuckled. "I thought you had a girlfriend when you were, like, twenty or so."

"Yeah, but I was still a fuckboy. I mean, I didn't cheat on her or anything. I would never ever, ever, ever, ever do that. Cheaters are scum. Anyway, I was still kind of a dick back then."

"Back then? Honey please, you still are."

"Are you calling me a dick?" he asked, chuckling.

She shrugged. "I guess I am."

"Well then."

"Hey, I'm kidding, calm down. Don't get your panties in a twist," she said, then winked at him. She then walked up to the register and ordered.

Tobias stepped in and ordered his too.

"That'll be $7.54," the cashier said.

He handed her a ten and told her to keep the change for herself.

They stepped off to the side and waited for their coffees. "Tobias Eaton," she said and smacked Tobias on the arm. "I told you I was paying. Not cool."

"I am a gentleman. Not a fuckboy. Or dick, for that matter."

"Oh, Tobias. You didn't think I actually meant that, did you?" she said with a sad chuckle and a guilty smile. She laid a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry."

He shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just used to getting called a fuckboy, but coming from you it kind of sucks," he said with a small, sad laugh. "But I know you were kidding." He shrugged.

"Tobias, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out badly. I just wanted to tease you, you know?" she said. "Point is, I won't do it again. I promise."

"Tris, I don't want you to feel bad," he said, full on facing her now. "Seriously. It's fine."

She frowned. "Okay."

"So," a familiar voice said, "I heard you had a date last night."

After a long day at work, this was the lasting Tris needed. She was already annoyed at the fact that she left the station at seven o'clock that day, but it was also Monday, just to make matters worse.

"You are the last person I was to see right now," she grumbled.

Four stood in his normal place; the lower level of the fire escape in the alley.

"Feelin' the love, Tris. Feelin' the love."

"Look, I've had a stressful day at work, so if I could just go—"

"Nah," he said. He sat down on the fire escape and dangled his legs over the edge. "I want you to tell me all about your date."

She neared him. When he was sitting down, his feet were at about the level of her face. "Do you think we're friends or something? Because we aren't. I could arrest you right now."

"But you won't. You secretly think I'm awesome."

"Not really," she lied. "But okay. Can I ask you something though?"

"Shoot."

"Do you wear a voice modulator?"

"I do. You think my real voice is this deep? And don't forget about the fact that it's British," he chuckled.

"Just checking."

"Since I know you won't arrest me, why don't you come up here and have a seat next to me."

"Four, I'm tired as hell. Please just let me go home."

"Get up here."

So she did. She climbed up the ladder and sat next to him. She looked at his face, but still couldn't tell any of his features.

"So tell me all about this date of yours," he said, acting like a girl purposefully.

She groaned. "It wasn't a date."

"Then what was it?"

"Two friends watching the game together in a public place."

"So you only see him as a friend?"

"Why do you even care?"

"So you do see him as a friend."

"Well I never said that…"

"So you like him more than a friend?"

"Why does this even matter to you?"

"I may or may not know this guy you have a thing for."

"Four, if you say anything I swear—"

"Relax, relax, I won't."

"Why have you been flirting with me if you're friends with this guy then?"

He shrugged. "I can't resist." Then he slid his arm around her shoulders.

She slapped his hand and rolled her eyes.

He just laughed as he pulled his arm back to his side. "So why won't you arrest me?"

She shrugged and looked away. "Because a part of me thinks you're actually doing good to this town. And, to be honest, I don't want to know who you are."

"Why not?"

"Wouldn't that ruin all the fun?" she asked playfully.

"I'd like to tell you who I am, but I think it'd ruin a lot of things."

She shrugged. "I don't want to know, you don't want to tell me. I'm not seeing the problem here."

"I guess there isn't one."

"Oh! I just thought of something. Are you Tobias's cousin? You two have the same eyes."

"You really are a great detective. Yes. We're cousins. Don't go reading into it though."

"Wasn't going to."

"And just so you know," he said, "Tobias doesn't know I asked you about this date, so don't tell him anything."

"All right."

"Now, get that cute butt of yours home before the bad people come out of the shadows."

She scoffed. "Asshole." Then she jumped down from the fire escape and started walking home.

Obviously Tobias and Four are related. They both have fuckboy tendencies. Tobias was much more respectful though. But there was a certain kind of feeling that Four gave her that night that she just couldn't quite place. Four made her feel like she could be so much more than just a detective. Like she could be something. Like somehow he gave her the slight thought of becoming a vigilante too.

Sure, Tobias made her feel free and all, but it just wasn't the same with Tobias as it was with Four.

And that was when she realized that she had an irrational, stupid, girly crush on the guy that was making her work life a living hell and her personal life a living heaven.

Tris got home a little after 7:30 that night. She collapsed on her bed as soon as she got into her little apartment on the top floor. She changed into her pajamas after about five minutes of laying in bed and realizing she still had her work clothes. She changed into a big sweatshirt (with no bra because those things were just the most uncomfortable thing ever) and a pair of short cotton shorts. Then she took out her contacts and put on her glasses, along with her hair in a braid so her hair would be out of the way when she slept.

She took off her glasses and collapsed onto her bed yet again, only to hear someone buzzing to come up to her apartment.

She groaned. All she wanted to do was sleep. She asked for nothing more.

Tris got up from her bed, put on her glasses, and walked to her front door by the buzzer. She leaned up against the wall, held the button in, and said, "Go away."

"I have cupcakes," the voice said.

"Tobias?" she asked.

"Yep."

She pressed the button and let him through the front door.

Moment later, there was a knock on the door.

She opened it, and the first thing she said was, "Give me a cupcake."

He laughed and opened the little box of four cupcakes.

"You rock," she told him with a mouthful of cupcake. "So why are you here?" She walked inside and sat on the two-person couch. Tobias sat down next to her.

He shrugged. "I was in the neighborhood."

"With cupcakes?" she asked, laughing.

He didn't say anything for a second. "I've got nothin'."

She smiled. "You better be glad you got here when you did, 'cause I was about to go to bed."

"I can tell," he said with a chuckle. "You look cute though."

She laughed. "Sure."

"I'm serious. It looks like you aren't even wearing shorts underneath that big sweatshirt of yours."

"How do you know I'm wearing shorts?" she said with a seductive smirk.

His face reddened a little. "I guess I don't."

"Oh, relax." She lifted the sweatshirt to reveal her shorts.

"Just a reminder: I am an ex-fuckboy. Just saying that you may want to be careful."

"Why's that?" she said, lifting an eyebrow.

"Cause, if I'm being totally honest, you're very, very, very hot, especially since you're wearing a minimal amount of clothing." He laughed.

She winked at him. "I'm flattered."

He smiled. "All right. I figured I'd just drop off some cupcakes. A girl needs her beauty sleep." He stood up from the couch, as did she, and they walked to the door together.

"Here," he said, handing her the box, "keep these."

"You are literally the best person ever." She took the box from his hands, stood on her tip toes, then kissed his cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She opened the door and playfully shoved him out of her apartment.

She locked the door, set the cupcakes on the counter, then collapsed on her bed for the third time that hour.

As Tris tried to fall asleep, she couldn't help but think about Tobias. Why would he bring cupcakes for her? Why would he call her hot, of all things? Why would he blush when she said she wasn't wearing shorts, even when she was? So many questions, but no answers.

And she couldn't help but notice the small, sly grin on his face when she shoved him out the door, and that may or may not have given her a small feeling of confidence.