A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who is reading this story. It means a lot for me as a writer to share my work with people who so passionately enjoy reading. I am no professional, but I do try to give it my best. Each new story starts out as a small idea, a spark in my head that as soon as I start writing turns into a blazing fire. It amazes still that people actually read what I'm writing.
This year I finished my first original novel and I'm planning to send the manuscript out to publishers. Whether or not my book will be published is somewhat in second place. What really is important, for me, is that I sat down, wrote it, finished it (which is a feat in itself) and put myself out there.
But that's enough for now. Enjoy this new chapter.
Tris' POV
First day of school. I don't know if I should jump in front of a moving car, hang myself or hold my breath until I faint. The latter might take a lot longer. I wait for Tobias to pick me up. Caleb could have driven me, but Tobias insisted to do it himself. Zeke joked that he just wants to brag with his hot girlfriend at which Tobias nodded grinning widely.
"Morning, beautiful" he says when I get in his car.
"Morning, handsome" I say and lean forward to kiss him.
"Ready for your first day at school?" he asks as he drives off.
"No. Can we please go back? I want to stay at home" I say whining.
"Come on. It'll be fine. I'm going to be there, Caleb, Shauna, Lynn, Christina, Will, Uriah and Marlene" he says listing our friends.
"You forgot Eric, Nita, Peter, Al" I say with a pout.
"Forget them. It'll be fun."
"Easy for you to say. You aren't the new one at school."
"Hey. You won't be the new girl for long. Soon everyone will forget about you. Trust me." I wish.
We soon arrive at school and Tobias parks his car. We meet our friends in front of the school and we all say our hellos. From my peripheral I see Nita strutting around like she's some super model, glancing at us and making a disgusted face.
"What's that skanks problem?" Christina asks. She and I, despite our very different personalities, have become best friends.
"I guess Tris is" Lynn says, glaring at her.
"What? Why me?"
"'Cause our boy Four chose you instead of her" Zeke says grinning.
"That's not my problem" I say.
"Of course not. Ignore her, babe" he says and kisses my cheek.
"Come on, Bee, let's get you to the principal's office" Caleb says. He, Tobias and I walk there in awkward silence. Awkward because one of them was enough to show me to the principal's office. Caleb tries to be my protective older brother, but he and Tobias have been friends for a long time and he knows that Tobias would never hurt me. Especially, not after what he went through with his father.
A few weeks ago, after we had that fight, Tobias told me that his mom told him his father got killed while trying to escape. We talked a lot about it and eventually he broke down and cried. He didn't cry particularly because the man who abused him died, but I think he was overwhelmed by all those emotions.
We reach the principal's office and I introduce myself to the secretary. She hands me my schedule and tells me which locker is mine. Thankfully mine is near Caleb's and Tobias', not that it really matters. I thank her and the three of us leave.
"What's your first period?" Tobias asks.
"Math" I say with a groan. Tobias chuckles.
"Come on. We did some math" he says.
"I hope that's not an euphemism for sex" Caleb says.
"Caleb" I shout.
"No" Tobias assures him.
"Good. My sister is too young for…" Caleb says but Tris kicks him in the balls. "Ow. The fuck, Bee. Why?"
"First, I'm not too young for anything. Two, you are not my dad to forbid me anything. Three, even if dad wouldn't approve, I will have sex whenever the fuck I want. Stay out of my business, Caleb, or I'll kick your ass" she says.
"I'm just looking out for you" Caleb says trying to stand straight again.
"Caleb, I swear, I would never…" Tobias starts saying but I turn around and glare at him.
"If you say touch your sister I'm gonna kick your ass too. This is not his decision, or yours. This is mine and your decision, Tobias. We'll do it when we're both ready. Now, both of you, shut up."
"Okay. I'm just trying to be a good big brother."
"Caleb, just be yourself. I know that dad gave you the talk. I heard him tell you to look out for me. But do you really think Tobias would hurt me?" Caleb looks from me to his friend and shakes his head.
"Tris, he is just trying to protect you" Tobias says.
"From you?" I ask raising an eyebrow.
"From the world. Don't get this wrong, babe. We love you and want to protect you" he says sweetly.
"Love? You guys got to the L-word already?" Caleb asks teasingly.
"Got a problem with that?" I ask.
"Nope. Alright. Sorry, man. I'm glad my sister is with you" Caleb says and he and Tobias shake hands. He leaves us alone as Tobias walks me to my locker. I open it and put what I don't need inside.
"You ready?" he asks.
"Not really."
"You'll be fine. Be brave, my Ice Queen" he says and I smile. Matt and Scott usually use the term to piss me off, but coming from Tobias it's like the sweetest compliment.
"I love you" I tell him. He smiles and kisses me gently on the lips.
"I love you, too."
He walks me to my class and we kiss goodbye. I enter the class room to find the teacher already in there. I introduce myself and Ms. Matthews sits me in the back and gives me a test so that she can see what I know and what I need to improve. Dad already talked to the school and the teachers know I was home schooled for the past two years. So, probably all of my teachers will want to test me. Great. A week full of tests. High school sucks.
A/N: What about that? Tris' first day of school... What horrors might be ahead of her?