A/N: I want to thank each and everyone of you who reads and reviews this story. It means so much to me that you are involved in this. This story is very dear to me (all of them are, but this one even more). I would like to know more about what you think.

Tris' POV

It's been a month since school started. I still don't like it much, but it's better with my friends here. Since that first day when I learned that Amar is my PE teacher I made it a point to meet with him and George. So, for a few times George, Matt and I met to talk mountains and then we went out with our significant others. Tobias was uncomfortable the first time, but that was only until Amar joined us. By now he and Matt get along well and to my surprise Tori was the tattoo artist who did his tattoo. From then on everything seemed to be more relaxed between us.

Last week Christina dragged me and the other girls to go dress shopping for the Homecoming Dance. I didn't think it was that important and at first I didn't want to go. Tobias was very sweet about it. He asked if I even wanted to go and then he asked me to go with him, formally, just like the gentleman he is. The dance is in two days from now and I had to promise Christina to give me the whole girly experience, whatever that means. On Friday the teachers allow us a half day because of the dance and apparently all the girls need to get ready. I can't understand what could possibly take that long to get ready.

"Hey, babe" Tobias says as he sits down next to me at our lunch table.

"Hey" I say. He kisses me softly and rests his forehead on mine.

"How was your day so far?" he asks.

"Did you hear about Peter?" I ask.

"Yeah" he says.

Peter, being his usual asshole-self, commented that I lived so long on mountains that I didn't know how to act around people. He is still pissed because I beat him up and tries to salvage whatever bully reputation he had. Uriah immediately stepped in and defended me and when Peter commented that I probably give Uriah sugar, Uri punched him in the face. Fortunately, no teacher was around to see that and Uriah isn't in trouble right now.

"Uriah was really brave and helpful" I say looking at my friend.

"Hey, you are like a sister to me. What are big brother's for?" he asks grinning.

"You know, I'm really glad Four didn't see me as a friend. I have this thing about me that makes all the guys wanna be my brothers and uncles" I say and they both laugh.

"I couldn't see you as my sister even if I wanted to" Tobias says and kisses my temple.

"I'm glad. I have way too many brothers" I say with a chuckle and both guys laugh. Soon the rest of our friends sit down and we discuss the dance. Again. I'm so tired of this. I lean against Tobias' shoulder and he wraps his arm around my waist.

"You okay?" he asks.

"Yeah. This talk about the dance is just so boring" I say and he chuckles.

"Tell me about it" Zeke says having overheard us.

"Don't let Shauna hear you say that" Tobias tells his friend.

"God, no" he says looking panicked at his girlfriend.

"I just can't understand why they get so excited" I say.

"That's because you are cool" Zeke says whispering.

"Sometimes I wish I was normal like them" I say sighing.

"You are normal, babe" Tobias says. "You are just not that into dancing and parties."

"That's not it. I can dance and God knows I know how to party. Although the parties I usually go to end up with everyone half-naked and shitfaced."

"What kind of parties are these?" Zeke asks interested.

"Usually on mountains" I say.

"Damn. I really should start mountain climbing" he says and both Tobias and I laugh.

"What's so funny? Did you even hear what I said?" Shauna asks Zeke angrily. Oops. He turns around and tries to save his ass.

"That true?" Tobias asks.

"About the parties?" I ask looking up at him and he nods. "Yeah, kind of. Sometimes we get really drunk and really naked" I say grinning.

"You're lying" he says amused.

"Maybe. There's only one way to find out" I say.

"Yeah?"

"You need to join us sometime. Not for a big climb, but maybe a few days hike. What do you say?" I ask him.

"Sure. But only if you want me there. I don't want you to invite me because you feel obligated" he tells me serious. I lean up and kiss his jaw, the stubble tickling me.

"I want you to come. I wouldn't have asked otherwise" I reassure him. He nods. "How about we go for a little hike ourselves? We can leave Saturday morning and come back Sunday evening. It wouldn't be a long hike, but we would be together and alone. There is this cabin I know that we could rent" I tell him.

"You really want that? You and me alone?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. Why is that so odd?"

"I don't know."

"I wanted you to experience it firsthand and I know how awkward it is to be the new person in the group. We could invite Matt and Tori or George and Amar, but the cabin is a one-room place and I really wanted to be alone with you." I tell him and try to keep a straight face. I know he never asked me and he never even hinted, but I'm sure he wants us to be together. I've been ready for a while now and I know I can trust him completely and I love him. But we never had the chance to be alone. I'm no fool. My first time won't be as magical as advertised in the romantic movies, but with Tobias I'm sure whatever pain I'll feel it'll be worth it.

"Okay. I'd love to do that. Are your parents okay with that?" he asks.

"Yeah. I talked to dad and told him I wanted to take you out for a hike and I checked the weather forecast for this weekend and everything seems to be alright. But we need to make the reservation. So, you in?" I ask and he nods eagerly. "Good. I'll call right now" I say and get up.

I leave the cafeteria since it's very loud in there and head into the hallway. I make the reservation and the person on the other end tells me to pick up the key this afternoon. I already know where the agency is and decide to either ask Tobias to drive me or lend me his truck. Thankfully, I got my license and Tobias isn't afraid of letting me drive every once in a while. I even return the truck with a full tank, even though he says I don't have to. I go back inside and sit down.

Tobias unfortunately has soccer practice and can't come with me, but he hands me his keys and even though I insist on picking him up after practice he says Caleb will give him a ride back.

The rest of the day is pretty much as any other school day. Between the girls talking about the dance, the guys groaning because they have to wear suits and the usual boring classes I find the routine soothing. When classes are over I head to the parking lot and get into Tobias' car and drive downtown to the agency to pick up the key. The woman there makes me pay upfront which I already knew and makes me fill a form. Once everything is done she hands me the key and we shake hands. I go outside and a store across the street catches my eye. I've seen it before but it never made me spare it a second glance. It's a lingerie store and for the first time I feel the urge to head inside. So, that's what I do. I cross the street and enter it. I walk around the aisles aimlessly, looking at all the tiny little outfits. They have everything anyone could imagine: from white to black every color in between, lace, satin, corsets, thongs, boxers, even French maid costumes. After walking through the entire store a sales woman takes pity of me and comes over to help me out.

"How can I help you?" she asks friendly.

"Uhm, I don't know" I say honestly.

"Is it fair of me to assume you want to impress a gentleman?" she asks, giving me a knowing look.

"Yeah" I say.

"Alright. What color do you like?" she asks.

"Black" I answer. I've noticed Tobias wears a lot of black. And it's a neutral color. And every commercial I've ever seen the models wear black underwear. That's gotta mean something.

"Alright. Let me see what we have" she says and walks around, glancing backwards at me every once in a while. "Here" she says handing me a black lace push-up bra and a matching thong.

"Okay?" I say, although it comes out more as a question.

"Is this your first time?" she asks and I blush violently. How could she know that?

"Ex-Excuse me?" I ask stuttering.

"Is this the first time you buy yourself lingerie?" she repeats, being more specific. Oh, that's what she meant. I nod. "Okay, no need to be embarrassed. Go try it on" she says pointing toward the changing booths "and I'll look for a few more outfits." I go in the indicated direction and step inside a booth. I take my jacket off, my boots, my pants, my shirt. I'm standing in my plain cotton underwear and look myself up and down. This is odd. I quickly change out of my own underwear and put the lacey undergarments on. I look at myself again and it seems like a different person is staring back at me. It's like a different person suddenly replaced Tris with this sexy underwear model. Damn, I look good. I admire myself in the mirror, when someone knocks on the door. "I've brought you a few more to try on. You can pick which one you like best" the sales woman says. I thank her and wait for her to leave. I open the door and pull whatever she brought me inside. She brought me two more outfits. A black satin corset with a cord around the middle that has rhinestones all over it, a see-through bodice with lace that covers my breasts, another thong and a pair of boxers. Everything looks great, even more so after I try it on. I feel confident in the lingerie. I feel beautiful. I feel sexy. I look over the price tags. Wow. That's a lot of money. I don't have that much. I look over every piece and try to combine what I'll ultimately buy. I decide on the lace-cup, see-through bodice and a lace thong. I would have loved the lace bra and boxers as well, but it's just too much money. I get dressed and take what I wanted to the billing desk.

"Just these two items" I say with a smile.

"Didn't' you like the other things I brought you?" she asks.

"No, I did. It's just, I don't have that much money. Maybe some other time" I tell her.

"What did you like?" she asks as she puts my purchase in a bag.

"The black lace bra and the boxers. The corset looked good too, but the rhinestones aren't my thing."

"Oh" she says. "Please, wait here a moment" she asks and goes into the back. When she comes back she has a similar bag in her hand as the one she gave me earlier. "Here, this is for you. On the house" she says and hands me the bag. I look inside and see the bra and boxers I couldn't afford.

"I can't accept this" I say and give the bag back.

"No, please, my treat. Take it as a long term investment" she says and I look at her questioningly. "Maybe if these items will help you, I guess with your boyfriend, you might come back in the future and buy some more" she says. "So, you see, it's just a marketing strategy" she says smiling, but I can tell that's not it.

"Thank you" I say.

"You're welcome."

I head outside and go to the car. I leave the bags on the backseat and drive home. I park Tobias' car in his drive way and gather my things. Caleb isn't home yet, which means Tobias isn't either. I lock his car and go home. I deposit the lingerie in my underwear drawer and start doing my homework.

A/N: Reviews always appreciated.