A/N: Hi. I'm so happy that you guys like the story. I'm not entirely sure how long this one will be, but definitely not as long as You and me against the world. Probably a dozen or so chapters. Depends on how inspired I am. Nevertheless, thank you all for reading it and reviewing it. Don't forget: this story comes with pictures on Pinterest. More detail in chapter 1.
Happy reading!
2
Tris' POV
I get up early and stretch in bed. I get up and walk downstairs where mom already waits for me with a hearty breakfast, just like she did every day of my life. I really missed that. I missed her. My whole family. I'm glad that I'm back at home.
"So, Caleb told me you are taking self-defense classes" mom says.
"Yeah" I say and eat a mouthful of pancakes.
"Correct me if I'm wrong but don't you practice Krav Maga?" mom asks with a chuckle.
"Yeah" I say, although I know what she's actually saying.
"And?"
"I want to work out and the girls insisted" I say.
"And that young man is cute" she says and I choke.
"Mom" I say loudly.
"What young man?" Caleb asks entering the kitchen.
"The one who sat across from your sister yesterday and couldn't take his eyes off of her, the one with the weird name" mom explains.
"Ah, yeah, Four. But he is taken" Caleb says and opens the fridge to drink some milk.
"Use a glass, Caleb" mom scolds.
Four has a girlfriend? Why am I surprised? A guy like him had to have a girlfriend. And it's not like someone like him would look twice at someone like me. I bet she is tall and pretty and has actual boobs. Besides I just got out of a messy relationship. I don't need a new guy right away.
I finish my breakfast and go upstairs to get ready. I put on some yoga pants, my sneakers, a blank tank top and a crop sweat shirt. I walk downstairs to find Caleb also in his gym clothes.
"You coming too?" I ask confused.
"Yeah, while you ladies learn how to kick butt I'll work out" he says. We take his car and arrive at the gym shortly. The rest of our friends are already there outside waiting. We greet each other and enter. Christina introduces me to two of her acquaintances, Molly and Al, and then we get ready to start. I notice that Al keeps ogling me, which I find really uncomfortable. Maybe I should have worn a different pair of pants, maybe some sweats. Unfortunately it's too hot inside to keep my sweat shirt on so I pull it over my head and throw it in a corner.
"Hi everyone" Zeke greets us. "As you know today we'll show you some self-defense techniques. While the class is mainly for women, the techniques aren't gender based. We are not discriminating here" he quickly adds when he sees Shauna glaring at him. Just as Four is about to say something a tall, muscular man with a tattoo on both sides of his neck enters.
"What are you doing here?" Four asks unfriendly.
"I came for the self-defense class" he says. He doesn't seem like he needs it. But hey, who am I to judge?
"I asked him to come to help us" Zeke explains and Four glares from the new guy to Zeke. I watch him carefully and see that whoever this is, isn't a friend of Four's. Four closes his eyes and sighs, his chest rising and falling with each breath.
"Alright, let's get started" Four says forcefully.
They start by showing some basic defensive maneuvers which we all copy. I already know them, but maybe they show me something I don't know yet. We practice several moves for some time until they say we should try and fight each other. The guy with the tattoos walks over to me and I wonder what he wants.
"Hi, I'm Eric" he says smiling.
"Tris" I reply, trying to be polite.
"How about we try out some of the moves. A pretty girl like you should be able to defend herself even from attackers as big as me" he says smirking.
"You planning on attacking me?" I ask.
"I would never harm a beautiful creature like you" he says disgustingly sweetly.
"Alright then" I say and walk toward the designated ring.
Four's POV
I watch Eric approach Tris and want to walk over there when someone grabs my arm. I look back and see Zeke.
"What's up with you, dude?" he asks confused.
"That's what's up" I say pointing toward Tris and Eric.
"Eric is talking to Tris. So?"
"He is a low-life and I don't want him here anymore" I say.
"What's wrong with you?" Shauna asks in hushed voice.
"Apparently Four has a problem with Eric" Zeke says as if I'm not even here.
"He is talking to Tris. Maybe he likes her. She really needs to get laid and he looks like a nice piece of ass" Shauna says and both Zeke and I turn to look at her in shock. "What?"
"Babe, mine is the only piece of ass you should look at" Zeke says half amused, half serious. We all know he is not the insecure type and he would never forbid Shauna anything, but I get his point. Especially now.
"That douche slept with my ex" I say.
"Ex? What ex?" Zeke asks.
"Nita" I say and look back toward Tris and Eric. They are now walking to the mat to spar. I walk closer to it too, not liking him so close to Tris. I know I just met her, but she doesn't deserve a bastard like him. Or better yet, he doesn't deserve such a nice girl like she is. Zeke and Shauna follow me to the mat and while we all watch Tris and Eric spar they keep pushing for answers.
"When did you break up?" Zeke asks.
"Last week."
"I'm glad you got rid of her. I never liked her" Shauna says.
"Babe, I told you that you are more beautiful than she is" Zeke says.
"Shut up, Zeke. I'm not insecure. I just never liked her. Why'd you split?" Shauna asks.
"She cheated" I say and watch Eric closely. He touched Tris too many times. I'm about to make a move when Shauna pulls me back.
"She cheated on you with him?" she asks tilting her head toward the mat.
"Yeah. But to be honest I don't mind that so much. I mean, I mind that she lied, but I don't care that she doesn't want to be with me. It actually helped get rid of her" I say.
"Dude, what the fuck?" I hear Tris ask and taking a step back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to" Eric says apologetically. I want to jump in and punch him but Zeke holds me back.
"Don't. We don't know what happened. Don't go all psycho" he says.
"Alright" Tris says. "I had about enough of this crap. Whoever taught you this is a moron and if you really want to know how to overpower your opponent" she says and leaps forward pushing her knee high and hitting Eric in the jaw which makes him stumbling backwards "you need to find his strengths first and make them his weaknesses. Right now, your pretty face probably gets you in all the right panties" she says and kicks Eric in the stomach "but after I'm done, not even the ugly nurse in the ER will want to look at you. So if you ever touch a woman that way again, especially when she tells you not to" she says as she takes out and kicks him in the head, before flipping herself over and hitting him with her left heel in the jaw making him fall to the ground "remember me and what I'll do to you" she finishes and stands tall over his unconscious body. She actually knocked him out. We all look at her both in shock and amazement, at least I do.
"What the fuck was that?" Lynn asks the question that is on everyone's mind.
"Teaching this scumbag a valuable life lesson" Tris says and walks toward the benches where her water bottle is. She drinks half of it before putting it back down. "Anyone else thinking he is better than a girl?"
"Nope" Uriah quickly says being closest to her.
"Where did you learn all that kung fu?" Marlene asks.
"It's not Kung Fu, it's Krav Maga, an Israeli self-defense system created for real life situations. I took several lessons in New York my first year of college. Getting mugged once is enough. The second time some schmuck tried to steal my backpack I fought back and kicked the living daylights out of him. When the police arrived they didn't know who to arrest" she explains and walks toward the punching bags. We all watch her dumbfounded and when she starts beating the shit out of the bag in front of her I smirk. This girl is amazing. She just took out someone twice as big as she is and now punches with all her strength the punching bag in perfect movements only a fighter has.
"What about him?" Marlene asks, checking on him. I don't care much for him, but I'm glad Marlene, who is a nurse, is here and makes sure he is alright. I don't want more trouble around here.
"Uri, Will, help me get him to the benches" Zeke says.
"Shauna, could you please bring the first aid kit?" Marlene asks and Shauna nods.
I leave my friends to deal with Eric and walk toward Tris who is expertly punching the bag. I watch her for some time and realize even though she is quick and fairly strong she still needs some pointers.
"You need to keep tension here" I say and place my hands on both sides of her middle section. Next thing I know she turns around and punches me hard in the jaw making me stumble backwards. "What the hell?" I say rubbing the sore place where she hit me. I look up and see a horrified look on her face.
"Oh my God, Four. I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention. My mind was somewhere else. I'm sorry. I thought you were…" she says stuttering, but stops herself before she can say anything more.
"It's okay. You just startled me. And congratulations, by the way. You have a nice swing" I say, complimenting her.
"Thanks" she says and looks away.
"So, Krav Maga" I say awkwardly. What is wrong with me? I talked to cute girls before. Why do I feel like a virgin teenager around her?
"Yeah. Living on your own in a city as big as New York you need to know a thing or two" she says chuckling.
"Why didn't you say anything yesterday?" I ask her curiously.
"Well, I didn't know what to say. Besides I thought maybe you guys know a few things I don't and I could learn. But mostly I was excited about working out again" she explains and turns around, resuming her assault on the bag. I watch her for a minute and then remember what I wanted to tell her when I got here.
"As I was saying when you punched me" I say chuckling and she turns around to look at me, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "You need to keep tension here" I say and get close to her midsection again, but don't touch her. "Can I show you or will you punch me again?" I ask and she laughs lightly.
"I think I've punched you enough for one day. At least for now" she jokes.
"Good to know. But please feel free to tell me when you feel like punching me again. I want to be prepared the next time."
"See? That's your problem. You always need to be prepared" she says laughing.
"You are right" I agree.
"Okay, oh great Obi Wan, teach me in the ways of the Jedi" she says using a solemn voice.
"Please, don't tell me you are a "Star Wars" fan?" I ask amused.
"That bad?" she asks smiling, but I can sense her insecurity, although she tries to play it down.
"Not at all. I might or might not have been the president of the "Star Wars" neighborhood fan club when I was a kid" I say and rub the back of my head.
"Get out" she says slapping me lightly over my chest.
"Sorry to break this to you, but this is my place" I say and she laughs.
"Alright. Show me what I can do to improve."
We spend the next half hour punching the bags. I stand next to her using the bag beside hers and glance at her every now and then. I keep telling myself it's to correct her stance, but deep down I know it's more than that. She is intriguing, funny, smart, beautiful. I want to know more.
"So, Four. I have an important question for you" she says looking at me seriously. I stop punching and look at her, our bodies facing each other, just a few inches apart.
"Go ahead." She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. She keeps them closed, as if she isn't sure how to ask her question. Maybe she wants to know why everyone is calling me Four. Or maybe she wants to know if I have a girlfriend. Maybe she likes me too. Maybe I should ask her out on a date. Maybe she wants to ask me, but can't muster the courage. "Will you go out with me?" I ask her quickly.
"Luke or Han?" she asks at the same time. She opens her eyes in shock. "What?"
"What?" I mirror her question.
"What did you say?" she asks. I look at her with wide eyes. Maybe this was a mistake. I just assumed she wanted to ask me on a date. Instead she asked me about "Star Wars". I take a breath and calm myself down. Why am I so nervous?
"I said, will you go out with me?" I ask her again. She looks at me curiously.
"Like on a date?" she asks confused.
"Yeah, a date" I say and crack a shy smile. She still looks at me shocked.
"Of course not" she says and her face turns angry. She turns her back at me and walks out of the gym. I stand there looking after her dumbfounded, not really understanding what I did wrong.
"What the hell happened?" I hear Caleb from behind me. "What did you do to my sister?" I turn to look at him and see he has a similar angry expression on his face.
"I honestly don't know" I say.
"You must have done or said something" Caleb says skeptically.
"What's going on?" Shauna asks coming over. Great, now the Prior family will lynch me. And I don't even know why. "What did you do, Eaton?" she asks.
"Nothing. I swear."
"Dude, you had to do something to make her storm off like that" Shauna says.
"I just asked her out on a date" I say. Shauna's eyes widen at first in shock, but then she smiles widely. "Good for you. But if you hurt her I'll break you apart" she threatens.
"Why would you even ask her out?" Caleb asks confused.
"What did she say?" Shauna asks and I turn from looking at Caleb to looking at Shauna.
"She said no."
"What? Why? What did you do?" Shauna asks again raising an eyebrow.
"I swear, I didn't do anything" I say, feeling like a dumb kid.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Caleb asks angry. "Tris is a nice girl. If you just want someone to fuck go to a club and leave her alone" he says grabbing me by the collar. I am so surprised by his reaction that I don't even move at first. The commotion caused everyone to look our way. Will and Zeke are the first to come over and drag Caleb away from me.
"What's going on?" Zeke asks confused.
"Stay away from my sister" Caleb says.
"I don't think that's going to be a problem. She doesn't want to go out with me anyway" I say.
"You asked Tris out?" Christina asks.
"Yeah, he did, but Tris said no" Shauna explains and suddenly I feel like I'm judged by all my friends.
"Of course she did. She is a decent girl" Christina says. "And I really thought better of you, Four" she says and storms out.
"What the fuck is going on here?" I ask.
"I tell you what's going on" Caleb says. "You just want to have fun with my sister."
"No I don't. I really like her" I say angry. I had about enough of this shit.
"The same way you like your girlfriend" he says. Now I get it. Other than Shauna and Zeke no one else knows I broke up with Nita. Oh my God, that's why Tris said no. She thought I was trying to get her in bed and cheat on my girlfriend.
"Did you tell Tris I had a girlfriend?" I ask Caleb, although I know this must be it.
"Of course I did."
"Alright. Then this is just a misunderstanding. I broke up with Nita. I wanted to do it for a while now, but she was clingy and I just couldn't find a way to drop her. But thankfully she proved to be every bit the slut you thought her to be and she cheated. With him" I say pointing toward the unconscious form of Eric.
"What?" everyone besides Zeke and Shauna ask.
"I'll let them explain it to you" I say and rush out after Tris. I need to explain this to her. I'm not the person she thinks I am.
I get outside and look for Tris. When I can't find her I just run to the right hoping she took this way. Fortunately for me not far from the gym is a park and there she is sitting on a bench with Christina. She looks sad. I stop abruptly and think of what I want to say to her. Both girls can't see me, since their backs are turned to the path. I walk closer to them and I can hear their conversation. I feel guilty for eavesdropping but I can't help it.
"I never thought Four could be such a jerk. I know he looks all intimidating, and I guess he is, but he never appeared to be a cheater" Christina says and I hear the disgust.
"Is it me, Chris? I mean, do I signal something to guys to just be jerks?" Tris says in tears. Oh God, she blames herself. Why would she do that? Even if this whole mess would be true it still wouldn't be her fault. "I mean, first Peter, now Four. What the fuck? Am I just that kind of girl guys pick to have fun with and then discard her like some old pair of sweat pants?"
"Of course not, don't say that" Christina tries to calm her.
"You know what the worst part is? I really thought Four and I could be friends. I mean I'm not looking for a boyfriend or anything, especially not someone like him" she says. What does she mean, someone like me?
"I give you he is hot, but so are you. Stop being so fucking insecure. You are a hottie. But you are more than just that. You are smart, funny, loyal and the best friend in the whole wide world."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. You never told me what happened with Peter" Christina says, curious as always.
"He is a colossal jerk. He just started dating me because of some bet. His friends bet him that he couldn't get the Stiff in bed" she says shaking.
"Stiff?" Christina asks confused.
"Nerd, dork, whatever you can think to describe someone like me" Tris says bitter.
"You mean beautiful, intelligent, bad-ass" Christina asks trying to cheer her up. Tris laughs at that but continues her story.
"He was really nice at first. We went out on dates and even though it wasn't the movie love story I didn't care. I was popular for the first time and that was because of him. By the end of my second year of college we had a couple name, Petris, I know stupid. I helped him with his exams, helped him study. I did everything he wanted me to do, even if I didn't wanted them. I thought I loved him, but I was wrong. I never did. I just didn't want to go back to being the unnoticed Stiff. But then I caught him cheating and when I confronted him he accused me of cheating first, that this was payback. The fight escalated and he hit me" she says. I ball my fists and the only thing I want to do is find this Peter and beat the shit out of him. How dare he hit a woman? Especially one he supposedly loved.
"What happened then?" Christina asks rubbing Tris' back.
"He didn't know about the Krav Maga lessons, so I fought back, which he didn't expect. If it weren't for a few friends of ours he would have been a lot worse. After he got better and we randomly bumped into each other he swore he would get back at me for humiliating him. I don't know where it came from, but I threatened to punch each and every one of his teeth out if he ever threatened me again. To my surprise he backed away and I never saw him again" she says.
"Wow. You are like a superhero" Christina says admiringly.
"I wouldn't say that" Tris says shyly. "But I learned early to never back down." They remain still for a while and I realize I should just walk over and talk to both of them. So I do. I walk in front of the park bench they are sitting on. Tris looks away embarrassed and Christina glares at me.
"Before any of you says anything let me just say this. I broke up with my girlfriend a week ago. She cheated on me, but even if she didn't I would have broken up with her anyway. I don't really like her, I was just too lazy to end things with her. I'm not the person you think I am, Tris. I would never do something like that. Especially not to someone so nice and decent like you are. You deserve better. And maybe I'm not the right guy for you. I'm sorry if I offended you" I say and turn to walk away.
"Wait" Tris says and I turn to look at her, our eyes locking.
"Yes?"
"Is that true or are you just saying that to get in my panties?" she asks directly. No bullshit with her.
"It's true. As a matter of fact, the guy she slept with is the douche you knocked out" I say with a chuckle.
"Eric?" Christina asks disbelievingly.
"Yeah. I thought I was upset that she cheated, but after reflecting upon it I realized I was more upset with myself for prolonging that relationship when I should've ended it months ago. She never liked me for me. We have hardly anything in common, except for living in the same city and being part of the same species" I say and Tris chuckles. "I know it was wrong of me to continue the relationship, but I just didn't know how to get rid of her."
"Get rid of her?" Tris asks intrigued.
"Yeah, that woman is like a leech. The guy couldn't even take a dump without having to tell her where he went" Christina says forwardly.
"Chris, TMI" I say.
"Oops, sorry. I guess I let you two talk then" she says and hugs Tris before she leaves. I keep standing in front of the bench looking at Tris who is looking after Christina's disappearing form.
"How long have you been watching us before you came over?" she asks surprising me.
"What do you mean?" I ask confused. How could she possibly know that? She turns around and points toward the tree I was hiding behind.
"You were there, hiding" she says as if reading my mind. "I saw you from the corner of my eye when you were coming closer to talk to us. I figured you where standing somewhere nearby since you didn't seem out of breath" she says and looks at me expectantly.
"A while" I say. "Can I sit?" I ask and she nods. I sit down next to her, we look at each other and she smiles softly.
"So, you didn't ask me out to get back at your girlfriend for cheating?" she asks tentatively.
"Ex. And no. I told you, I would have broken things off with her anyway. I just couldn't stand her anymore. I know this sounds awful but she could be a real bitch sometimes" I say leaning back.
"You sure you wanna go out with me after a break-up" she asks and my head snaps in her direction.
"I'm not asking you out because I wanna forget about her or anything. I know you think this is my rebound, but it's not. I asked you out because I wanted to. Because for the first time in a long while I find someone genuinely interesting and worth getting to know. I want to get to know you, Tris Prior. Whatever happens after the date we'll deal with it. Don't feel obligated to say yes or fear that this has to mean more than you want. If you want to end it after that date that's fine. I don't want to push you and I certainly don't want you to do things you don't want to" I reassure her. She leans back and looks straight ahead. She must be thinking about it, but doesn't say anything.
"Ask me again" she says without looking at me. I smile.
"Tris, would you go out with me on a date?"
A/N: Updates every other date.