A/N Sorry it's been so long! This chapter kind of wrote itself so I decided to put it up.

TRIS

I'm feeling pretty worn out after my busy day. After the fiasco with the radio station, Christina dragged me around shopping. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I saw how much everything cost, but Christina seemed to be unfazed. Finally I dragged her to a consignment store next door. I got tons of cool clothes for less. Christina was a little out of her element there, but eventually she was able to overcome her differences and pick out some cute outfits. I've got to say, she's got an eye for that kind of stuff. I'm not really much for fashion, but she's pretty into it.

I kick off my shoes in front of the door and run into Mom. She looks stressed. "Mom, what's going on?"

She stops for a moment and takes a breath. "Your father is in town, and he's coming for dinner. I have so much to do…" With that, she rushes off, leaving me with questions. Dad coming home is always a big deal. When he comes, that is. Often, he says he will and then will just blow us off. There's been many a night where we sit around the dinner table, tears pouring down Mom's face as she serves us a fancy home cooked meal in a dress while Caleb looks miserable in his tie and an empty chair threateningly stares at us. Mom always makes us dress up for these things, which I don't understand. He's our father. He, of all people, should be seeing us as we are. But I guess he's not our father. Not really.

I sigh and climb up the stairs, my footfalls heavy. I haven't seen my father in months, ever since he started working for Marcus Eaton, the CEO of Abnegation Inc. It's supposed to be an organization dedicated to serving others, but based on what I've seen and heard it has definitely pulled in a profit. I've met Marcus once, and I didn't like him. There was just something off about him, and I couldn't put my finger on what.

I take out the dress I've worn every single time he's come to dinner. It's gray, the hem hitting a little below my knees, and is cinched at the waist. As I put it on, I realize that I've grown so that it hits at the knees, not below it. I sigh. It will have to do. I bought a purple dress with Christina today that I could wear, but Dad-if I can even call him that-doesn't like us to be wearing bright colors. He says it's not professional. That's why most of my wardrobe is made up of neutrals.

I pull up Pandora on my phone, and soon there's some light violin music playing through my room. I silently finish dressing and brush my hair. My blonde waves hang down on my back. I slide a gray headband into my hair to hold it back and walk down the stairs, making sure to turn off the music before I leave.

Downstairs, Caleb and Mom are quiet. Even though there's no noise, however, the tension in the air is almost suffocating. Mixed emotions swirl throughout the room as I help Mom cut up green beans and Caleb sets the table. He's due any minute now. If he ever comes.

TOBIAS

I'm just about to eat some cereal for dinner when I get a text from a number my phone doesn't recognize.

Hello Tobias, this is Andrew Prior. We met today. If you're free tonight, I'd like to invite you to dinner at my house.

I look back at my miserable bowl of cornflakes.

TE: Sounds good, when should I come over? Can I have your address as well, please? Thank you for inviting me.

AP: We usually have dinner at 7. I can pick you up.

I never liked cornflakes, anyway.

I run up the stairs. What are you supposed to wear to someone else's family dinner? I don't know Mr. Prior, so I decide to go classy casual. Dark blue button down with rolled up sleeves. My black Vans seem to be casual enough for the occasion.

At 6:45 sharp, I hear the doorbell ring.

I open the door to find Andrew Prior, car keys jingling in one hand. "Hello, Mr. Prior."

"Tobias, it's nice to see you again. I hope I'm not taking you away from anything."

"Not at all. Thanks again for inviting me."

He chuckles. "Marcus really brought you up well. I wish that my children were this polite."

I feel myself inwardly cringe at the mention of Marcus's name, but Mr. Prior doesn't seem to notice. "Oh, um, thanks. Should we get going?"

"Of course, of course." He unlocks the car doors and I climb into the passenger seat. Classical music plays on the radio. The drive there is filled with small talk. I try to steer clear of any questions about Marcus and try to redirect his questions toward him. I learn that the Priors are new to the area, though his wife and kids have been here longer than he has. I find out that he has two children, a boy and a girl, and they're both my age.

The last part sounds oddly familiar, and I realize what it is when we pull up to a mailbox with the name Prior in large block letters. I can't believe I didn't piece it together before.

Tris. Tris Prior. Andrew Prior must be her father. I feel my hands start to sweat. At least I made an effort on my appearance.

A blonde woman opens the door, and it's plain to see that this is Tris' mother. While she doesn't have Tris' alluring eyes, the shade of hair is almost identical, just with streaks of gray and white. She smiles at me, a tired smile with bags under her eyes. "Hello, Andrew." Her voice is clipped as she turns to him, straightening up a bit. "How are you?"

"Doing well." He nods to her, and I watch this exchange closely. It's plain to see that the Prior parents have a strained relationship, if they have a relationship at all. Then I feel eyes on me.

"And who's this you have brought with you?" Mrs. Prior smiles at me again, exhausted but nevertheless full of warmth. I'm astonished that she's so nice to me, especially since she's just met me.

I stick out my hand. "My name is Tobias. Tobias Eaton."

She shakes my hand. Now that's a firm grip. "It's nice to meet you, Tobias, I'm Natalie."

"And you as well." After some pleasantries, Natalie-Mrs. Prior-leads us into the kitchen. Inside, a brown haired boy with green eyes looks up from setting the table. He doesn't seem to notice me as his gaze settles on his father.

"Father." He nods, but it's obvious that the father-son relationship is even more strained that that of the parents. "It's nice to see you." The missing "again" hangs forebodingly in the air, like a raincloud ready to burst.

Then he notices me. "Hey, I know you. You're that guy from youth group. The one who did announcements." He reaches out his hand to shake. "Caleb Prior."

I take it. "I'm Tobias, nice to meet you."

Suddenly I hear footfalls on the stairs. "Mom, did I hear the door open?"

Tris steps out from the stairs, her hair shining in the light. She's wearing a gray dress that looks amazing on her, and for a second my breath is taken away.

"Tobias?"

I snap back to the present. "Hi, Tris. Your dad invited me to dinner, I hope that's okay."

"You don't have to ask for my permission to come over for dinner, Tobias." She giggles, and I grin at her.

Meanwhile, Andrew is looking back and forth between us. "You two know each other?"

Tris nods. "He goes to my youth group. He plays guitar and everything."

"Well, not everything." I feel a blush rise into my cheeks.

"Oh, so you're the young man that's helping Tris out with her audition for the band?" Natalie smiles approvingly.

"Yeah, that's me. I hope that's okay, Mrs. Prior. I know Tris mentioned that she doesn't usually listen to contemporary music at home."

She laughs. "By all means, it's definitely okay! And please, call me Natalie. Mrs. Prior makes me feel twenty years older." She winks, and I instinctively smile.

Unlike me, however, Andrew's frown seems to be growing. "I don't think it's okay, actually. Tris, why would you defy me like this?"

Tris' smile fades as her eyes flash. Storm warning. "What?"

"Contemporary music is still banned in this home. Natalie, what were you thinking?"

"Excuse me?" Tris whirls on Andrew, fists clenched. "I don't think you should be criticizing Mom. If there's anyone that should be criticized, it's you, Andrew."

A vein throbs in Andrew's forehead. "Why you insolent little-"

Natalie steps in front of Andrew, hands up in surrender. His eyes widen as he looks at her, and she takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Andrew, I'll make sure not to make the mistake again. Now why don't we have dinner?" Her gaze flickers to me. "We have guests."

Andrew's green eyes calm a bit as they all sit around the dinner table. I slide into a seat between Natalie and Tris. It's obvious that they forgot I was there, and now the awkward air is suffocating. Tris stares down at her plate, her ears red. Caleb, who sits on Natalie's other side, glares at me. Andrew keeps his mouth pressed in a firm line.

I see a tear slip out of Natalie's eye, and she wipes it off her cheek quickly. Then she meets eyes with me, and I drop my eyes down to my lap.

"Let's say grace." Her voice is a little choked up, but no one says anything. They all grab hands to pray, and I follow suit. Tris' hand is cool in mine, and I can't suppress the jolt of electricity that enters me when I touch her, even if we are just praying before a meal.

After we say Amen, everyone digs into the meal. Dinner at the Prior household is a silent and solemn affair. The only sounds are silverware clinking on porcelain and faint chewing. After what feels like a lifetime, Caleb clears his throat. "So, um, Dad, I was looking at colleges and I think I want to graduate early."

Andrew smiles and nods approvingly. "Good choice, Caleb. Any places you're looking at in particular? What major?"

"Physics."

"It's a growing field, so that makes sense." Andrew turns his gaze to Tris, and I see her squirm out of the corner of my eye. "Tris, you have it all figured it out as well?"

"Um." Tris kept her focus on the pasta littering her plate. "I'm not sure yet."

"Not sure yet?" Andrew is still smiling, but his voice is piercing. "You're a junior in high school. You should know by now." He turns to Caleb. "Thank God at least one of my children will turn out well."

Tris balls up a napkin, her knuckles white as she clutches it. "May I be excused?"

"You certainly may not." Andrew's head snaps to Tris, and she fidgets again.

"So, Tobias, any idea what you want to go into?" Natalie's voice cuts through the tension, and I relax a little.

"Yeah, I would like to go into computer science, especially cybersecurity. There's a lot of jobs out there for it, and I enjoy programming."

"Programming?" Tris scrunches up her nose. "I didn't think you'd be one for that."

"Why?"

She blushes. "I don't know...you just don't seem like the type."

I laugh. "Then what is my type?"

"Uh, like, I don't know, CEO of some large organization or business." My smile fades as she describes my apparent future occupation. "Tobias, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." I look away from her, studying my plate.

"Tobias, your father said something about taking over the company after his retirement. What about that?" Andrew takes a forkful of pasta and puts it in his mouth.

"Taking over the company?" Tris looks back and forth between us.

Caleb nods distractedly, stuffing pasta into his mouth.. "Yeah, Tris, didn't you put it together? Tobias is Marcus Eaton's son."

Sudden realization dawns on her face. "Oh...Eaton…like the organization that our father works for..."

"Yeah." I scratch the back of my neck, and then realize it's time to leave before any more questions are asked of me. "Natalie, Mr. Prior, it's been lovely, thank you for having me."

Natalie nods once. "Of course, Tobias. You're welcome back any time." Doubt it. This was way too awkward for me. Actually, Natalie seems nice, and Tris is obviously great, but there seems to be a deep rift between the two of them and Caleb and Andrew.

Andrew begins to get up. "Tobias, I'll drive you home."

"No, that's okay. Spend time with your family." I plaster a smile on my face. "My house isn't that far away, I can walk."

"Are you sure? It's dark."

"I'll be okay." I assure him before turning to leave. I hear the scrape of a chair on the floor behind me.

"I'll walk you out." Tris brushes off imaginary specks of dirt from her dress and she stands. Once again I'm struck by how naturally beautiful she is, inside and out.

"Sure." She walks me out to the porch, closing the door behind us. Then she collapses on one of the chairs on the front porch.

I sit down next to her, careful not to touch her. Her face is cradled in her hands. "Tris, you okay?"

"Y-yeah, sorry, I just need a break. You can go ahead. I'll see you Monday?" Her voice cracks at the end, and I realize she's crying.

I have no idea what to do.

"Hey, Tris, shh, it's okay." I start to put my arm around her, but decide against it, thinking this may not be the best situation to initiate first contact. "I get it."

She raises her tear-streaked face to me, and my heart shatters. "You do?"

"Yeah." I set my head on my hand, my elbow digging into my thigh. "Let's just say my family life isn't much better." I stop there, knowing I've already said too much.

"I just…" She rakes a hand through her hair. "Nothing I do seems to make my father proud. I always do something wrong, something to set him off. He's not even home most of the time. Today was the first day he's been back in months."

"Oh." The realization that I intruded into a fragile event hits me like a stack of bricks. "I had no idea. I'm sorry."

She shakes her head. "No. I'm glad you were there." Her face splits into a smile. "You made things a little better. Though I'm kind of embarrassed." She looks down.

"Hey." I lay a hand on her shoulder, taking a risk. Tris' gaze flickers from my hand to my eyes. "You shouldn't be embarrassed. I know I'm not really in the place to say, but-" A small smile arranges itself on my face. "They're proud of you, Tris. Your mom is. I am. God is. And if other people can't see that they should be proud of you, it's their loss."

At that, she crumbles, putting her arms around me and sobbing into my shirt. I wrap my arms around her and just hold her. I can't believe someone would hurt her like this, not to mention her own family. I just want to take all that pain off her shoulders, but I know I can't. I'm not capable of that. The only person that can is Someone she has to let in herself.

Thanks for reading! You guys are the best. I know it's been a while. I've been super stressed with school, extracurriculars, and a whole host of other things. I know this isn't an excuse. However I am not giving up on this story! Please R&R, it's your reviews that convince me to keep going. See you later! ~skutti2000