Chapter 7
A extra long chapter this time! I hope you guys are enjoying it. Thank you for the reviews I really enjoy them and love to see them and know your ideas!
The weather was not in Tris's favor this week. Tris's weekend had been watered down. On Saturday, she and Marlene had decided to undertake a hiking trail. Christina wouldn't want to join as she couldn't wear heels, and outdoors wasn't Christina's thing. Tris and Marlene had packed their bags ready for a picnic. However, as soon as they had arrived at the trail, it started pouring down, and at the end of the day, they were soaking wet. Instead of going out for dinner with Christina and going for a few drinks later, they decided to stay inside, order a pizza, and cozy up to Tris's fireplace.
On Sunday, the weather was supposed to be rainy and cold, so Tris had planned a much-needed deep cleaning day in her apartment. However, while she was busy in her apartment, she noticed the sky turned as blue as the ocean, and the sun was shining very brightly. She still enjoyed a much-deserved glass of red wine on her terrace after she was done and gone to the park with Bailey for some needed exercise.
On Monday, she had dressed up too thinly for the office, meaning she was freezing the entire day at work. In the morning, she went on her usual morning run, sans Four. Ever since their interaction, she hadn't seen him running anymore in the morning. She saw glimpses of him in the hallway, but as soon as he noticed her, he had run away. She was disappointed but wasn't going to chase after him; his behavior was a bit ridiculous.
Today, on Tuesday, she had a long day of meetings and running to court. She had missed the subway and decided to walk back to her apartment. She had thought that it would be a nice relaxing walk back after a hectic day, but ten minutes into her 20-minute-long walk, it started to hail.
Tris was grateful to see her apartment building in sight and welcomed the warmth with open arms. She checked her phone and saw that she had a missed text from her grandmother.
-"I'm sorry, dear, I can't come to the lake house tomorrow. Your mother has sprung this event on me and demands my presence. Talk later? X"
Tris was disappointed but knew how her parents could be. They sprung these last-minute functions on people and had no understanding if they couldn't make it. Her father was in politics, and image and appearance were everything, something Tris hated and one of the many reasons why she had left New York.
She was also surprised to see that it was already 7 PM. Luckily, she had already cooked the night before and had plenty left over for today, so she could just heat up her food in the oven.
When Tris arrived on her floor, she was surprised to see a soaking wet Four on the ground. Grocery bags were all over, looking like they had been thrown, and he was pacing up and down in anger.
"What's wrong?" Tris asked, genuinely concerned by the visible tension in his posture.
Four barked back at her, his tone harsh and unforgiving. "Isn't it obvious? My key broke off." He gestured angrily toward the broken key stuck in the lock of his apartment door.
Tris studied the broken key in the lock. It was indeed wedged tightly, making it nearly impossible to extract without the right tools.
"Well, if you need any help, I'm right here. You can wait in my apartment for the super if you want," Tris offered, her tone still polite despite his earlier rudeness. It was cold, and he was wet; the least she could offer was a warm place to wait.
Four scoffed dismissively. "I don't need your help. I'll handle it myself."
Tris felt her patience waning as his hostility continued. She had always been polite and kind towards him, and his sharp response felt undeserved.
"Fine," Tris retorted, her frustration evident in her voice. "You can be sleeping in the hallway before the superintendent arrives, but don't get angry at me tomorrow when I had offered to help. I've been nothing but nice to you."
With those words, Tris unlocked her apartment door and entered, leaving Four to deal with his own troubles. She couldn't shake the bewilderment at Four's sudden change in demeanor, but she refused to let it ruin her evening.
As she settled into her apartment, Tris couldn't help but mull over the bizarre encounter with Four. She had barely known him for more than a week, and in that time, their interactions had ranged from pleasant to puzzling. Today's hostility was a stark departure from their previous exchanges.
She decided to put the encounter behind her and focus on unwinding. Tris turned on some soothing jazz music, the soft melodies filling her cozy living room. She turned the oven on and kicked off her shoes, sinking into her favorite armchair, appreciating the familiarity and comfort of her own space.
After about 10 minutes when her oven was finally at the desired temperature, she stood up to place her food in the oven. Then, there was a knock on her door.
Bailey eagerly walked over to the door, wagging his tail, and Tris peeped through the peephole to see who it was. She was surprised to be met with Four's face, a small part of her wanting to leave him, but he looked so defeated, and it was just Tris's nature to help others.
She opened the door, and Four looked trembling. "I'm sorry; you are right. I called the super, and he said that he is already finished for the day, and he hung up when I started yelling at him." He smiled sheepishly at Tris. "Could I maybe wait at your place while I call around to see if someone else can come over to fix it?"
Tris opened the door further for him and nodded. "Of course." Bailey happily walked over to Four and lay himself on his back, begging Four to rub his belly, which he complied.
"I was just about to put some dinner in the oven. I assume that you haven't eaten either?" Four shook his head. "You can take a shower if you want, and I might have some baggy clothes you can borrow. You don't want to stay in those wet clothes; you could get sick."
"Thanks," he gave her a small smile. While Tris put the food in the oven, Four was scrolling through his phone, desperately trying to find an open locksmith, but it seemed that he had to wait until the next day. He looked up when he saw Tris place a towel, sweatpants, and a T-shirt in front of him. "It's the biggest clothes I have."
As four went to shower tris set the table for them and made sure that bailey was fed, that dog could eat a bag full of kibble and still act like he hadn't eaten in weeks. From the moment Four exited the bathroom, Tris couldn't help but notice the very snug fit of her t-shirt on him. It clung to his well-defined frame, emphasizing the contours of his strong arms.
Tris raised an eyebrow with a sly grin, "Careful, Four. My shirt might file a complaint for stretching and straining."
Four looked down at the shirt, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Well, it's a testament to your excellent choice in clothing," he replied, his tone light. "But I promise to be gentle with it."
Later, as they sat down to dinner, Four couldn't help but compliment Tris on her cooking skills. "Tris, this meal is amazing," he said, taking a bite of the dish she had prepared. "You're a fantastic cook."
Tris smiled, pleased by his praise. "Thank you, Four. I enjoy cooking, and it's always nice to share a meal with someone."
As they enjoyed their meal, Four spoke up, his tone sincere, "Tris, I'm sorry for my behavior earlier. You were right; you were just trying to help, and I was being a jerk." He sighed. "And I'm also sorry for the other day. I might have overreacted a bit."
"A bit? I thought you wanted to murder me," Tris countered teasingly.
Four gave a small smile. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I might get a little too overprotective over Ella."
"I get it, and I'm sorry for not asking permission to take a photo. I won't do it again. I wasn't thinking. My apologies."
"All forgiven," they smiled at each other.
"And I hope I'm not overstepping, but I saw a chocolate cake in the fridge. Is that supposed to be your dessert, or were you saving it for a special occasion?" Four asked with hungry eyes.
Tris laughed. "That's why you apologized, you just wanted my chocolate cake!" Tris laughed. "I actually made it for tomorrow as my grandmother was supposed to come to visit, but unfortunately, she had to cancel at the last minute," Tris explained while walking over to the fridge. "So dig in."
Four didn't hesitate for a second before he took a bite, and within seconds, he had finished his whole piece. Tris just laughed while Four looked at her smugly.
"Well, thank your grandmother for me! I wouldn't mind having this every day. I know Ella would love this; she is actually staying with her grandmother for the night," Four revealed.
"So you have a child-free night and decided to spend it in the hallway?" Tris teased.
Four laughed and looked at his phone again, worry in his eyes. Tris spoke up, "You can crash the night here; I have a spare bedroom you can stay in there. I'll work from home tomorrow morning, so you can wait here while the super comes."
Four looked grateful. "Thanks, Tris, I really appreciate it. And maybe we can start our morning run again?"
Tris looked surprised; Four's closed-off persona was slowly breaking down. "Really, you missed our runs?"
Four shrugged. "Yeah, I liked them; they clear my head before the day." Tris nodded; that's also why she ran before her workday. "And what can I say, Bailey and I bonded," Four winked while patting Bailey.
After their delicious dinner and chocolate cake, Four was insistent on helping clean up. He began gathering the dirty dishes and taking them to the sink.
Tris protested, "You don't have to do that, Four. I cooked, so it's only fair that I clean up."
But Four shook his head with a smile. "No, Tris, you cooked, shared your food, let me shower at your place, and sleep here, and it's only fair that I help with the dishes. It's the least I can do after all your hospitality."
Tris couldn't argue with his reasoning, and she appreciated his willingness to pitch in. So, they worked together, washing and drying the dishes, chatting and laughing as they did so. It was a simple yet enjoyable moment, one that solidified the newfound friendship between them.
Tris shook her head; she had a surprisingly fun evening with Four, and she was grateful that they had a talk and that they were on good terms now.
Once the dishes were done, Four suggested, "How about a short walk for Bailey? He must be eager to stretch his legs."
Tris nodded, "That's a great idea. Bailey loves his walks."
They leashed up Bailey, who was practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect of going outside.
After a leisurely stroll where they made some small talk tris had learned that four was a single father and that he had lived in Los Angeles and new York before moving back to Chicago. Tris did notice that he wasn't very keen on talking too much about himself but she appreciated the small details that he did share with her. She revealed to him that she had also lived in her new York and that her family was still living there.
When they got home from their evening walk, she pointed Four towards the spare bedroom, and they said goodnight.
Lying in bed, Tris couldn't stop thinking about the evening. It had been quite a surprise, going from Four's initial unfriendly attitude to a deep conversation and a friendly atmosphere.
She found Four interesting. He seemed tough on the outside, but there were moments when he showed his true self. His dedication to his daughter Ella had touched her, and his willingness to apologize and make up for his behavior was unexpected.
The memory of seeing Four, wearing her too-small T-shirt, still made her blush. She noticed his strong body and his kindness to bailey.
She sighed softly and let her mind wander. Despite the initial tension, she felt content. Tris had enjoyed their evening together and looked forward to more interactions with Four in the future.
The next morning, Tris was making breakfast for them when Four walked into the living room. He looked very happy, and his eyes immediately lit up when he saw pancakes and bacon. "Well, that's a very welcome good morning," he said, his morning voice turning Tris's cheeks pink. He looked very handsome in her too-small t-shirt, and Tris caught herself blushing at the memory of running into Four the night before, she couldn't help but recall how awkward the encounter had been. Not only had she collided with him while wearing nothing more than his oversized t-shirt, but she had also noticed a few more intriguing details.
She remembered the moment when she had crashed into him, wearing nothing but boxers, and her hand had unintentionally brushed against his firm chest. It was impossible to ignore the well-built physique. The warmth of his skin, the solidness of his muscles—it had left an unexpected impression on her. Tris quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks warming even further at the memory.
And then there was the tattoo. In the dim light of her apartment, she had caught a glimpse of the intricate design covering his entire back. Even though it had been difficult to make out the details, she had been drawn to it, the allure of the artistry and mystery it held. It was a brief glimpse, but it had left an indelible mark in her mind.
Tris shook her head, trying to dispel those thoughts. She couldn't believe she was dwelling on these details, especially after the awkwardness of the previous night. She wondered if Four had been equally embarrassed by the encounter. It had been an unexpected and unusual situation for both of them, to say the least.
She shook her head, trying to shake those thoughts off, not trying to embarrass herself. "Your clothes are out of the dryer, and I put them in the bathroom for you with a fresh towel."
Tris laughed at him when he immediately ravished his pancakes, and she started a second batch. "I also called the super for you, and he will be here in 10 minutes."
Four looked shocked. "How the hell did you manage that? It's not even 8 o'clock; he was a complete asshole to me."
Tris laughed. "That's the power of kindness, Four." She had always been on good terms with everyone in her building, and whenever there was a problem, they rushed to help her, and vice versa. Tris slid a Tupperware box over to him. "Give him a piece of my chocolate cake, and he'll be your friend for life," she pushed a bigger box to him. "And one for you and Ella, and don't eat it all!" she teased.
Four looked guilty. "Tris, you really are a saint. And no promises, haha."
Tris couldn't help but smile. It seemed that their newfound friendship was blossoming, and she was glad they had put their differences behind them. It was shaping up to be another memorable day.