Chapter 67 - Here Tonight

And I don't wanna go

We can just stay here in this minute

Lose all track of time

Let the world spin without us for a while

[Here Tonight; Brett Young]

Eric

My mind is playing catch up and trying to process the events of tonight. It seems surreal what just happened. It feels too much like one of those dreams that haunted me for so long before she came along.

When I closed my eyes in a moment of pleasure…I began to truly believe what we were in the middle of doing was all just a dream. I fully expected that instead of being in the middle of fulfilling a fantasy with Kat in my arms…instead of that…I would open them back up only to find the faceless form that's always taunted me with images of everything I could never have.

I was also absolutely sure that when I did wake up…I would once again be alone with that space beside me cold as it's always been in the past after one of those nightmares. So, I kept my eyes closed for a moment longer while sending up internal prayers that wouldn't be the case. When I finally made myself open them again, I felt overwhelmed with emotions at seeing my angel looking back at me.

Even now when it's over and she's still in my arms…a smile on her lips, a sheen of sweat covering her body making it seem like she's glowing softly, her eyes all heavy-lidded and sated…that feeling lingers inside me. I can't stop looking at her as we recover and enjoy being with each other again.

The minutes tick by with neither of us moving or speaking. The more time that passes without my worst fears coming true, and she's still here, the more I feel okay with relaxing a little until there's a growing sense of contentment in my chest.

'This is how it should be,' I can't help thinking to myself. 'This is what it will be like as soon as initiation is finally fucking over and we won't have to spend a night apart again. No more sleepless nights wondering how she's doing and if she's safe because she'll be next to me where she belongs.'

But…it's this thought that's keeping me from being able to fully relax. Because I know there's still just so much shit that needs to be done to get Kat through initiation. There are things we need to talk about, and things I need to make sure she knows how to do for those times I can't be there to protect her.

It seems like everytime I turn around something else needs to be added to the list, or moved up in priority. For instance, training her on how to handle hand to hand combat with an armed person.

Before the attack in the dorm I hadn't planned on bringing that up until near the end of her initiation. Possibly even delaying it until after it was over, since I hadn't expected her to need it. Now, that's all I can fucking think about.

'How close did she come to being the person that was attacked with a knife instead of it being Edward? If that was what they did to him, what was in store for her had they succeeded in getting her out of the fucking dorm?'

The fact that I couldn't answer those questions (and that the person or people responsible are walking free to strike again) is driving me insane. It's also driving me to start up our one on one training time again as soon as possible.

I don't plan to take it easy on Kat. I can't take it easy on her...not when I have this gut feeling that the attack wasn't a random one-off kind of thing. There are too many threats both known and unknown. Of course, I already know Jeanine's after her. I knew that from the first day. However, based on the few comments Kat's made about Marcus Eaton he's now on my radar big time.

Something is bound to happen again and if I can't be there to stop it, then I'm damn sure going to make sure Kat can at the very least hold her own until I can get there.

Despite the instinct driving me toward that end…I also have a part of me that's unsure about carrying through with my plans. This is mostly because of how intense and mixed up my emotions have been since the attack and it completely goes against my nature. Because of this, I've been struggling to not only carry through but it's also the reason I haven't even brought the subject up with either Chase or Zach.

'That's going to change when I finally tell them in the morning and I already know I'm going to catch hell about it.' I think, already dreading that conversation but knowing I can't let them change my mind.

I sigh softly then close my eyes as Kat turns more towards me and puts her hand on my chest. She nuzzles her nose against me while making the most adorable fucking noise of contentment, almost like a purr. But it brings me back around me and outside my own head. She makes it hard for me to focus on anything other than her in moments like these.

If I'm being totally honest with myself, I'm more than fucking okay not thinking about anything else right now. I've spent far too much time doing nothing but thinking about all of that shit. Morning will come much sooner than I would like, and with it plenty of time to worry some more.

It lapses into quiet for a few blissful moments before the peace is broken. I hear her inhaling loudly, and it already has me tensing just from the tone of that breath.

"We need to talk, Eric." She says with a slightly wavering and timid voice; obviously feeling reluctant about bringing this up.

But she's right, of course, we do need to talk. I just can't bring myself to get into all that shit right now. Thoughts racing in my mind, doubts circling around the less than pleasant ways a conversation between us could go.

'I can't do this…not when there's a very good chance I'll fuck things up.' I frown, taking a second to formulate a response then reach for her hand that's on my chest.

"We do," I mumble with a nod. I need more time to think, to process and analyze so that I can go into things with a clear mind. The question is how can I accomplish that without looking like a complete coward?

I squeeze her hand and let it go as a smirk forms on my lips and ideas run through my mind. "But not right now. I believe it just struck midnight, kitten."

I don't give her time to think much less react before I get us off the bed then playfully put her over my shoulder and carry her to the bathroom.

She doesn't protest when I pull her into the shower with me, she even looks like she's anticipating what I might have in store for her. If she only knew that I have zero plans to do anything more than clean her up and make sure I didn't hurt her too much.

There might be some serious teasing, maybe even getting her off a few more times while I'm at it...but we won't have sex again so soon after her first time.

Hopefully that will be enough to tire her out and stall the inevitable conversation hanging over our heads.

**** Worth Fighting For ****

It's subtle at first. Just a bit of shifting beside me and the covers rustling. Not enough to truly draw me out of my sleep but it's enough to start the process of waking me up. I blame too many sleepless nights and my body having simply reached its limit for not being able to wake up right away.

It isn't until the bed shifts and a decided drop in temperature hits me that I recognize it for what it is. I'm already reaching out for her before my eyes are even opened and when they do my brain finally registers that Kat was sneaking out of bed.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" I growl out as I make contact with her, completely intent on dragging her ass back into bed with me.

Her eyes are wide, almost fearful for a second, like a haunting shadow that fades away before it can really take root. I know part of that fear is a reaction to my scowl and angry tone, but I also know it's mostly about whatever's been going on with her.

Still…it doesn't stop me from pulling her back beside me where she belongs and then covering her body with mine to make sure she stays there.

I look down on her as she swallows and takes a shaky breath. "You've said before we have to be careful, Eric. I…I can't keep staying out of the dorm all night, especially since there are bed checks now."

"So you were just going to leave without saying one goddamn word to me?" My angry scowl hasn't lessened. If anything it's worse.

"I don't want to leave, Eric." She replies immediately, frowning and shaking her head slightly.

"Well, you could have fucking fooled me," I mutter darkly and start sit up in the bed to run a hand through my hair. I know part of me is being unreasonable and petulant right now, but it's hard not to feel that way when it seems like she's been so damn eager to leave since our shower.

I feel her following me, going to her knees beside me and reaching out.

"I don't, though." She protests while putting a hand to the side of my face and directing it towards her. I can't resist, but I'm feeling too hurt to do anything other than glare at her. "I want to be here, more than you know. I've missed you so much, Eric, but as much as I miss you and would love nothing better than to stay right here...I also have to be there."

"Chase will cover for us, Kat." My scowl lessens and I lean a little into her touch.

She sighs and nods, while biting her lower lip in that way she has when she's trying to stop herself from saying something. It's usually when she knows it's going to piss me off or upset me.

I growl in resignation before reaching up and using my thumb to tug it free. "Say what you're thinking."

She sighs and lets her hands drop into her lap then looks down at them. "I know he can…that he has in the past…but I don't want to risk getting either of you in trouble. You guys have already done so much to try and take care of me or keep me safe…and it's just not fair to either of you or a good idea to keep taking unnecessary risks."

Despite wanting to protest, to deny her words or vent my frustration I'm feeling at the moment…I stay silent, processing what's she said, how she's said it and watching her expression. She's looking at me through her lashes, gauging how I'm handling what she's said so far…even while something else is still lingering in there in her eyes. I get the feeling that if I don't react well to this, that she's not about to say whatever else she's thinking or feeling right now.

This also gives me the time I need to think rationally about what she's saying. Once again, she's not wrong in pointing out that we can't keep pushing our luck, and I can't argue against that reasoning. So I know I won't try…even if it kills me. I also don't plan on letting her go right away, especially without finding out what else she has to say.

"Okay," I take a measured breath and nod while replying to her. "You're right. I did say we need to be careful…and while I think we would be fine if you stayed tonight…if you're just so determined on insisting…"

"I am. I have to, Eric." She interrupts me with an urgent whisper, still with that same wary tone.

I calmly nod then tilt my head while looking at her. "So you've said several times tonight." I try not to seethe out the words as I remember just how many times she's said she can't stay all night, five in total, and how each time I tried and apparently failed to distract her.

So obviously…there's something deeper going on here and I need to figure out what that is.

"Now, how about you tell me why? Besides the facts we've already agreed on…why is this really so important to you?"

She takes another ragged breath and lets it out in a sigh. "It's hard to explain…to put into words, Eric." She must see my scowl returning when I think she's going to try to use that to excuse her from having to actually talk to me…because she rushes on. "I will try…I just don't know how it's going to sound to you. How you're going to feel afterwards."

'Well, that isn't a great start.' I bitterly think in my mind while gesturing for her to continue.

"Remember when you said that part of the reason you wanted to wait was because you didn't want us to have doubts about each other?"

"Yeah," I draw out slowly, trying not to overreact or jump to conclusions.

"Well, I think I understand why that was important to you even though I didn't at the time. Because I feel sort of the same way about everything that's going on right now. Admittedly, for me, it's more about how I'm handling initiation."

I let out a breath of relief when I realized she isn't regretting what happened here tonight, until what she said registers and it leaves me confused. Something I don't bother to hide so she stumbles over trying to explain.

'Tries'…being the operative word. She starts to say something then stops and backtracks and tries again, only to stop one more time but not even attempt to finish either of the previous thoughts out loud. Which is frustrating because I can see her doing it in her head, sounding it all out but deciding she won't say the goddamn words, for whatever reason.

I do get the gist of it, though, from her broken and half-formed thoughts.

"So, basically…you feel like you're too comfortable with me. That I make you feel too safe?" I can't even stop myself from sounding incredulous and disbelieving considering recent events.

"Yes," She nodded with a smile and in relief that I understood that jumbled explanation.

"Okay, you've lost me. How is feeling safe with me ever a bad thing?" I ask, completely perplexed, slightly angry and a little hurt all at once.

She gasps and gets up on her knees as she reaches for me. "It's not bad, Eric. That's not what I was trying to say at all. I'm sorry…Oh, dammit! I'm making a mess of this…it's exactly what I was afraid of doing." She babbles in a hushed broken tone.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her against my chest as I swallow everything down. "No you're not. Just say what you're thinking and feeling, Kat, then we can go from there. Okay?"

She nods in agreement with a sigh and shrugs, but it takes a few seconds for her to actually start speaking.

"What I'm thinking and feeling is all a mess. I'm a mess…and I don't like how this feels at all, Eric. I can't stand how weak it's making me feel, not being able to handle things better than I have been. I understand that there are…'exceptions', as Zach put it…in my case." She says carefully, slowly, eyeing me as she says this before continuing on. "Circumstances that make me more vulnerable to the entire fear sim process. I've tried, and have mostly been able to accept that I need the extra help I've been getting to deal with things. But I'm having a hard time accepting the guilt about me getting that kind of help while so many of the others have no one to turn to."

I start to protest immediately but she pulls away and looks at me again, that fierce and fiery look in her again stops me in my tracks.

"I know you're going to say that's my Abnegation talking but it's not, Eric. It's me…all of me…but especially my Dauntless. If this was my Abnegation side talking then all I would be focused on is how everyone else is feeling. I know that there are people for some of the initiates to turn to. Like my friends, they know they have each other. My sister has…"

Kat stumbles to a stop at the mention of her sister, her brow wrinkled and worry in her eyes. "Tris has me and the others too." She takes a breath and releases it, looking away from me. "Even though I know she isn't likely to open up to me like we would have to each other in the past before…before we grew apart."

She lets out a shuddering breath, shakes her head and then looks back at me again, her eyes determined and her chin squared.

"But that's not what this is about right now. I need to know I can stand on my own two feet here. When initiation is over…when I've made my place here…I need to know that it's because I fought for it with everything I have. I don't want to look back and wonder if I would have made it without having someone holding my hand the entire time."

"Because of this feeling…this need really…I've come to understand why you were so worried about either of us having doubts later on and why you wanted to keep your distance until after I finished initiation. " She huffs and rushes on. "At the same time…I don't want to keep away anymore than I did before either. It's selfish, and I don't care…but I refuse to give up any of what we have, even though I know it's probably the right thing to do." She looks at me, the shine of tears just gathering in her eyes before she quickly looks away again. "I don't know what to do, Eric. I want to stay…but I can't keep running away from this anymore. I just…I can't…"

Kat stops and makes a sound, part distressed and part frustration, then grabs at her hair, fisting it and on the verge of pulling it out.

"Hey," I reach out and cup the side of her face, my tone soft and I hope enough to calm her. "It's okay" She starts to shake her head a little but I take a firmer grip of her chin and keep on going. "I get it, Kat. I really do…and I'm not angry or anything."

I feel my gut wrench as she flashes hopeful…but still very wary, unbelieving eyes at me. Reminding me of the loss of trust between us from both sides. I lean forward slowly, and press my lips to her forehead as I breathe in and out slowly. I can feel her doing the same with me, her body relaxing some of the tension that she showed up here carrying. It's never really gone away, but bit by bit I can see it easing in her.

I pull back enough to let her see my eyes, knowing that's seems to be what she needs most from me.

"There's a lot of things that I'm feeling right now, Kat." And isn't that a fucking understatement, "...but none of it is anger at you. The situations that have come up? Definitely. Do I hate that you're right? Fuck yeah, I do. I hate having to keep away from you in the best of times, but with things that have happened recently…you're being in the dorm is driving me insane. I don't like not being in control, and lately there's been a lot of that going on." I growl out and see her lips twitch a little at the edges, her eyes taking on a knowing, almost wicked, expression.

I roll my eyes and sigh before continuing on. "Part of being Dauntless…especially being a leader…is knowing that the best way to control a situation is to be as prepared as you can be for anything that might happen. That's what I've tried to do with you, Kat. I might not be able to be there to protect you myself…but I can damn sure make sure you're prepared to do it."

"I know…and I can't tell you how much that's meant to me, Eric." She whispers softly and places her hand on my chest. "When I was saying I refuse to give anything up, I especially meant our mornings together. They mean so much to me, they always have. I've missed them just as much as being here with you like this."

"I wouldn't allow it, giving them up, even if you did feel otherwise." I reply with a soft smile for her, reaching out and cupping the side of her face then kissing her deeply for a few long minutes. I finally have to pull back with a sigh. "Fine. I'll call Zach and have him send Peter so you two can go back to the dorm…but only with certain conditions."

"Okay, like what?" Kat replies slowly and with a slight furrow in between her eyebrows.

"First of all…before I make the call to him, I'm going to teach you the codes to get into the apartment as well as how to set up the different modes on the door. I want you to be able to come here whenever you want to and not have to worry about finding one of us to let you in. I also want you to promise me that if you need someone…no matter when it is or where I am at the time…you'll come to me."

I had to swallow down the hurt that flared in me as I remembered the night of her nightmare and how it was Zach who helped her. I now know that she hadn't run to him, like I first assumed. Hell…she hadn't even been running to anyone…just away and Peter was the one who actually went and got Zach involved before me.

While that did make me feel somewhat better about those events, there was still something lingering that made me need to do this. To make it clear to her I want to and am here for her. Even if it's just offering her a place she can feel safe.

Another haunting shadow crosses over her eyes, just as brief as the one earlier. It's quickly replaced by what I'm hoping is the shine of happy tears as she nods her head and rolls her lips together before letting go with a soft exclamation of…

"Yes," then a hurried. "I promise, Eric."

"Thank you, Kat," I murmured and stroked the side of her face lightly with a thumb. "The second condition is that we're going to resume our normal morning routines with breakfast here, then going to the training room. I'm going to be starting something new…adding a few things…but we can talk about that, and whatever else, during breakfast."

She frowns and almost looks sullen for a second, which confuses and upsets me since she was just saying she missed our time together like that.

I'm about to say something when she looks at me straight on again with a determined look in her eyes and nods firmly. "I'm ready to get back to it, Eric."

So much is exchanged between us with so few words. Slowly, we're becoming able to read each other and communicate without having to say much at all. It's because of this, I know she has at least some idea that my plans for her training going forward are going to be even more intense than before. I also know that, while she might not be as eager for it as she has been in the past, she is still just as determined…if not more so.

"That's my girl," I breathe out then wrap her in my arms.

The tension in my body eases as I pull her even tighter to me and kiss her deeply. The temptation to keep her here tonight starts to creep back on me but I know I can't.

"If I don't let you go now, then I won't at all." I grumble out, reluctant to let her go but finally pull away.

Kat sighs but she follows me off the bed. It doesn't take either of us long to get dressed since we just pull back on the clothes we were wearing before after locating them on the bedroom floor.

As soon as we're both presentable I drag her out to the living room area with me and run her through opening the door with the main code, then teach her how to set the lockdown. She grouses a bit about it being a little overkill but overall she looks mostly pleased about being given what is essentially her own key to the apartment. It takes me another ten minutes before I declare she has them both down.

Admittedly, she had it down in the first two minutes, but I was dragging out every second of time with her that I could. Eventually…Zach had to be called. From his tone, I think he might have been expecting it because he quickly informed me Peter would be there to get her in just a few minutes.

"Remember, I'll be expecting you to be here at the time we normally start things off. No going to the dining hall for coffee or anything like that…you come right here." I remind her while I have her pulled against my chest for another kiss. Peter stands in the open doorway, eyes averted and looking uncomfortable as hell.

He makes an impatient shuffling gesture that has me glaring at him. Kat takes this distraction to slip out of my arms after she plants a quick kiss on my cheek.

"I will, Eric." She calls back to me with a smile, grabbing Peter by the arm and quickly dragging him away.

I stick my head out of the doorway, watching as they walk too close together for my liking, then growl warningly and loud enough that it has the punk jumping away from her

Kat shoots a glare over her shoulder at me, but I can see the edges of a smirk on her lips and I return it before I pull back reluctantly and slam the door closed. I turn to face my empty apartment…an emptiness that has my shoulders slumping in frustration.

I closed my eyes and let my head drop back, pointed at the ceiling. Despite the admittedly small amount of rest I got, not that even that was really enough, my mind is wired with no signs of stopping. A groan leaves me when I realize there's probably no getting back to sleep for me now.

"Dammit."

Kat

I can feel Peter's smirk as he walks beside me. The one he's been wearing since I stepped out of Eric's apartment. Actually…it's not really just a smirk…more like a combination of that and a frown. Just like when his eyes had widened in surprise when he saw me, there was also concern in them.

I'd like to pretend I don't know what the reason for his reaction might be, but unfortunately I'm all too aware of why. Even though I hoped he wouldn't notice my state or find the need to comment on it, I knew that was wishful thinking. I tense up when he shifts, raises an arm to cover his mouth and makes a clearing the throat sound that resembles a muffled laugh too much for my liking.

"What?" I snarl as I snap my head to glare at him

"I'm just wondering…how much 'fun' are we supposed to have had? I mean, I admit I'm not exactly an expert in this…but I don't think there's going to be any hiding those marks on your neck and shoulders…"

He trails off and is looking at me pointedly.

His attention specifically on where my tank top leaves all those marks he referred to clear as day. Most of them are tiny red streaks while others are a cross between a hickey and a bite. There's no way they can be mistaken for anything other than what they are. Eric had well and truly marked his territory this time and wasn't even trying to hide it. The brief glance I got of them in the mirror let me know that there would be no covering them like I had before.

"Why Peter Hayes," I turn my expression from a glare to a fake, sickly sweet smile with a tone to match. "A gentleman would never kiss and tell. Oh that's right," I pause and let my expression fall as flat as my tone. "I forgot who I'm talking to."

Peter rolls his eyes and doesn't immediately come back at me with anything. I think I see his lips twitch before he shrugs and keeps walking. His lack of a retort is unnerving, and has me eyeing him critically and with suspicion.

My scrutiny doesnt give me anything to be suspicious about. Not really. Granted, right now he seems more relaxed than I have ever seen him before. He seems…happy.

"So, how much fun were you having?" I playfully ask, with a smile twitching on my lips.

Unfortunately it's a smile that never gets to be completed. Peter's expression goes from content to dark and angry as his head whips over to look at me and he stops in his tracks.

"What the hell do you mean by that? How would I have time for anything besides keeping track of your ass and watching your back?" He snarls at me, his cheeks flushed red. I can't tell if it's anger or embarrassment...but I think it's both.

The abrupt change and tone has me stumbling over my feet and words in my shock.

"I…I didn't mean anything by it. I was just…"

"Just forget it!" He snarls, interrupting what I was saying as well as my gesture of reaching out to him. He jerks his arm away and starts to walk again.

I stand there for a few seconds, blinking and trying to catch up to what just happened before I finally start to walk as well. I follow along behind him, keeping my distance to allow him time to cool down. The entire time I'm kicking myself.

I hadn't meant my words to be cruel or taunting. I truly was trying to kid around with him. The thing is I should have known better. Even though all I really have are my suspicions and some things his dad alluded to on visiting day, it's enough to let me know Peter is struggling with something and that I shouldn't have been insensitive to that.

Although he might be having the same kind of issues as my friend, he isn't Lynn…and I need to remember that. As much as I want to help him, we are more uneasy allies than friends right now, forced together by circumstances, and it's not my place to assume or interfere.

Peter slows his pace enough that I come even with him. I see him glance out of the side of his eye at me, and that some of the tension in his shoulders is gone but it's still obvious there's still tension between us as we walk in silence.

Still feeling guilty, I make a decision I hope I won't regret and decide to openly talk about something I haven't with anyone else besides Zach.

"Clowns," I choke out.

Having to force myself to even say the word makes it come out broken and garbled so it's no surprise when Peter looks over at me all confused.

"Clowns?" He repeats with his forehead all scrunched up. "What about them?"

"That's what's in my fear." Again, I'm having to force out the words, with my fists clenched at my sides. I know my face has to be as white as my knuckles right now as I start to fight my apparent natural instinct to fight against the damn thing even if one isn't even really here at the moment.

Peter comes to a full stop and faces me. I give him credit…he didn't immediately start laughing or make a smartass comment. He at least had the decency to wait a minute before he chuckled darkly, shaking his head then huffing and looked at me in disbelief, I'm guessing because he thought I was trying to joke with him.

"You're being serious…aren't you?" He asks me incredulously.

"Believe me when I say I wish I weren't." My shoulders slump dejectedly.

"So let me get this straight. You had a fear so bad that coming out of it has you putting Four on his ass. Not only that…but it took a feared and skilled leader...who also just happens to be your boyfriend…struggling to restrain you back until he finally has to literally knock you out each and every time? You're seriously telling me that this fear was of…fucking clowns?"

"Yeah…but this clown is not like some clown from a children's book." A shudder runs through me when a brief image of it pops into my mind and I decide right then and there not to even attempt to describe it. "I don't understand why people like those things. Personally I think all clowns are evil little shits and they all need to die in a fire." I seethe out, crossing my arms over my chest and looking away in a pout.

He makes a choking sound that causes me to look up at him and I see him fighting the laughter so hard right now. My lips twitch a little. I admit…I can see a bit of humor in the entire situation from someone else's point of view. And this was exactly what I hoped might happen with my revelation to make up for my earlier callousness.

"I kind of go crazy in there even when it's over, don't I? How did he look the first time?"

"Like a wildcat handed his ass to him." He answers with a smirk and a shrug.

Our humor is short lived as we hear voices in one of the corridors and realize we need to get moving again. Though the awkwardness is gone, I can tell something is still on his mind but I stay quiet and let him make the fist move to speak again.

"Speaking of your boyfriend and the oh so feared leader…he's going to have to get over his 'absolutely no touching' policy if he insists on leaving visible reminders of him having claimed his territory. The two of us together is already a barely believable scenario as it in the fact we aren't touching when anyone else is around to see but then supposedly going off to get nasty enough to leave those kinds of a mark is a big stretch."

I can't help laughing as his nose wrinkles up and he looks strained having to say the words and what they insinuate. I have to admit though, I'm blushing just as much as he's trying not to show.

"Well…" I draw out slowly, seriously thinking about the situation. "We could just try telling them to mind their own fucking business." I grumble out, while chewing on my bottom lip.

"Yeah, right!" Peter barks out a laugh and shakes his head. "I don't know if you've noticed this or not, stiff…but Dauntless could give both Candor and Erudite a run for their money in regards to their love for gossiping."

"That's true, I guess. Dammit!" I sigh out in a groan. I can't deny it especially when I've been the subject of the rumor mill here in my short time so far.

It's quiet for a few seconds as we are both seriously thinking about the situation until finally I just give up in exasperation.

"To hell with it!" I throw my hands up in the air as I shout. "You can just spout off that this particular stiff is apparently a lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets."

Once again Peter stops in his tracks, this time he's looking at me with his jaw hanging open in shock for a few seconds before he snaps it shut with a click. Then a smile starts to bloom on his face and he looks me over, his eyes glinting in amusement and something else before he starts laughing.

"Stiff….I don't know why…but I'm continuously surprised by you. No offense…but you are the very definition of a freak at times." He says this, shaking his head with no trace of a sneer at all.

It wasn't all that long ago he would have said this as an insult or to try and goad me, but that seems to be in the past now. Whatever it is that's happening between us…being allies or pseudo-friends…seems to be going beyond the uneasy truce it had been.

"Seriously though, I'm going to need to at the very least hold your hand. Otherwise shit will be said…and I don't want that to happen again." He breaks in after we've started walking again.

"Unless the shit they're saying is what we planned on." I inform him as I slide closer, grip his arm and drape it across my shoulders.

"You must really want to get me killed." He sighs but doesn't move away.

He also remains a bit stiff, making him look anything but my supposed boyfriend who I had just been off doing naughty things with. Luckily we didn't really need that charade because we hardly passed anyone and those we did weren't the least bit interested in us.

In fact we were in the home stretch, with the dorm door in sight before anyone really noticed us. Chase was leaning against the wall looking tired and disgruntled. As soon as he looked our way, Peter dropped his arm and moved away from me.

I tried not to be offended that he let out an audible sigh of relief at the same time.

"There you two are," Chase drawled, scowling at Peter before turning to look at me and walking forward a few steps. "I was just about to do bed checks when Zach said you two were on your way back here. It's lucky you two weren't the only ones out of their dorms tonight."

"Who else was out?" I ask worriedly…wondering if my sister picked tonight for a late night visit to a certain trainer.

"Apparently Mar and Uriah had the same idea you two had." Chase smiles but it's tight as I watch him taking me in before looking away with a frown. "I was going to have them show up for a run in the morning but will have to let them go with a warning unless I call you two out too."

Neither of us dare to say anything and finally Chase sighs and rolls his eyes. "Get on in there then."

"Thanks, Chase," I mumble as I scamper to the door.

Maybe it's the stress I've been feeling or the relief I'm feeling from having somewhat made up with Eric…but I stumble into the dark dorm almost drunkenly and giggling.

Peter follows behind me, shushing me and sounding exasperated as he has to help me keep upright enough to make it to my bed. Not trusting me to get into it by myself he even pull back the covers and all but shoves me under them. For some reason this makes me laugh even harder.

"Sleep it off, stiff," Peter whispers (orders/pleads), which is practically a goodnight coming from him.

"Goodnight, Peter," I call to him in a soft sing-song voice as he hurriedly moves away from me and towards his bed.

"Get a room," I heard muttered from somewhere in the room.

"We did," I snark back before I have time to think about what I'm saying and hear Peter sort of groan and his bed creak.

It goes quiet. Whoever was up when we came in must have fallen back to sleep. I snicker a little more before exhaustion seems to seep into my bones and I sink into the bed, then snuggle into the scratchy covers.

There's slightly less than four hours of sleep available to me and I know I'm going to need every second of it if Eric has what I think he has in store for me.