Dauntless Brothers

[Chapter 28] Explanations and Regrets.

The moment she hears me call her name, she picks up speed and starts running. I do too. It brings an old TV show to my mind, Tom and Jerry.

In a matter of seconds I catch up to her and take hold of her arm, bringing us both to a halt.

She squirms under my hand and screams. "Let go of me!"

I spin her around to face me and say. "I will after  you tell me what's going on."

"You should know that better than even me."

Now, I'm even more confused. I loosen my grip on her and she takes the opportunity to pull it away. She's rubbing it as if I hurt her. Which I never would.

"What's gotten into you?" I ask her.

She gives a small laugh. "What's gotten into me? May I ask you the same question?"

I know that she's trying to play tough but she's human after all. Behind the wall of anger I know that she's breaking down. Just the thought makes me want to take her in my arms and hold her close to me.

I hold out a hand and say. "Look. I just want to help you. I lo..." She stops me before I can finish speaking.

"Don't. Just don't." She starts to whimper and I know that I was right.

"I love you, Tris. I really do." I assure her.

"Don't ever say that to me again!" With this she sprints down the corridor. In an instant I know where she's headed. I catch up to her just as she's about to go into her apartment.

She tries to close the door, but I stick my foot in it. She tries forcing it to shut.

"Go away!" She cries.

I hate to see her so hopeless but I need answers, right now. I push open the door, go in and close it behind me.

Tris is at the other corner of the room, with her hands on the back of a couch.

Tears are streaming down her face. "Why are you so keen on hurting me?" She asks softly.

The voice makes my insides melt.

"Hurt you?" Tris, I would never hurt you." I mean every word I say.

"Then why did you lie to me?" She sniffs.

"I never lied to you." I tell her.

"You just did. For the second time." She says.

I sigh and ask. "Can you please explain what's going on?"

She stares at me in disbelief. "Tobias, stop acting dumb!"

"I'm not acting! I promise when I say that I don't know what you're talking about!" I didn't mean to raise my voice but I just did.

She stares at me for a few minutes and then goes off somewhere. In no time she's back and throws a ball of paper at me, which hits me on the chest and then comes to rest at my feet.

I crouch down and open up the paper. What's written make my eyes widen in shock. No wonder Tris didn't want to talk to me.

It says:

Tris.

No matter what Tobias tells you about his feeling for you. None of them are true because firstly, he has a crush on Kate and secondly since she turned out to be a lesbian, he's using you. Take my advice and stay away from him. There are better people than him out there.

I'm too shocked to speak till Tris asks. "Well?"

I stand up and ask her. "Who gave you this?"

"I found it in my locker." She replies.

"You believed this person? Does that mean that you don't trust me?"

"What made me believe him was the part about you and Kate. The look on your face when you used to look at her is undeniable." She tells me.

I decide to come clean. "Look. Here's the truth. Yes, I used to have a crush on her. That's it. But that crush ended when we talked for the first time after I took the beating. After that I've always loved you. You've been the one all along. Besides in case you've forgotten she's lesbian."

"And you think that I'm one too?" She asks.

"No! I don't. Like I said at the Chasm. Don't for a second think that." I tell her.

"Alright. Fine. Say that I believe you. But who would want to cause trouble for us?" She asks.

She has a point. But...

No one knows about my crush on Kate.

No one except a leader is allowed to access to Initiate's fears.

And someone who wants Tris too.

All these facts point towards one person.

"Eric."

@maurcharlotte came up with the name for the chapter after reading the previous one. Thank You for doing that :)