Learning to Let Them In | Fourtris

Chapter 22

Tris' POV

"Can I ask you a question?"

We both are now lying in my bed. After our embrace we both decided to lay down and relax. It was only about 3:45 so we still had an hour and 15 minutes before Tori was going to be back.

My head is on Tobias' chest and our hands lay interlocked on top of his stomach. My other hand is clutching the necklace around my neck while Tobias' other hand strokes my hair.

"Sure," I say.

"When you dye your hair...why black, blue, and gray?"

I hesitate for only a second.

"Blue was Caleb's favorite color. Dad's was gray. Mom's was black. When I decided to dye it I dyed it all those colors that way it'd be like I had a little piece of them whenever I went somewhere."

"Is that why your room is painted the same way?"

"Yeah."

It's silent for a little bit.

"Do you play the piano?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I just saw the piano in here and thought I'd ask."

I think for a minute.

"I used to play it a lot. I got it when I was 12. Birthday gift."

"Used to?"

I sigh.

"My mother taught me everything I needed to know before I started on my own. We used to do duets and I used to put on mini concerts for her and my family. It was sort of my mother's and I's thing. I haven't played since..."

I trail off, not completing the sentence. I feel him nod though, understanding how that sentence was supposed to end.

"Why do you keep it?"

"Memories, mostly. I thought about selling it, but when Tori and I moved I couldn't bring myself to do it. I actually painted it when we moved it here. It used to be white."

"Really? You did that?"

I nod again.

"Wow."

"What?"

"It looked like it was bought black. You did a damn good job."

I feel a light blush spread across my cheeks at the compliment and mumble, "Thanks."

I close my eyes and focus on his hands; one in my hair and the other interlocked with mine. My mind drifts to Haviland. What will it be like when we go back? If and when I see Hailey and Taylor, what will they do? Will they insult me like they used to do? Will they leave me alone? Will they feel guilty and apologize?

I extremely doubt the last possibility. I guess there's a chance it could happen. I can't see Hailey doing that I suppose, but I can see Taylor maybe doing that. She was always nicer than Hailey. After the first day I came back, she mostly left me alone while Hailey did the talking. I won't get my hopes up though. Yes, I hate them both. But it doesn't change the fact that they were my best friends once upon a time.

I wonder what school is like there now? Is it different without having someone to taunt and throw around? Or have they targeted someone new? Is Eric still king of the school? Is Hailey still the queen?

I wonder how Caleb's friends are. I never really knew how they took the news. I never saw them in the crowd of taunts thrown towards me each day. As far as I know, they all liked me. So they had no reason to take down what was once their best friend's little sister. They've graduated by now though. They would've graduated the year I left Haviland. I wonder where they are now and whether they went to nerd colleges like they always talked about? They probably did. That's all they ever talked about it seemed like.