Divergent UNIVERSITY ✅

chapter 11

Four and Tris make it back to the batting cages just in time to meet Brian. When they arrive, Four parks his motorcycle out of sight of the main road. He doesn't want anyone to see it sitting there. Brian gets out of his car and comes over to them."Would you two please come with me? We have something to talk about, but not here.""Where are we going?" Four asks."Just for a ride, we won't be gone long."Tris and Four get into the car, Tris in the front and Tobias in the back. The windows are so tinted in this car that no one would be able to see them in the car, especially in the back seat.After twenty minutes of driving, Brian starts talking."First, I want to start with the truth, my name isn't Brian James. My name is Brian O'Conner. I am a federal agent," he takes his badge out of his pocket and hands it to Tris. "I'm sorry that I've lied to you for so long, Tris. I have been undercover on a case involving college athletes. There have been several athletes from yours and other colleges in the area that have been taken advantage of by people getting them to sign falsified contracts that end up being for illegal services and recruiting. The NCAA has gotten involved and so has the FBI. Falsified contracts on college campuses fall under federal jurisdiction.""What does that have to do with us?" Four asks."Well, we have reason to believe that one of the kingpins of this operation is Marcus Eaton, your father. We know he has been involved in several instances of falsified documents involving college students. We also know that he has ruined several athletes' potential careers because of these documents and his recruiting practices. He managed to collect a significant amount of money from these people, promising services that were never rendered. The problem is that these people are afraid of coming forward now. We believe that he has threatened them.""What do you want us to do?" Four asks."I don't want Tris to do anything. She is clean and she has the Olympics to worry about. But we know that your father has something in the works for you and the NFL draft. We want you to go on record about the abuse that your father inflicted on you as a child and his constant involvement in your athletic affairs. We want to find a way to get to him through you. We are working closely with the NCAA to make sure that nothing that you do while under our employ will harm your standing. All we really want from you is for you to continue doing what you normally do, but we want you to wear a bug while you are in the training facility. It seems that is when he contacts you the most. We also want to put a tap on your phone.""How do you know about the abuse?" Four asks shocked."Four, I'm sorry but it's common knowledge. You may have been trying to hide what he did to you, but he wasn't. The only thing that kept him out of jail then was that you wouldn't come forward about it. You hid it, but his friends knew, your teachers had suspicions, as did your coaches. But they couldn't get the proof because you refused to show yourself to any of them."Brian pulls the car over and turns to look at Four, "I know this is a lot to ask. But he has ruined lives and he is going to ruin yours also. We know that you earned your spot in the NFL draft, he didn't make that happen. But what you don't know is that you were also being looked at by Major League Baseball, your father made those offers disappear because you have more earning potential in the NFL.""Wait, what? I was being looked at by the MLB? How did he make that go away?""What we know is that the offers were out there from several MLB teams to start off in the minors. He as your father turned those offers down in your name. That is falsifying information if you didn't know anything about it."Four's fury is evident even without Tris turning to look at him. She can feel his whole demeanor change."Hell no, I didn't know anything about it! The NFL draft isn't even a definite. Just because I'm eligible doesn't mean any team will take me. If there were offers for the minors, those are more likely to be solid offers."He thinks for a few moments, "I'll do whatever you need me to do to take down that son of a bitch. If he is doing this to me, I can only imagine what he's done to other athletes that he didn't know.""One other thing, I have no problem with you training with Tris, but she can't be in the training facility until this is taken care of. The NCAA, MLB, and NFL are aware of the situation, but the Olympic officials don't care. They will not tolerate any potential athletes being corrupted in any way. She has to keep her distance from Marcus. So you two can run together, you can go to the cages together, but she can't be seen in the training center if he is around.""Brian, wait. Don't I get a say in that? I trust Four," Tris says."I know you do. And what you two do on your own time is fine, but you can't go to the training center. Tris, you have to promise me. Even though I'm a federal agent I'm still invested in your career and your chance at the Olympics. And that is one other thing; no one can know who I am. I'm already taking a risk revealing myself to you both. I'm just Tris' trainer as far as anyone else in concerned. Four if you want to refer to me as your trainer also that is fine, but that is all. Brian James, personal trainer."They both agree and Brian starts driving back toward the campus again. Four's mind is reeling from all of this information about his father and what he has done to already take opportunities away from him. Now his comment about having things in the works for the draft makes sense. His father is planning something to get him drafted, even if it is just to get the signing bonus and get cut. Whatever it is, he is planning a big payout. He wants nothing more than to take his father out in any way possible.~oOo~Four and Tris get back on his motorcycle following their meeting with Brian. Four feels like his world is crashing down around him. Everything that he has ever worked for, all of the hours of blood, sweat, and tears could be lost because of the selfishness and greed of one man that has nerve to call himself Four's father. It was easy for Four to decide to help take down his father. The idea that this man intends to destroy Four's life for money was incentive enough for him to agree."Do we have to go back?" Tris asks him. "I had an idea.""What do you have in mind?" he asks her."Another drive, but we can take my car if you prefer. It's kind of far away.""No, we can take the motorcycle. Where do you want to go?"Tris gives him directions but doesn't give him specifics about where she is taking him. He trusts her though so they get back on his motorcycle and he starts in the direction that she told him to go. As they drive he can feel her pull her body nearer to his, hugging his waist tightly as they ride. He loves how she feels pressed up against him, even if it's just on the motorcycle.Almost an hour later Four is pulling up in front of a tattoo parlor. He parks the bike and Tris climbs off."This is my mother's tattoo parlor. When things are bothering me and I feel my world crashing, I get a tattoo. It helps me focus and clear my mind so that I can make good decisions. I thought that maybe, if you wanted to, it would help you to focus and clear your mind.""I don't know, Tris," he says nervously. "What if I can't find anything meaningful?""For this, I'll let you look in my mother's sketch book. I would almost be willing to guarantee that you'll find something there. She is an incredible artist.""What do you think I should get tattooed?""I was thinking that you start with your back. Cover the scars and create a masterpiece out of the wreckage of your childhood."He looks at her in astonishment. This girl that he has not even known for a week knows more about him than his oldest friends. She wants to help him wipeout those bad memories and change them into something wonderful.She takes his hand and pulls him into the tattoo parlor. Bud sits there with her mother waiting. Tris had texted her mother right before they left and asked her to stay there with Bud until they got there."Hi honey," her mother says. "And who do we have here?""Hi Mom, this is my friend Four. Four this is my mom. And this is Bud," she says gesturing toward Bud.Four reaches his hand out to Bud and shakes his hand."Hi Four, you can call me Natalie. What brings you two here?""Well Mom, Four is having a hard time right now and I wanted to share my way of dealing with things with him. At least let him think about it anyway. Could he look at the sketch book?""Sure," she says. She gets up and get the sketch book and hands it to Four."You look, I have an idea." Tris grabs paper and draws a claddagh design on a piece of paper. It is a heart held in hands with a crown on top of the heart. The hands and arms also form a heart."Mom can you do something like this for me?"He mother takes the paper and makes some minor adjustments to Tris' design to make it more uniform and interesting."Yeah I can do this, where do you want it?"Tris pulls off her shirt revealing her sports bra. She is so much bolder in this place. More than she is anywhere else. It doesn't faze her that Four is standing nearby. She points to her chest where her heart is, right below the ravens. She sits in the chair and her mother leans in, "Is this tattoo for him? I've never told you not to get any tattoo before, but if it is meant for him, then I'm going to advise against it.""No it isn't mom. It's about loyalty, that's all."He mother nods and agrees to the tattoo.Four can't believe that she just took her shirt off in the middle of a tattoo parlor in front of him. He can't help but look at her perfect form and watch as she gets tattooed by her mother.Bud comes up to him, "So what are you looking to get. Maybe I can help you figure something out.""I want to get my entire back covered." He pulls his shirt up revealing the scars on his back. Bud doesn't say anything, he takes in the image in front of him. "I can cover this. If you want something that big though, it needs to be something spectacular. I have been playing with a design for a while now," Bud says. "But I never thought it would be a tattoo."Bud brings out an enormous sketch book and opens it to reveal a spectacular design. Central to the image is a dragon that itself would cover a vast majority of his back. In the background are images of fire, death and destruction."Dragons represent a need for strength, courage, and fortitude. Dragons are also messengers of balance, and magic - encouraging us to tap into our psychic nature and see the world through the eyes of mystery and wonder." Bud explains. "The death and destruction behind the dragon represent what is being left behind, the dragon represents the future.""How long would something like this take?""If Natalie and I work together on this, we can get the outline done tonight. We will need you to come back probably twice to get the color and shading done.""Let's do it," Four says.Bud makes the transfer for the tattoo and applies it to Four's back. By the time he starts the outline, Natalie and Tris come over to see what is going on."Bud would you like some help with this?" Natalie asks."Yes, I was counting on it.""And what are we expecting to get done tonight?""Just the outline," Bud explains. "He will have to come back two more times for the coloring and shading probably."Tris sits in front of Four and takes his hand while her mother and Bud work on the outline.The four of them talk about sports and the Olympics and whatever other topics arise.Two and a half hours later the entire outline is done and Four is being wrapped so that the tattoo can heal."Come back in two days and we can get the coloring and some of the shading done."Tris hugs her mother and Bud. Four thanks them and the two of them walk out of the tattoo parlor."This was a really good idea," Four says."I thought you would appreciate it," Tris says smiling at him."Although I have one concern," Four says. "Will I be able to have you holding on to me from behind now?""Oh no, I didn't think about that. No I won't be able to sit behind you like that. I could probably have my mom or Bud take me back.""No, I have another idea. Climb on front.""I can't drive this!" Tris says panicked."You won't be. You will just be sitting in front of me as opposed to behind."Tris climbs on to the front of the motor cycle and Four climbs on behind her. He reaches around her and grabs hold of the handlebars. "Lean back into me and put your feet back on the foot holds."Tris does as instructed. She leans her body back into his. She can feel his heartbeat through his chest. She feels warm and safe in his arms. As they begin the long ride back to campus, she can't help but feel that she is falling for him. He is incredible and he is passionate, courageous, and loving.When they arrive back at the Phi Delta house, Four can't help but to feel a little sad that this night has to end. It's hard to believe that it was just a few hours ago that he kissed her cheek in the park. In that short amount of time they have shared so much. He doesn't want to take her home. He wants to spend the rest of the night with her, but he knows that isn't possible. Tomorrow is Friday and he has a very busy day of classes and football to get ready for the game on Saturday."I won't be able to train tomorrow morning," he tells her as they walk toward the Kappa house. "Fridays are always devoted to football all day. But maybe we could walk to class together tomorrow morning?"She smiles, "I'd like that. How's your back feeling?""Honestly, it doesn't hurt at all. How about your new tattoo? What did you end up getting?"She pulls the collar of her shirt down revealing the bandage. She pulls the bandage off to reveal the tattoo underneath. "It's called a claddagh.""What does it symbolize? You once told me that every tattoo has meaning to you.""The hands are friendship, the crown is loyalty, and the heart is love," she explains."Does it represent anyone in particular?" he asks hopefully."It symbolizes the potential for these three things," she says without looking at him.He smiles at the thought. He hopes that one day he can be the one that tattoo represents.They get to Kappa house and Tris turns to look at him. "Well, I guess I'll see you in the morning," she says. "Don't forget, don't sleep with a shirt on and try to stay on your stomach or side."He nods at the instructions, "Okay. Yeah, see you in the morning." He pulls her into a hug and kisses her on the cheek. "Goodnight Tris.""Goodnight Four."