Divergent UNIVERSITY ✅

chapter 17

The guys stand in the foyer waiting for the girls to come down the steps. One by one they make their way down the steps and one by one the guys swoon over their girlfriends. "Wow! You ladies look HOT!" Uriah exclaims.Christina comes down first wearing a red sleeveless mini-dress, with red heels. She walks over to Will who pulls her into a passionate kiss as soon as she gets near him.Marlene is next wearing a black mini-skirt with silver sequin top and silver heels. Uriah takes her hand and kisses her gently. "Hello gorgeous," he says to her.Shauna wears a royal blue mini-dress with one sleeve and black flats. Zeke smiles as she walks over to him. He smirks at her, "Woman, you need to go put clothes on. You think I'm letting you out of the house looking like that?""I'm pretty sure you don't have a choice," Shauna says mockingly."Woman, please..." Zeke says pulling her into him. "We should go upstairs and find you something else to wear," he says winking at her.Shauna snickers and kisses him. "I don't think so," she says.Four waits patiently for Tris to appear. She's at the end of the group behind Lynn and Kenzie. The girls decided to hide her because her transformation was the most noticeable since she wasn't wearing any athletic clothes like normal.Tris sees Four as she comes down the steps. He's wearing a pair of black jeans, Dr. Martens, and a gray button up shirt. She is in awe of how handsome he looks.Kenzie and Lynn are next. They come down the stairs hand in hand, Kenzie in a pair of black jeans, a black sequin top, and black flats. Lynn wearing a gray pencil skirt, a purple top, and gray ballet shoes.Four watches as all of the girls come down the stairs. They all look very pretty. But when Four finally sees Tris, he is completely floored. He's always thought that she was pretty, but tonight he sees how gorgeous she really is. The dress she wears shows off her muscular, toned body perfectly and every tattoo that means so much to her is visible with this dress. When she gets down the steps and stands in front of him he can't control himself. He immediately wraps his arms around her waist."You're stunning," he says.She blushes and doesn't meet his eyes. He places his hand under her chin and lifts it to make her look at him. "Tris, you're stunning," he whispers and places his lips to her cheek.He pulls back from her but he doesn't release her. She feels the intensity of their embrace and wishes she could be closer to him. She wishes she had the courage to show him how he makes her feel when they are together.Four pulls away from her when Christina announces that it is time for them to go. He takes her hand in his and they lace their fingers together and begin their walk to where the party is being held. As they walk he keeps looking at her. He can't seem to take his eyes off of her perfect body. He starts to think about all of the girls that have thrown themselves at him over the years. They were all pretty, but none of them ever had what Tris has. She is so much more than just pretty, she's extraordinary. Everything about her is perfection and the fact that she has chosen him when she's never bothered herself with other guys makes him nervous.They arrive at the party and find a table. They sit down, all the guys being gentlemen and pulling out the girls' chairs. Even Kenzie pulls Lynn's chair out for her. Before he sits, Four leans in and whispers to Tris, "Do you want something to drink?""A soda please," she says.He goes to the bar to get their drinks. While he's there Tris notices all of the girls around following him to the bar with their eyes. While he's there she sees a girl come up to him. She tries to put her arms around him, but he backs away. He says something to her and his face says that he's angry. The girl continues to persist in talking to him and trying to get him to pay attention to her.Tris makes the decision that if she's going to be with him, she's going to have to leave no doubt that he is with her and no one else. She leaves the table and walks up to him. She pushes herself between Four and the girl."Excuse me," the girl says. "We were just talking.""Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there," Tris says sarcastically.She turns her attention back to Four who is looking at her with a smile. "I thought you might need some help with our drinks," she says with a smirk winking at him."You're here with him?" the girl asks.Tris doesn't look at her or respond to her. She just reaches up and wraps her arms around Four's neck. He leans in and presses his lips firmly to hers as he wraps his arms around her body. After a moment he pulls back just slightly and looks into her eyes and smiles. "I think I might like it when you get jealous."The girl behind them grunts in frustration and storms off."Nothing to be jealous of, I know you're with me. I'm just taking away any doubt from anyone here, that's all.""Well, if that's the case. I think we should completely squelch any doubters on the dance floor. There's a slow song playing."They walk out on to the dance floor and find a space near Christina and Will. The disk jockey is playing 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri. Four pulls her firmly to him, wrapping one arm around her waist and holding her hand in his. There is no space between them as they dance around the floor. Tris catches glimpses of other girls scowling, but she thinks they get the picture.After two slow songs they go back to dance music."Do you want to dance, or do you want to sit?" Four asks her."Let's sit for a second. We never did get our drinks."He goes back up to the bar and this time is able to get their drinks uninterrupted. It seems Tris' plan to make these girls back off worked. Even though she is receiving glares from around the room and there are still eyes following him around, none of them are attempting to approach him like before.Four notices the difference in the girls around him. He's always avoided parties and other activities on campus and he even would stick to himself at parties at Phi Delta because he was never left alone. He always had some girl trying to talk to him or throwing themselves at him. Once he even had a naked girl in his bed following a party. He had to get one of the other guys to get her out because he refused to acknowledge her. But now, Tris has managed to make all of these girls leave him alone. It amazes him how this one small, beautiful, confident girl can change his life so quickly.He returns to the table with a soda for her and a beer for himself. They sit together and talk, laugh, and play around with their friends.When 'Girls' Just Want to Have Fun' by Cyndi Lauper comes on Marlene, Shauna, and Kenzie grab Tris' arms and drag her away from Four and to the dance floor. This is their team song. They jump around dance while the guys stand on the side and watch them.Four has never seen Tris have so much fun. She us usually so serious and focused. Right now she's just one of the girls jumping around and having fun with her friends. When another dance song comes on next all of the girls go and grab their partners and drag them onto the dance floor with them.Tris grabs Four's arm and pulls him onto the dance floor with her. "Tris, I don't really dance," he yells to her."Just jump around with me. It'll be fun, I promise. Just one song!"He obliges reluctantly. He stands there with her unsure while she jumps and move around. But when she grabs and pulls him close and starts dancing close to him, he suddenly likes dancing. When the song is over she takes his hand and pulls him from the dance floor as promised. They go to sit down again. "I'm going to go get us a drink," she says. "Do you want another beer?""Yeah, that would be great!" he says. He watches her as she moves across the room toward the bar. While he's watching her, he notices that there are a lot of guys sitting around that are also watching her. But she doesn't even seem to notice. He thinks that is one of the reasons that he likes her so much. She isn't concerned with looks. She doesn't even realize how beautiful she is.She goes up to the bar and orders a beer and two waters. While she's waiting a man comes up to her and starts trying to talk to her. She ignores him and waits for her drink, but he starts to become aggressive."I just want to talk to you sweetheart," the man says."I'm sorry, I'm here with someone," Tris says trying to be polite."Yeah, you're here with that cheat's son. The one that was supposed to lose that football game," he says. She looks at him and her heart starts to race. "I lost a lot of money because of that man. Maybe I should just take payment from you," he says brushing his hand across her arm.She pulls away from him and stares, shocked. She's terrified, she doesn't know what to do. She can't get to Four from here and she doesn't know if he's watching or not.Four glances away toward the dance floor for just a moment. When he looks back he sees a threatening looking older man graze his fingers across Tris' arm. She pulls her arm away and looks alarmed. He rushes across the room and pushes her behind him."What do you think you're doing touching my girlfriend?" Four yells.This is the first time he's referred to her as his girlfriend. If she wasn't so terrified, she would be ecstatic."Your father cost me a lot of money. I was just thinking I would collect it from her," the man says maliciously.Four punches him in the face. But the man quickly recovers and pushes Four, bumping him into Tris and knocking her to the floor. He turns to help her up but the man throws a punch at him and Four has to stop his assault. Their friends see the altercation from across the room. Zeke, Uriah, and Will rush over to help. Zeke helps Tris up and Will and Uriah come up behind Four in time to see him knock the man out."What the hell was that?" Uriah asks."Remember what I told you about my father? He's one of the guys that my father cheated.""And he came to find you here?" Will asks."Apparently."He turns to Tris standing behind him clinging to Zeke. She's got tears streaming down her face. 'Oh God,' Four thinks. 'She's hurt and it's all my fault.'Brian has been lurking in the shadows watching, just in case there's a problem. He sees the man talking to Tris, but doesn't realize there's a problem until Four steps between them. He starts across the room and sees Four knock a man out and turn to Tris. He rushes over to see what happened."Four, what happened here?" Brian asks."This man was threatening Tris. He hit me, so I knocked him out. He was threatening to take what Marcus owes him out of her."Four turns back to Tris. "What's wrong?""I think I twisted my ankle or something. It hurts and I can't put any weight on it."He gathers her into his arms. He turns to Zeke, "Can you get some ice so we can put it on her ankle?" Zeke nods and turns to the bartender.He carries her over to the table so that he can look at her ankle and see if he should take her to the hospital to have it looked at.Brian calls out to the agents that are stationed outside to come in and take the man into custody. He joins Four and Tris at the table once the man has been taken out.Tris is sitting there with her foot on Four's knee. He's rubbing her leg trying to calm her down until Zeke comes with the ice."What if it's messed up and I can't play tomorrow? This is the first round of the playoffs. I have to play.""Tris, calm down. It doesn't look like anything but a sprain. We'll ice it, let the swelling go down, and then see what we're dealing with," Four tells her.Zeke comes with the ice, two bottles of water, and two bottles of beer. He hands the ice and the beer to Four and Brian, he hands the water to Tris.Four places the ice on her ankle and continues to rub her calf to calm her.She looks to Brian, "Where did you come from?""I've been here watching. I told you there was always someone watching you two. I just never mentioned that usually it's me."They sit together while Four holds the ice to her ankle. After a while he checks it. "It's not swollen anymore. I need you to try to stand."She nods. He gently puts her foot onto the floor and stands pulling her up with him. She stands and tries to put weight on it but it's tender and she stumbles a little."Come on," Four says lifting her into his arms. "I'm taking you home."Brian follows them out, "I'll drive you.""Take us to Phi Delta. She's not going home alone. She can stay with me until her friends get home."Once back at Phi Delta Four carries her into the house, "I'm going to take you up to my room so you can prop your foot up on some pillows. Is that okay?"She nods nervously. She's never been alone with him and is nervous about it. But she trusts him.He carries her up the stairs and places her gently on his bed. He removes her shoes and places pillows under her foot to prop it up. He leaves the room and returns with a glass of water and pain medication."Here, take this. It will help with pain and swelling.""Thank you for taking care of me," she says. "Can I ask you a question?""Anything," he says."Did I hear you call me your girlfriend?""Yeah, I think I did.""Is that what I am?""That's what I think you are. Do you disagree?"She smiles, "No, I don't disagree. I've just never been called someone's girlfriend before."He kisses her forehead. "Well, my girlfriend needs to get some rest. I'm going to get you a T-shirt and some pants to put on so you're more comfortable."He gets one of his T-shirts and a pair of sweats for her to put on. He leaves the room so that she can change.When he returns she's under the covers on his bed with her foot outside of the blankets propped on the pillows."The pants didn't fit," she says."Well, I could run down to your house to get you your own clothes if you want.""No, I'm fine for now," she says.He sits at the foot of the bed and takes her foot onto his lap and starts to rub her ankle."How's it feeling?""It doesn't really hurt anymore. I think the pain medication is helping.""How long is the shirt? I need you to stand and try to walk on it.""It's almost as long as my dress was. I'm sure I'll be fine so long as I don't have to leave this room," she says."No, I have my own bathroom so you don't have to go anywhere if you don't want."She turns and places her feet on the floor. Four helps her to stand and tells her to walk while he's standing next to her making sure she doesn't stumble. When she walks across the room with no problem he says, "I think you'll be fine to play tomorrow. We'll just wrap it just in case.""Guess I'm lucky you're going to be a physical therapist, aren't I?"He laughs, "Yeah. Now lie down and get some rest. You can just stay here tonight. I'll take the chair.""No, I can't let you do that...""That wasn't a request. I'm telling you that I'm not letting you out of my sight tonight. I'll sleep on the chair." He takes a blanket out of the closet and pulls the recliner he has sitting in the corner next to the bed. He kisses her on the cheek. "Goodnight my beautiful girlfriend."She blushes, "Goodnight my wonderful boyfriend."