Divergent UNIVERSITY ✅

chapter 24

Chapter 24Four goes back into the house and immediately goes up to the bedroom. Tris is still sleeping on the bed.He goes into the bathroom to get a shower after his run he has sweat and sand all over him. After running the way he did and his talk with Brian, he has calmed. Now he just wants to do what Brian told him and be okay. He needs to be okay so that Tris can find her confidence again.When he gets out of the shower he lies on the bed next to her.After a while he falls asleep, only to be woken a short time later by Tris flailing her arms and crying out."Tris… Tris. Wake up. You're dreaming."She comes out of the dream slowly with tears in her eyes. She looks over at Four and the tears start. "Four, I'm so sorry. I should have done more. I should have screamed or fought harder, something. I didn't mean to let him touch me.""Tris, its okay. You are fine now. You didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't your fault.""Maybe if I hadn't worn those clothes or maybe if I…" she trails off."Tris, there was nothing wrong with what you had on. Clothes don't make guys like that do what they do. There is something wrong in their head that makes them think they can do that to women. You didn't do anything to provoke what he did and you did everything you could possibly do to stop him. I am so proud of you for fighting back."Four kisses the top of her head. "Did I tell you how much I love you today?" he whispers.She smiles slightly but doesn't respond."Tris Prior, I love you so much," he says kissing her cheek."I love you too, Tobias."She pulls herself close to his side and rests her head on his chest. He lies back on the bed and wraps his big strong arms around her. He makes her feel safe and loved. Slowly she drifts back into the dreamless sleep that has so far eluded her tonight.~oOo~For the next couple days they all decide to stay around the beach house. They have everything they could possibly want here, even a makeshift softball diamond on the beach. Every morning Tris gets up with Four and Brian and they work out on the beach. Then Kenzie pitches batting practice and they all help her with fielding practice by playing small games.Tris is slowly getting over what happened with Peter, but she is still refusing to wear anything but athletic shorts and T-shirts. She has even refused to put on any kind of swimsuit to go swimming.Knowing how much that guy affected her infuriates Four. No matter what he says, the memory of what that guy did still dominates her thinking. She blames herself even though Four, Brian, Tori, Natalie, and Bud have all told her that it had nothing to do with her, that guy was demented.~oOo~On the morning of Tris' birthday, Four wakes up early and goes to get her breakfast from the kitchen. He comes back with two orange juices and muffins. He kisses her cheek. "Wake up Birthday Girl," he says.She stirs and opens her eyes and smiles at him."Good morning, Happy Birthday!" he says handing her the muffin and orange juice."Good morning, thank you," she says. She kisses him on his cheek and takes the muffin and drink.They sit in bed and eat and talk for a little while. Then Tris goes out to workout with Brian for a while. When Four is getting ready to go out and workout too, Natalie stops him.She pulls him aside, "Four, today is Tris' twenty-first birthday. I think we should take her out. Maybe if she sees that nothing is going to happen to her, she might start coming out of her shell again.""Okay, where should we go?""I found a restaurant on the beach that looks great. They have outdoor dining, a dance floor outside and inside. It looks like it would be a lot of fun.""Okay, I'll spread the word.""Great, thanks."When everyone hears they are going out for Tris' birthday, they all look excited, except for Tris. She just looks worried and nervous."Come on Tris, let's find you something to wear," Christina says taking her hand.While Tris goes off with the girls to get ready, Four grabs Zeke, "Come on, I have to go get Tris something for her birthday."They get into one of the cars and drive to the boardwalk. "Do you have any ideas?" Zeke asks."Yeah actually I do. When she took me for my first tattoo, she got one that day too. She called it a claddagh. I looked it up to see what it was and saw that it is usually a ring. I want to get her a claddagh ring.""Okay, well we need a jewelry store then."Christina, Marlene, and Shauna all drag Tris into Chris' room and start going through the clothes. Then Marlene gets an idea. She leaves and comes back into the room with a white flowy halter dress. It has a silver band that wraps around the body just below the bust line and it ties around the neck. The rest of the dress is full and flows away from the body and the skirt extends down to her knees. She looks beautiful.Four and Zeke find a jewelry store and Four asks the man about claddagh rings. The man leads him over to a case with several different designs. He finds the perfect ring for her. It is a simple design, but it is beautiful and on the inside is inscribed 'anam cara' which the man in the store said means 'soul mate.' When Four sees this, he knows it is the perfect gift for her."Now young man, this ring has a special tradition. If the wearer wears the heart facing them, it means that they are spoken for. If they wear it so the heart faces away from them then it means that they are not spoken for.""Give me a second one, exactly like this on in my size please," Four says. He and Zeke walk out of the store thirty minutes later, Four with both rings in the same box to give to Tris."How do you feel in this?" Marlene asks handing her a pair of silver sandals."I love this and it's not really provocative. Thank you Mar!""Well, you look beautiful. Let me do something with your hair, I have an idea," Christina says.When she is done with Tris' hair, it is pulled to the side and cascades down her right shoulder in ringlets.The rest of the girls get ready to go and they all go down into the living room together. Marlene and Christina both wear skirts, one wearing a halter top and the other wearing a sequin tank top. Shauna wears shorts and a tank top, Lynn a light flowy sundress, and Kenzie wearing a pair of Capri's and a tight T-shirt.They walk into the living room where everyone is waiting for them and as usual the guys are completely infatuated with their girlfriends. Four looks at Tris and can't believe how no matter what she wears she looks beautiful."Hello gorgeous," he says to her.She smiles shyly but doesn't say anything. He takes her hand in his and kisses it. "I wish you saw what I see when I look at you, then you wouldn't be so shy about my compliments," he whispers for only her to hear.The five couples leave the house hand in hand followed by Natalie, Bud, Brian, and Tori. They walk about two blocks down the street to a beach front restaurant. They enter and Bud goes to the front. "We have reservations under Willard Reed.""Yes, right this way Mr. Reed," the man says to Bud. The man leads them out onto the terrace where there are candles and tables set all around. Every table seats two and there is a private dance floor with a juke box playing in the background."The terrace has been reserved specifically for your party, sir. Your servers will be out soon to take your orders.""Bud, this is amazing!" Tris says smiling."Happy Birthday, Honey. Your mom and I decided we wanted to do something really special for you for your birthday. It isn't every day you turn twenty-one."She pulls her mom and Bud into a hug. "Thank you so much.""Okay, everyone go to a table. We will eat then there will be time to dance and hang out together," Natalie says.Four leads Tris to a table at the edge of the terrace. He pulls her seat out for her and she sits down. He then sits across from her and takes her hand."How was your day today?" Four asks her."Fine," she says. "Worked out, changed, and came to dinner. That's about the extent of it." She smiles the smile that melts Four's heart."I got something small for you for your birthday," he says."Oh, you shouldn't have," she says.He takes the box out of his pocket and hands it to her. She opens the box and her eyes light up at the sight of the claddagh rings side by side in the box. "One for you, and one for me," Four tells her."Oh my, Tobias. They are beautiful. I've always wanted one of these." She picks up the smaller of the two rings and looks at the inscription, "What does 'anam cara' mean?""The man in the store said it means soul mate. I looked it up online it said it is Irish for soul friend."She inspects the ring looking at its delicate features."The man said that it is an Irish tradition that if you wear the ring so that the heart is facing you, it means you are spoken for."She smiles and places the ring on her finger with the heart facing her. "Is that one for you?" she asks."Yeah, I've never had a ring before…" he stops and watches her as she takes the ring form the box and hands it to him for him to put on."This is the best birthday present that I have ever gotten." She stands and walks around the table and sits on his lap. "Thank you so much," she says kissing him.He wraps his arms around her and hugs her tightly, "I'm glad you like it."The servers come out and bring everyone the food that they ordered. When they are done eating, Four pulls Tris out onto the dance floor for a slow dance."Do you remember this song?" she asks him."No, what song is it?""It was the first song that we danced to at the homecoming dance," she says.He listens quietly for a moment, "Yeah I remember, 'A Thousand Years.' right?"She smiles, "Now every time I hear this song, I think about you."He smiles and pulls her tight to his body. The next song is another slow song that they continue to dance to."Everyone, could you please come up here?" Natalie calls.They all go back onto the terrace where Natalie and Bud are standing. There is a tray of champagne glasses."We want to drink a toast to my daughter, the most wonderful young woman I could have asked for. I was so blessed the day you came into my life. You and your brother are everything to me. I am so proud to be your mother. Everything you do and every decision you make just makes me more proud. Happy Birthday, Beatrice!""Happy Birthday," everyone says and clinks their glasses.Tris goes up to her mom and hugs her tightly, "Thank you for everything Mom. This has been the most amazing night.""I'm sure that isn't just because of me, I saw Four give you something. What did he get for you?"She shows her mother the claddagh ring. "On the inside it says 'anam cara' which Four says means soul mate or soul friend. He has one exactly like this one.""It's beautiful.""Mom, I've been wanting to tell you something. Caleb called me a couple days ago.""Oh really, what did he want?""He said Dad called him and told him that you moved out."Her mother looks down, "Oh Tris, I was going to tell you. I just didn't want to tell you and upset you before your tryout.""Mom, are you happy?""Yes Beatrice, I am. I haven't been happy with your father for a long time. He's always valued selflessness and I admired that, but over the past few years he's become very selfish. He hasn't been the man I married for a long time. I moved into Bud's spare room at his house.""Mom, I'm happy if you're happy. I'm not at all upset.""Thank you," her mother says pulling her into a hug."There was one more thing," Tris says. "I'm in love with him.""I know you are. I've known for a while. He's in love with you too.""Yes he is," Tris says."He's a good guy, Tris. And the inscription pretty much says it all. I believe he is your soul mate," her mother says. "Now go, have fun with your friends. You have a lot of hard work ahead of you."