Divergent UNIVERSITY ✅

chapter 27

A week later Four is at a double header away and isn't able to go to Marcus' sentencing. Brian made arrangements for Mr. Turner to call immediately following the sentencing. Tris and Tori had volunteered to go since the softball team is home this week, but Brian and Four asked them not to. Four doesn't want Tris anywhere near Marcus without him being there to protect her. Tris and Tori reluctantly agree to stay away."Well Brian," Turner says. "He was sentenced to three life sentences without possibility of parole for the charges against him for what he did to Four. The other charges came with a significant amount of jail time as well, but the multiple life sentences are what matters. The defense is already planning their appeal, so this can go on for quite some time. But I don't believe that Four will need to be present for any of the appeals.""Thanks Karl, I appreciate that you called. I'll pass the information on to Four following his game.""How are they doing?""Well, they are winning nine to three at the top of the eighth inning of the second game of the double header. Four has hit three home runs in this game and two in the game prior to this one. His last at bat they purposely walked him. He's also made some really great plays at first.""Good for him! Hopefully he will be able to salvage something out of all of this and find a way to go pro in baseball instead of football.""Yeah, I hope he can find a way to move on from all of this."After Brian hangs up with Turner, he calls Tori to give her the news to pass on to Tris. When Tris hears the news she is happy but scared. She has taken Marcus' threat to heart and Four's worries that the retaliation won't be against him, it will be against her.~oOo~The next couple weeks are uneventful. Baseball and Softball seasons are winding down, as well as the spring semester. Both the baseball and softball teams are in contention for national championships.Four has been working hard on finishing his degree, taking his tests, and passing his certification tests while playing baseball almost every day. He and Tris don't have much time to spend together right now and it has been hard on their relationship.Tris calls Four on the phone one evening before bed."Hey Tris, how are you?""Fine I guess," she says. "Stressed over the last couple games of this season and studying for finals. How about you?""Pretty much the same. I passed my certification tests and have completed my final projects for graduation. But these last couple games are going to be hard.""But wouldn't it be great to have two national championships this spring?""It would be great. Hey I was wondering, what are your plans for summer break?""Guess I'm going home. My parents are officially divorced now and my mother has been living with Bud and he has said that I can also stay with him this summer. He has a huge house so there is plenty of room. Why?""I was thinking that maybe I'd get an apartment or something in your town so I can be close to you.""Why don't I see if you can stay with us too? I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem and besides mom didn't have a problem with us sharing a room while on vacation. I'd love to have you there for the summer.""Really? I just wasn't sure...""No, I would love it," Tris says.They finish their conversation and Tris hangs up the phone happier than she has been for a long time. She has felt like he was drifting away from her for months now but this has just made all of those fears dissipate. Now she just has to call her mother and Bud to see if it would be okay."Hello Tris, this is a surprise.""Hi Mom. Sorry to call so late but I wanted to ask you a question.""What's up?""Well semester is almost over and I'm coming home for the summer. Four doesn't have anywhere to go. Do you think he could stay with us over the summer?""Hold on, I'll have to talk to Bud." Natalie sets the phone down and goes to talk to Bud. Bud smiles when she walks into the room."Hey," he says."Tris is on the phone. She wants to know if Four can come and spend the summer with us too?""Of course he can. There is plenty of room here for all of us.""Thanks Bud," Natalie says kissing him on the cheek. Their relationship has started to grow beyond their friendship. Bud has always had strong feelings for Natalie, but until her divorce she never really thought about it. Her loyalty was for her husband. But she is quickly seeing that what she thought was selflessness and kindness in Andrew was really his egocentricity. He only does things that benefit him directly. Bud, on the other hand, is the most altruistic person she has ever met. He is also brave, fiercely defensive of those he cares for, and kind. Natalie has been falling for Bud since their trip to Miami, but she wants to talk to Tris about it first."Tris, you still there?""Yeah Mom, I'm here. What did he say?""He would be happy for Four to stay with us for the summer. While I have you on the phone I wanted to talk to you about something.""Let me guess, you have feelings for Bud.""Wait... What? How did you know that?""Mom, it was so obvious in Florida. And honestly, Bud has been in love with you for years. I can't believe you never saw it before.""No he hasn't. He's just been my best friend.""No Mom, Bud has been in love with you for as long as I can remember. He looks at you like you are the only woman in the world that could ever make him happy.""How do you know that? I've never seen that.""It's probably because you've been too busy trying to make things work with Dad that you never noticed.""So does that mean you are okay with it?""I'm happy if you're happy, Mom.""Thank you Tris.""Gotta go now, Mom. Love you.""Love you honey."Tris hangs up with her mother and immediately calls Four back."Hello," he says in the deep voice that she loves."Hey, you are officially staying with us this summer.""Really? You already called?""Yeah, I already called.""Well great! I guess I'll see you back on campus the day after tomorrow?""Yeah, we have ten days before we go to Oklahoma City for the World Series.""Great! We are home for about two weeks before we go to Omaha for ours.""I can't wait to see you. I've missed you," Tris says."It has been hard these past few weeks. But we have all summer to be together," Four says. "I love you.""Love you too. Goodnight!"They hang up the phone and Tris settles in her bed."You two are too sweet," Kenzie says.Tris snickers, "And you and Lynn aren't disgustingly sweet when you think no one is watching?""I don't think I know what you are talking about," Kenzie smirks."You're blushing!" Tris accuses. "How is Lynn doing anyway? She was busy preparing for a performance, wasn't she?""Yeah, she has been spending day and night in the theatre practicing. She managed the lead though and has been asked to audition for the New York Theatre Ballet this summer. If she goes, I'm going with her after graduation.""Really? That is terrific Kenzie. I'm really happy for you both.""Thanks Tris. Now, we have a game to win tomorrow. We need to go to sleep."~oOo~When Four hangs up the phone, he is happier than he has been in a long time. Things are starting to go in the right direction for him. There have been MLB scouts at his last couple games and the coaches have told him that there are a couple teams interested in him for the June draft. Things with Tris are okay and going to get back on track once he graduates and they are at her place for the summer.He lies in bed and begins to fall asleep. His phone rings, he looks at the display and when he doesn't recognize the number, he automatically hits the tracer that was installed on his phone months ago because of Marcus."Is this Tobias Eaton?" a raspy voice asks from the other end."Yes, who is this?""You better tell your little girl to watch out," the voice warns and then the line goes dead.Four sits up quickly and runs out of the room to Brian's room. He starts pounding on the door to wake him."Brian," he shouts. "Brian, answer the door."Brian opens the door alarmed, "What? What's wrong?""I just got a call. Someone threatening Tris.""Did you trace the call?""Yeah, but I don't know if we were on the phone long enough."Brian takes the phone and starts looking at the display, "What did he say?""He said that I better tell my little girl to watch out."Brian dials his phone, "We just ran a trace on a phone number, and did it go through?""Yes, it originated in Lexington, Kentucky," the voice on the other line says."You need to get agents to the Holiday Inn in Lexington. That was a phone call to Tobias Eaton threatening his girlfriend. She is in Lexington for a softball game. Agent Tori Sloan is there with her, but if Marcus Eaton's associates are going after her, Agent Sloan may not be able to defend her alone."Brian hangs up the phone and turns to Four."I need to get to her," Four says."No, you don't. That is probably what they are counting on. You running off half cocked ready to destroy your life to defend her. Tori is there, I'll call her and warn her. There will be other agents there in a matter of time. Tris will be protected.""Should I call her and warn her?" Four asks."No, don't. She needs to be able to play tomorrow morning. I'll tell Tori to let her know when the time is right. Until then, we have an early flight back to Chicago tomorrow morning, you better get some rest.""Yeah, like that is going to happen," Four says annoyed. How is he supposed to defend Tris when they are hundreds of miles apart? He returns to his room annoyed. He walks in and slams the door, waking Zeke."What's wrong?" Zeke asks."I just got a call, someone threatened Tris.""Did you tell Brian?""Yeah, but she is in Kentucky and we are here. There is no way I can get to her to defend her.""If Brian knows then I'm sure she has several federal agents watching her. She will be fine.""I'll never forgive myself for bringing her into this if they hurt her.""Four, you never could have known how bad your father really was. He hid his dealings well. Right now we need to focus on the College World Series.""I can't, not until I know that Tris is safe.""You will see her the day after tomorrow. Then you can keep her at your side until we have to leave. There is nothing more you can do. If you keep acting like this, Marcus wins."Four grumbles but he knows that Zeke is right but that doesn't mean he likes it. He flops down on his bed and lies there staring at the ceiling until sleep overcomes him.~oOo~"Are you sure that is what the person told Four?" Tori asks."Yes, and the trace was tracked to a payphone in Lexington. You have to be on the lookout for this. I don't want either of you getting hurt. I've already called it in and they are going to send in a couple more agents to patrol, but this is mainly up to you.""Bri, I'll be fine. I'll keep her close.""Just please be careful, okay?""Of course I'll be careful. You too," Tori says. "I'll talk to you soon."Tori hangs up the phone and goes down the hall to check on Tris. She knows that this situation is dire at this point. They can't make any mistakes.After she has checked on Tris, she goes down to the coach's room to talk to him. He knows who Tori is and he knows the situation, he has to be told about the threat that is happening now.~oOo~Tris knows something is up the moment that Tori came to her room to check on her and left abruptly. Someone must have made a threat against Tobias, but what can she do? He's in State College, Pennsylvania and Tris is Lexington, Kentucky. They are separated by hundreds of miles, there is no way they could get to each other quickly if they wanted to.Tris decides to go down to the vending machine area for something to drink. She is supposed to get Tori when she leaves the room, but she isn't going far, just down the hall.As she walks, she gets the sinking feeling that she is being followed. She turns but sees no one there. She begins to think that her overactive imagination is running crazy again, until she hears the unmistakable sound of shoes squeaking on the linoleum floor in the snack room.She turns around and starts to let out a scream. She feels a sharp pain in her head, then the world go black.