Divergent UNIVERSITY ✅

chapter 52

When Zeke arrives at the tattoo parlor, he is suddenly very nervous about what he is about to do. He made the decision a week ago while Zia was away at a tattoo convention with Natalie and Bud. He has never been so happy or been with someone that he loved so much. He loved Shauna, but after meeting Zia and being with her, he realizes that his love for Shauna was more of a friendship than anything more. Shauna was right, he just didn't see it at the time.So one day while Zia was gone, he went to the jewelry store and found the perfect ring for her. The diamond is a traditional diamond but the band looks like vines twisting around and coming together at the stone. It's nothing spectacular, but it unique and it reminded him of Zia the moment that he saw it.He decided that he was going to do it that night. He was taking her out to their favorite restaurant on the beach. They both love the lake and the beach so he thought that would be the perfect place.After dinner Zeke leads Zia out onto the beach to take a walk. It is mid November, so it's starting to get cold outside. He places his coat around her shoulders and pulls her tight to his side to keep her warm.Zia notices that something is up with Zeke. He's been quiet and not at all like his normal fun loving, silly self. She starts to worry about what is happening when he doesn't say anything for a few minutes once they are out on the beach. She knows that he spoke with Shauna a couple days ago. He said it was just a friendly conversation. He said he wanted to let Shauna know that there were no hard feelings and that he still valued their friendship. But now she is beginning to wonder if there was more to the conversation than he let on.After a few long quiet minutes Zeke stops and turns Zia toward him. He stopped in the exact place where they had their first dance at Natalie and Bud's wedding. The place looks completely different than it had that night, but he knows this is the place.The night is clear and every star is present in the sky. The moon is waning, but it is still bright and lighting up the night perfectly. Zeke couldn't have chosen a more perfect night to profess his undying love for the woman in front of him.Zia looks at him expectantly, she also knows where they are. She's nervous about what is going to happen. She loves this man with all of her heart. It would kill her if he's decided to break up with her, especially in this place. She knew she loved him in this place. She never believed in love at first sight before, but that night when they danced, she knew."Zia, we've been spending a lot of time together for the past few months. They have been some of the happiest times that I have ever had. You are a great woman with a beautiful heart."She doesn't say a word. She just stands and stares at him as he speaks."Zia, the night that we danced, I knew something was different about you. I knew there was a spark that I couldn't deny. No matter how heartbroken I had been, just being around you made everything better, even if we were just trying to be friends. I knew I could never just be your friend. I knew immediately that there was so much more. I think I knew it the night of the tattoo party when we sat and talked for hours. I felt the connection then, I just blocked it out because I was with someone."Tears are starting to form in Zia's eyes as he speaks. She's still not sure where he is going with this, but she's happy to know that he felt the connection to her at the same time that she felt it.Without warning, Zeke gets down on one knee and Zia gasps. Of everything she was expecting, this wasn't it. The tears stream down her face as she looks at the man she loves kneeling in front of her."Zia, it would make me the happiest man in the world if you would marry me," he says pulling the small velvet box out of his pocket and presenting it to her.When she sees the beautiful ring she can't speak. She is wracked with sobs. She drops to her knees in front of him and wraps her arms around his neck. She kisses him, pouring all of the love and desire she feels for him into that kiss.When they pull back, he looks into her eyes and smiles, "I guess that is a yes?"She quickly nods, "Yes, of course it's a yes. I would love to be your wife."Zeke pulls the ring from the small box and places it on her finger."I love you Zia. Thank you for making me the happiest man on the planet."She kisses him again. "I love you so much Zeke," she says and kisses him.~oOo~The fall semester unravels as Tris does her school work from home and her friends all continue with their normal lives. Her leg is healing properly and after six long weeks, she is able to finally stop wearing the brace and start to move it again. For the most part, Four spends most of his time at the beach house with Tris and her parents. He spends more time there than at his apartment, sometimes only leaving to go to work.Finally at the last softball game of the season, Tris convinces Four that she wants to go. So she goes into work with him. He doesn't want her to be here alone, so she has to sit through a track meet before the game. When they finally arrive at the softball field, everyone on the team is surprised to see her.They all wrap her in hugs and ask her how she's doing. They tell her how well Grace has done at short stop, but that they miss her being there. Even Grace tells her how much she misses her and can't wait until she comes back.Tris sits on the bench with Four and the coaches to watch the game and talk about what's been happening. The team, although pretty good, isn't as good as in years past. They have won six games and lost five this season, they won't be in contention for the championship this fall, but the coaches look at is as a growing and learning experience.The last game of the season they win seven to five. The girls are happy that they got the win while Tris was there, but they are upset that the season is now over.The girls all go down to the locker room while Tris sits and waits for Four to put his things away. Out of the corner of her eye she sees someone approaching. Four doesn't notice at first.The girl comes up to Tris looking angry and ready to strike."So, not only did I lose my position because of you. I have a record, I am on probation, and I got kicked out of school. And it's all because of you," Sam barks.Tris sits there calmly and just looks at the crazy girl in front of her."Sam, what are you doing here? Do you understand that if you are caught, you are going to jail for violating the restraining order?" It isn't a threat it is more of a warning for Sam to leave now before she gets herself into trouble."Oh you would just love that. To be the reason that I'm in jail. I bet that would just make your day. Why do you think you are so special?" yells Sam. She lunges at Tris as she screams, "I'm going to finish what I started."As she lunges Tris quickly moves the way that Brian taught her. She stands and waits for Sam to stand. Tris has wanted this confrontation and she wants to be able to put this fight to rest once and for all.Sam stands in front of Tris and she immediately strikes, but she is slow. Sam throws the first punch. Tris is ready for this and ducks, and punches Sam in the stomach. Sam rushes at Tris ready to tackle her, but Tris sidesteps quickly and attempts to hit Sam in the face with her elbow but only grazes her. Sam gets angry and sloppily attempts a kick that misses and allows Tris to knock her off balance.Tris punches her in the stomach, kicks her legs out from under her, and kicks her in the ribs. Sam is on the ground curled into a ball but Tris continues in her attack. She gives Sam a kick to the stomach, a kick to the face, and a kick to the chest.Tris is not ruthless, she is not cruel. It seems like she is taking all of the feelings that she has had to deal with over the past months and is using it to fuel her anger.Tris gets ready to kick again, but Four sees what is going on and decides it's enough.He rushes to her side just before Tris kicks again and grabs a hold of her. He stares into her eyes and sees something that he has never seen in her eyes before. There is an unnatural viciousness in her eyes."Tris, calm down. You took care of her. She's knocked out."He eyes seem to clear as she looks at him. "I'm fine," she tells him.He takes her hand and walks her over to the bench, away from Sam. Marlene comes back to the field and takes in the scene in front of her. "What happened here?""Marlene, call the police. Tell them that Samantha French is here and she is violating a restraining order."Marlene does as Four instructs. She then sits next to Tris and Four, "Are you alright?""I'm fine.""What happened?" Four asks her."I was sitting here waiting for you when Sam approached me and accused me of ruining her life. She came at me and I just defended myself the way that Brian taught me.""I'd say you did more than defend yourself," Marlene scoffs. "She's knocked out. Did you check to make sure she's still alive? She hasn't moved.""I checked," Four said in a matter of fact manner.Ten minutes later the police arrive to find Tris sitting on the bleachers without a scratch and Sam lying on the ground groaning that her head hurts.Brian also arrives. After Marlene called the police, she sent a text to Brian."Miss Reed, would you care to explain what happened here?" one of the police officers says."I was sitting here waiting for my boyfriend to finish work after the game when Sam approached me and started to blame me for all of her problems. She attacked me and I defended myself.""Who taught you to fight like that?" the officer asks. "You don't have a scratch on you and she is beaten to a pulp.""I taught her," Brian speaks up showing his FBI badge. "This girl attacked Miss Reed several months ago. She broke her leg and hospitalized her for a month. Miss Reed has a restraining order against this girl and this girl is currently on probation for the attack.""I warned her," Tris speaks up. I reminded her about the restraining order and told her she should go away. She didn't care and lunged at me. I defended myself."Sam was placed under arrest but she had to be taken to the local hospital for observation. Tris was allowed to leave with Brian and Four to go back to the beach house."Remind me not to mess with you," Four says jokingly."I'll kick your butt," Tris says smiling."I have no doubt. So what do you want to do tonight? I thought maybe we could go back to campus, Phi Delta is having a party for the softball team tonight. We could convince Zeke and Zia to come along."Sam hasn't been back to the fraternity house since the attack. She really doesn't want to go there. "Why don't we just invite Zeke and Zia here? I'm really not up for a party tonight.""That sounds good to me. They'd probably prefer to come here anyway, I don't think Zia's too into the whole fraternity thing."~oOo~When the door bell rings, Four finds Zia, Zeke, Lynn, and Zierra standing in front of him. He smiles and lets them in. "We weren't expecting you two. Tris is going to be happy that you're here.""Well, we just thought it would be more fun to hang with you guys than going to a party," Lynn says. "Besides, things are a little different at Phi Delta."Four leads them to the deck where Tris, Natalie, and Bud are sitting. "What do you mean different?""What's different?" Tris asks. "Hey Lynn and Zienna," she says with a smile. "I'm so glad you came, I miss you."Lynn and Zienna go over and hugs Tris and then sit down at the table. "Phi Delta parties are different," Lynn explains. "When you guys were there, no one ever made me feel different or strange. Now, some of those new guys have a way of looking at us that makes me very uncomfortable and they say some pretty derogatory things.""Uriah doesn't do anything?" Zeke asks."Oh if he sees it, he does. He's told a couple people off on my behalf. But he can't be there all of the time. And when he's not around they don't hesitate to say some pretty unpleasant things. Even some of the new girls are bigoted. I just don't know. I've been thinking about getting out of there and getting my own apartment.""I told her we could find a place in between the two schools and get a place together," Zienna says."Well, I'm glad you guys are here. I have no desire to go back to the sorority house either. I was actually thinking about getting my own apartment for the spring semester," Tris says."When did you decide that?" Four asks, confused."Just being around them for the softball game today, suddenly it just doesn't feel right being there anymore. I don't feel like I belong there.""What do you mean; they were all so excited to see you.""I don't know," Tris says. "I just don't think I want to go back there. It's different now. Everything is different now. I just don't think I want to share a house with people who could turn on me in an instant.""Well, we have an announcement to make that could possibly help with some of these decisions," Zeke says. He didn't tell Four what he was planning.Up until this point, Zia has kept her left hand in her pocket. She hasn't even told her sister that she and Zeke are engaged yet."What is it?" Zienna asks."Well," Zeke starts. "We're going to be moving in together soon."Zia takes her hand out of her pocket and holds it out for everyone to see. "We're getting married," she says.They all erupt in congratulations and excitement."And I would be honored, Tris, if you would be my maid of honor."Tris stands and wraps Zia into a hug, "I would be honored."Then Zia turns to her sister, "And of course I want you to be one of my brides maids, little sister."Zienna smiles, "I would love to big sister."Four shakes Zeke's hand, "Congrats man. I can't believe you didn't tell me.""It's the only secret that I've ever kept, but I had to. Besides, you are going to be very busy keeping me in check until the wedding, being my best man and all."Four smiles, "Thanks man. That will be a full time job."The group sits together and talks about what they are thinking for the wedding and what their plans are for the future.