Second Chances (Eric and Tris)

The first morning: Part 4

The next morning, Tris was warm. Warmer than she remembered ever being before. And it was nice. The events of last night came flooding back to her before she even opened her eyes. She was afraid of the position she would find herself in. She knew that the warmth she felt was Eric. They were touching somehow. In fact, she could hear his heartbeat. Tris slowly opened her eyes. It was her fault. She was the one laying on Eric. He was sprawled on his back with his left hand up over his head. Tris was laying on his chest and her body was pressed to his side. As she gently picked up her head she hoped not to wake him. His breathing remained steady as she moved off him. She slid back to her side of the bed, noticing how far she moved over during the night. Eric had stayed on his best behavior. Even while she was laying on him his right arm was sprawled over towards her pillow. As Tris laid there trying to calm down, a beeping started. Eric groaned and rolled over. The beeping continued. It must be his alarm. He groped around on the floor and found his watch. The beeping stopped and Eric rolled onto his stomach on the bed and buried his head back in the pillow. Tris watched him for a few minutes. She was sure that he had gone back to sleep. The beeping started again. "Ducking piece of git" Eric grumbled into the pillow. Tris couldn't help but laugh. Eric's head shot up at the sound. He glanced over. His eyes focused on her.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you up." He said, his voice still thick with sleep.

"No, I was already up."

"What was so funny at this god forsaken hour?"

"You." Eric turned his head to look at her. "It sounded like you said 'ducking piece of git', sorry I couldn't help but laugh." Eric chuckled.

"Well I will make sure to make my cursing more clear tomorrow." Eric said as he sat up. For the first time, Tris noticed that he had no shirt on. A blush found her cheeks again. She had been laying on his bare chest only minutes ago. Thank God she woke up before his alarm. Eric stood. "I'm going to take a shower."

"OK." Tris watched as Eric walked to the bathroom. She allowed herself a moment to admire his physique. It was so different from Four. Four was slender and somewhat wiry. Eric, on the other hand, had broad shoulders and chiseled muscles down his back. Her eyes continued to follow his muscles to where his pajama pants hung low on his hips. Shaking her head to get rid of the thoughts that were starting to crowd her head. She couldn't think of Eric that way. She was dating Four and she had to keep Eric firmly in friendship zone. As Tris heard the shower start she jumped out of bed to start getting ready for her day in order to keep her thoughts from going where they shouldn't. While Eric was in the shower, Tris made coffee, a habit that she had picked up since being in dauntless. She brewed enough for herself and Eric. Just as she was pouring herself a cup, Eric walked into the kitchen from the bathroom. His hair was unparted and not yet gelled. His curls went in every which direction, giving him a handsome, yet adorable look, that Tris would never had associated with Eric before. He gave a deep appreciative sigh at the smell of coffee.

"Coffee. You read my mind." He said as Tris handed him a mug.

"Do you want to put anything in it? I have milk and sugar."

"Nah, I like it black. Thanks." Eric sat at a stool at the counter. He was now in his black work cargo pants but still had no shirt on. Tris had to work hard to keep her eyes off his chest.

"So," Tris started leaning on the other end of the counter across from Eric, "curly?" She asked pointing to his hair. Eric grunted.

"Yup. That is why it has to be gelled so much. It needs to be kept short and under control." Tris couldn't help the smile that came to her lips. Eric looked up and saw, causing a blush to hint on her cheeks.

"Well gelled or not, it looks good." Tris's eyes went wide when she realized what she had just said.

"Did you just compliment me Stiff?" Eric laughed.

"Well....I...just..." Tris stuttered over herself. Eric continued to laugh.

"I'm just teasing. We should finish getting ready. Don't want to be late for work." With that Eric took his coffee back into the bedroom to finish getting ready.

Tris ran to the bathroom to finish getting ready. Together Eric and Tris walked out of the apartment towards the leadership building.