Second Chances (Eric and Tris)

The end of an era: Part 7

Tris walked up to Four's door. She was filled with anxiety. She felt bad for leaving Eric at home. Even though she knew that it was irrational, that her loyalty should be with her boyfriend, she couldn't help feel that by being her tonight she was hurting him. Even though he never gave any indication of the sort. Four opened the door with a smile. She let his warm smile fill her and tried to push all thoughts of Eric away. She was here to fix her relationship with Four. She walked in and put her bag down. She glanced at the table and with disappointment noticed the takeout boxes there. She pushed the feeling away. She had to give this a fair try.

The evening went by quietly. Four trying to draw Tris into conversation that used to come so easily. However, every time they talked, it ended up coming back to her living arrangement with Eric. Annoyance ate away at Tris. Why did everything have to come back to that. She knew that he was uncomfortable with the situation, but it was what it was. She was not going to make Eric try to find a new place to live. She didn't want him to leave. Four tried to get her attention back. He touched her arm lightly. Stroking his fingers up and down her arm. Tris shivered. The touch no longer felt the same. For the last few months she and Four had been slowly drawing apart and now it was hard for her to be touched by him in that way. Ever since the one and only time they had been intimate, things have been a bit awkward. Tris turned to Four and smiled. She would put her all into this evening. She would not have him blaming her lack of attention on the end of their relationship. Tris turned her arm over to stop his stroking and held onto his hand. "So, how is work going Four?" He proceeded to tell her about everything that was going on in the city that he was seeing on the screens. Once Tris returned her attention back to Four she was able to concentrate on the conversations they were having. Before she knew it, it was time for them to head to bed. After brushing her teeth and getting into her pajamas she headed to Fours bed. He was sitting there without his shirt looking at her expectantly. Tris felt her stomach flutter. She knew that he wanted to be intimate, but she had avoided it ever since they had their first time. She knew that by having sex with him now would either fix or destroy her relationship. This time could be better than the first time, but then if it wasn't, it would make the inevitable that much harder in the morning. Indecision ate away at her. She got into the bed and leaned onto the pillows, deciding to let happen what may. Four came right to her. He placed his hand on her hip and leaned in for a deep kiss. Tris tried to recapture the feelings from early in their relationship as Four worked his tongue against hers. However the longer the kiss went on, the less Tris was into it. This was not the same as before. Maybe it was her growing up and becoming more independent and not needing him as much anymore, but the thrill of Four was no longer there. He seemed to sense her lack of interest. He pulled back from the kiss to look at her. After a second he lowered his head to her neck and started to place feather light open mouth kisses down her neck. Tris did all she could not to cringe. She might not have a lot of experience, but this was not something that she liked. The light touches, the light kisses, it held no appeal. The last time that she asked him to go harder, Four had gotten angry that she was telling him to do something different. After a minute, when she felt Four's hand start to travel from her hip to the hem of her shirt, she couldn't help it anymore. She pushed him away. "Four, I'm sorry. I can't do this." Four's eyes turned hard and his face angry.

'What, because I am not Eric?" Tris's face immediately got red from anger. She pushed the covers off and stood up.

"That is it. I have had it. This has nothing to do with Eric. I have asked you multiple times to kiss me and touch me the way that I want, but then you get angry. I am sorry. I cannot stand the feel of those light kisses. And I am sick and tired of every little thing coming back to Eric. What if I had told you no last week?? What would your come back be then? Eric wasn't living with me at that point...It would be all on you. Just like it is now." Tris shouted, for once allowing her anger to not be tempered through her head before she let the words out. She just said the first thing that was on her mind. She started walking around the apartment packing her belongings.

"Tris what are you doing?" Four asked, dangerously quiet. Tris looked up and raised her eyebrow at him.

"What does it look like Four? I am getting my stuff to go home. I don't want to be here." Four was out of bed and in front of the door with lightening speed. He blocked Tris's way out. Tris had to stop short to keep from bumping him.

"You will not leave here. I will not allow it."

"You will not allow it? What am I? Your child? You have no control over me Four. I am free to do as I please. Let me by." Tris said in a calm, angry voice. She had to fight to keep the small thread of fear that was building in her from showing in her voice. Four grabbed a hold of her upper arm. His grip was like steel.

"Tris, I am warning you..."

"Or what Four? Are you going to hit me? Just like your father hit you." Four's eyes narrowed.

" I would never!" He practically shouted as his grip tightened. Tris winced at the pain.

"No? Just like you would never hurt me? Take a look at my arm Four. You're hurting me. Let go." Four glanced down and dropped Tris's arm as if it was a snake. He stared wide-eyed at the marks he had left on her arm, knowing they would bruise. "Now let me go." Tris said, her voice like steel. Four moved aside without seeing her. His eyes had yet to leave her arm. Tris stepped out the apartment before turning briefly back. "It's over Four. Do not talk to me for a while. I don't want to see you." With that Tris walked swiftly down the hall. As soon as she turned the corner she threw herself against the wall, and let a sob come out. She started to run. She blindly made her way back to her apartment, unaware of the stares that she got as she ran, crying and in pajamas through the pit. She reached her apartment and stopped at the door. She tried to compose herself before she went it. She could see the lights on under the door but it was silent inside. Taking a deep breath and wiping the tears from her face, she opened her door and stepped in. Eric was nowhere to be seen. She could however, hear the shower going. She was thankful for a few minutes to gather herself. She dropped her bag and walked to the kitchen sink and splashed water on her face to cool it. She then walked to the fridge. Eric must have bought some stuff as there were what Tris assumed where beers. She grabbed on, twisted it open and chugged half of it. It was at this time that Eric choice to walk out of the bathroom. He had on nothing but a towel, slung low on his hips. He stopped short when he took in the site that was Tris. Her hair a mess, her face was splotchy, her eyes red and puffy and she was chugging a beer, that he knew she never drank. She noticed him as she lowered her beer. Her eyes went wide as she took in his lack of clothes.