Divergent: Unleashed | ✓

Chapter 36

Over the next few weeks, Uriah and Marlene text, call each other, and talk on Facetime and Oovoo. The week before Christmas, Uriah takes a trip up to Philadelphia to see his brother, Shauna, Lauren, and of course Four and Tris. On his way to the airport, Shauna texted him.

This just in- Lynn is coming.

Uriah rolled his eyes and smiled.  Oh great. Now I get to deal with her AND you AND my brother?

Deal with it :P He had shut off his phone after that.

Zeke picks him up from the airport, and they sit waiting for an hour for Lynn to arrive. When she does, they pile into his car and drive to his house. "You two better be grateful- I took a week off for this." He grins.

Uriah rolls his eyes at his brother. "Yeah, right. You said that both you and Shauna got the next few weeks off for us to hang out."

"Correction, little brother- Shauna and Lauren took the next few weeks off. I took off this week and a few days for New Year's."

Lynn waves her hand in a dismissive gesture. "Yeah, yeah. We know. You can shut up now."

Uriah turns around from the passenger seat and grins. "Aww, is wittle Wynn annoyed?"

She narrows her eyes at him and kicks the back of his seat. "Shut the hell up, Uri." She cocks her head to the side. "And turn up the music- I like this song."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

That night, Tris, Four, and Lauren come over for dinner. Uriah hugs Tris and has a ten-minute conversation with her, catching up on what's been happening since he last saw her in New York. She seems different- happier, in a sense.

They eat baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and string beans- which Tris and Four find hilarious, until everyone realizes that it's basically an Abnegation meal. "So Four," Zeke says, shoving some chicken into his mouth, "How's life?"

Four laughs. "Great. I'm either in school or at work, and I never get to see anyone."

"Four." In that one word, Shauna seems to tell him off for what he said.

He rolls his eyes. "Well, it's the truth."

Lauren shakes her head. "Tris, what about you?"

Tris shrugs, resting her hand on Four's knee under the table. "I'm usually at work in the mall. Or I help the Ronny Leason out."

"What store?" Lynn asks.

"A few." Tris says. "Hot Topic, mostly. I also work at Barnes and Noble."

Uriah cocks his head. "The book store?"

Tris nods. Then, uncomfortable with the attention, she looks at Shauna and Lauren. "What about you two? What have you guys been up to?"

Lauren shrugs. "I work at a tattoo parlor."

"I do makeup at a salon." Shauna says. "Other than that, nothing."

Zeke looks at Lynn. "What about you, Lynn? What've you been doing since we thought you died?"

Lynn shrugs. "You know. Hanging out, considering what type of job I want- the works." She looks over at Uriah. "And this is completely off topic, but have you finally grown a pair and talked to Marlene?"

Uriah narrows his eyes at her. "Actually, Lynn, yes I have. We've been talking for a few weeks now."

Zeke grins. "Ah, so you finally took my advice and just called the girl."

Uriah picks at his food. "Yeah. So?"

Tris nudges his arm. "I'm just glad you two are finally talking again. I kept telling her to call you, but she refused." She shakes her head. "That girl is stubborn."

"Not as stubborn as you." Shauna tells her. "Remember when you refused to talk to our friend Four here?"

Tris narrows her eyes at Shauna.  "No fair. I had to do that."

"Well," Lauren adds in, "you didn't have to..."

"Okay," Four says. "Changing the subject. What exactly is this whole Christmas thing about?"