Second Chances (Eric and Tris)

Forgiveness: Part 17

Tris woke the next morning feeling a bit anxious. With the promise that she made to Eric last night, it was not something that she took lightly. She needed someone to talk to. She needed her best friend. However, it had been almost a week since she had talked to Christina. She had take Four's side on their breakup as far as she knew. Christina had never come to try to talk to her about it, so Tris just assumed that she had stuck by Four, as she did not like Eric and made that feeling clear whenever possible. Tris just hoped that with her morning off she would be able to get Christina to understand why she ended her relationship with Four and where she stood with Eric. Tris rolled over and glanced over at Eric as he slept. There was still a few more minutes before his alarm was to go off. She studied his face. She was worried that he would reject her once he learned that she was a divergent. How was she going to tell him? He looked so peaceful as he slept, no worry lines, no frown, his face smooth with his mouth slightly open. Tris reached out and gently stroked his cheek a sad frown on her face. She got up gently out of bed before his alarm went off to get ready to meet Christina. Just as Tris was finishing up getting ready, Eric was getting out of bed. "You're up early. Hot date?" Eric joked with a long yawn. Tris rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"I am going to meet Christina for breakfast. I want to try to work things out with her. I miss her." Tris said. Eric nodded his head as he headed into the bathroom.

"Good luck. I know that I have a lot to do with her shutting you out and I am sorry for that. Let me know if there is anything I can do." He said with a smile as he headed into the bathroom.

"Thanks Eric. I will let you know. I will see you later." With a small wave Tris headed out the door. She walked to the pit a saw Christina waiting by the bakery. Tris jogged the rest of the way. Stopping right in front of Christina, Tris smiled at her friend. "Hey Christina! How have you been?"

"Good. Long time no see, Tris. How have you been?" Christina said, smiling, but a bit more reserved.

"I have been alright. Stressed. There is just so much going on. I am so glad that you agreed to meet me. I have needed to talk to you so much. I have missed you." Tris said, ending in a near whisper. Christina got a sad smile on her face and reached for Tris's hand.

"I have missed you too. I just don't understand what has been going on." Tris nodded.
"Let's get some coffee and breakfast and I will explain what I can."

"Lead the way!" The girls headed into the bakery and loaded up on caffeine and carbs, selecting a booth in the back of the cafe to sit and talk. Tris choose to sit against the wall, knowing there were no cameras or listening devices in this particular section of the cafe. She was safe to talk here. "So...." Christina started, as she peeled apart her muffin.

"So..." Tris said, and let out a laugh. "I don't even know where you want me to start. This last week has felt as eventful as a year! Tell me what you want to know about first and we will go from there."

"Ok, tell me what happened with you and Four. I heard what Eric said in the pit the other day..." Christina gave Tris a searching look. Tris looked down at her coffee and watched it steam for a minute while searching for the right words.

"Alright, so I know that you and Four are still friends, and I don't want to do anything to change that. I am not going to tell you who you can and can't be friends with. I don't believe in that. Please understand that Christina. However, I can no longer be around him. He crossed a line that he can't uncross. The other night I went over to try to work things out. You know, try and work out his anger about having Eric at my house and whatnot. However, no matter what we talked about, he brought everything back to Eric. He wouldn't let it go. I finally got angry and tried to leave and he wouldn't let me. He grabbed my arm to force me to stay, bruising me in the process. I was able to leave by showing him that he was acting like his father. He let me go and I have not been alone with him since. When I got home I was a mess. Eric was there and I told him what happened and he was the one that saw the bruises. I never even knew they were there. He kinda went off the rails. I made him promise not to physically hurt Four but he told me that he was going to have word with him when he saw him again. And that is what you saw that morning." Tris took a break and took a deep breath. She took a sip of her coffee to steady herself. When she looked back up, Christina was looking at her wide eyed. Tris looked around quickly, then back to Christina. Christina reached over and grabbed Tris's hand.