The Hero's Call///Fourtris AU

Chapter 3

I stare at him and he gives me a smile smile before turning to my father.

"It's a pleasure to meet your lovely daughter sir." He says politely. Dad laughs and shakes his head.

"Oh don't be so formal. We're here to have fun tonight. Tell you what, why don't you and Beatrice have a dance while I make a few more rounds. Is that alright, honey?" He asks. I give him a strained smile and nod.

"Sure." Four grins and offers his arm. I take it and he leads us the the dance floor where soft musician playing  and many couples are dancing.

"So, Beatrice." He starts, placing a hand on my hip. I glare and place my hand on his shoulder. He laces his fingers and my other hand and we slowly start to move around the dance floor.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew my father? I know you recognize his name." I growl. He shrugs.

"I didn't want it to interfere." He says simply. I raise my eyebrows.

"With what?"

"You're a Master Sergeant's daughter, I wasn't sure about getting myself in a situation where I could potentially be stuck on bathroom duty every time I even mentioned you." I laugh a little, leaning closer

"He's nothing like that, and you seem oh so confident I'm even going to fall for you anyway," I whisper shout. He laughs.

"You already did once today." My face flushes.

"That was different, and just-"

"Mind if I cut in?" A nasally voice says. I turn and scowl.  Corporal Eric Matthews, US Marines, stands behind us. Let's just say, if he was on fire and I had a bucket of water, the water would be down the drain in a second. He and his little friends always lurk around events like these, leering and drinking heavily until one of them either passes out or throws up. He's been known to get too handsy with girls in the past, including me.

"Sorry Eric. Not now." I say. He smirks.

"Aw, come on Tris. Just one dance?" His hand pulls at my dress. I scowl and jerk away from him, bumping into Four's chest. His eyes are cold as he glances at Eric.

"Eric, aren't you here with a date?" He mutters. Eric glares.

"Actually, that would be me! Hi again, Four." I see him since and turn around.

"Hello Nita." He says curtly. A girl with dark brown here stand in a short pink cocktail dress, twirling her hair.

"Wanna switch partners for a dance?" She asks, glancing at him and bitting her lip. As I'm about to object, Eric leans over and whispers,

"Daddy's watching." I swallow hard. I'm the daughter that's supposed to set a good example and provide a proud image for my father, and making a scene would not be good for him. Four glances at me, but I force myself to look away.

"One dance." I whisper. Nita squeals and grabs Four, but his eyes stayed locked in me. Eric grabs my arms and pulls me to the other side of the dance floor. His hands find my waist, too low on my waist, and I surrpress a gag.

"So Tris, I just got back from my tour, and I would love if you showed me around New York again. It's been such a long time since we had some... one on one time." He smirks. I shudder as he smirks. He leads me through a medium paced dance, pressing himself closer and closer to me with each step.

"No way in hell. Besides, wouldn't your little girlfriend over there have a problem with that?" I motion over to where Four dances stiffly with Nita He shrugs.

"Not a problem, our little secret." His hands finally move too far down, and I push his chest and pull away.
"What the hell is your problem?" He growls, glancing over his shoulder at my father. I roll my eyes, scoffing in disgust.
"I can't do this." Before he can respond, I'm already making my way across the dance floor. I pass Nita and Four and he furrows his brows at me. I make my way across the room and towards the door to the terrace. I open it and take a deep breath of the cold November air. Damn it, I should have brought a jacket. Stepping outside, I rub my arms and take in the twinkling lights of the city. Even now, after all these years, I still get goosebumps looking at it.

My head is swimming with frustration and anger. Anger with Eric. Lust and confusion with Four. Maybe before I did consider falling for him, but now  his selfless reasons for staying away is messing with my brain.

The door behind me opens, but I ignore it. Suddenly, I am enveloped in warmth, the smell of soap and metal filling my nose. A coat is wrapped around my shoulders. I turn and find myself looking straight into Four's deep blue eyes. They seem to twinkle in the moonlight.

"Are you ok?" He whispers. I nod and sigh.

"Just frustrated." He nods.

"I'm sorry about what happened in there. I didn't want to seem like an ass, but that bastard shouldn't be touching you. I should've stepped in." I shrug and smile.

"It's ok." He shakes his head.

"At least let me treat you to a cup of coffee, as a 'sorry for being such a gentleman who thinks he's an ass' kind of thing." I laugh and nod.

"I'd like that." He slips his hand over mine on the rail, squeezing slightly as he gazed over the city.

"It's crazy, how big everything seems here. The buildings, the streets. It's so different." I watch his face closely as he seems to get lost in his own thoughts.

"How long was your tour?" I ask quietly. His jaw locks a bit as he glances down over the rail.

"18 months." I feel a bit dumbfounded
"Shit, that's a long time." He nods, squeezing me hand again. I pull his jacket tighter around me, brushing a strand of hair back behind my ear.
"Are you glad to be home?" He finally turns to look at me fully, smiling softly as reaches out and does up the button on the front.

"I'm starting to be."