Dauntless High

Chapter 17: Tris is a Hot Mess

My eyes barely open before they are met with bright lights. I groan, feeling a pain in my chest. Just like that, I'm back in pitch black darkness. 

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"Tris?" I hear his voice, and want to pass out again. 

I force my eyes open, confused at my surroundings. I feel different things attached to me that don't feel right. I look forward, seeing Four sitting by my bedside. 

I take a deep breath, which is slightly pained. I try to talk, but my throat feels dry and raw. When my vision clears, I figure out where I am. The hospital gown on my is extremely uncomfortable, and the blanket is thin and doesn't warm me at all. 

"Are you okay?" He asks. 

I shake my head, still confused on what's happening. 

"Apparently you broke two ribs, one of them punctured your lung." He explains, leaning back. 

I swallow, trying to regain my senses. I remember the others over at my house, and Mom is on a business trip, I can't recall the events before getting here. More importantly, there is no way anybody should have let Four in here. 

"W-Why are you here?" My voice is rough and raspy, barely forming words. 

He looks hurt, "Your friends went to go eat, so I volunteered to watch over you. Your mom won't be here for a few more hours, she got a flight tight back. Yeah, your welcome for being a friend." He mumbles the last part, expecting me to ignore it. 

I look down again, seeing what those weird tubes were in me. My eyes stare at one coming from my chest. 

"It's a chest tube, you have to have it in for a few more days." Four says. 

I sigh, leaning my head back. If I would have just told Four the truth, I wouldn't be in the situation right now. I feel so awful, and tried to blame everything that happened on him. I was just overreacting, and made everything worse. 

"I'm s-sorry." I stutter, my voice slowly returning. 

He shakes his head, "About what?" 

I breath again, ready, "Everything. I g-got mad and pushed you away. I should h-have listened." 

His face becomes soft, something I didn't expect. "Tris, it doesn't even matter now. You got hurt, which is technically my fault. I shouldn't have told you about me and Lauren, because then she wouldn't have fought you. I don't blame you for not wanting to tell anyone, I get not wanting all of the attention." 

I smile, not realizing Four had any idea what I was feeling. He still should not feel like any of this was his fault, however. 

"Beatrice Prior?" I hear the doctor call, drawing my attention away from Four. 

I nod, giving him a small grin. 

"I am glad you are awake. Are you feeling alright?" He sits in the chair beside Four. 

I nod again. 

"Fantastic. If you don't know, you have two broken ribs, and one happened to puncture your lung. Your friend rushed you here, where we had to insert a chest tube. You blacked out from pain moments before you got here, so we must notify you that the chest tube was immediately necessary to re inflate your lung. We had no choice, and I trust you think this was the correct action as well." 

"Yes, whatever you needed." I respond, wanting to take another nap. 

"Thank you. The protocol from here on out is to leave the tube for two days or so, to make sure everything is running properly again. Then, you will stay here for 48 hours for observation. After that time, you will be able to return home." He finishes with a satisfied look plastered on his face. 

How can a man be happy looking at a teenager who got beaten to a pulp and broke her ribs? 

"Thank you." I mumble. 

"You are very welcome. I will have a nurse in here every once in a while to check on your vitals, and watch the tube. Make sure to notify us if there is any discomfort." 

Oh, you mean, like a giant plastic tube coming from your chest? Who would feel weird with that? 

"Good luck." With those words, the doctor spins on his heel and walks out. 

"How can he be so happy looking at you?" Four asks with a chuckle, mimicking my thought. 

"That is an amazing question." I laugh. 

Four starts looking at me, as if trying to figure out how I actually feel with plastic hanging out of the side of me. Now that I think about it, it is a really awkward placement. I have to hold my arm away to keep from touching it, which is bothersome. 

"Tris, how are you actually feeling." Four asks, grabbing my hand. 

I think about pulling away from his grasp, but something about it it warm and comforting. 

"Vulnerable." It's the only word that makes sense. 

My body sits here, attached to an IV, the chest tube, and my chest wrapped stiffly, it's all ready for whatever staring or poking they want to do. Vulnerable, it's the perfect term. 

He looks terrified, not for himself, but me. "That is...exactly what I would feel like." 

I roll my eyes, "Yes, when my crazy psycho ex-boyfriend beats you to a pulp." 

Four chuckles, "Oh please, like you've ever had a real boyfriend." 

"Probably better than your slutty girlfriend." 

He holds up is hands in defense, "Now let's be reasonable, I am a complete fucking idiot. Can you blame me for dating Lauren?" 

I can't help but laugh, knowing his words are absolutely true. 

"Great, I take that as a 'yes Four, you are a complete fucking idiot'" He smirks. 

"Of course!"

"Am I interrupting something?" Caleb's voice tears through the room, making us both feel immediately awkward. 

I clear my throat, "Not at all." 

His eyes are cold as he walks in, sitting in the seat closer to me. "I thought you hated him?" 

Caleb spits out the words like he isn't sitting right beside him. 

I roll my eyes, "I never said that. He was annoying at first, but we moved past that." 

He shakes his head, "It's not that simple. How are you feeling otherwise?" 

Better before you got here. 

"Absolutely fine." 

"That is great, I came to check on you before I head back to school." He says. 

"Wait, so you came on here, got mad at Four, said hello, and now you are just going back to school?" I exclaim, sitting the bed up. 

He nods, "I still have to keep up my academics, Beatrice. This is not a fatal injury." 

"That's shitty. So the only way you would stay is if I was lying on my death bed?" 

"I'm sorry Beatrice, I didn't me-" 

I wave my hand, "Go. Leave. I don't want to hear it." 

He drags himself away, leaving me staring at an agitated Four. 

"What an ass." He mumbles under his breath. 

I roll my eyes, "Just my luck. I almost die, and my brother is still more focused on school." 

Four sighs, "Well, that's life for you. You find out who really cares for you when something like this happens." 

His words echo in my mind. So, if the people who stay are my real friends, that means Four is one of them. Four actually is my friend.