Count On Me

Quiet Mornings

A/N: Yikes, this one took me forever, didn't it? All I can say is, writer's block. I knew what needed to happen, but I just couldn't write. If you're still with me even after the long wait, thank you so much for reading. Anyway, moving on... here (finally) is the chapter.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 | 10:30 AM | FOUR

The apartment is quiet when I bring my Stephen King novel out to the living room. Before Uriah and Tris moved in, I didn't read as often, but now it's become a regular part of my day: get up, eat breakfast, go for a run, have a shower, then read for a while.

When I get to the living room, Tris is curled up against one arm of the couch, eyes focused on the John Green paperback in her hand. I can see the library stickers on the spine and wonder how many more borrowed books are in her room. Whether she would admit it or not, some things don't change; Tris always had a stack of library books on her bedside table back when we were dating. She has always loved to read, and the habit inspired me to pick the hobby back up as well. I won't admit it aloud, but it's mostly for the excuse to spend time with her. Tris got a job waitressing at nearby Hopworks Urban Brewery (which most of us refer to as "the HUB") while Uriah is working daytime at a sporting goods store, so this is the time of day where Tris and I are home together without her boyfriend.

The royal blue streaks in her golden hair have mostly faded out and been replaced by a lighter aqua blue. I never would have imagined her doing anything like that when I knew her before, but the more I get to know her (though she doesn't make it easy) the more I find that it suits her.

"Morning, Tris," I say as I sit at the opposite end of the couch.

She glances up and gives me a small smile. "Morning," she replies before immediately turning her attention back to her book.

I read for about ten minutes. Some days, her presence is more distracting than others and today is one of those days where I am more affected; I only make it through a few pages and hardly remember what I read. So I set the book down and look at Tris who is still engrossed in her book.

"Have you been to the central library yet?" I ask her.

She looks up with a blank face. "Sorry, what?"

"The central library," I repeat. "The one downtown, near the university. Have you been there yet?"

"Uh, no." She lowers her book, her finger marking the place she left off. "Why?"

I shrug. "I've just always thought you'd love it. It's much bigger than the local one. Oh, and Powell's. Have you been to Powell's?"

"I work on Powell," she says with confusion.

I shake my head. "Not the street," I clarify. "Powell's City of Books, the used bookstore downtown. It's huge, supposed to be the largest used bookstore in the world. I'm going today, actually, if you want to come."

"Um, that sounds cool... I don't know, maybe. I'll think about it. When are you going?"

I feel a bit lighter, Tris usually turns me down flat when I invite her along somewhere. Maybe she's coming around. I know she isn't available, but I at least want her in my life as a friend if we can't be more than that. Not that I'm willing to give up hope that we can get back together one day.

Tris's phone buzzes on the coffee table and she looks at it then quickly silences it and sets it back down. I gain just a little more confidence; she could have used a phone call as an excuse to end the conversation but she was quick to ignore it.