Dauntless High School

Chapter 39

TRIS

I am always relieved to get first period over with. More than once in the last few weeks, I have skipped it and come to school an hour late just so that I could avoid staring at Uriah's empty seat beside mine. Even with the new hope that hand-squeeze brought last night, I hate the reminder that he is... where he is... and not where he should be.

Art class is much better. I have lots of friends in Art. Zeke is in this class, and Christina, and Al. Uriah never was, so here, I don't have to miss him so much.

I take my usual seat at my usual table, next to Zeke and across from Christina. I haven't seen Al all week.

"Tris!" Christina says. "I heard the party is at your house this weekend?"

"Really," I say in a flat voice, giving Zeke the side-eye. "And who, exactly, did you hear that from?"

"That's not what I said!" Zeke protests. "I said we could ask her to host the party tomorrow night."

"Uh, no," Christina argues. "You said, and I quote, 'Don't worry, Tris always has my back.'"

I raise an eyebrow and glare at Zeke. He gives me this puppy-dog face that reminds me so much of Uriah and the next thing I know, I'm agreeing to this without a second thought. "Fine. I'll do it, but this is it. After this, no more parties trashing my house this season. And you're helping clean up."

"Yes, ma'am," Zeke salutes, grinning. His eyes flick to something behind me and his smile turns to a scowl. He even crosses his arms over his chest. I look over my shoulder to see what Zeke is glaring at and am surprised to find Al backing away from us looking... afraid? Of Zeke? He sits down at a table by himself in a corner of the room.

I turn to glare at Zeke and he's still watching Al...and still glaring at him. "What the hell was that about?" I hiss.

Zeke huffs. "Nothing, Tris, don't worry about it."

"It didn't look like nothing. Christina? Do you know what's got his panties in a twist?"

She looks bored and shrugs.

"Drop it, Tris," Zeke says. "I said don't worry about it."

"I can decide for myself what's worth worrying about. So just tell―"

I am interrupted by Mrs Kapoor starting class. But as soon as she finishes giving us instructions and cuts us loose to begin our charcoal drawings, I gather up my things, ignore Zeke's protests, and plop myself into the seat across from Al. We aren't exactly best friends, but he doesn't deserve to be treated like that. After what happened in Ms Reyes's van on Friday, I probably shouldn't be the one doing this ― or maybe I absolutely should be, who the hell knows ― but since it seems Zeke and Christina won't...

"Tris... uh... um..." Al stutters. I give him a look that says 'seriously, do you want me to go back to the other table right now?' and he takes a very measured breath and finally says, "Hi."

"Hi, Al," I say. I arrange my charcoal pencils and drawing paper on the desk and look around for something to draw. Seeing nothing, I grab my backpack and pull out the apple I never got around to eating this morning, set it on the table and begin drawing.

"H-how are you, Tris," Al asks.

"Fine," I say. I glance up at him to see that he has the weirdest, most uncomfortable look on his face and he is just staring at me. Not drawing. Just staring. After a moment of deliberation where my own eyes are focused on my drawing and I can feel Al's still boring into me, I decide to just rip off the bandaid. "Seriously, does this have to be so weird?"