As soon as my extra one hour is complete, I leave the room and head back to the apartment. If I had taken the short cut I would've gotten there in two minutes. But I avoid it because I don't want to run into Tris.

I wish I hadn't thought this.

The moment I step foot onto my hallway, some runs into my arms. I just stand motionless and don't return the gesture.

She realizes this and pulls away. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I start walking again, but she gets hold of my arm and pulls me back.

"I know it's nothing, tell me." She insists.

I feel like telling her but I know that I have my anger caged and if I let it go then all hell will break loose.

I keep my voice low and say. "How can you keep pretending?"

I don't wait for reply and head inside. There is no one in the living area except Marcus. He looks up and notices my expression.

"What?" He asks.

I at once straighten it. "Nothing." It's the same reply I gave Tris.

"It's that girl isn't it?" He asks, putting down the papers he's holding.

I just nods my head and then after a pause I feel obliged to add. "You were right about her."

He looks at me for a second. Then he gets up and shoves his hands into his pockets.

"Parents always say something for a reason. It's good to know that you finally paid heed to any of my advice."

I decide to come clean. "I did. I did ignore it, till it actually happened."

"Good for you." He pats me on the shoulder and goes to his room. I go over what just happened and come to one conclusion. We're finally bonding.

-Time Lapse-

The next morning, I wake up to a strange aching inside me. I reach up and try to rub it off but no matter how hard I rub, it doesn't stop.

Does it really hurt so much when you loose someone you love?

I push all thoughts of Tris out of my head and get ready for the day. I take a long shower to wash away any remains of hers. Then I change into a new shirt because I don't feel like anything old. I might've wore it when I was with her.

I go down to breakfast but she's not there. I heave a sigh of relief and focus on the task at hand. Eating. Tris shows up somewhere near the end but thankfully there is no place at our table.

I finish breakfast and leave with Zeke and Shauna. When we jump onto the train, he pounces on me.

"Why are you here?"

"I'm going to school." I reply in my 'matter of fact' voice.

"Why didn't you wait for Tris?" He asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Why should I tell you?" I ask in reply.

"Because I'm your friend." He states.

"Uhuh? Well, so is Shauna and she isn't asking questions." I tell him, pointing at her who has her nose in a book.

When she senses our eyes on her, she says to me. "I could but I don't feel like it because I have a test."

Then to Zeke, she says. "And you stop it! Shut up!"

"Come on, it's just a test."

"Not for me!" Shauna goes back to studying and Zeke goes back to gazing out of the open door, leaving me alone with my disturbing thoughts.

When we reach school we all part ways at the entrance. I decide to stop by the washrooms.

When I come back out, my worst nightmare comes true. At least the current one.

Tris is passing by.

She stops when she sees me and exclaims. "Hi!"

I ignore the greeting and keep walking. But she comes to stand in front of me, forcing me to stop.

"What?" I ask crossing my arms.

"Why are you acting like this?" She asks.

"Like what?"

"Like...Like I did something wrong." She replies.

"That's because you did." I try to walk past her but she stops me again.

"What did I do?"

"What didn't you do? You were the one who said that we could be friends and then when we finally had everything sorted out, you betrayed me."

Tears appear in her eyes. "W...What?"

"Don't act all innocent." I tell her as sternly as I possibly can because no matter what her face still make my heart ache.

A look of realization crosses her face. "How...How did you find out?"

"Oh, nice! You intended to do it all along and never wanted me to find out! You are such a hypocrite!"

Now she's crying but she manages to scream after me. "I was helping you!"

I turn around and march back to her. "OH REALLY?! HOW?!"

"Eric threatened me." She manages to say, in a whisper.

I laugh, humorlessly. "Eric, huh? Of course! Blame it all on him!"

"But he did." She insists.

"What proof do you have?" I ask her.

"Ask anyone from your family." She says.

This makes me listen to her. "Wait. You said Eric threatened you."

"He did but your whole family was there." She says.

I mule over the thought for a moment and then decide. "Look, I'm not saying that I forgive you but today evening come to my apartment. They're all there at that time. We'll see if you're innocent or guilty."

With this I go to class and for the rest of the day there are no more run ins.

I spend the entire day at the apartment. I get my homework done and sort out all my clothes. But not for a moment I let myself sit idle because I know that all the thoughts are going to drive me crazy.

As Tris's time approaches I grow more and more anxious. I want her out of my life but at the same time I want her to stay.

The second I hear a knock on the door, I bolt out of my room and throw open the door. She's stands there looking small and pale.

"Come in." I simply say as I usher her in.

In no time everyone is there and her "trial" starts.

"Tris said that you threatened her." I say out loud. This halts all conversation and everyone's eyes are on me.

"We didn't threaten her." Eric says.

At this I look at her and ask. "Well?"

She opens her mouth and then closes it. After a few seconds she says. "It wasn't exactly me who the y threatened. It was you."

She did this for me? Why would she do that?

Marcus starts to cut in but I urge her to go on.

"They made me do it. They made me get a print of your search history. They threatened another beating if I didn't do it." She pauses and then continues. "I've seen you go through it two time and I just couldn't watch you go though it again. Not if I could prevent it."

"Is that true?" I ask. And the people I'm referring to understand.

"Yes, it is. Though, I tried to stop them but they wouldn't listen." I look up to see that it's Evelyn who spoke.

I remember accusing her for not stopping the other's from torturing me. I look at Tris for confirmation and she nods.

"Does either of you have anything to say about it?" I ask Marcus and Eric.

Without a word Eric rolls up his sleeves and Marcus unbuckles his belt. I know what is coming. But Tris's eyes widen when he slides it out of the loop holes.

"You can't! I did what you wanted me to!" Tris exclaims, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"The deal was that he wouldn't find out. But he did."

Eric moves towards Tris and pushes her out of the way before launching himself at me.

My training kicks in and I manage to shove him away. But as I feared my entire life putting up a fight against both of them is pointless. The moment I have him out of the way, Marcus punches my in the jaw and raises the belt like a whip.

I shield my face with my arm, waiting for the pain to hit me. But it doesn't. I find Tris standing in front of me with blood oozing out of a gash on her shoulder.

I at once step in front of her to protect her from my family's harassment. But to my surprise some else steps in.

Evelyn.

"Stop it!"

"What did you say?" Marcus asks her.

"I said stop hurting my son!" With this she kicks him in the balls which makes him bend over in pain.

I at once turn around to face Tris, who's trying hard not to cry. I take off my t-shirt which I wore this morning to avoid Tris but now I press it to the gash to stop the bleeding.

"I'm sorry." She says.

"No, I'm sorry. For ever doubting you." I tell her.

She says nothing and falls into my arms. I hold her close to me because I've had enough and no way am I letting my family hurt her again.

Well? What do you guys think?

People knew that Tris had a good reason and she did.

Thank you @CovahDe @DauntlessBumbleBee @Safije4ever and @tiff_any for commenting! :)

And thank you for all your votes too :)

P.S. the picture made me cry :"(