It was colder today than all the previous week, breath falling from lips in a beautiful swirl of fog. Tires skimming the streets, motors huffing and exhaust pipes showing just how cold it was beginning to get. Fall was coming to a close, and winter was rather abrupt in that city. Snowing in streets until salt coated the asphalt and cars needed more frequent washes. Cars were lined up, traffic in the mid morning, wrapping around the block to a tall dark bt glassy building. Teens and adults alike filed out of cars, whether it belonged to them or it was a carpool, music played softly, and a buss pulled from the clutter. Fingers gripped the steering wheel to one dark nissan in particular, nails nicely trimmed softly digging into the fabric, belonging to thin and accurate fingers. Tris looked left and right, then left again, biting her lip and furrowing her brows as she turned around into the school parking lot.

The girl next to her looking everywhere she could, taking in everything, shrinking and slouching slightly as she grew wary. Part of her was still upset, furious actually with the woman beside her, refusing to turn her gaze and settled for watching people flood into the building. She didn't admit that she was afraid, she had been trained to physically drop someone to the floor in seconds, granted, she had three days before now to perfect that skill. Plus, she had sworn under oath only to use her skills in defense, and to not speak of them. She didn't understand the purpose for teaching someone something if they couldn't use it, or talk about it.

Tris skillfully glided the car into a parking spot, shifting it to park before killing the engine. For a moment she paused, her blonde hair in more of a mess than what she cared for at the moment, her eyes gentle as she gazed upon the statue like teen beside her. Tris waited, putting her keys in her pocket and unbuckling her seat belt, she took a breath, "You ready?"

"It's my birthday," Beth muttered, glaring out the window much harder, willing the glass to melt under the onslaught of her muted anger. Her hand pressing more into her cheek, and her elbow throbbing and stinging dully against the door grip. Tris pressed her lips together and tried not to sigh, "It is," She said softly, aware of the teens anger.

"It's my 17th birthday and you're making me go to school today," She grumbled louder, almost in disbelief. Tris wet her lips, "I am aware,"

"We're also 30 minutes early, no one is that early,"

"It's a big school, and can be rather complicated, I thought you might be grateful for the extra exploration time. You might make some friends too, you know,"

"I don't care about friends! What the hell Tris!? Why are we here?" Bethany exploded, jerking her hands in a violent manner, her eyes narrowed and jaded, lips a familiar sneer, just like her brothers. If she was an animal, the closest resemblance would be a snake coiling to strike. Tris tilted her head, eyebrows twitching before relaxing, "You're going to school today, whether you agree with me or not, I think your first day will be a better one than what you're expecting,"

"God Tris! That's not the point! I don't want to be here!" She yelled, her face growing red,

"Are you scared?" Tris asked, watching as Bethany twitched and massed with the cuticles on her sleeves. Right on point as usual. Tris sighed softly, making the girl frown some. "I'm sorry, but it was either today, or yesterday,"

"Whatever," Beth hissed, pulling her dark hair over one shoulder, hefting her new bag over her shoulder and gripping for the door handle. Her arm jerked and she was out of the car, a determined to be angry look on her face. Being as slick and as quick as she was, Tris was by her side in no time, "Bethany, what's gotten into you? You never behave like this,"

"Maybe you wouldn't know," She said snarkily to the blonde, walking faster.

"What are you talking about? What's wrong?"

"You're not my fucking mom! Stop acting like it!" Bethany yelled, face flushed red in contrast to her usual pale skin, stopping in her tracks and reeling on Tris, Tris who held back a painful recoil, and instead in the softest and most soothing voice she'd used in front of beth said, "No, I'm not, and you're not my daughter, seems we both have lost too much haven't we?" Beth was huffing, her eyes tearing up before she stopped moving altogether, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the posture of her guardian. Taking in the carefully placed emotionless mask on her face, taking in the slate grey eyes, like stone. Bethany had carelessly hurt Tris because she was upset, she knew this, even though Tris hardly showed any notion of it. Looking like she was about to cry, Beth looked away from the blonde, nearly pulling away when Tris's arm fell like a blanket around the girl's shoulders. Tris began walking, smiling to herself as Beth followed.

They were at the door, allowing the warm air inside the building thaw their bare fingers and reddening noses. Bethany finally lifted her head as a gentle hand smoothed down her frizzing hair. Her soft green eyes taking in the tall walls, the high ceilings, the perfectly clean windows that held the expanse of the roof supported by carved marble. This seems like an academy instead of a highschool, Tris smirked, observing the girls wonderment, "DAECA gets funding from different places aside from the city government, it's why it's such a beautiful building,"

"It doesn't even look like a school," Beth mumbled, her rage forgotten.

"It is, and the teachers that work here are top notch, you may even see Tori around here,"

"Tori from the tattoo parlour?"

"She was once an art and performing arts instructor. I haven't met the newest teacher though," Tris explained, looking around for a familiar head of honey hair. Then her eyes landed on the willowy form of her expecting friend, swirling in a chair back and forth at the attendance front desk, her eyes flitting between bodies of students and a computer, all while she conquered a phone conversation. Tris lead the dark haired teen to her friend, letting Beth get her attendance after she stated her name, and spelt it out. She was then given a list of classes to attend, an ID number and her computer passwords and user identification. Marleen ended the phone conversation and a smile fully lit up her face, her white teeth shining and her pink lips spreading. Traditionally she held out her hand, waiting for Beth to adjust the papers in her hand, "You must be her, then," Marleen beamed, "I'm Tris's friend from high school, Marleen"

"Nice to meet you, Tris mentioned me?"

"Welllll," Marleen dragged out, blushing and tilting her head back and forth, rolling her eyes, "I may or may not be a very nosy person, it's good though, when I interrogated her she only spoke highly of you," Beth shot a wary look at a smiling Tris, who stood with her hands in her pockets and a smug look on her face, her hair falling out of her messy bun and her shoulders were relaxed and back. A strange posture for someone so professional. Marleen then wished Beth a good school year, and a very gleeful happy birthday once Tris said something of it. Slowly, Tris took in anything that had changed over the years she'd last attended the school, and Bethany took it all in, jaw dropping and lips parting while her eyes fell along the freshly painted color coated lockers, her fingers brushing along the tiled and cement blocked columns, of which branched up into the same carved marble that laced the ceiling.

Soft taps of shoes on the dark floor, of which sparkled white, green, and blue according to the light fixtures. Bronze or gold painted plates labeled in doorways or stairways directed the areas, and gave a brief description of what was located in the wing. Beth gathered that each wing was different, and the centerpiece was the main building, which housed the school library, the computer labs, the mess hall, the gyms and of course, a few separate classes for the gifted children and rooms for janitors. It was when Tris checked the time and realized there was 15 or so minutes left of class did she begin to lead Beth around, answering any of the questions fired at her. Beth began as soon as she could, "So what is Erudite?"

"It's the wing of DAECA that is used for all the sciences and advanced literatures, they usually deal in the college prep classes, and go on most of the expensive trips. I'm sure you have a few required classes there,"

"Why is it all blue and glassy?" Beth asked,

"Blue is believed to be the color of focus and a calm open mind. Usually glass lets in natural light, with aids cooperation, and you'll see some white in the rooms, that color is a basis for a calm atmosphere,"

"Why's most of the school black?"

"You have a lot of questions," Tris said,

"It seems you have all the answers,"

"Not all," Tris mumbled, taking a look at the schedule in Beth's hands, "Okay, I know most of your teachers, but I don't have the time to meet the others. You know your way around right?"

"Yeah, I've got the basics down," Beth mumbled, taking the paper back from Tris as they walked back to her first class of the day. Stopping in front of a black and red door way and frame, Beth turned to her guardian, and apprehensive look in her eye. She picked at her sweater before saying, "I'm sorry,"

"It's okay," Tris mused, smiling at the dark haired girl, noticing the fading teal tips.

"I shouldn't have yelled at you, not over something so mediocre," Tris blinked, her smile fading, her teeth finding her lower lip, eyes lowering before she looked up at Beth. A gentle hand reaching for the girls small but now lightly muscled shoulder, her lips twitching she spoke, "Don't stress it, have a good day Bethany," the girl nodded, not convinced of her forgiveness. Tris gently pulled her in for a hug, her hand cupping the back of the girl's head, only letting go when Beth wrapped her arms loosely around the blonde. Pulling away, Tris put on a light smile, "I'll pick you up around 4, okay?"

"But we get out at 3:30,"

"You don't want to explore more?"

"Well," Beth mumbled, a sly smile surfacing.

"Thought so," Tris smiled, "Have a good day,"

Tris sat in her car in the parking lot for a few minutes, her nails scraping along her scalp, her foggy eyes locked on the vanity mirror. She took in how tired she looked, the slight covered bruising under her eyes, her slightly chapped lips, frazzled hair. She was glad she took off the day, for the sake of preparing Beth's party. Then her hand was jamming her key in the ignition, and her car was roaring with life. Shifting to reverse and not caring about the speed limit, or about her location of a school parking lot, she pulled out and raced to the local store, ideas for everything popping to her mind.

Tobias was lounging about on the couch when she got back, a tired look on his face. He was only in his sweatpants, and maybe nothing underneath by the easily visible v-shaped dip at the waistline of the grey sweats. Tris didn't think too much of it, used to her brothers habits by now. She did however feel heat and pins accompanied by needles eat at her fingers and cheeks when she noticed what particular magazine sat atop her coffee table, and a towel on the floor. She tried not to shiver as she spoke, "Did you seriously do that in my house?" Tobias shot up, his dark blue eyes wide and his lips parted. Tris scoffed, fighting a laugh in her throat, "You're freaking kidding me, I really liked that couch man,"

"Shit Tris, it's not-" he tried to say, getting to his feet, Tris gave him a pointed look, a smirk curling on the left corner of her lips and her eyebrows rising. He bit his lip, running his hand through his hair before resting it on the back of his neck, "Okay, it is, I'm sorry I just-"

"Just, Tobias," Tris began laughing holding up a free hand, "I hope the mag was good, but I really need you to clean that up," The tops of his ears blushed furiously red and the bridge of his nose shared a similar color. He nodded in a jerky manner and swiped his manly things from the livingroom. Tris laughed and set her black coat on the hangar, her free hand patting her thigh for her companion. Her lips saying the magic words and her dogs name, "Emily, I'm home!" She turned and faced her kitchen as not a few seconds later, her dog barreled down the steps from now Eric's room. The ball of black and white fur lumbering into Tris's legs, panting and huffing, making soft noises that rivaled her usual barks. Tris gave her a thorough rub down, nails scraping down her back and along her head and neck, rubbing at her ears, "Hey girl, how's my good girl?" Emily let out a low bark and wagged her body away from her owner toward the kitchen.

Tris promptly fed her dog and washed her hands, addressing her now shirt adorning brother as he fixed the couch arrangement. Setting her grocery bags on the counter by the sink, "Where's Eric?" Tris asked, reaching to the top of her fridge where her cook books rested. Tobias shot her a look before walking over to her, and pulling the book down for her. She made a face at him before huffing a 'thank you' as she set her book on the counter, Tobias pulled out a few bowls as he answered, "Training,"

"Why?" She asked,

"I may or may not have taught him a few things,"

"He needs to be careful," Tris mumbled, fingering the edges of each page, tracing along the old paper which had aged nearly 80 years. Her eyes flicking from recipe to recipe, skimming respectfully through the old textile ink words, eyeing the pictures until her fingers flipped to the deserts, more specifically the baked goods, like cakes. Suddenly she felt breathing on her neck and along her jawline, her hairs tickling her skin, her brother stood behind her, overlooking her shoulder. She could almost feel him smile knowingly at her, "For Beth, right?"

"Today is her birth-day," Tris mumbled, studying the pages more meticulously now, "She's turning 17,"

"Didn't you send her to school today?" He asked offhandedly, turning on heel and walking back over to the dishes he pulled out. Tris hummed in response, paying him no mind really as he pulled open the spice cabinets, his own thin graceful fingers tracing each label to each small glass jar. It reminded him of making jams with his mother, which made him remember a cake he would make for Tris whenever she was little. He turned, the palms of his feet sweeping along the floor as he came to her side, his fingers pawing through her bags, "What are you making?"

"Peanut butter and honey cream frosting on the outside, laced with reese's pieces candy, the little bites ones, the size of skittles? And some peanut butter flowers, her name in white on the top."

"She'd like that,"

"I hope so. The inside with be a soft chocolate cake with peanut butter cup crumbles in it," She stopped flipping, a smile spreading along her lips, "And for you, because I know you have friends, can have this beautiful brownie, fudge and powdered sugar cake with hazelnuts," her hand tapping on a recipe, and a beautiful picture on the page. Tobias smiled at her, pulling her into a hug and kissing her head before he pulled out the new ingredients she bought and set them next to the bowls. Tris took to pulling the spices, the base ingredients like the cake batter and things to make it her own special recipe, and the base for frosting like condensed milk and various sugar forms. It was when she was cracking eggs and slowly beginning to fall into her trance of cooking did her brother speak up, "You must really care about her,"

"What makes you say that?" Tris asked quietly, shooting and making her egg shell into the trash,

"Never seen you this excited to do something for someone," Tobias shrugged, cutting everything she needed open.

"Are you implying that I am not as selfless as I've lead my life to be?" Tris asked guardedly as she made another basket with her egg shell.

"I'm asking if you're finally letting someone in," She shot again, missing. The brown shell nearly shattering as it hit the floor, bouncing slightly before spinning a bit and stopping.

"More than one," Tris huffed, glaring at the broken shell before she walked over to it, picking it up before tossing it. Tobias shot her a look before he slid his fingers around her arm, holding her firmly in place, "Be careful, Tris,"

"When am I not?" She brushed, "I need you to do something for me,"

"Tris," A voice broke in, making Tobias let her go, and Tris to turn at the source. In the hallway entryway, stood a dripping wet Eric who wore clothes that looked rather nice to be wearing for a session in kicking the crap out of leather. Tris straightened, and tried to ignore the cold that washed over her skin as her stomach grew restless and hot, "Eric, I thought you were training,"

"I was," He said in the gravel like tone he had, his cold eyes falling on Tris. He was dressed in something Tris thought would make her weak in the knees a few years ago, and his gaze wasn't helping any. Of course, to her, men in beanies and jean jackets, and boots, were always something to look at. Still she had no idea why he was dressed in such a way. Eyebrow raised she asked him, "Something special planned?"

"Like to wear in my clothes for now, do something special for Bethany. You're not making dinner are you?"

"No," Tris turned her head, looking at her brother before she turned back to Eric, placing one of her hands on the counter, "Why, what do you have planned?"

"There's a restaurant that I used to take her to when she was younger, I'd like to take her there again, we could come back," Eric explains, crossing his arms at his chest.

"No, that's perfect, save's me the conflict of her favorite meal, I just, I need you and Tobias to do something for me," Tris nodded quickly, smiling and looking back at her brother, before fishing into her pocket for her wallet, and as she spoke, she produced a piece of paper and a couple twenties, "I wrote down a few things I figured Bethany would not only need, but a few that she would want. This should cover most of the items she'll be getting for her party," She then folded it all in half, and placed it in Eric's hand. Glancing to her brother, eyes intense she stated, "I expect you to get a few things for her as well Tobias?"

"Why me?"

"You're staying here aren't you? And you can't tell me you have no love for that girl I cruelly sent to school today," Tris lifted a sculpted thin eyebrow, a smile threatening to span across her lips, her eyes bright and daring. Tobias pressed his lips together, eyebrows knitting before he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, smiling, "Yah, you got me, I've had a few ideas on what to get her. We could swing by the mall, I'd need to borrow your car though-" The last few words rushed as he was tossed the keys to Tris's car. She smirked, pushing her way to the cake batter, continuing to create the base of sweets for the cake.

Tobias took a moment to look at his sister as if she had lost her mind, before he sighed and kissed the back of her head, then took off for the bathroom with his duffel bag giving Eric the signal for a minute. The brooding was less intense today than usual, Tris noticed as Eric stood beside her and fingered the book with great care, wonderment in his eyes and a frown on his lips. Tris tried to fight her instinct to hiss and snatch the sacred book from his touch, spitting insults and the obvious as to how old the book was, and the sentimental value behind it, cover to cover. Occupying herself with watching how his very blonde eyelashes fluttered every time he blinked, taking in the shape of his jawline, his high cheekbones, the stubble that lined both. She cleared her throat when his eyes took in the beautiful cursive of her mother's name, and her mother before her and so on. Eric's gaze snapped to hers as he turned the book back to what she was looking at, words on his soft lips, "Was she mad?"

"Furious," Tris mused with a snort, a smirk curling to her lips as she began to whip and stir. She watched Eric shake his head at her, the smile twitch at the corner of his lips. He nodded, "I would be too, but I think this will make it up to her, if she hasn't forgotten it,"

"Really?" Tris asked, "She seems the type to hold grudges to the grave,"

"She is, usually," Eric smirked, huffing through his nose, "Used to bully me until I did things to redeem myself,"

"Little sister is the bully?" Tris laughed, still focused on her job.

"Very much so, her antics are burned into my skull,"

"My brother was always nice to me when I was younger, Caleb couldn't care if our turtle died or if it was my birthday,"

"Sounds pleasant," Eric added sarcastically, leaning back against the counter and watching her motions. Tris nodded and lifted her brows, "Oh yes, very pleasant, especially when Caleb showed up to one of my track meets and had no idea I was there, I won that day too," Her lips twitching to a faint smile, "Always in his own world that one, always so detached, it's refreshing to see you care about Bethany,"

"You watch us?"

"It's my job to," Tris said soberly, pulling out a beautiful circular pan, grabbing a paper towelette and spreading crisco on it. It was when she needed something above Eric's head to finish oiling the pan properly did he catch her off guard, his hands coming up to her shoulders and even her neck, eyes locking her in place, freezing her body before igniting it into fierce flames. Her lips parted and eyes widened at the look he gave her, so intense was the look of adoration, almost turning his eyes blue. Her cheeks heated and she stepped from his personal bubble, his voice doing bewitching things to her, "Are you okay with doing this Tris?" It was in the way he said her name, like he needed to, like it was something he loved hearing much rather saying. Like he couldn't get enough. She nodded to him, trying not to bite her lip or fold into herself, "Are you sure we can take your car?"

"Yes, positive, just, try not to overspend okay?" Hands gripping the counter to the sink behind her, that smirk was going to be her end. Eric took a few steps toward her as her brother exited the bathroom and briskly turned for the front door in a few long strides, smelling of his sharp cologne. He was out the door and starting the car as Eric leaned in to Tris, nose brushing along her temple as his smell invaded her nose. Musk, mint and something else, something addicting. She closed her eyes as his lips touched her cheek, his hand cupping her jaw. They opened again when he backed from her, smirking and giving her that satisfied and smug look. Then he was out the door after her brother, and she was left with her panting dog in the kitchen, trying to repair the gears in her grey matter to understand his intentions. Eric was very much going to be the end of her, especially if his sister had any say in it.

Personally I feel this is a filler chapter, leading in preparations mainly. I know that I did promise some spice and some things that will make you go wow, earlier on, but I promise it's coming. It'll probably surprise you, but enjoy the chapter c: