CHAPTER 1:
TRIS POV
"Party at my house at 7!" Zeke shouts over all the of the commotion. He won't hear me if I say anything so I just nod. Someone grabs my arm and pulls me through the crowd. Christina and Will. They drag me to the hallway, were it is quieter.
"Oh my God," Christina mutters. Will's mouth opens but no words come out. Christina stares at me, "when, what, how? Will leave."
"What, why?" Will pouts.
"Because this is girl talk. Now, scoot." Christina shoos him away with her hand.
"Fine." Will mutters as he walks back to the cafeteria.
Christina frowns and asks, "Why didn't you tell me?"
I feel bad for her. She deserved to know a long time ago. She would trust me. "I didn't want people to think my rank was because I was his favorite." Christina shoots me a look. "It isn't. I would never." I say. She got the wrong idea. Christina shrugs and stares at me.
"What is like? Oh my gosh? How long" Christina always insisted on knowing stuff about relationships.
"I don't know. A couple weeks maybe."
"Any addition, multiplication?" Christina wiggles her eyebrows, smiling
"Dear God, no!" I shout. She bursts out laughing.
"Okay," Christina giggles, "Come, I'll get us ready for the party."
Uriah jogs past us saying, "Layers," He bursts out laughing. I don't get it. We head back to the dormitory. We lock the door and change. I have put on a sweater and a jacket. Hopefully it is enough.
"You want some makeup?" Christina bats her eyelashes. Makeup makes my face itchy and turn red.
"I think I'll pass." I say jokingly.
"Suit yourself." Christina utters. I can feel my face turn hot.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I shout. She tries to hold in a grin, I see it.
"Nothing, nothing," Candors are bad lairs. It's easy to see. "It's 6:30. Should we get going?"
"Yes" I say, tying my shoes. Abnegation shoes are simpler. Just slip them on and you're done. We jog to apartment C27. I ring the bell while Christina knocks. We will never be coordinated, I think to myself as Zeke swings the door open. He smiles. He always smiles.
"Well early but fine." He says, gesturing to the couch. Their apartment is big.
"Who is coming?" Christina asks as the doorbell rings.
"Uriah! You pansycake! Get your butt over here and help me!" Zeke says as he walks toward the door. Uriah comes out of the kitchen with a girl holding his hand. She is small, shorter than me by a good two inches I see. She has wavy brown hair and is as dark as Uriah, except that she has lighter brown eyes. She lets go of his hand and she comes toward us.
She holds out her hand and says, "I'm Erudite."
Christina looks at me then says, "Christina." Erudite turns to me and holds out her hand.
"Tris," her grip is hard, like she is not used to shaking hands. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." She says, giving one more hard shake. I glance around the room to see Will, Tobias, Marlene, Lynn, and Shauna. Tobias seems to be more at ease with Zeke. His tense muscles relax. I snap out of my daze when Christina asks, "So, are your friends with Zeke and Uriah?"
Erudite tenses up. She is a cautious girl, I could tell. "No," she is taking a quavered breath, "we are cousins."
"Oh, are you here to visit?" Christina raises her eye brow.
Erudite's eyes turn cold and lock on Christina and I, "Why else would I be here?" she snaps. She turns around, and disappears.