Author's Note

This is my very first fic! This chapter is kind of a tester, so it's kind of short. If I get any good response to this, or if I feel really motivated to continue then I'll probably make updates a regular thing! Anyway, go easy on me I'm just getting started!

-Madeline

Tobias and I break away, and I glance away from the proud look in his eyes. It's as if I'm seeing the cafeteria for the first time. I am no longer Beatrice, the weak Abnegation who was in over her head. I am Dauntless and I finally know for certain that this is where I belong. I look back up to Tobias and his gaze continues to rest on my eyes. I can practically feel the stares from Christina and Will behind me, but I hardly care at all. I press my lips to Tobias' and smile against his light kiss once more.

I turn back to see Christina and Will gaping at me, but I can only laugh. We all made it into Dauntless, and there's nothing that could bring me down from my mood. Will gives me a knowing look, I think that he must have suspected it all along, but Christina's mouth hangs open as she nudges Will's arm.

"Come on guys, let's celebrate." I say with a laugh to ease the sudden tension, and I grab Christina's elbow to drag her up to the tabletop. She shrieks with laughter and Will jumps up with us. We wrap our arms around each other and laugh. We made it farther than any of us could have imagined, and today is the start of the rest of our lives.

"I'll leave you to it!" Tobias says with a nod and leaves to go stand with Eric. I look over to Christina, who is almost tearing up.

"Tris, I'm going to kill you for details later, but right now I just want to tell you thanks. Just for being there and getting me through it." She says with a sincere smile. I guess I'll always be able to count on her Candor honesty to reassure me.

"I should say the same to you, I know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." I smile at her, but I think that's it for the sappy stuff. We're Dauntless, after all! By now all of the other new members have climbed onto the tables as well, and the rest of the Dauntless are still cheering and banging their fists on the tables. This is my life now, and I've never been happier with my choice.

I lay sleepless in the dormitory that night. We won't get apartment assignments until we pick our jobs tomorrow. I have too many thoughts on my mind. What will I pick? I was serious when I told Will and Christina that I wanted to be an Ambassador, but I'll be committed to this job for the rest of my life. Am I even ready to make that kind of decision? I push the thought out of my head. If I was ready to leave my family behind and start a whole new life with the Dauntless, I am ready to pick a job. I can feel the pressure being ranked first, but I know exactly who would understand.

I try to be as silent as I can as I sneak out of the dormitory, and wince as the wooden door creaks shut. I am beyond ready to stop sleeping in a room with every other initiate. My bare feet hardly make a sound as I pad down the cool hallway and up the sides of the pit until I find the door I'm looking for.

I knock softly on the door and wait for a few seconds in the chilly underground hallway. I barely have a chance to even cross my arms before the door slides open. Tobias' face appears before me and I feel the same flutter in my stomach as the first time I saw him. This time, that feeling is much less uneasy as I know that he is not the aloof and ruthless instructor that I once thought him to be.

"Tris," Tobias says with a warm smile. "I was hoping I would see you after the banquet."

He steps aside to let me in, and instantly grabs one of his sweatshirts and wraps it around my shoulders. I smile, he could tell I was cold. "I couldn't sleep, I figured I would be welcome here." I take in a deep breath of the soft fabric to take in as much scent of him as I can. It smells like a man, it smells like Tobias.

"I mean I guess you could hang out for a while." He says with evident sarcasm.

I suppress a giggle, but instead say, "Then I guess you wouldn't mind if I made myself comfortable!" and slump onto his couch. He makes it to the couch in one long stride and leans over me. This time I let my laugh go and stare into his dark blue eyes.

He leans down to kiss me firmly, but then the kiss melts away into something sweeter, more tender. We stay like this most of the night, kissing and talking. I tell him about my worries to commit to a job, and he reassures me that whatever I pick, I will be absolutely fine. It feels good to know that someone has faith in that, because often I'm not sure myself. When we finally start to drift off, laying on his couch, I press my cheek into Tobias' shoulder and finally understand what it's like to feel like I belong.