"That's why the serums haven't been working as everyone hoped they would" Veronica stated.
"Impressive. Very smart daughter you have there, Jeanine" Max complimented, "Not even 35 minutes in this room and you already figured out a solution"
"I wonder why no one else thought of that" Jeanine looked over to the head scientist.
The woman cleared her throat, "Because we thought the serum would work faster through IV"
"And how am I going to get a whole Dauntless faction to submit to an IV?" Jeanine argued.
As much as Veronica felt bad for making the scientist look like a student, she felt happy that her mother was seeing her side of the simulation. She glanced down to her template of the syringe with the huge needle. It looked just like the simulation syringes so no one would question it too much. Veronica turned around and was placing everything back into her blue bag. She almost felt a sense of accomplishment as she knew that this will make her head of the project. Also another way to make her mother proud.
"Very impressive" a voice came from right next to her.
"Thanks. Told you I'm a lot smarter than I look" Veronica looked up and smiled, "The Choosing Ceremony is tomorrow, are you attending?"
"I'm going to be greeting the Dauntless initiates on the rooftop" Eric told her.
Veronica scrunched up her face, "The rooftop?"
"Dauntless tradition" Eric shrugged.
Veronica slowly nodded like as if she knew what Eric had just stated. She couldn't help but feel a little bit disappointed that she won't be seeing him tomorrow as a leader in action. She quickly pushed that aside as she thought that it was only because Eric was her friend for more than she could remember and that's why she was feeling like this. Veronica cleared her throat as she picked up her bag as she noticed that her mother was getting ready to leave. She quickly stuck out her hand to Eric as he looked at it as if there were feces on it.
"Pleasure seeing you again, Eric" Veronica said in a formal manner.
"You do realize that this isn't goodbye. We'll be seeing more of each other, Rikki" Eric pointed out, "So I'm not shaking your hand until the final good bye"
"Do you always have to have your way about things?" Rikki rolled her eyes.
Eric smirked, "Something's just never change"
"Apparently not" Veronica grumbled as she dropped her hand down to the side.
Jeanine smiled, "Choosing Day. This day gives me the most excitement, I must say"
"I don't know, I still get chills over this day. I still feel like I'm supposed to go up and slice my palm again. I don't think I'll ever get used to being in the room" Veronica glanced back to the five bowls.
"Don't be ridiculous" Jeanine scoffed.
"How long did it take for you to get used to this room?" Veronica questioned.
"Veronica, that is in the past" Jeanine scolded, "We must look towards the future"
"Yes, mother, you are correct" Veronica nodded.
"Good morning, Jeanine"
"Good morning, Andrew"
"How is Marcus holding up?"
"As well as can be expected"
Veronica pulled in a deep inhale of breath as she noticed the family of four that stopped in front of her mother. She knew that Jeanine was going to stay there for a while just because she knows Andrew and wants to get the upperhand of the conversation in any Abnegation member. Veronica glanced over to the two children and noticed the boy was instantly grinning from ear to ear the second he saw Jeanine. The girl couldn't help but pull down her sleeves and glance back over to the five bowls. Veronica could practically see the girl's jugular veins popping out of her neck as she seemed to just couldn't sit still. The Abnegation girl looked over and locked eyes with Veronica for a split second before Veronica looked back to her mother's pale blonde hair.
Her mother turned her focus onto the children as Veronica looked around the room. She didn't realize what she was looking for until she noticed that her main focus was both on the stage and the Dauntless section. Veronica turned back to the conversation that was happening in front of her as she bit the inside of her cheek. She knew Eric wasn't going to be there, he said so himself. Still she couldn't help but not think about how much her old friend has changed.
"This is Beatrice" Caleb introduced his sister.
"Well, you both have a big decision to make today" Jeanine commented before reaching behind her and grabbing onto Veronica's hand, "I'm sure your parents will support whatever choice you make just as I did with my own daughter, Veronica"
"That's not supposed to be a choice" Beatrice stated, "The test should tell us what to do"
"You're still free to choose" Jeanine said in a flat voice.
Veronica knew that tone of voice in her mother as she slowly slipped her hand out of her mother's grip. Beatrice seemed to have no control over her mouth as she kept on having a statement for whatever Jeanine threw at her. Veronica couldn't help but feel surprised if this Beatrice would stick with staying in Abnegation. She also but couldn't help but have a small suppressed smile for how her mother was being talked back to by a 16 year old child.
"Not because you wish you were someone you're not" Jeanine said that caught her daughter's attention, "But because you honestly know yourself"
