So thanks everyone for reading the first chapter! I'm going to say this now so that you have been warned; I have an awful habit of not posting with any regularity. I know and I'm sorry. You can expect to get three or four chapters one after the other and then like a week or two of nothing…just think of it as a really shitty unexpected surprise when I update *nervous grin*. I'm going to try and include as many scenes from the books as possible in this but obviously some things will have to change or be cut out (not going to have ten year old dauntless campers killing abnegation in their sleep so if that's what you want sorry not going to happen and maybe you should see someone if you want that…) Anyway you guys are awesome, hope you like it!
Chapter 2
Tris pov
When we made it to the mess hall Caleb pushed open one of the heavy wooden doors and motioned for me to follow him through. I'm glad he didn't make me go first; he's always been able to pick up when I'm close to panic mode.
Inside we noticed that the on the closest table to the door everyone had already stacked their bags in semi-neat piles. Already feeling everyone's eyes on us I hurried over and dropped my bag down next to the others. Caleb and I walked quickly over to the back of the group; it looks like we were the last to arrive…great.
"Now that everyone is here," I look up at the sound of Marcus voice to find his eyes on us, "we can start." He ruffles the papers I just noticed he was holding. I hear a girl to my right ask the boy next to her if he knows what they are, I see him shake his head. "In my hands I hold your aptitude tests. I will call you name; give you your results and you will then return to your seats. I want this done as quickly as possible; we all have a lot to set up before the campers arrive."
"Susan Black"
As the first name is called I think back to when I filled out my aptitude test a couple of weeks ago. When they finally came in the mail Caleb and I sat on either side of our living room and filled out the test without saying a word to each other. The test was set out like one of those make your own story books, where if you answered the first question a certain way you would go to either question 2 or 5.
Caleb had finished his in ten minutes and I felt like I wasn't even half way through. The test kept jumping back and forth for another ten minutes until I finally got an answer that said END OF TEST. We sent them away the next day and didn't speak of it at all. Why was it so easy for Caleb? Did I somehow manage to stuff up my test? These questions that had been stuck in my mind for the past two weeks were finally about to be answered. I jerk my head up when I hear my brother's name.
He stands confidently and strides over Marcus. They exchanged pleasantries before he walked back over, sitting heavily on the bench opposite me. His eyes devour the front page where his results must be written. I open my mouth to ask him what he got but I'm interrupted by Marcus' voice.
"Beatrice Prior"
I stood, not nearly as confidently as Caleb but I managed to make it to the front of the hall without incident. I held my hand out for the paper and keep my eyes down, a show of respect my parents drilled into me as a child. I waited another agonising few seconds before I raised my head, looking him in the eyes questioningly.
He had dropped his voice so our conversation wouldn't carry to the others in the hall. "Now your results were, let's say inconclusive. When most people take the test they typically have a higher score for one faction over the others. You however, scored evenly in not two but three different factions. I would give you a choice as to what faction you want to be in but we had already decided on faction leaders for two of the factions you have an aptitude for. So forgive us for making the choice for you." He smiled as he said this but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
I itched to just leave now and read where I was put but I was raised not to disrespect my elders and I had a feeling that this conversation was not over.
"I'm sure you are curious as to where we put you and I will let you get to it in a minute but firstly; I want you to know that because of your results if we are in need of back up leaders, say if someone gets sick, that you could take on that role as well as your own. Only the factions you have an aptitude for obviously. How does that sound Beatrice?" I vaguely register that he makes it sound as though I have no choice but to agree. I nod my head and take my papers back to my bench, shuffling silently along the worn wooden floors.
As I sit Caleb snaps his fingers in front of my face to get my attention. "So, Beatrice what did you get? I got Erudite; I hope I can impress Ms. Matthews but I've heard she has ridiculously high standards." He stopped babbling and looked up at me expectantly.
I glanced down hesitantly and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Right there, circled in red, written next to Abnegation and Erudite.
"Dauntless." I breathed the word out; I don't think Caleb even heard me.
It looks like my twelve year old self's dreams are coming true. I felt a churning in my gut and I'm not sure if it's from excitement or fear, or both.
ooOoo
The heads let us talk amongst ourselves for a few minutes. Most people mummer to themselves as they read the outline of their duties for the next six weeks. I scanned my sheet again, wondering how I could possibly show a group of kids and teenagers how to do all this stuff when I probably couldn't do a quarter of the things on the list.
The talking around me slowly filtered down to a low muttering and then silence as the dauntless head, Max, stood. His eyes flitted around the room before stopping somewhere in the middle of us. When he spoke his voice carried effortlessly through the hall, even though there were only fifteen of us total.
"You who are sitting here are the privileged few who we have chosen to be camp leaders here. For some of you this a completely new experience, for others yet another year to help mould the minds of the young and have fun while doing it." He smiled as his eyes made another circuit of the room before continuing. "In a minute I will ask you to all come forward to your respective head and collect your map, keys to cabins and your leader's only golf cart. Like usual we have asked you to come the week before for set-up. So seeing as its Wednesday; you have the rest of this afternoon and Thursday / Friday to get things ready for your campers. When you return home this weekend we ask you to only pack colours of your faction, same as the campers themselves. So what are you waiting for? Let's get going!"
In a second people were on their feet in a flurry of movement. I gave a nod goodbye to Caleb and headed over towards Max.
He smirked when he realised I was headed towards him and the smirk stayed in place as he spoke. "You must be Beatrice, shorter than I expected," I let out an angry huff and crossed my arms, "and more fire in you than expected too." I let me arms drop at his comment, a heavy blush staining my face. He let out a hearty laugh and turned to his left as someone else made their way toward us. "Ah and here comes Four now. Eager to bask in my presence as usual, eh Four?"
I turned by head to see who this 'Four' was. To say he was tall would not do him justice; he would easily be over 6ft. His tanned skin was pulled taught as his muscles tugged at the deep blue shirt he wore. His hair was a dark shade of brown but his eyes were darker, almost so you couldn't tell where the pupil ended and the iris began. His hooked nose and furrowed brows gave him the same intimidating look Max had mastered and right now I felt like a lost little girl as I stared up at both of them. God why did I have to be so short?
Max clapped Four on the shoulder in a friendly kind of greeting and they caught up with each other for a minute or two before four glanced toward me and back at Max again. I had moved away to give them some privacy but came back as Max motioned me forward.
"Four I would like you to meet your new partner in crime, Beatrice." The smirk was back as his eyes shifted between us. I gathered up what courage I could find and stepped towards Four, lifting my hand in greeting.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Four." I kept my voice steady and craned my neck to look him in the eye. For what felt like eternity he just stood there until one side of his mouth crooked into a small smirk. Seriously what is it with these guys and smirking at me, is it like their resting expression or something? I felt his hand slide into mine and shake twice before he let go and stepped away.
We talked to Max as he explained the map to us, well me as Four seemed to already know everything, and gave us the keys and black arm bands to wear for the rest of the week so people can tell what faction we belong to. With one last farewell we were sent out to the golf carts, Four leading the way. I wonder if he's been a leader before. Or maybe he's just been a camper here for so long that he knows where everything is already? I guess there's no harm in asking.
