"Yes, I guess you could say I am a loner, but I feel more lonely in a crowded room with boring people then I feel on my own."

― Henry Rollins

Chapter 2

"Did I tell you to stop initiate?!"

"No sir!" Al gasped as he got up from where he collapsed.

"Then keep going! 10 more laps, now!" Four roared.

I'm not physically unfit, far from it really. I needed something to make up for my academic laziness.

But holy shit, every thing burns.

We initiates have just been running in circuits around the room for almost an hour, and 2 people have already collapsed and been escorted to the infirmary.

The phrase, weeding out the weak ones, is quite appropriate here.

I'm pretty sure even my hair is sweating.

God I feel dizzy.

And dehydrated.

And stinky.

"Get down now! Press ups, go! And don't you dare stop until I tell you!"

I grunted loudly as I hit the floor, but pushed myself up and down at a pace I hoped was acceptable yet I could maintain.

"I'm not sure I can take this anymore." Tris groaned next to me.

Immediately I balked at the idea of her leaving and snapped back, "Yes you can, breath more."

Christina and the two boys Will and Al were doing slightly better, unfortunately so was Peter and his lackeys Molly and Peter. Myra and a few others were gasping like fish, while Edward and I seemed the least fazed. I glanced at him on my other side, dripping with sweat but still pushing at the floor like he was angry with it.

Four's boots appeared next to us. I felt like if I looked up I would collapse, so I stared at my own blurred reflection on his toes. "You two, switch to knuckles for 100, then another with your arms further apart. You should feel more strain on your shoulders and chest. Don't tense your neck Vallie."

"Yhhh." We both huffed in response.

It just wouldn't end.

After that, a merciful water break, then sit ups, planks, and finally weights.

The Dauntless born were in the weights room, and instantly started gossiping and sizing us up. Lynn, Emmett, Gabe, Uriah and Hax were all there and I was half surprised when they acknowledged me.

"Alright, Vallie you're still here!" Uriah cheered.

I huffed as I walked over, the other transfers watching like they expected my head to roll. "What, you thought I'd drop?"

"Maybe." Hax said. Typical.

"Nah, Hax was just hoping you wouldn't be here for dinner." Gabe joked.

I grinned widely as Hax snarled at Gabe, trying to ignore how scary he actually looked. "Oh reaaallly? Don't worry, I'll be there to thrash you."

"You're too cocky, nose." He retorted.

"More than you, that's true."

The others sniggered while Hax briefly lost his cold expression. "Did Eurdite just crack a dick joke?" Lynn said, "I likey!" she winked while I tried to hide my flush.

Gabe gestured over my shoulder. "Your friends look like they might try and rescue you." I looked as well, to see Christina, Tris, Will and Al anxiously watching us, as well as Edward.

"Aww, you're not that scary."

Emmett pouted. "What do you mean? We're badass, transfer."

"Yeah, tremble before us!" Uriah hollered while Lynn rolled her eyes with a "Jesus Christ."

I just laughed and jogged back to the others, Four eying me curiously as I caught up with everyone's reps. It seemed to be a 'do what you want' with the gym equipment, as long as you worked your ass off.

"What was that?" Christina questioned.

"You know them?" Al said.

"Yeah, I ate with them at lunch."

"Weren't they intimidating?" Will asked incredulously.

Yes. "Kinda I guess. They're no different to you guys." I shrugged, as my breathing got deeper again.

"I can't believe that." He snorted.

"Why not?"

"Are you kidding?" Al said. "They've been training their entire lives in Dauntless."

"You don't think it's fair?" Tris said hesitantly.

"Do you?"

"Just chill, guys." I butt in. "There's nothing we can do about it. Besides, if you had that opportunity, would you really say no?"

"That's not the point!" Will insisted. "We shouldn't be expected to compete against them as well! It's unfair to threaten us with being fractionless when they have it easy!"

"Is that what you think initiate?" A booming voice said behind us. Christina yelped and dropped her weight and with horror I saw Tris's foot directly below. I yanked her back a millisecond before the metal banged loudly against the floorboards. She shuddered at the sound and gripped me tightly. "T-thanks."

A lump was choking me, so I just nodded and turned with the others to see Eric, Dauntless leader behind us.

Damn this guy was scary.

He snapped his eyes to Tris and I, before glaring at Christina. "Don't let your grip be so weak, initiate. You could have broken her fucking toe and that could've been seen as sabotage, understand?"

"I didn't drop it on purpose! You scared me-"

"Oh did I?" Eric took a step forward and smiled cruelly. Everyone was watching now, and from the silent looks and shaking heads from the Dauntless born, Christina really shouldn't have said that. "Do I scare you, Candor? Are you that much of a worm that you jump at the sound of my voice?"

Tris swallowed and said, "She wasn't trying to sabotage me. It was a mistake sir."

Eric's cold grey eyes made her tense again in my arms. "I don't remember addressing you initiate." He looked back to Christina and said loudly enough for everyone to hear, "That's even worse, being so pathetic and clumsy."

"I'm not pathetic!" But she cringed back when he got up close to her and growled. "Really? You look like it to me." He bent close to here ear as she shivered. "One more smart ass comment, and I'll kick your ass out fractionless, you got it?"

Satisfied when she nodded, Eric pulled away and said loudly, "So, you think the Dauntless born have it better than you."

Will shook his head vigorously while Al stared at his feet. The Dauntless born initiates starting scowling at them, a few insults being hurled as well. "We didn't…" Will started before he doubled over from a hard punch into the gut. Al followed a moment later and retched a little from the force.

Four and Lauren stepped closer, but with a look they said nothing.

Eric snarled at the boys on the floor, a vein pounding in his neck. "Your liars and cowards. At Dauntless, we abhor that. If you're worried about being cut, then you better work your ass off and not piss me off. You failed at both, initiates, which is pretty fucking stupid. You both have cleaning duty till the end of stage one, or until you leave. I don't think that'll be too long though."

There were a few chuckles from the Dauntless born. I caught Lynn's eye, but she shook her head to tell me to be quiet. Thankfully, Eric was done. He swept his eyes over the rest of us and held me gaze for a second.

I swear to god, there was not one compassionate emotion behind those eyes. They were cold and harsh in both colour and feeling. I felt like a great weight was crushing me from all sides.

Then just as quickly as it came, the sensation left when he broke eye contact and left the room.

The room temperature increased a few degrees as we relaxed.

Christina and Tris helped Will and Al up, while everyone else slowly went back to what they were doing.

Four crossed his arms and said, "You better have learnt your lesson you three. Are you alright?" He looked at Tris, who reddened and mumbled "Yeah."

"Get back to work all of you!" Lauren shouted. "If I catch you slacking, you'll be bench pressing your weight. GO!"

Four moved away as Christina said with worry, "You know I didn't do that on purpose, right Tris? I wouldn't do that. He just caught me by surprise."

Tris was obviously more forgiving than I, because while I was glaring her down, she said, "It's fine, no harm done. I'm sorry you got punished guys."

Al grimaced. "Wasn't your fault."

"What is his problem?" Will sniffed.

"Apparently, you guys." I quipped.

Finally, our first day of training was over. I didn't want to think about how it was only half a day's worth, or that people had already fallen.

I never really had much tolerance to whiners or people I found irritating, so the fact that Will, and Al weren't here didn't bother me.

Will was obnoxious in a typical Erudite fashion, without the fact that what he said was intelligent, while Al was constantly simpering and taking ques from everyone else.

After showering and changing, the girls and I made our way to the cafeteria. Just like at lunch, it was loud and buzzing with activity. Christina and Tris made there way to an empty table, but spotting Uriah, Lynn and a girl I didn't recognise, I pulled them in that direction.

"Why are we going over to them?" Christina said warily.

"Calm down, they don't bite. We're the same fraction now, so it shouldn't matter."

"It won't be so bad." Tris agreed as I hauled them over. I planted myself next to Lynn with a smile. This being social thing was actually quite nice.

"Hey there."

"Hi." She smirked back. "I would savour your last minutes of not wanting to puke Vallie."

I snorted. "Please, I can hold my stomach. Hax is going down."

Uriah had better manners than us apparently, because he introduced himself and the new girl. "Hey, I'm Uriah, and this is Marlene and Lynn."

"Christina."

"Tris, nice to meet you."

"You were first jumper, right?" Marlene asked curiously. She was pretty with dimples and short blonde hair, which was funny to say about a Dauntless born, even if she did have a few piercings in her ears.

Tris nodded with embarrassment. "Vallie and Christina were second and third as well."

"That's pretty awesome, especially if the rumours true about you being from Abnegation."

"Yeah," she continued hesitantly. "They're true."

Uriah cocked his head. "We haven't had one of you guys since Four."

Our jaws dropped. "Four was a transfer from Abnegation?!" Christina said incredulously.

"Yeah, but I would talk to him about it."

"We only knew that 'cause Uriah's brother was in his class."

"How much older are they then?" I asked curiously.

"Two years. Four and Zeke are good buddies."

Lynn leaned in closer. "Eric was there as well. He came second and Four first."

"What?!"

"Four was first?! Shit!"

"Yeah, I know right." Marlene continued. "Apparently they were really big rivals. Four was offered the job as the new leader, but turned it down to work in intelligence and be an instructor, so they gave it to Eric instead."

"Sloppy seconds." Christina quipped.

Uriah nodded with amusement. "You bet."

"I'm glad though." Tris piped up.

I tilted my head. "Why's that?"

"Well, imagine if Eric was our instructor. It's bad enough that he'll be coming to watch sometimes."

I grimaced. I didn't think I would ever not feel threatened in his presence. "I suppose."

At that moment, a gaggle of Dauntless boys reigned upon us. They filled up the table, which was bigger than the one we had at lunch. "What's it you suppose Vallie?" Gabe said, drawing out my name.

"That it won't take long to wipe Hax out." I winked at the eye that wasn't covered by a curtain of Hax's black hair. Everyone laughed and exchanged looks between the two of us.

"You think so?" he calmly replied.

"What's going on?" Tris asked with confusion.

"Vallie and Hax are gonna compete now." Emmett informed them.

"You're going to fight him?!" Christina yelled.

I rolled my eyes, "Geez, thanks for the vote of confidence."

"It's a food eating contest." Uriah said.

Marlene started laughing. "Dude, Hax is going to flatten you!"

"Fuck you!" I said with a grin. "In Erudite people would tremble when I ate!"

"You seem so proud of that." Tris said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

I fought the urge to move closer.

Hax growled. "No more stalling. You, come with me to get food. The rest of you clear some space."

I got up and pushed my hair behind me. "Oooh, how commanding of you."

We walked to the food que. Hax smirked, the snakes on his skin dancing at the movement. "Does that turn you on, nose? Getting told what to do? I guess an Erudite would."

I scowled as we both assembled identical trays of food. A burger, apple, soda and dauntless cake each. "What's that supposed to mean, Hax?"

He chewed one of his snakebite piercings. "I can imagine you being quite the teacher's pet, Vallie."

"Do I strike you as the submissive type?"

Hax paused and looked intently at me, standing there with my messy hair and cocked hips. I was starting to flush under his gaze when he smiled and said, "No. But that's the fun bit, isn't it?"

I turned away, feeling too hot. "God, are you always so hormonal?"

He bent down to lean into my ear. "Yes. Especially to blushing school girls."

I stepped away, cursing my baby face that was pink now. "Your such a- gahh!"

"Wow. That was," Hax burst into laughter. "the lamest come back ever! Aren't Erudite meant to be witty?"

I huffed with irritation. "So I'm not the fastest of talkers. I'm not used to being social, okay?"

"Yeah, I get that." I punched his shoulder roughly. "No really, I do. Sometimes people are so…"

I softened a little when I understood. "Yeah, I know." I looked back to my new friends who had just burst into laughter. Christina was smiling as well, starting to relax and Tris was talking with animation to Uriah and Marlene. "How did you become friends with them? They're so full of life."

Hax shrugged. "I grew up with them. Gabe and Uriah, as idiotic as they are, have soft hearts. They basically wouldn't leave me alone until I said something."

"You were mute?"

"I could speak, but I spent most of my time scowling from the side lines."

"Still do." I smirked. "You've got dark and brooding down."

Hax snorted. "You really haven't seen me when I'm trying. What about you?"

"Hm?" we were now slowly trailing back.

"Also a loner, you said. What made you come and sit with us?"

I laughed. "Did I spoil the image of the untouchable Dauntless born?"

Hax scowled. "Don't think that just because I'm nice to you that I'll give roses out to the other transfers."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Answer my question first."

I rolled my eyes and pouted. "Fine. I," I frowned in thought and paused. "Well, I guess I don't really know."

Hax raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Really?"

"Oh common I'm telling the truth! I guess, well there wasn't any room on the table of transfers, and I figured that after initiation, a lot of you will stay." I looked at Hax seriously in the eye. "I don't like being intimidated by people, and I'm not going to be in Dauntless where I fear my own fraction."

Hax bit into his lip again, a habit I seemed to be fond of. "That's some bold talk, Vallie. You that confident you'll pass?"

I nodded. "I live to compete, Hax. Even this competition between us, which I'm going to flatten you in, by the way." He grinned at the challenge. "I've known that Dauntless was for me for a while, and I've prepared."

"You think no one else has?"

"No, but especially out of the transfers, I have been for the longest."

He caught my arm to slow me down even further before we were in earshot of the others. "You know, it's not very clever to be telling me all of this. You know that, so why are you?"

I looked at him. Really looked at Hax, like I did when I first saw Tris. "Because I think you're like me. We'll do anything to be the best, but to fight dirty and sabotage the opponent would be cowardly and that wouldn't be beating them. There's honour. Even if we won, it would be hollow and we wouldn't truly be Dauntless, not to ourselves at least."

Hax's face was blank, and for a moment, he looked as scary as Eric. "You think you've figured me all out, Vallie?"

"No." I licked my dry lips and forced myself to look back in his eye. "A person can be complex on so many different levels, and I doubt you could truly know someone even after years. But certain things are obvious. In Erudite, it was like being a burning leaf in the ocean. When you find someone else like you, it's like finding the main land, docks on fire and all."

"Are you saying you're drawn to me or something?" Hax's voice was low and close.

.

I was slow with speaking next. "I mean, yes. I'm right, aren't I?"

"…Yes. I'll admit that you're kind of…"

"What?"

"Weird." He sniggered at my face. "You're behaviour and appearance for an Erudite, for example. But I like that. I don't waste my time on people usually. The others had to convince me that it was fun to be around them. But you're interesting. You're driven, like we are, and often the transfers don't have that."

"Is that what the roses thing was about?"

"Yes. I have no interest in weaklings."

"You sound like Eric." I grinned.

Hax rolled his eyes. We sauntered back over and took our seats opposite each other, all traces of our deep meaningful conversation gone from our faces. Gabe hushed everyone down. "Alright! Emmett, get your watch ready. First person to finish wins the crown."

"Crown? Are you serious?" Christina said as someone produced a folded paper headpiece.

Tris laughed. "Why did you have that with you?"

Uriah grinned, showing his gums. "Hax gets challenged weekly for the title of the Great Consumer."

"Oh yes," Lynn nodded sarcastically. "A great honour."

"Can we get to it?" I snapped, still glaring at Hax.

"Oooh, she got her game face on!"

"If you pause for too long, or vomit, then the other person wins, ok?" Gabe said. Both Hax and I nod, our fingers gripping our burgers. "Alright…GO!"

A little bit about the other initiates, and training.

I forgot to add the disclaimer last time, so hear it is: I own nothing but my OCs and this story ;)

Please read and review

Love,

Renzin xo