I don't sleep much that night. The thought that Marcus in the same compound as me makes my insides churn: Of hatred, or nervousness, I don't know.
Instead, I do what I can to help the Amity: show them that If they let Tris and I stay, we won't be much trouble.
Who am I kidding. Of course we'll get in trouble here: It's not enough were dauntless in an amity compound. It's also the fact my girlfriend is a magnet for trouble.
Speaking of Tris, i remember her bullet wound, that Eric shot. Where is Eric so I can shoot him in the head? I don't know. But Tris still has a bad shoulder, that must be killing her. I go to an Amity nurse, who gives me pain medication in return. "A dropper every six hours." She says. I put it in my pocket to give to Tris once she is up. It's six in the morning, so she might still be sleeping.
I need to change my shirt. It smells of blood and sweat, if that were even possible. When I go to my room for the first time, I see clothes on the bed.
A red shirt, and yellow pants.
I vow never to wear the pants. Ever. I consider throwing them out the window, but that won't be good. The amity will base there judgement of my actions.
I keep my the pants i wore yesterday on. The amity always prepare for guests from other factions, so they might have some more black pants, or jeans around here somewhere. I will check later. But My black shirt has to go. I toss it into a hamper, and put on the red shirt. It's not bad, but i wouldn't wear it in any other situation, except this. At least my tattoos still show.
I roam around, and ask a nurse how Peter is doing. "Great. He'll be fine in no time, so long as he keeps weight of it." She says smiling genuinely, looking at my shirt. Her eyes start to roam downward, so I walk away, trying not to leave to fast, but my feet have a mind of there own. I walk to a room, checking my watch again. Six twenty-three. I decide to see Tris around seven. Until then, I try to find out as much as possible, so i head up to Johanna's office. I am about to open the door, but I remember that the Amity won't find that considerate, so i knock.
"Come in." she says. I walk in, and the shock flashes across her face. "Is something wrong?" She asks.
Other than, oh you know, the freaking war outside this compound? Nothing! I was just here to congratulate you on having a team of amity who like to laugh there heads off on flowers! I want to snap, but I don't.
"Yesterday, you said that you will make a decision on whether or not we stay. When exactly will that decision be made? I ask, trying not to make voice too venomous. Some of those words leak a bit of poison, but she does not seem to notice.
"Today in a few hours. At seven-thirty." She says, her voice happy, and perky.
How is that possible?
"Ok then."I say. I turn around about to leave, but she stops me, pulling my elbow back. I grit my teeth. It is almost seven o clock, and I am eager to see how Tris is doing.
"I want all of you to be safe-it's true. But i would need something to help convince my people. We are Amity, but we use logic to make our decisions as well, to find the most peaceful way for a situation- something we can agree on." She says softly.
"And your telling me this because..." i say, confused to what she wants.
"Why do you think we should let you stay here in our compound: three important statements." Johanna says, her eyes pleading with curiosity.
What I say now, determines whether we stay or go. So I answer truthfully.
"If we go out back we will most likely be killed. As humans with sense, we would rather live. Our second one is that we have the injured with us. They saw the ones they love die in front of them. They don't need to suffer any longer, and go back." I say.
I have one other reason, but i wonder if it would be safe to say it.
I say it anyway.
" And the person I care about the most has to be safe. In fact she will be awake in a few minutes, so if you will." I say, pointing at the door with me head.
"Of course." she says letting my arm go, with a faint smile playing her lips. "I hope you the best." she says. "We'll debate for a little while, talk it out, and then over all, decide your fate." She finishes.
Decide our fate?
In a way, the Amity will decide whether we live here peacefully for a while.
And with that, i work my way back to Tris' room. It is six-forty, so i take my time walking there. Sadly, i meet Caleb along the way. He doesn't say anything to me. He just glares.
"Okay then..." I say awkwardly, about to walk past him.
"Where are you going."
To the edge of the Earth. Where else Sherlock?
"Tris' room." I say as politely as I can.
"Who now?" He asks confused.
"Your sister." I tell him.
"Her name is BEATRICE!" he says, stressing her name.
"She prefers Tris." I tell him.
"I'll wake her up. You do something else." He says.
"No." I tell him. "She's my girlfriend. So i'll wake her up." I state.
"well im her brother, so- wait, what?" He says "Did you say girlfr-"
Before he finishes, i start speed walking to Tris door, but once i go down the corner, i sprint toward it. It is not too far. I can't hear the brother following me so i slow down. I stand before the door until it is seven o clock sharp. It is six fifty nine.
At long last, my watch moves to the seven, and i sigh with relief. I can't stand a night without her next to me, unsure if she is safe.
She's Tris after all.
I knock on the door, wondering if she is awake already. "Come in." She says a few seconds later.
I open the door, and step halfway in, getting a glimpse of her room before leaning on the doorway. She seems to be looking at my shirt.
If she laughs, I will laugh back at her, because she will have to wear one as well. Maybe even yellow.
She doesn't mention it though.
"The Amity are meeting in half an hour." I tell her, remembering Johanna's words. "To decide our fate." I say, with a hint of fake drama.
She shakes her head, smiling a little, but it vanishes. "Never thought my fate would be in the hands of a bunch of Amity." She says.
"Me either." i admit. "Oh, I brought you something." i say remembering the medicine. I put some in the dropper, and give it to her. "Pain medication. Take a dropper full every six hours."
"Thanks." is her reply, as she puts the dropper in her mouth, letting it flow down her throat.
I need to know how she is doing- she seems worried, and I don't blame her. I remember, all of a sudden how Caleb mentioned her real name, and i wonder how it would sound when I say it. I also want to know which she prefers. I hope she wants me to call her Tris. It is the nickname she told me when i first met her, when she jumped of a roof. I remember when she said it, it sounded like she was telling me and only me, and not other dauntless awaiting near the net.
The good old days that were only a few weeks ago.
I try it casually, hooking my thumb into one of the belt hoops. "How are you Beatrice."
The look on her face makes me want to laugh, or give of a small chuckle.
"Did you just call me Beatrice?"
"Thought i would give it a try. Not good?" I say smiling.
"Maybe on special occasions only. Initiation days, Choosing days..." She says, about to say more, but thinks better of it. She doesn't know what the dauntless celebrate yet.
"It's a deal." I say, my faint smile disappearing. "How are you Tris?" I ask.
She has done more than a sixteen year old could. Her parents dieing-for her. Her peers killing her neighbors.
Me almost shooting her.
The thought leaves me for now. I will scold her sooner or later- it's a habit, and she has a gift for doing things to unknowingly anger me.
Her shoulders go rigid at the question. Why did i ask that? It is obvious she is not doing okay.
"I'm..." She pauses, as if stopping herself from saying something. I don't want her to do that. I want to know whatever she has to say.
"I don't know four. I'm awake. I..." She says, her head shaking.
I almost groan at her calling me my nickname. It is somewhat a turn on, but i prefer her calling me 'Tobias.' Especially when we are alone. Together. In the same room.
I place my hand on her cheek, moving toward her neck. I tilt her head up, as I kiss her. Her lips are warm, but her hands are cold, as she holds my arms, making sure i don't leave. She should know i wouldn't want to leave.
I am suddenly aware of the bed that she leans on, and I pull back before any other thoughts come into my brain, which really aches for her passion.
Does she have to be afraid of me being with her?
Instead of mentioning it though, i say "I know. Sorry, I shouldn't have asked." I tell her.
She looks at me, her eyes looking at me with curiosity. Curiosity that i accept when it comes from her.
I remember when I was alone with that horrid excuse for a father. Me thinking my mother was six feet under. I couldn't have been more wrong.
I know what it is like to be alone- I used to embrace the feeling, in dauntless. My friends wouldn't have understood. But then I met Tris, and in a matter of weeks, she was the main highlight of my whole entire existence. And know all I want is her.
All of her. But i have to control myself.
I take a deep breathe, inhaling her scent, before saying "I'll let you get ready."
I stay in my room, and wait for the meeting to start. I decide to leave before sleep overcomes me-I remember that i haven't slept in almost two days. Along the way I see Caleb. Again. When he sees me, he gives me a death glare. He does a terrible job at looking tough. The look he gives looks like he's observing me.
Then i realize that he IS observing me. I feel like an ant under a microscope.
"What do you want with my sister." He says still observing my expression, as if trying to see what I am hiding.
"I don't want anything from her. I like her. She likes me. Enough said." I tell him.
"No, not enough said! She's my sister, and I need to make sure she doesn't get hurt." He says exasperated.
"I would never hurt her."
"That's hard to believe from the words of a Dauntless." He says. "You look familiar." He says, an eyebrow raised.
I almost forgot that Marcus would go to Andrew Prior's house for dinner almost every week.
I don't know how Tris never made the connection- maybe she never payed much attention to Marcus when he came over. But her brother is Erudite-He will make the connection sooner or later.
"I'm Dauntless. Don't we all look the same one way or another?" I snap at him.
He doesn't talk the rest of the way.
I see Tris. She appears to have cut her hair. It is almost chin length, but it is a few centimeters longer.
I remember telling myself that she is always surprising me one way or another.
This is one of those times.
"You cut your hair." Caleb says, eyes wide.
you don't say! I would never had figured that out myself! I want to say, but not when Tris is here.
"Yeah. It's...too hot for long hair." She says.
"Fair enough." says Caleb, buying her lie.
I know it's a lie, but it doesn't really matter at the moment. I'll ask her about it when she wants to tell me.
We walk silently, Tris next to me with Caleb on her other side,glaring at me. Just to see his reaction, I move closer to her- closer than a normal friend would. Caleb notices, and his eyes narrow even more.
I smirk, but Tris seems to be lost in her thoughts to notice, and I frown concerned, looking at her expression.-This seems to make Caleb even madder.
I look ahead, careful to make sure Tris doesn't stumble on any rocks. Than Caleb says something that makes me want to shred him to pieces.
"Does everyone know your Marcus's son? The abnegation I mean."
This seems to make me and Tris both freeze. We both manage to keep walking though.
"Not to my knowledge. And I would appreciate it if you didn't mention it." I say, giving him an "I'll kill you if you do" look.
"I don't need to mention it. Anyone with eyes can see it for themselves." Caleb says, frowning. He must be disappointed I didn't make a huge scene the Dauntless are famous for. "How old are you anyway?"
older than you.
"Eighteen."
"And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?"
I laugh. He pretends to be the one looking out for her, when it is the other way around.
If anything, he's the little one. And Tris is not a little thing. She's a troublesome one.
"She isn't your little anything."
"Stop it. Both of you." Tris says, clearly annoyed by this. I still smirk.
Once we reach the huge place made of glass, that has a huge tree in the middle, with Johanna on top of a bunch of roots, and other Amity around her, I guide Tris to a place near the back, and pull her down to sit.
"I like your hair that way." I say, in all honesty.
She smiles, and leans her arm against mine as she sits.
It takes a while for the Amity to start talking-most seem to drift of to space. When Johanna Reyes starts talking, we all listen.
"We have before us today an urgent question. Which is: How will we conduct ourselves in this time of conflict as people who pursue peace?"
Once the words leave Johanna's mouth, every single amity discusses the issue. Each one is equal. Each one wants to live happily in a safe environment.
I envy there thoughts. I could never live a life without some form of adventure, or curiosity.
"How do they get anything done?" Tris asks, utterly confused.
"They don't care about efficiency," I tell her." They care about agreement. Watch."
As if on cue, the groups of people talking join in on another group, making a group bigger, and they don't stop until an agreement. This will go until the little groups are all the Amity, choosing one of two options, or already having a solution. They discuss all matters like this: I've learned about this in my faction history text-book.
"This is bizzare." She says, not understanding the point.
"I think it's beautiful." I say in disagreement.
She gives me a shocked look. I've warned her- I'm different then I am in training.
Then I remember that she never got to really know that person outside of training except in small glimpses- there is still so much she needs to know about me.
"What?" I ask chuckling a little. "They each have an equal role in government; they each feel equally responsible. And it makes them care; It makes them kind. I think that's beautiful." I explain to her.
I smile, thinking of how Tris would look if she was Amity, but i just can't imagine her growing crops, laughing, and singing. Tris was not meant for this place. Neither am I. We are simillar in that way. The difference though is that I can deal with it. I am not sure about Tris though.
"I think it's unsustainable," She replies back. "Sure, it works for the Amity. But what happens when not everyone wants to strum banjos and grow crops? What happens when someone does something terrible and talking about it can't solve the problem?" She asks.
She makes a point. The amity can only be so peaceful and gentle for so long. It's a persons nature to defend yourself. What happens to those who can no longer stand being nice?
I shrug in response. "I guess we'll find out."
One by one, one person in each small group goes up to Johanna, and start discussing the matter with her.
"They're not going to let us argue with them, are they." Tris says.
"I doubt it." I reply.
I may love her, but I am not going to get her hopes up by saying "It'll be okay."
I don't know if it will.
Johanna talks again, when Tris and I are deep in our own thoughts.
"Our faction has had a close relationship with Erudite for as long any of us could remember. We need each other to survive, and we have always cooperated with each other. But we have also had a strong relationship with Abnegation in the past, and we do not think it is right to revoke the hand of friendship when it has so long been extended." She says. Her voice is solemn, and truthful. There is still that little peice of Candor in there.
"We feel that the only way to preserve our relationships with both factions is to remain impartial uninvolved. Your presense here, though welcome, complicates that."
She said our presence is welcomed. That gives me relief, but she didn't really say if we could stay or not.
"We have arrived at the conclusion that we will establish our faction headquarters as a safe house for members of all factions, Under a set of conditions."
"The first is that no weaponry of any kind is allowed on the compound."
Already broke that one.
"The second is that if any serious conflict arises, whether verbal or physicle, will be asked to leave."
Now how on Earth will that be possible with three trained Dauntless members, and a Marcus?
"The third is that the conflict may not be discussed, even privately, within the confines of this compound."
Is she crazy? She doesn't want us talking about the first war in years? Not even discussing a plan?
"And the fourth is that everyone who stays here must contribute to the welfare of this environment by working. We will report this to Erudite, Candor, and Dauntless as soon as we can."
Then she looks at Tris and I, and we stare back.
"You are welcome to stay here if and only if you can abide our rules. That is our descision." She says it as if she just knows we'll break these rules.
I don't blame her.
Me and Tris are silent.
"We won't be able to stay long." She whispers.
I frown. "No, we won't."
COLTON HAYNES (TEEN WOLF), AND ALEXANDER LUDWIG (CATO FROM HG) ARE TRYING TO GET THE PART OF FOUR! :D
SHAILENE WOODLEY MIGHT PLAY TRIS (IT'S NOT A FINAL CHOICE YET.)
