First day of training initiates! Before we jump in, I think I should clarify that I'm writing this mostly off of the movie because the way the book described Eric I was like, 'ew gross.' But when I watched the movie I was all, 'ooh damn' so…. Anyway, chapter three for my babes.
I'm woken up to the sound of metal striking metal. I sit up slowly and look toward the door where Four is banging the railing with a tin cup. I sigh and gently work the braid out of my hair with a yawn. I was not a morning person.
Thomas rolled over and fell off his bed with a startled gasp. I choked back a laugh and fluffed my hair out before pulling it back into a tight ponytail.
"Training room. Five minutes." Four's voice echoed across the room and my face fell. I looked over at Thomas who had stood up and was now staring at me in awe.
"Can I help you, babe?" I asked sleepily and got up to get dressed.
"How did you do that? It's like, the most perfect ponytail I've ever seen." He informed me, pointing to my hair vaguely before turning around.
"You get lots of practice growing up in Dauntless." I sighed and changed quickly into a tank top, leggings and combat boots, all black. Thomas dressed similarly with the exception of skinny jeans rather than leggings.
We hustled out with everyone else to the training room where Eric and Four stood waiting. They started us off with a 'light' run, which turned out to be a total of three miles in laps around the spacious room. I looked over at Thomas, who looked like he was on the verge of passing out; we were only halfway done. To be fair we were closer to finishing than anyone else, I was pushing him pretty hard. But I wasn't about to hold back to baby him.
"Four is looking at you." I lied to see if it would motivate him at all. The transition was amazing. Immediately, he sucked in a deep breath, wiped the sweat off his forehead and even sped up to be in front of me. I laughed quietly and matched my pace to his. "well, now he actually is." I told him under my breath and he gave me a dark look.
"Slow down, make me look better." he gasped. I raised an eyebrow and picked up my pace, passing him quickly.
"Bitch." I called over my shoulder amusedly.
"Jerk." He laughed breathlessly as he tried to catch up. All we had to do was finish this lap and we would be done. "I'll race you." he challenged as he finally caught up to me.
"If I win you have to be my slave for the rest of the day. Ready, go." I said quickly and broke into a sprint. He made a hopeless noise behind me and made a vain effort to catch up. I slowed to give him a fair chance, his legs were so much smaller than mine, which made sense seeing as I was a full eight inches taller than him. He remained a few paces behind me until I finished the lap and turned to look at him triumphantly. He threw himself at me, wrapping his legs and arms around my neck and waist. I stumbled backward but managed to catch both of us, laughing.
"No, you have to earn hugging privileges!" I laughed.
"I scared you." He taunted with a snicker.
"I beat you." I shot back and carried him over to where Eric and Four were getting ready to beckon over everyone as they finished. We would have to wait another minute or two for everyone else.
I had just set Thomas down to talk to him easier when Eric beckoned me off to the side, much to my horror. I looked over my shoulder with a pleading look as I followed him slowly. 'Help me' I mouthed desperately. Four shrugged and gave me a 'sorry not sorry' look while Thomas gave me a thumbs up. I stuck my tongue out at him like a child before turning around to face the jury.
"Eve, what are you doing here?" I raised an eyebrow and decided that I didn't have anything to lose.
"Well, you called me over here, so…." I shrugged. He rolled his eyes.
"You know what I meant. You're Dauntless born. you have a different training routine." He clarified. "Why are you here with the transfers?" I sighed.
"For fun." He gave me a serious look and I shrugged."Thomas was concerned that he would get slaughtered by some of the other transfers." I explained and gave Peter a pointed look as he came too close to Thomas. "I promised I'd keep an eye on him, but I can't do that if I'm doing the other training, now can I? Would you excuse me for a-?" I walked back over to Thomas as Peter started circling him like a vulture. "Hands off." I snapped and pulled him away, back to where I had left Eric. Somehow I felt more comfortable with him there now.
"If you go back to your own training program, Four and I can keep an eye on him." Eric protested. I shook my head.
"I said I'd be looking out, not that I'd leave him with two much more intimidating strangers. I'm not going anywhere." I replied firmly.
"Alright whatever. I just don't think you'll be at your full potential here." He pointed out. I was slightly taken aback by the comment. The was the closest to 'nice' Eric had ever been to anyone.
"I can be a mascot." I shrugged. "Can we start now? Just because I'm taking on the easier training doesn't mean I don't want to train at all." I sighed and rested my forearm on Thomas's shoulder. Eric nodded and gestured back to the group of initiates that had gathered near Four.
"We're fighting today." he announced as we approached and there were varying reactions from excitement to worry to nothing. I patted Thomas's shoulder seeing the panicked look on his face.
"Don't worry, kid. You and I will pair up. I promise not to accidentally kill you if you promise not to secretly be amazing." I laughed and he allowed a grin. Eric and Four explained the rules and steps of how to go about fighting, demonstrated a few examples of right and wrong and dispersed us. Thomas and I picked a spot near the back of the room; neither of us enjoyed being observed. The two of us slowly practiced maneuvers and strategies on each other, steadily picking up the pace. "I think we're ready." I nodded after about twenty minutes of practice. I looked around the training room for other pairs that seemed prepared. There were two: Peter and Edward as well as Molly and Drew.
I could see Eric and Four exchange a few words before Eric scanned the room calculatingly. "First jumper, last jumper, In the ring. Time to fight."
"Watch and learn, babe." I winked at Thomas and approached the mat as Molly approached from the other side. "And I'll try not to hurt her too bad. Gorillas are endangered anyway." I added more loudly earning a collective chuckle from the other initiates. The two of us faced each other and raised our arms in a prepared stance.
"They'll be sending you out of here in a box Hayslett." she sneered.
"I'd say the same for you but I don't think they'd be able to fit you in just one." I snapped. "Bring it on, gorilla girl." I smirked.
I decided to put their fight in the next chapter, which I'm going to start right after I post this one. What do you think of the character clash between Eve and Thomas? I think their friendship is developing rather well, what are your thoughts? Remember to review and favorite, thanks babes.