Lauren's POV
The celebration doesn't stop. I'm drunk and in the Pit dancing away with Four, Mia, Luke, Shauna, and Zeke. We made it through initiation. Four and I were in the top 3 so that was enough for us to celebrate.
They'd given Four his apartment already and I offered to help him decorate it, because let's face it the Abnegation in him has no clue where to begin. He bought clothes and sheets for the bed so far.
We were all given credits to buy clothes for tonight and us girls went shopping. I bought a skin-tight body dress. I really got a good shape to my body after training. I gained some muscle, my stomach was rock solid, and I have curves now that became more defined.
In this dress and heels, I looked incredible. Shauna even helped me with makeup and I can't wait to buy some of my own.
Four trusted me and I trusted him, but I was never prepared for what happened when more alcohol got into our bodies.
Zeke and Shauna, Mia and Luke, and Four and I were in pairs grinding on each other. Who would've ever thought that I would've been grinding on a former Abnegation boy?
Four turned me around and kissed me. Man, alcohol can do wonders! I kissed back and moved my hands around his neck and through his hair.
The only indecent thing you can't do at Dauntless in public is fuck. This was acceptable.
I was waiting for the moment when he pulled me from the crowd and he did. I knew we were headed to his new apartment and that the bed would be the destination. We'd both never had sex before, but didn't care at this moment. If it was going to happen then so be it.
It's the alcohol's entire fault.
What I wasn't expecting was to be pulled away from Four and met by Eric. Eric punched him in the face and they started back and fourth till Four was on the ground, obviously not wanting the fight to go any further.
Eric towered over him, "YOU RANK FIRST AND THEN YOU TRY TO FUCK LAUREN, WATCH YOUR BACK STIFF!"
I looked at Four concerned and Eric grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hallway.
"What the fuck was that Eric? What are you doing?" I demanded.
"He's not the only one that got a new place already," he growled at me.
We hadn't picked jobs yet, how did both of them get apartments 4 hours after the results were announced?
Eric and I go on an elevator and I don't resist. If I get him alone I may be able to get more out of him.
We get off and he walks down the hall and turns to a door on the left and scans his finger in the keypad and it opens.
There's minimal furniture, but I see alcohol already on the counter in the kitchen.
"Sit," he says and motions to the couch, I oblige.
"Why did you just drag me away from Four, Eric?"
"He was about to take YOU to bed Lauren! I watched you two and I know what I saw!"
I laughed, "Jealousy doesn't look well on you Eric. Too bad there's nothing between us for you to be jealous."
He sits next to me and gets in my face, "Like hell there is Lauren Dyer."
"I don't want to be with you Eric. I don't like who you've become. You're a ruthless, arrogant bastard." I get up to leave and he stops me, again. I don't have time for his games, so I knee him in the crotch and he drops to the floor.
He tries to grab at my ankles but I quickly hurry out of his reach and slip out the door.
I wake up with the worst headache and then a recollection of last night's Eric and Four battles. I groan and hear Shauna laugh at me.
Some of still stayed in the initiate dorm. Apparently if it was obvious what your rank would be or if you were Dauntless-born they offered apartments to you already, which is why some were already gone from the dorms.
I have to get packed with what I have in a duffle bag and meet with Eric, Four, and Max. Why couldn't we do this separately? I don't want to face either of them, or even be in the same room as Eric.
Max lets the three of us into a conference room and hands us papers of jobs we can pick from. Some are select for top 3 while others run with anything in-between that and a statement saying if you were at the bottom your at the fence.
The list of jobs offered to top 3:
-Leadership Apprentice
-Faction Representative
-Second in Command at Department of Weapons
-Surveillance Room
-Leadership Security
-Government Official
-Leadership Assistant
-Leadership Secretary
-Faction Security
And I flip to the second page to look at the rest. The word "infirmary" catches my eyes. My parents are both doctors and I shadowed them a lot and helped with the nurses, so it kind of makes sense. I'm former Erudite as well so I know more then what most probably do in the infirmary.
-Infirmary Head Nurse
-Infirmary Nurse
-Infirmary Assistant
-Infirmary Phlebotomist
-Infirmary Women Health Services
-Infirmary Men Health Services
"Four since you ranked first, I wish to offer you the position of Leadership Apprentice. Hank will be retiring soon and we need to fill his position, which would make you a leader in one year's time," Max says and I swear Eric is going to break the chair's arms with how tight he is holding his fists.
It makes me almost want to laugh at how stupid he is being for a former Erudite.
I'm avoiding all eye contact with him since last night. He's utterly pissed at me as well.
"I thank you for the offer Max, but I wish to serve my duties elsewhere," Four says and Max looks surprised.
"Very well, where do you wish to be placed?"
"Surveillance Room…and I know you said that we would be able to help with initiate training so I wish to do that as well sir."
Max has his assistant type this down, who is also in the room. I wonder if this is the first time someone has turned down a future leadership position.
"Eric Coulter, will you accept the leadership apprentice position or do I have to offer it to Lauren?" Max asks and arrogant Eric answers.
"I wish to accept sir," he says with a smug grin looking at Four.
He's totally going to make good on his promise and make Four's life hell.
"Good, you'll be help with your former faction," Max laughs, actually genuinely laughs and then turns to me.
"Lauren, what is your selection?"
I want to say Faction Representative but it sounds like the Erudite side of me will be in full effect for that. I kind of want to be a nurse…and help with initiation…it might be bold of me but I continue anyway.
"Infirmary Head Nurse and Initiation Training Assistant."
"Lauren, you ranked top 3. I know I made it clear that you can pick anything, but Head Nurse is currently for only those working in the infirmary as a nurse already. I'll tell you what. I'll let you what you may assist the initiate training since it's only a couple weeks out of the year. I feel you would be a good fit for Leadership Assistant or Faction Representative. I wish not to waste your skill," he says concerned.
"I understand sir, but I feel that Faction Representative would be more Erudite of me then Dauntless. I shadowed my parents at work and know how to complete tasks that a nurse does which is why I feel like I would be better in that area and work my way up to head nurse," I say honestly.
He looks at me actually speechless. He's thinking and I feel Eric stare at me like I'm the biggest idiot for wanting to be a simple nurse.
"Well, since Eric and Four are all set up with jobs and apartments you both may leave and pick your phones up at my secretary's desk. Lauren, stay here and we will get you situated." He stands up and so do they shaking each other's hands and thank you etc.
He sits back down across from me as his assistant keeps her eyes on her computer.
"You Erudite born are always troublesome," he says jokingly.
"Sorry sir," I say.
"No, you want what's best for yourself which is why I have to respect that. It's very Dauntless of you to not push yourself into something you don't want to do. I'll talk to the head nurse, Ellen and see if she'd be willing to take you on. I don't doubt your capabilities but we always have very few nurses because no one can stomach it. They're pretty much assistants to Ellen who does a ton more then just a nurse. Head nurse is like a doctor here since we don't have them like Erudite does. If anything's too bad the patients get sent there. I want you to understand that you will see and experience a lot which is why it's considered a lower job."
I just nod at all of this. I know what I'm taking on.
"Here's what I'm going to do Lauren. You're one of the highest-ranking women we've had in a while. I'm going to give you three duties. One, third-assistant to me, which is only when I go out of faction or for some reason need you. Second, infirmary nurse if Ellen approves and she will. You can work you way up to Head Nurse when the time comes if you choose, that is a high position. Third, initiation aid. Does this sound okay?"
I can deal with this, "Yes sir."
"Good now on to your housing. There's two apartment open on floor B."
Floors are by letter, A being the highest and for leaders…I'm surprised I'm eligible for B with my job choosing.
He continues, "One is facing the old Ferris wheel and has a balcony and the other faces the city with a balcony. Both are extremely large and we can get you whatever you would need to furnish it with no use of your credits since you ranked third. What will be your choice?"
His assistant gets ready to type. The city view will remind me too much of Erudite. The Ferris wheel view will be quieter and I could read books on that side on the balcony.
"The Ferris wheel side sir."
I sat my new phone down on the kitchen counter of my apartment. I'm still taking it all in. It's perfect for me.
There's a paper I fill out for what I want in furniture and accessories so I start filling it out being that this is literally just an apartment with walls at the moment, and a fridge, stove, and dishwasher in the kitchen.
Living Room:
-Black couch
-Black table
-Floor lamp
-Table lamp
-Two book cases
Kitchen:
-Coffee Pot
-Dishtowels
-Silverware
-Pots
-Pans
-Plates
-Bowls
Bedroom:
-Burgundy sheets
-Black comforter
-4 pillows
-Nightstand
-Lamp
-Curtains for balcony door
Bathroom:
-Towels
-Shower rack
Well that list was exhausting. Shauna had thankfully went and bought me makeup and other essentials with my credits since I was settling everything else.
All the items I requested on the sheet were going to be set up for me during dinner.
I headed down the hall to 47B, Four's apartment.
I knocked twice and he opened the door looking like I was going to yell at him.
"Hey, need some help?" I said with a smile.
"Uh yeah actually…a lot. What about your place though?"
"I have nothing in it yet till tonight," he motioned me into his place.
It was a studio like apartment, very open unlike mine, which had variations of rooms.
He currently had things everywhere and I laughed. Erudite were very organized people. He picked the right friend for this job.
"It's so bad I know…hey about last night I'm sorry…" he blurted out.
I sit on his couch and start going through the boxes of kitchen stuff he got.
"Four, don't worry about it okay?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, now I'm going to hand you stuff and tell you were to put it, okay?"
He looks at me and smiles, "I thought you were going to completely organize this mess for me and not sit on your ass and boss me around," we laugh.
I hit him gently and hand him a stack of plates. I like the friendship Four and I have built.
I sit at dinner with Four, Zeke, and Shauna everyone else has either branched their own way or is busy. We get texts about our jobs and my training at the infirmary starts tomorrow at 8AM, good thing I don't mind early mornings.
"Wait what are your apartment numbers again? I want to put it in my phone," Zeke says to Four and I.
"47B is mine and Lauren's is 33B. I'd tell you Shauna's too but we all know you've been there already," Four and I laugh and Zeke kicks us both under the table.
"The apartments on B Floor have to be so nice and spacious. D Floor is small. I'd hate to see what you get if you don't rank top 5," Zeke remarks.
"A roommate, you idiot," Shauna says and kisses him.
"Uh oh," Zeke says and we all turn to see Eric walking in looking extra pissed, "he's walking okay so his balls must not hurt anymore!"
"Zeke!" We all say and laugh again as Eric passes the table.
"He's such an ass, was he that bad in Erudite, Lauren?" Shauna asks me, "No, he had his moments but never this bad, guess Dauntless brought it out in him," I reply.
I get back to my room and I have furniture! They put the bookcases up and will get whatever books I want from home and their collection. The kitchen is full of boxes. My bed is made with my new bedding and there are sheer black curtains on the balcony door and windows. My bedroom is pretty plain right now but it will do.
I'll probably want a desk or something and I need chairs for the balcony but this will do.
I'm putting away my kitchen stuff when there's a knock at my door.
Please don't be Eric.
I open it slowly, of course it's him, but I don't let him in.
"What do you want?" I ask annoyed.
"To talk to you," he stands with his arms crossed.
I roll my eyes, "I thought I made it clear Eric that I don't want to talk to you?"
"You know when I become a leader you'll have to show respect to me."
I laugh, "Maybe by then you'll earn it," and I slam my door in his face.
I expect him to knock again but instead he punches the code in my keypad and let's himself in.
"What the fuck Eric! How can you even do that?!"
"Leadership Apprentice perks. Now you're going to talk to me," he sits on my new couch that I haven't even sat on yet!
I pour a glass of whiskey, something I've grown to like going down my throat.
"Can you not drink while I talk to you?"
I chug it down, "There. Now talk, I'm busy."
"Is your apartment okay?" He looks around after asking this.
"You could've texted me this, Eric."
"I don't have your phone number," he now stands up and comes to lean on the other side of the counter from me.
I roll my eyes, "If those 'Leadership Apprentice perks' can get you my access code to my door they sure as hell can get you my phone number."
He hesitates, "Lauren, I realized that I really like you. What happened during initiation wasn't personal."
"Initiation has been over for a day now. Glad to hear becoming a member has changed you so fast." I start putting my kitchen stuff away again. I don't want to hear this, not now.
He watches me.
"What part of I don't want to be with you don't you get? I have duties of my own now. I have three jobs Eric. I can't let you get in the way I've what I need to do here."
"How did you end up with three jobs?" He spits that out, pissed.
"Because I'm a high ranking woman. That's why. I have to get up early and I want to at least get the kitchen put away, is there anything else you want to say?" I have to stand my ground with him.
As much as I used to like Eric, yes I can admit that now, Dauntless has made him an ass.
"You just wait Lauren," and with that he leaves.
Well, a lot goes down in this chapter! Leave me reviews, how am I doing? What do we think Eric's going to do?
