FOUR
[ELIZABETH]
They let us go once everyone had taken they're tests, and still no Gertrude.
I was nervous, fidgeting the whole way home. A Candor girl who was sitting next to me spoke up.
"What's wrong with you, stiff?" I looked up, besides from she said it in a way that was meant to bring offense, her eyes spoke that she was truly curious as to what had me this way.
"My friend, she didn't return from her test, I'm worried about her."
"Wow, you actually spoke," her eyes widened. "And I get it. Though, I didn't know you stiffs had friends," she noted, a frown between her eyebrows.
"Generally, we don't usually. It's seen as a selfish desire to have someone we can talk to about anything. But Gertrude and I…we don't exactly follow the rules."
"I can see," she smirked. "Are you transferring then?"
I sighed. "Well, yes, but a part of me, doesn't want to leave. The rest of me, is jumping at the chance for adventure and a whole new world to experience. Are you?"
"Me? I'm Candor through and through, but I haven't decided yet," she smiled.
"I'm Elizabeth," I held out my hand.
"Kori," she took it, shaking my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine."
"So where are you transferring to?"
"Dauntless," I felt my smile widened with excitement.
Her eyebrows raised. "Really?"
"Yep."
"Wow, that's a drastic change."
"I guess that's how I can though, I'm brave enough to take that step. To embrace who I am, even though I'm scared I won't be able to fit in."
"Good on you. I'm happy for you, really."
"Thanks, although is it selfish of me to hope that Gertrude got Dauntless too?"
"No, it's not, it's completely normal to want your best friend there with you."
"Thank you," I smiled. "I feel like I have another friend, now."
She smiled. "Thank you, for thinking that highly of me."
"I can't help it, you've been kind to me, you got to know me when other people would've just seen the grey and someone that'll help them and ask nothing in return. It's a nice change."
"I like the fact that you're honest with me, not just 'cuz I'm Candor, but you feel like you can admit your faults."
"I am afraid, but I'm still going to smash this."
Kori laughed. "Good luck with Dauntless, this is my stop. Bye, Elizabeth."
"Thanks, Kori. I hope to see you in the future."
"You too," she called over her shoulder, exiting the bus.
It was another fifteen or so minutes before the bus finally stopped at the Abnegation sector of the city.
As I exited, I said a quick thank you to the factionless driver.
I made my way to Gertrude's house. I knocked on the door, her mother, Mrs Huma answered.
"Good afternoon, Elizabeth. Gertrude's in her room."
"Afternoon, Mrs Huma, thank you," I smiled politely in return.
I walked up the stairs, up to her room, knocking on her door. "Come in!"
I opened it came inside, her bedroom hasn't changed. A single bed pushed up against the wall, a bedside table sat next it and a small cupboard along another wall, next to a small desk and chair.
She was sitting on her bed, she'd taken her hair out of its regular hairstyle, letting her natural auburn hair sit in wavy curls over her shoulders.
"Hi, Elizabeth," she smiled, but it seemed strained, forced. I didn't question her about it, if she wanted to tell me, I'd be here. She knew that.
"Hey, Gertrude, so, what happened?"
"Oh, uh I wasn't feeling well, so he sent me home."
"Did you do your test?"
"Yeah," she nodded.
"What'd you get?" I asked.
"You know we're not allowed to talk about it," she smirked. "What'd you get?"
"Uh well, good point, so I won't tell you, you can guess," I was about to make a few points to hint towards my future faction, but she gave me this look that seemed to say; ha, you're funny. I know exactly what you got. "Okay, what did I get then?" smartass.
"Dauntless. A blind man could see you're happy about it," she gave another smirk.
"And you?" I didn't bother telling her she was right.
"Guess," she smirked again.
"Dauntless?" I asked, barely daring to be hopeful. She nodded. "YES!" I jumped around, not bothering to hide my enthusiasm.
She just laughed at me.
"So… I was thinking… I'm going to shorten my name, when I transfer." I started, looking at her expression to determine what she's thinking.
She raised an eyebrow. No fair, I wish I could do that. "To what? Liz, Beth?"
"Nah, I'm thinking more Ellie," I love it and I just knew that's what I wanted to be called.
"Ellie," she smiled, thinking it over. "I like it, it suits you."
"What about you? Are you going to change your name?"
Gertrude paused, frowning. "There's not a lot you can shorten Gertrude to," she pointed out. "But maybe," she raised her shoulders, scrunching up her face into what I call her thinking face. "I'll think about."
She's right, there isn't much you can shorten it too. "Well, for whatever you choose, if you like it, I like it."
She sighed. "Thanks," she stood, going over to her window. "You wanna come up?"
"Yeah, lead the way," I smiled. The roof was one of my favourite places.
She opened the panels of glass, stood up onto the ledge, expertly turning as she stood, grabbing the ledge above the top of the window, pulling her weight up, she disappeared from my view, but I knew it took a bit of climbing from the window to the roof.
After five seconds, I knew she'd be up, so I stood up onto the ledge. I grabbed the top of the window, pulling one of my legs up to gently but firmly put my foot on the top of the window, I didn't put any weight on it until I knew my other hand was ready to grab the edge of the roof. I pushed down on my leg, lifting the other one up, reaching up with my hand. I was nearly there when my worst nightmare happened. The window's hinges came loose.
"Help, quick, it's going to break!" I whisper-yelled.
Gertrude leaned back over. "Oh no," she reached down, grabbing my outstretched hand, pulling me up, I released the window and my free hand swung up clamped down on the ledge of the roof.
Gertrude let go of my hand when I nodded. I grabbed hold with the other now, too. I pulled my feet on the ledge on top of the window where my hand was before. I lifted my body up and over the top. Landing delicately on my feet, balancing out the weight from the shaking.
"Ugh, thanks Gertrude," I smiled.
"Anytime. Just, promise me you'll catch me too, right?"
I smiled, nodding. "Always."
We walked over to the mattress we left up here. Since there's rocks and pebbles and all other horribly hurtful things on top of the flat roof, we brought a mattress up here, quite ingeniously, if I may say so myself.
One night, about three or so years ago, we brought the mattress to building, but left it outside, below her window. She climbed up with lots of rope, she tied off the ends, dropping it down, I tied the rope around the mattress until I was certain it was secure. Then I went and climbed up myself, grabbing the other side and together, we pulled it up onto the roof. That was probably the longest five minutes ever.
It has a tarp over it, tying it down and keeping it protected from the rain and the sun. We took off the tarp, plonking ourselves down on the soft, springy surface and laid in silence. Lost in our own thoughts.
What will tomorrow bring?