I didn't think I could change so much in two weeks.
But I did.
I like to think my mom wasn't catching on, but I could sense her curiosity. So it was no surprise when she asked over our morning coffee. "Roselle, what's been up with you recently? You've been wearing makeup, and dresses. Something I should know about?"
She deserves to know. She's my mother. "Mom, I have a boyfriend," I say indifferently. I take a casual sip of my coffee and read the newspaper. I'm not really interested in it, I just want to avoid talking to her about Jake.
She sits up, a small smile crossing her face. "What? Roselle, when did this happen?"
"Two days ago."
"You didn't tell me." She crosses her arms, but she's still smiling. None of this happy stuff is making me feel at ease.
"Yup. Okay, gotta go, bye!" I grab my bag and head out the door. Other Candor linger in the halls, arguing, and I brush past them. This building is full of arguing people.
As I start outside, I see the train coming near to me, and without thinking I start to run. The Dauntless inside look at me, laughing and smirking. With a burst of laughter, I throw myself sideways and pull myself into a train car. The Dauntless stare at me, eyes wide.
"Um . . . what are you doing here?" asks one, a girl who has one half of her head shaved. The rest of her hair is electric blue.
"Well, I figured it was quicker to ride to train to school." I say, suddenly aware of how stupid I'd been. God, what was I thinking?
"Ross?" I snap my head around. Jake is there! Jake! I smile. "Oh, hey." He walks over to me. The Dauntless raise their eyebrows and turn away, talking about a chasm. He brushes a lock of my hair behind my ear.
"Hey . . . you're on the train." He laughs a bit.
I shrug and smile. He sits on the edge and I next to him, watching the city pass in a blur of gray cement and broken streetlamps. His hand finds mine and he curls his fingers around mine.
We are at the school far to soon, and then my throat tightens as I realize I better be good getting off, or the Dauntless will see me as a joke.
I wait until the lights on the train blink rapidly, bend my knees, and jump. I am airborne, my arms and legs flailing, then the ground is beneath my feet and I stumble a few feet but keep my balance. My heels sting, but I smile.
The Dauntless girl with blue hair nudges me and smirks. "Not bad for a Candor," she says, and I smile fiercely as I walk to class.
I belong with them, and now they know it too.
The rest of the school day is most of the usual; crabby erudite teachers, stolen moments with Jake, and an annoyingly heavy stack of papers to finish at home. Even so, after school I wait outside for Jake. He comes out surrounded by a group of Dauntless, with Reyna at his side.
I don't care what he said, I hate the way she leans her head on his shoulder, smiles while staring into his eyes, and holds his hand right against her side. I do not like her, for no reason.
He sees me and waves with his free hand. Reyna peers over at me and gives me a condescending look that seems to say, Honey, don't even try. I raise my eyebrows at her and cross my arms.
Jake walks over, Reyna behind him. "Hey, Ross!" he brushes a hand over my hair, and I cast a triumphant look at Reyna. I have always felt the need to win, and now I am smug.
Reyna just crosses her arms, and sneers, "Can't believe you'd hang out with one of them, J. I thought you were better,"
I feel another flash of annoyance at the way her voice says J, like she owns him or something. I glare at her back as she walks away. Jake slips his fingers around my chin and turns my face so I stare right into his brilliant green eyes.
"Hey. Don't listen to her. We're okay, you and I. This is okay." He pulls me into his arms, and I lean against his shoulder, smiling. I pull my head back a little, and stare right at him.
"I believe you," I tell him, and kiss him. It might have lasted a day, or two seconds, but it was over far too soon.
"See you tomorrow!" I say, smiling and leaving him standing there with a surprised look on his face.