After I had left Max's office I headed towards the pit to figure out what to do next. I didn't want to sit in the dorms alone and by now my so called friends would've told Uriah about my decision. I finally decided since I was making such drastic changes why not change other things as well. I figured maybe a trim to my hair would be. Maybe add a color or something also. Now if only I knew what color would go good.
As I'm nearing the shop I look up and see several Dauntless milling about minding their own business and I happen to notice a girl around my age maybe a little older wearing this deep red almost burgundy colored shirt with black stripes and thought it was a very lovely color. So with that color in mind I head into the shop for the next available chair. Not long after I enter a man in mid twenty's early thirty's ask if he can help me. I replied, 'I'm wanting a trim and to add some color. It's time for a change." He gave me a genuine smile and escorted me to his chair.
Upon sitting the man asked what color I would like so I described the deep red burgundy color I had seen and he thought it would be a great addition with my blonde locks. I made myself as comfortable as one could be and tried to relax and enjoy the sensations his hands were bring to my scalp. After adding the color and letting it sit he showed me to another chair across the room to rinse the color out. After it was out we went back to his chair and towel dried my hair then he started to trim the ends. After he finished trimming he gave my hair a good dry and left it hanging down my back. As I looked into the mirror I wad startled by my appearance, I still looked like me yet different. The color brought out the blue in my eyes more and gave my complexion some color instead of being so pale. I gave him my point card then thanked him and left to do more changes.
I was walking past one of the many clothes shops when I spotted some pants and workout attire I knew I would be needing soon enough. Just as I picked the last of my clothes and was heading toward checkout I noticed a figure at the front. It was Eric with his usual cold eyes and grim expression. I went ahead and paid for my things then headed towards him. As I neared him he said "Max would like to speak with you before the ceremony begins this evening." I gave him a curt nod and he turned and left as well. I headed to take my clothes back to the dorm then set off towards the leaders offices. I kept wondering what Max's response was going to be. If I didn't get the position all I lost would have been for nothing and I'm not sure I could handle that.
As Max's office came closer my nerves got worse and I had a nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach. I finally reached the door but before I could knock an older Dauntless woman exited the office giving me a small smile. Max looked up from his desk when the door didn't shut back and told me to have a seat next to where Eric was currently setting. I also noticed the two other Dauntless leaders there as well. "You wanted to speak with me," I asked politely. "Yes," Max replied. "We have all come to a decision regarding the position you asked about, " he started. "We're all in agreement that you would be a great fit among us, but until you can prove us other wise our arrangement with Erudite still stands," he said with finality. I was shocked to say the least yet happy at the same time. "Thank you. I will do my very best to show you we don't need Erudite to help us," I said somewhat shyly. "You can see about a place of your own after the announcements and positions have been announced later this evening," Max assured.
"You can go back to whatever you were doing now," Eric voiced in a bored tone. I thanked them all one last time them left the office a little scared and excited. On my way back towards the pit I was thinking about how much I miss my mom and dad. Wishing I had someone to share the news with that I was going to be in the leadership after my training is complete. I didn't know what to do so I headed towards the training rooms planning to throw some knives. As J entered I noticed a couple of Dauntless born girls training as well. I gave a quick head nod to be polite then carried on towards the targets.
I took four knives and let out a breath before I let my arm fly forwards. The knife made a dull thud sound in the nearly empty room. Just as I was getting ready to let knife number two fly I heard the door open and looked over to see Eric strutting in headed in my direction I inwardly groaned at what he could possibly want now. But as he got closer I could see his eyes didn't have the usual coldness to them but still held no warmth either. I turned back to the target and released the breath I has a let the knife go, it hit with a thud. Just as I was preparing the third knife Eric's voice broke the silence. "Why are you really taking the leadership position? I thought you and number boy were together? Bet he isn't too happy now is he," he said a little to casually. "We were together kind of, and no he doesn't approve so I guess we broke up. And before you ask , yes all my friends ditched me too," I replied somewhat angered.
He just looked at me for a moment longer then asked me "Why shouldn't we keep our arrangement with Erudite?" I looked at him for a long moment deciding on what to say before replying "Erudite just wants to use Dauntless and we will be forced to act on Jeanine's behalf. It's not right or fair. I'm sure you know what her plan is and if the tidbit I got from my brother is correct she wants to turn Dauntless soldiers into mindless drones and overthrow Abnegation even if it means killing innocents in the process. Jeanine is power hungry and we shouldn't let her control us or the other factions. It would be chaos and lots of lives lost for what a little more power. Lets not forget her goal of eliminated divergents either," I said harshly. Eric stiffened when I spoke the last part and his eyes hardened to their usual coldness. "How'd you know about that?" he questioned menacingly at me. "I heard others talking about it one day and some Erudite transfers say that's all she talks about," I replied as calmly as I could giving the circumstances.
Looking over my shoulder at the clock on the wall I noticed it was nearly time for the ceremony to begin so I collected the knives I'd thrown and gave Eric one last look before telling him "See you at the ceremony," and walking away from a still silent Eric.
I was just about to enter the dorm when the door opened and Christina walked out giving me a glare and shoulder check as she past by followed by the others. I shook my head slightly before taking a deep breath and continuing inside to change. I put a pair of black pants and a black with dark grey design shirt on my bed before heading towards the bathroom to freshen up. As I was drying my hands off I thought that if any of them ever truly were my friends wouldn't they have stood by me no matter what? Maybe I should have told them the whole truth about why I was doing it, maybe then they would understand better.
Figuring I should finish up and change I head back to my bed. After changing I head back towards the door to get to the pit for the ceremony. Just as the door shut behind Tobias walked by looking at me briefly, but that was all it took for me to see his pain in his eyes and a small amount of anger towards me. I knew then he would never trust me or be a friend again even if my plan works. He now sees me as an enemy and traitor whether voiced aloud or not. It hurts a lot knowing that but maybe in time it will get easier to deal with.
I had just arrived at the pit when Max's booming voice echo's around the room. He begins talking about how we had chosen Dauntless and how they chose us as well. "We will begin choosing positions starting with 1st ranked to the last," he proceeded to tell everyone. "This year our 1st ranked has decided to take the open leadership position we didn't thing would be filled. As you know only 1st and sometimes 2nd ranked are only offered that option. So without further delay Tris please come up with the rest of us as our newest leader in training, " Max yelled out. I heard several praises along the way up along with lots of negative comments. I just kept walking with my head high and shoulders back.
The ceremony continued on with the others taking their position in our faction. Christina was actually working with the leaders as an ambassador, Will and Uriah both in the control room. I tuned out everyone else just wanting it to be over with so I could have some quiet time on the roof maybe. It seem like hours before we were all finally dismissed to go back to what we were doing before the ceremony started. My training would begin after the weekend was over and hopefully not be as brutal as initiation was.