Shauna knocks on my door loudly at 8 o'clock. She does not wait for me to open the door and steps inside my apartment.
"Come on boy! We're all ready to PAAAARTY!" It clearly looks like she has already started the party some time ago even though it's still early. She's wearing a black dress, which is hugging at all the right places of her body. I don't understand how she manages to look so feminine and yet so deadly. But she really does.
My hair is still dripping from the shower. "Just give a moment," I tell her. "I need to get dressed."
"Suuure, Four! But you look good anyway, don't worry!"
Like I would really worry about the way I look after the day I have had.
After two years in Dauntless I am still not comfortable showing skin in front of people, and being half dressed in front of Shauna certainly qualifies. I grab a black t-shirt and rush to the bathroom to get dressed and escape Shauna's glare.
When I come back she has a bottle ready in her hands and gestures me to get it.
"You're a little late on the drinking wagon. You've got some catching up to do! Come on!"
I take the bottle and we go down to the Pit. As much as I miss Abnegation from time to time, I have to admit that I really like he Pit. I also appreciate how hard the Dauntless party. Especially on a day like this one, it is great to let go of the steam and simply forget about everything but the present moment. I definitely want to forget, at least temporarily, about the Eric, the report, and the plans I have discovered.
"Shauna! Four! Over here! I was just telling Lauren she better make sure my brother ends up being ranked first. She doesn't seem to be impressed by my threats though. I think I am losing my touch." Zeke, carrying Lauren over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes, tries to dodge her hits and bites while she is furiously trying to get down. They are both laughing even more loudly than usual. Obviously, they started to drink with Shauna earlier.
"This idiot thinks that's the way of changing my mind into favoring his brother! Like I'm about to be intimidated! Seriously it's no wonder he is not Erudite!" She swings her legs and dislodges herself from his grip and pins him on the ground in one swift motion.
"Let's hope Uriah is more skilled than you are. He's going to be in trouble if he's as easy to tackle down as that! Not going to last long for sure!" She is grinning at me. "Now that I am thinking about it Four I think I'll take back what I said about agreeing with you on stayi g fairly basic in the stuff. The more I think about it, the more I think we might take this like Eric would want us to!" She's now showing her teeth to both Shauna and Zeke.
"Hey! I haven't said a word yet! Do NOT involve Lynn in Zeke's stories!"
"I'm not a psycho anyway, don't worry! And I wouldn't be surprised if Uriah ended up doing and lot better than his big brother. That kid is fierce, which is really surprising considering he's related to this thing here. But we all know where you're coming from might be very misleading, right Four?"
They all laugh. I am always the target of this kind of joke. As much as they all like me I know there will always be that small part of them who wish they had done better than I did. Nobody expected an Abnegation to rank first, and when I did, it made the disappointment of not being first stronger. But they are my friends and they have gotten over it, unlike Eric. Making jokes about it is their way of coping with it, and I really cannot hold them responsible for feeling as they did. After all, the rankings really have a big impact on a Dauntless' life.
"Or maybe Uriah's dream has always been to join Amity and become an Amity prodigy." I add to the conversation as casually as possible.
"Yeah, sure, he'd look great with that snake of his behind his ear as an Amity." Zeke retorts.
"I am sure he could come up with some really peaceful meaning for a snake... Or not. Yeah, definitively not Amity material, that Uriah. And since Lynn is about as sweet as a blossom, I guess there aren't too many risks of her choosing Amity tomorrow either." Lauren and I both agree that there's about no chance Uriah and Lynn will decide to transfer into another faction.
As usual, Zeke and Shauna do most of the talking while I step back and enjoy their conversation. They are hilarious to watch, constantly nagging each other. I wonder if they realize there is something special going on between them. Or maybe they do know, and I am the one who don't. I can't blame them for keeping something from me though. I am the one who hardly ever gives anything away about himself. We've known each other for two years, and yet they don't really know me. They have no notion of my past, which I intend to keep that way, and who I currently am is so linked with my past that I can't afford to get too close to anyone.
I am not letting myself linger on those thoughts however as I grab a new bottle and take a long gulp. Tonight is a night for letting go, and just like my friends, I am determined to succeed.
I am sorry this chapter is shorter than I intended it to be. I might add to it later on if inspiration comes my way!
And a huge thanks to everyone for the kind words!