Veronica stood amongst a mixed group of people that seemed like they didn't belong there. Other Erudites were softly talking to one another as people tried their best to not look at the chaos all around them. She glanced around as she noticed that most people were in dark clothing, neon colored hair, tattoos, and piercings all throughout their body. There was a wave of silence for a moment making Veronica look up and notice that Eric entered the room, she noticed why people stopped and stared at him for a good five seconds, in his natural habitat he looked intimidating. His eyes scanned the room until they met with Veronica's, making her slightly glance down to her blue dress and wondered if she wore the appropriate attire. When she looked up, Eric had already crossed the room and was standing in front of her.

"You came" Eric said.

"I told you I would come" Veronica slightly squinted her eyes, "Why wouldn't I come?"

"Let's give you the tour I promised you then" Eric moved his body sideways and stretched out his hand.

"Thank you" Veronica smiled.

She couldn't help but notice that Eric was a lot quieter than usual as he led her down dark hallways. The lights around the wall didn't do much as she constantly found herself tripping over wires and uneven pavements. Eric showed her where the fascinating place where the Pit was where she saw people dancing, fighting, and some were already drinking. At one point, Eric showed her the Chasm, the roar of the water made Veronica want to peek over the edge to see the bottom but Eric wrapped his arm around her waist and switched places with her so he was on the edge. She couldn't deny the fact that his strong arms around her sent fire through her veins.

The last place that Eric showed her was the Dining Hall. It was crowded with people of different factions looking awkward together as Veronica felt. She picked up her hamburger with just her fingertips, not used to eating food with just her hands as Eric seemed to wolf his down across from her. Veronica couldn't help but noticed that even though the rooms would go quiet whenever Eric entered, no one bothered to come anywhere near him, it almost felt like how her life was like back in Erudite Headquarters.

Eric began, "So there you have it. The Dauntless way of living. How did you like it so far? Still think we're adrenaline junkies?"

"Of course I still do" Veronica told him, "I had a heart attack when that little six year old jumped down a whole story and his mother let him"

Eric was about to laugh but quickly cleared his throat and pretended that her words didn't effect him. Veronica glanced around and nearly noticed that half of the Dining Hall was interested in what they were doing. She then realized that Eric didn't want to sacrifice his behavior with her to make him look like he was a complete softie.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Veronica whispered, "People are staring"

"There is one place we can go" Eric wiped his hands on his black pants, "I never showed you my apartment"

"Anywhere but here is fine with me" Veronica started to get up.

"Follow me" Eric instructed.

"I don't know how you do it" Veronica sighed as he led the way, "My eyes are already tired from straining them for so long. I don't even know how many times I have tripped over uneven floors since I came here! It's so different from being in Erudite"

Eric let a low laugh escape his throat as he unlocked a black door and led her into a room so big that she was sure it was as big as the lab back felt hands on her shoulders and noticed that Eric was dragging her jacket off from her in which she lifted up her arms and let him take it off of her.

"It's home to me now" Eric said as he closed the door.

"You must love it here" Veronica said as she felt an ache in her chest, "Being a Dauntless Leader and well respected seems like a title that you've wanted so much. I'm happy for you"

"There are a few things that I've wanted that slipped past me" Eric commented.

"Really?" Veronica looked at him, "What was it?"

Eric slowly walked over to her until his body cast out the sunlight that was coming in through the windows behind him, "Take a wild guess"

"You could've stayed" Veronica said breathlessly, "I could've helped you. Why didn't you tell me you were leaving? You didn't let me have a chance to say good-bye"

Eric sighed and his breath warms Veronica's face, "Because I couldn't bear seeing you sad to see me leave"

"So you knew you were going to leave" Veronica said.

"It was at the last minute" Eric told her, "The only thing I regret about my decision to leave was that I also had to leave you behind as well"

"And once again you were thinking about yourself" Veronica rolled her eyes, "I knew you weren't happy there but you could've told me your idea of transferring before I made my own decision"

"That's why I didn't tell you" Eric shook his head, "Your mother would've made sure to make you factionless then to pass any of the initiation of the other four factions. I wanted to make sure that you knew that as well. I wanted you to choose Erudite to make your mother happy"

Veronica shook her head with tears in her eyes, "Even when it meant to never be near you again?"

Longing sits behind his eyes as he let his callused fingers run across her cheek before he brother his lips down to hers in a kiss, the start of something that would destroy them both if anyone found out about this exchange.