A/N Sorry it has been so long since an update. I hope this more than makes up for it. Let me know what you think.
After lunch, the instructors lead us to the training room. It's huge, with a wood floor that is cracked and creaky and has a large circle painted in the middle. On the left wall is a monitor.
Our names are written on the board in alphabetical order. Hanging at three-foot intervals along one end of the room are faded black punching bags.
We line up behind them and Four, Tris, and Eric stands in the middle, where we can all see them.
"As I said this morning," says Four, "next you will learn how to fight. The purpose of this is to prepare you to act; to prepare your body to respond to threats and challenges—which you will need, if you intend to survive life as a Dauntless."
"We will go over technique today, and tomorrow you will start to fight each other," says Tris. "So I recommend that you pay attention. Those who don't learn fast will get hurt."
Four names a few different punches, demonstrating each one as he does, first against the air and then against the punching bag.
Though he only teaches us the basics I think of all the other technical ways I could use the next day. The punching bag stings my hands and feet, turning my skin red, and swings with each punch or kick I land on the bag. All around me is the sound of skin hitting tough fabric.
The instructors wander through the crowd of initiates, watching us as we go through the movements again. When Eric stops in front of me, my insides twist like someone's stirring them with a fork. He stares at me, his grey eyes following my body from my head to my feet, lingering everywhere.
"You have more muscle than I thought you would have," he says, "which means you don't have depend on just using your knees and elbows. You can put more power behind them."
Suddenly he presses a hand to my stomach. His fingers are so long that, though the heel of his hand touches one side of my rib cage, his fingertips still touch the other side. My heart pounds so hard my chest hurts, and I stare at him, wide-eyed. Thinking back to the tattoo shop the night before.
"Never forget to keep tension here," he says in a quiet voice close to my ear.
Eric lifts his hand and keeps walking. I feel the pressure of his palm even after he's gone. It's strange, but I have to stop and breathe for a few seconds before I can keep practicing again.
When we are dismissed for dinner Audi and Wes come over to me. "What was that?" Wes catches my eye.
"He was just telling me to keep tension in my torso." I look away.
"Yeah, okay" They agree in a disbelieving voice as we sit down to eat.
"After this we are going close shopping."
"What do we need. We got the basics yesterday." I asked Audi.
"Well we need make-up, better clothes, these are ugly and gigantic." Audi makes a face.
An hour later I stand in Christina's shop in a tight black and red dress that barely come to mid-thigh. Audi stands next to me in a total red one much like my own. "Well what do you think?"
I look at Audi, "I like it. Now what?"
Audi laughs while we pay for the dresses. "Make-up of course."
Nearly another hour goes by while Audi tries different looks on me until she gets the one she likes best on me.
"There is a party in the pit. Let's go. I want to find Aren." Audi smiles slyly at me.
I roll my eyes and follow her back to the pit from our dorm. Right away I see Eric off to one side talking to Max. As if he could feel my eyes on him he looks up and catches me looking at him. He looks momentarily confused and then angry. He starts over when Audi says that she see Aren and that she will see me later. I quickly look around for Wes but can't find him. Eric is nearly at me before I turn and leave. I run down the hallways to hide from him and his anger and I find a darken hallway to go down. As I look around to see if he has followed me I start to wonder why I ran. I am Dauntless. I will be brave. I step from the darken hallway and into a wall that wasn't there when I came in. I look up into piercing steel eyes and am unable to suppress a shiver.
"Scared, Bright eyes?" Eric taunts as he walks me backward into the darken hallway.
"No."
"Then why did you run?"
"I don't know but I was coming back out."
"What are you wearing?"
"Audi picked out."
"Did she?" Eric puts his hand on my thigh just below the hem of my dress. My stomach starts to flip-flop.
"Y. . yes." I move slightly closer into his warmth. Needing to be closer. Wanting to be closer.
"You are playing with fire, Bright eyes." He lowers his face inches away from mine.
"I didn't come to you. You came after me." I stretch up to get even closer.
"Yes but dressing as you are. I had to think you were dressing for me." He runs his hand up to my hip.
"But I didn't Audi picked it out." My hand finds his over my hip.
"So you say." He whispered into my ear.
"It is the truth." I turn my head toward his. Needing to feel his lips on mine.
Just as the longing became unbearable he catches my lips with his. Shock rocks through my body. Urging me closer still. I wrap my arms around his neck after running them over his taut muscles of his arms and shoulders. His arms crush me to him as he rocks into the kiss. A gasp escapes as I make full contact with his hard, rippling body. He deepens the kiss only to brake away and pushes me farther into the darkness. "Stay." He walks out into the lighted hallway and talks to someone. When he comes back in he tells me to get to bed. That he is needed else where. He turns and walks away leaving me breathless and wanting more.
I take a shuddering breath before stepping out into the hallway and walking back to the pit.
Eric, Four and Tris wake up the initiates. "We have a missing initiate."
"Who?" Will asks.
"Your girlfriend." Eric taunts.
"But I don't . . .McKaven!" Wes looks under his bunk at McKaven's and Audi's bed. Audi is the only one there. Still bundled up in her blanket. "Audi, wake up. Where is Kaven?" He jumps from his bunk shaking Audi awake.
"W. . .what? I don't know." Audi peeks her head out of her blanket.
"Where have you looked so far?" Wes turned to the instructors. "Well?"
"Don't disrespect your leaders." Eric barks. Wes ignores him and pulls on his boots.
Four starts to name out the places they have looked at.
"What about the roof?" Wes brakes in.
"No." As they answer Wes runs from the room in his pajamas and boots. He goes up to the roof with Eric close on his heels. They find McKaven curled up on the roof. They run to her and find her sleeping. "Kaven, wake up sweetie."
"What is it, Wes?" She rubs her eyes and looks sleepily up at Wes and Eric.
"You were missing, Kav. The instructors didn't know where you were." Wes tells her.
"Why did you fall asleep up here?" Eric demands.
"I was looking up at the stars. I'm sorry I worried anyone." McKaven slowly stands up.
"Let's get her back to the dorm and let the others know she is alive." Eric walks away.