The mirror before me reveals a much darker looking girl than it did a couple months ago. Will my parents like this version of me, or will they be disappointed in the girl I've become?
I fight the urge to find a shirt that will cover the tattoo peeping through my black v-neck. I stomp on the feeling that I should pull my hair back in a tight bun. There's no room to go back. I can only move forward, proud of the girl I am now.
"They're going to be so happy to see you," Eric says, smiling at me from the entryway to his room.
"They won't recognize me," I reply, turning back to study myself in the floor length mirror.
"That's not possible, Stiff. You haven't become less of who you are; coming here as made you more of who are."
It's when I take him in, that I realize Eric's different. He's taken out his eyebrow piercing, his earrings, and he's put on clothes I've never seen him wear before. None of it was un-Dauntless, but the long sleeved black shirt, and the pressed pants were much nicer than his usual attire. Much looser...
"Where's your piercings?" I ask.
His fingers ghost over the tiny holes above his eyebrow before saying, "They didn't match with my outfit," he jokes.
"You dressed up," I acknowledge, slightly confused.
"And you dressed down," he teases, eyes twinkling as they take in my outfit.
"Why did you do this?" I gesture to his clothes and face.
He comes closer and I get a better look at his hair. It's been freshly cut.
Walking until we're side by side, both of us facing the mirror, he says, "I didn't want to embarrass you in front of your parents... I wanted your parents to like me."
I adore the flush that creeps up his checks, making him resemble a ripe tomato. He's gorgeous; he's mine.
"Eric, I don't want you to meet my parents," I say.
A curious mixture of hurt and embarrassment crosses his face and it dawns on me how my comment came out sounding.
"I...o-of course. I'm sorry. I-I just-"
"Eric," I cut off softly. "I meant I don't want you meeting them when you're not being completely yourself. So put your piercings back in, please, and maybe put on your boots instead of these dress shoes?" I ask, pointing down at his footwear.
Deciding he still seems unsure, I press my body into his, running my hands gently down his chest. "And put on a shirt where I can see more of those sexy tattoos," I say.
He grins. "You think my tattoos are sexy?"
I nod. "I do."
Humming, he wraps me up in his arms, lifting me from the ground. Realizing what he wants, I lock my legs around his waist. Characteristically, he rubs his face against the column of my neck like an overgrown cat.
"That tickles," I giggle.
With that he stops to press a kiss in the hollow of my throat. "Better?" He asks, smirking knowingly.
"No," I murmur stubbornly.
He knows what he's doing to me and I refuse to boost his ego by giving him the reaction he craves.
Chuckling, he lightly drags his nose up my neck till he reaches the underside of my jaw, and he presses another kiss to the sensitive spot.
It takes a lot of willpower for me to draw away, but I find the strength. "They're going to be here soon," I remind him. "And there's no way I'm letting you mark me for my parents to see."
A predatory gleam enters dark eyes, and the grin he gives me makes me shiver. We'll never get anywhere if I don't take charge, so I unwrap my legs, but he's there, keeping my legs in place with one large hand.
"Eric, you have to let me go," I say, laughing when he shakes his head in response.
"Give me a minute," he says.
"They'll be here-"
"I know," he says. "Being with you calms me though, and if I'm going to meet your parents, I need this. Just for a minute," he promises.
There are times I forget how fragile Eric can be. Times where I can't see the insecurity that's embedded in his soul. Moments like this remind me of what he tries to keep hidden, breaking my heart in the process.
"I love you," I say, pressing my forehead to his.
Every time I say it, he smiles like I've handed him the sun and the moon. Wonderment is in every line, every crevice of his gorgeous face, and I'm left glowing from his obvious happiness.
"That's good," he whispers. "Because I love you too."
0000
"It's going to be okay," I reassure him as we stand in hand together. We're waiting for my parents and right now I'm talking to myself as much as I'm talking to him.
What if my decision turned them away from me? What if they don't come? ...It's a terrifying question.
"Of course it will be," he agrees, squeezing my hand as if he knows I need his support, which he probably does.
Everyone's parents are here. Will's, Christina's, and even Albert's. And then, I see my mom. My beautiful mother among the crowd of people, searching for me. I've missed her. So much. My eyes dart around her, but I can't find my father. It's with a sinking heart I realize he might not have come.
She finally sees me and I want to cry when I see the wide smile transforming her normally solemn face. Not wanting to wait another second, I start making my way through the crowd to reach her.
She's there and I don't hesitate to throw my arms around her, hugging her with everything I have. Memories flood me, her affection consumes me. In everything my mother has ever done, her love for me has never been a question. This moment isn't any different.
"I've missed you so much," she says, leaning back to get a good look at me. I should be worried she won't approve, but I'm too happy to care.
She laughs, presses her fingers against my inked skin "You got a tattoo."
"To remind me of my family," I reply. I want her to know I had a reason for marking my body up. I wanted her to know the tattoo held meaning for me. I wanted her to know and understand the real me.
"It's beautiful," she confirms. "Like you. Dauntless has changed you for the better, I think."
Her acceptance was more than I had hoped for. Perhaps more than I deserved, but my mother was forever the selfless woman from Abnegation.
"Dad's not here?" I ask.
"Your father is struggling with your decision," she admits. "I'm afraid he misses you and your brother too much."
I wish he was here, yes, but I'm not angry with him for not coming. I expect him to respect my decisions, so I must do the same.
"He loves you," she tells me gently. "And who is this?" She asks suddenly, glancing over my shoulder.
Eric.
He's been waiting a few feet from us since I ran to my mom. I'm startled by the carefully blank expression he's sporting. I've become used to him being much more expressive. This stiff, statue like Eric reminds me of the boy I used to know.
"This is Eric," I introduce. "He's been overseeing the initiate's progress."
My mother is a smart woman. It doesn't surprise me when she glances from me to Eric, a knowing gleam present in her kind, green eyes. "It's nice to meet you, Eric," she says. "My name is Natalie."
Back straight, voice gruff, he says, "Nice to meet you too."
"I suspect you're more than a Dauntless leader to my daughter?"
"I am," he responds resolutely.
I observe her from the side as she takes in the multiple piercings, the long slicked back hair, and the bold tattoos crawling up his neck.
"I see," she murmurs.
I'm close to stepping in because not even my mother is allowed to make Eric feel inferior, or less than. He's better than that.
He shifts a little, but he doesn't look away from my mother's probing stare. Her gaze is not unkind, but it's firm. It's serious and I know she's sizing him up.
"Do you care for Tris, Eric?"
Clearing his throat, Eric looks at me, grins, and says, "Yes. She's my favorite Stiff."
I gasp involuntarily and my mother's eyes widen noticeably. It doesn't bother me when he calls me that because I know he doesn't mean it in the context it's originally meant, but my mom doesn't know that.
I open my mouth to explain that he didn't just insult me, but my mother's laugh stops any potential words from leaving my mouth.
"You'll be good for her," she says. "I hoped she would make friends and find people who would care for her, and I'm glad she found someone like you."
Her words touch him, I can tell. Pride is the dominant emotion displayed in his dark eyes, and he's standing even taller than he was before.
"Thank you, Mrs. Prior," he replies.
"Call me, Natalie." For the first time in my life, I watch my mother grasp another person's hand to shake.
My worries fade away. For today, everything is perfect. For today, I can bask in the life I chose without any regret clouding my happiness.
NOTE- I'm home sick today so I decided to write another chapter. Hope you guys like it. :)