Chapter 10

It was as if the world stopped and it was just us for those minutes. I felt no pain during that last part. I was consumed with Eric.

The world starts spinning again as Shonda finally finishes and Eric gives my lips one last tender stroke before he pushes away, grabs my file and storms out.

Shonda doesn't say anything about what happened between Eric and I but I can tell she is worried. She gives me a few mild pain injections and helps me dress before giving me my vitamin prescription and breakdowns as well as the pills she wants me to take for iron. Between the pain, the pain medication and my encounter with Eric I feel almost in a daze.

"What took so long?" Uri asks softly frowning with worry.

"I had to get injections of nano-serum at some spots where I had breaks and scarring. It took a while but I already feel much better. Sorry it worried you all." Lynn has my arm linked with hers as we walk.

"We are just glad you are ok. At first we thought Eric was going to kill us he looked at us so angrily and then started ranting about 'number boy's' and stormed into the room. None of us had even talked to him or approached him to ask anything but he glared at us like we wouldn't shut up. Then when he came out of the room he looked like he was about to go murder someone for real. I think Four had to stop him from doing just that and they sounded like they were agreeing on something; which has never happened." Uri frowns.

I am secretly pleased he seems to care but I just shrug and change the subject "So we head commissary then we go get ready to go out right?"

The girls start smiling and chattering about dancing, even Tris looks excited. Mar and Lynn decide to join us in our dorm to get ready after they grab their clothes and beauty things. Uri and Logan decide that after we all go to the commissary and parlor they are going to grab us food to bring back to us in the dorm to eat since we aren't going to dinner.

After I grabbed everything I needed from the commissary, including some wonderful citrus body wash and a neutral smelling hair shampoo and conditioner, we head back to the dorm. Tris had taken my cues and picked up almost exactly everything I did, but she picked up a nice vanilla and oatmeal smelling body wash. We both had piled up on shoe polish, towels for our hair, razors, hair removal crème, hair bands, face wash, lotions, moisturizer, medkits, anti-inflammatory pills as well as rub, snap ice packs, snap heating packs and toothpaste with toothbrushes. I had also grabbed a few suture kits for in case. Mouthwash and floss we grabbed but decided we could share between all four of us.

I made us all get lots of ready made protein shakes but also the powder, the shaker bottles and the bars. Tris and I bought together to share.

I also picked up pens, paper, pencils, highlighters and several sketchpads with colored pencils so that I could draw. I wanted to get a few tattoo design ideas I had down at some point.

Once everything was in our bags we headed to the last stop, the tattoo and piercing parlor.

We met George and Tori and talked about several designs I had in mind and I did find one I liked that I made plans to come back to get. I asked for a few changes though and George worked on that but I set the appointments with Tori.

I ended up getting a few piercings. I got 6mm gauges with helix/DNA patterns that were small enough to go beside my regular ear piercings, a bloodstone nose piercing, a silver ball in my tongue and five bloodstone piercings down my spine starting at the start of my neck.

Tris looked at a few designs for tattoos and liked ravens and I had an idea for something that she agreed with so I was going to draw that for her and she would come back to get it.

She got a few piercings too. First she got a dermal that looked like a pre-war birthmark on an actress named Marilyn Monroe. It was a gunmetal black. She got regular ear piercings, two helix piercings and a sapphire stud in her nose.

Mar and Lynn were beaming at us now that we had piercings as well, they left quickly to go get their clothes and Tris and I unpacked all the new stuff and got the clothes we would be wearing out.

When I was looked over the clothes I saw one of the tops that were bought for me was a blood red halter top that was almost backless and I knew I had to wear it. I still kept my jeans on and since I didn't need a shower I just changed shirts. I did put on the knee high blood red boots I had picked up to complete the outfit. I found a pair of fang looking earrings with bloodstones in them so I put those in. That was another purchase the mystery person had made. Apparently they had learned of my favorite color being blood red and that I loved bloodstones. Once I was dressed I started working with Tris to help her pick something out.

She decided to keep on her jeans and boots and put on a sapphire sleeveless crop top, silver dangle earrings and put her hair up in a half up half down style.

Logan and Uri came back with dinners for all of us as Mar and Lynn joined us to get ready. We ate and joked as Clary went through and painted all of our nails. I had just chosen black shiny nail polish.

"Are you two going to drink?" Lynn asked as she was helping Tris with learning how to do her eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara. Tris had asked her to show her how to do the winged look and it was more difficult than she thought it would be at first. She was finally getting the hang of it though and was happy with the one eye she had just completed judging by her smile.

I was blowing on my nails to help them dry faster, even though they didn't take long, and I smiled with a nod. "Oh yeah. Although I won't be getting fall down drunk. We are all training tomorrow remember that guys. But I like to drink and get a nice buzz then dance. It just makes me feel a bit freer and it's like the music courses through my body."

Mar frowns "Did they have parties in Erudite?"

I laugh shaking my head, my eyebrow quirked. "Not at all or at least not any that would be considered fun. No Logan, Clary and I would crash a few Amity ones and even a few Dauntless ones that they held in some of the abandoned buildings or in the Amity Pavilion of their sector."

Tris smiles at me. "Those must have been fun, although Amity seems like the music would be completely different. You know, being about all happiness and love."

We all laugh and I smile "You would think that right? Don't get me wrong they had a good deal that was like that. But they had good amounts that were rock music too."

I had just completed my makeup when Uri and Logan came back but with Uri's older brother named Zeke. They are for sure brothers with those smiles and his sense of humor is wonderful. Lauren also came in and checked on me saying that Shonda and her had now adopted me. They were going to be going to the club as well along with Zeke's fiance Shauna. Lauren and Shauna worked on everyone's hair to curl it but mine is already so they didn't have to worry about that.

Something that surprised everyone was when Four came in and said he would be going too. He quickly left afterwards, but not before smiling at Tris and looking at her in a very appreciative way. I smiled when I saw him and Tris share a look before he had gone. I still needed to talk to Tris about that but I would do it later when we had more time.

I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth after eating and to touch up my makeup when Peter came in. He wasn't with his friends and it seemed he was only really a dick when they were near. He stood close and leaned against the sink watching me.

"You look beautiful Talia." He said as he blushed while looking at me.

"Thank you Peter" I say with a smile and my dimples showing my pleasure at his compliment. I saw his arm and it appeared he had already gotten a tattoo around his forearm. I moved closer and took his arm, gently turning it over to look. It was a band of strong and thick lines with symbols in the bands. "That looks really good. Does it mean anything?" I asked as I traced the symbols.

He cleared his throat and I looked into his eyes and saw they were a darker green and his breathing was a bit rough "They are ancient Egyptian and stand for the sun, strength and rebirth."

I smile but I don't let go as he moved his hand to cover mine "You found the light coming here and will be strong. I guess this is all of our rebirths as well now that I think about it." I whisper and he nods but frowns.

"Molly and Drew couldn't get that, they said I should just get the dauntless symbol or the flames." He smiled his lopsided smile and his thumb moved over my hand that was still holding his arm.

I wrinkle my nose and shrug. "They don't strike me as super bright, but there is nothing wrong with the Dauntless symbol or flames. I will get one of those eventually."

He continued to lightly stroke his thumb on my hand his eyes holding mine. "Where are you guys going?"

I smiled with a shrug. "To one of the clubs to dance, you should come."

He looked down furrowing his forehead. "Probably wouldn't be a good idea, I don't think your friends like me much and mine would just start something."

I frowned and felt disappointed but nodded. "Ok, well if you change your mind." I go to move away and he stops me.

"Be careful please?" He whispered close to me smiling. For a moment he seemed as if he was on the verge of kissing me and my breathing slowed because it seemed wrong and another face came to my mind.

I nodded to him and smiled, then he let go and slammed into a stall when someone called my name coming towards me. I frowned at his back and shook my head. Fucking confusing ass bipolar men. And they say women are hard to understand.

I met my friends out in the dorm noticing Molly and Drew sitting on Peter's bed talking low and scowling at everyone. I rolled my eyes and slipped my credits card into my jean pocket along with my locker and dresser key after I slipped on the black and grey leather jacket that was another addition purchase in my bags.

It seems everyone is in The Pit congregating in groups. We pass Eric and his friends. Hector and the leader that I learned is named Connor are by him. When we pass Eric catches my eye and looks me up and down appreciatively with a slight smirk before he turns to reply to something one if his friends says.

It turns out our two groups know each other so intermingle as we stand in a big group now. Zeke had run off really quickly and came back with a bunch of plastic shot glasses and a bottle of something. He began to pass the poured shots around to everyone in the two groups.

"To our baby initiates! Here is your first of what will be many Dauntless nights! Now let's take these shots and go get you all drunk and dance!" Zeke says standing on a rock and holding out his glass in toast.

"Here here!" I yell and we all laugh then I take my shot. Tris and Clary are left gasping and I laughingly gently pat their backs. As I am doing this I see Peter and his friends.

It looks like Peter is making his way over before Molly grabs him and drags him away from our group scowling and bitching. I frown as I watch them go. Peter turns to look back and me then smiles and winks. I shake my head to clear it and I see Zeke beaming at me.

"A girl who can handle her liquor! How about another?" He practically yells at me. He fills up my glass before I can even say anything. I shrug and toss it back but when he acts like he is going to fill it back up again I stop him and shake my head.

"It's all about stamina and pacing yourself Zeke." I say with a cheeky wink. "I would rather run the marathon than a sprint any day." I shout as he keeps trying to pour me a shot. Shauna shoves him playfully away and there is laughter from the large group now.

Logan smirks at me and playfully elbows me before Clary pulls him close to whisper something that makes him turn red.

"She doesn't want any more of your icky whiskey Zeke, we can get her a real woman's drinks at the bar." Lauren laughs next to me with Hector's arm around her waist and Eric standing close smirking at me.

I groan and shake my head and throw up and mock pleading gesture with my hands. "Please gods no fruity shit or Tequila. I can't stand overly sweet drinks and well…I would rather leave at least one Dauntless, Amity party or rave wearing all of my clothes."

Eric frowns and I see Hector burst out laughing at Eric's face but then Zeke distracts me when he spits out his shot.

Zeke wipes his mouth. "What the shit? Wait…one…when have you been to our parties and two…..how can we get you out of those clothes again?"

Clary yells shaking her head. "No tequila for her. She either ends up wanting to go streaking, skinny dipping or fight…all while just in a bra and panties. Trying to wrestle her in that condition is not as fun as it sounds or as pleasurable as I thought it would be." She pouts and Logan laughs nudging her.

"Speak for yourself, it was funny as shit to watch." Logan winks at me playfully and I turn red.

"You were an asshole for continuing to buy me the shots knowing what tequila does to me." I grin despite my words.

"Do I detect a bit of girl on girl action?" Shauna asks with a smirk.

The guys, except for Eric who starts muttering under his breath, all look very interested and very uncomfortable under the collar.

"The one thing I have to hand to Erudite is the openness to experience first hand. Clary gets very interested in experimenting with me when she is drunk." I start turning red as I blush and laugh at the same time.

Lynn looks over and me and licks her lips causing my blush to deepen. "I can't say I blame her at all, how can I get in on that?"

Tris' jaw drops and I know I am beet red now. "The problem is I don't get drunk enough to want to experiment myself, like at all Lynn. Although her kisses were pretty nice I guess." I shrug at the end and Clary smiles widely. I roll my eyes cause now I have just encouraged her ass.

Logan glares at me jokingly and pulls Clary to him. I break out in laughter and point to Clary but am still red. "Hey, I am the one that needs protecting from her. She is always trying to ram her tongue down my throat when we are dancing together. Talk to your girl Logan, not me."

Everyone laughs and Lynn links her arm with mine and winks. "I will just have to pretend I am super drunk and then attack you too."

She gives a wicked grin when I flush even more red and we all make our way to the club. I feel Eric close behind us as we enter and I wonder if he will dance with me. I wonder if I can handle him dancing with me.