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Chapter of Divergent (the actual book): 16

Disclaimer: I don't own the Divergent trilogy or any of the characters

"There you are!" I hear Tris exclaim over the speaker in the video control room. Even though I'm training, Max still has me work extra hours. "Your parents were looking for you. Did they find you?" I see that Tris is talking to Al, and I immediately feel a stab of jealousy. I see him shake his head softly as Tris sits down next to him. Oh, Tris, no. No, Tris, I think to myself. "You didn't want to see them?" she asks him.

"Didn't want them to ask how I was doing," he says nervously. "I'd have to tell them, and they would know if I was lying." At the downward look of his face I almost feel guilty that I hated him so much. He's just a… well for lack of a better analogy he's a broken teddy bear in a foreign land. I can almost feel his pain.

"What's wrong with how you're doing?" I can tell Tris understands him, and I feel as though I suddenly begin to understand their relationship. He likes her, and she wants to help him. I can almost admire that.

"I've lost every fight since the one with Will. I'm not doing well."

"By choice, though. Couldn't you tell them that, too?" Tris's voice sounds filled with worry.

"Dad always wanted me to come here. I mean, they say they wanted me to stay in Candor, but that's only because that's what they're supposed to say. They've always admired the Dauntless, both of them. They wouldn't understand if I tried to explain it to them."

"Oh," Tris taps her fingers against her knee. "Is that why you chose Dauntless? Because of your parents?"

Al shakes his head. "No. I guess it was because… I think it's important to protect people. To stand up for people. Like you did for me. That's what the Dauntless are supposed to do, right? That's what courage is. Not… hurting people for no reason." My lips slightly part in surprise. I hadn't realized how wise Al was.

"Maybe it will be better once initiation is over." No, Tris. No it won't.

"Too bad I might come in last," Al says. "I guess we'll see tonight." Tris and Al sit side by side for a bit, watching everyone in the Pit. I wish I could say Al wasn't come in last, but I can't. He doesn't stand a chance in Dauntless. I think about switching the names, but Eric would notice that something was wrong and he would have my head mounted on his front door.

"I feel braver when I'm around you, you know," he says, and I start to feel a bit queasy. "Like I could actually fit in here, the same way you do." My eyes widen and I feel my lunch begin to rise in my stomach as Al slides his arm around Tris's shoulder.

"No," I whisper, quiet enough that George, the other video monitor, doesn't hear me.

"You okay, man?" George asks. I nod softly.

"Yeah," I lie. "Fine." Then I turn my attention back to the video camera. I see Tris lean forward so that Al's arm falls off her shoulder. A bit of the nervous breath I was holding escapes, but I still sit stiffly clenched, every muscle in my body rigid, my eyes fixed on the camera and my ears tuned to the sound of their voices in my headset.

"Tris, I…" he says. "Um… sorry. I wasn't trying to… um. Sorry." He stiffens, and I completely let out my breath. I relax back in my seat.

"I should go," Tris says, sounding embarrassed. He nods at her sheepishly. "You going to be okay? I mean… because of your parents. Not because…" Her voice trails off as Al nods.

"Oh. Yeah. I'll see you later, Tris." Tris nods and walks out the door.

I expect her to continue walking, but a few steps out of the door, she stops. Her head lifts ever so slightly, and she smiles. I feel the life drain out of me in one breath. "I gotta go, George." I throw down my headphones and walk out of the control room in despair.

I stand in the Dauntless dormitory, a piece of chalk still hanging in my hands, as I wait for the initiates to come back from dinner. Sure enough, one by one, they pile in.

"For those of you who just came in," I say, "I'm explaining how the ranks are determined. After the first round of fights, we rank you according to your skill level. The number of points you earn depends on your skill level and the skill level of the person you beat. You earn more points for improving and more points for beating someone of a high skill level. I don't reward praying on the weak. That is cowardice." My eyes linger on Peter. "If you have a high rank, you lose points for losing to a low-ranked opponent."

I hear Molly grumble, and I let out a satisfied breath.

"Stage two of training is weighted more heavily than stage one, because it is more closely tied to overcoming cowardice. That said, it is extremely difficult to rank high at the end of initiation if you rank low in stage one." My eyes float on Tris. She looks nervous. Her eyes shoot up to mine, and then back down. I stifle a smile. "We will announce the cuts tomorrow. The fact that you are transfers and the Dauntless-born initiates are not will not be taken into consideration. Four of you could be factionless and none of them. Or four ofthem could be factionless and none of you. Or any combination thereof. That said, here are your ranks." I display the board.

The rankings go as follows:

1. Edward

As expected.

2. Peter

I was annoyed about that, but Eric insisted that he was doing good.

3. Will

4. Christina

5. Molly

I was tempted to move Tris ahead of Molly, but I knew she needed to be where she earned her spot.

6. Tris

She earned it.

7. Drew

8. Al

At least he isn't last. It was the least I could do.

9. Myra

"What?" demands Molly. "I beat her! I beat her in minutes, and she's ranked above me?"

"Yeah," Christina says smugly, "And?"

"If you intend to secure yourself a high rank, I suggest you don't make a habit of losing to low-ranked opponents." I hope Tris doesn't think I meant her with my comment, I really was referring to Myra, but that isn't how Molly takes it.

"You," she says, looking straight at Tris. "You are going to pay for this." I stiffen, but hold myself in decorum.

"Look at you. Number six," Will says, grinning.

"Still might not have been good enough," Tris says glumly. Oh, Tris. It was good enough, all right.

"It will be, don't worry," Will says. "We should celebrate.

"Well let's go, then," says Christina. I watch them walk off in the distance, and I can honestly say that I have never, ever felt so forlorn.