I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.
All OCs are property of missalohahula.
The next couple days passed and Eric and I spoke every night. I woke up one morning to see that Eric and I did not end the communication from the previous night and I was met with his sleeping face and a soft snore. I only blushed at the thought of it looking like we had slept together.
"Eric," I whispered.
He stirred but did not wake.
"Eric," I sang him name.
He put on a smile, rolling a bit to his side before sitting up and stretching. He then fell back down on the bed and moved his head over to look at me as his smile widened. "Good Morning."
"Good Morning," I replied.
"I don't know if I fell off to sleep first or if it was you. Either way, I'm glad I got to wake up next to you," Eric said in a deep voice.
My smile must have taken over my entire face as I looked back at him. "Then we should do this more often," I said.
We talked for a bit before we promised to continue our conversation tonight. There were two more days until we would see one another and he couldn't help but remind me of what was going on. Two more days until I would be holding his hand again. I couldn't wait. Per my punishment, I had agreed to work three days at the kitchen and one day in the nursing home out of the week. I had a free day today though and decided to take Joshua to see the animals. He was learning how to ride.
"Good Morning, Gus," I said to the animal caretaker as we entered the stable.
"Good Morning to you JoyAnna and young Joshua," Gus came out and knelt in front of Joshua. "You've grown since I last saw you."
"It's only been a month," Joshua protested.
"A lot can happen in a month," Gus said as he stood and smiled at me. "Gregory is here today helping me, why don't you go and fetch him for me out back?"
I didn't want to but smiled and went either way. I found Gregory with a baby...
"Is that what I think it is," I asked him as I stepped forward.
"JoyAnna," he smiled looking up from the baby wolf. "It's lovely to see you."
Yes there was no denying that Gregory did have that certain appeal that I knew girls my age would swoon over. Being that he worked at the stables he had a gentle and strong side to him. He moved on the bench and I took the seat next to him.
"He's precious," I nodded to the pup.
"My father and a few others found him by the Wall. His mother was, well the Dauntless guards there they..."
I touched Gregory's arm knowing full well what the Dauntless guards did. It was harsh what they did to the mother doe. After Johanna spoke to the captain of the guards that were posted there he assured her that they would not harm another animal. In this case though, the wolf had attacked first so there was just cause supposedly for killing the wolf.
She had a small litter of wolf pups. Gregory said there were three that were found. The other two had already fed for the morning.
"I heard about wolves," I told him.
"From school, no doubt," Gregory stated.
"Actually from a classmate," I smiled thinking about Eric. "Did you know that there was something they called a 'zoo' before the war. There were animals of all sorts there. Then when the war happened some of them were able to survive and grow in population here or around the City. Others were not so fortunate of course."
"You have a beautiful smile," Gregory said all of sudden. I turned to him and he looked down with a smile of his own as he pet the wolf pup. "I've seen it in school a lot lately, especially when you get an answer correct in class."
"I like to study."
"So I've noticed."
The bottle of milk that he was feeding the wolf pup went empty and he started to stroke its fur lulling it to sleep. I asked if I could pet it and he allowed me to. Silence passed before us before he asked how I knew all of that stuff about the zoo.
"Eric told me."
"Eric? Is that the baker's son's name?"
I shook my head. "You're thinking about Edric. No, Eric is a classmate from school."
"So he's from another faction?"
"Erudite," I answered.
"You are friends with an Erudite?"
"Yes," I nodded as we continued to pet the wolf.
"Why?"
"Why not," I shrugged. "He's been most helpful in school. There is hardly anyone else I can talk to that displays much significance in the area of knowledge."
"Is that what you desire? Knowledge?"
"No," I shook my head. "Someone that I can talk to I suppose. I have such different tastes than other girls here in Amity. It gets lonely without having someone to talk to," I admitted looking down. Before Gregory could say anything else, I stood up quickly and shook my head. "Thank you for listening. I did not think that I would have said as much, especially to you."
"No," Gregory stood and shuffled the wolf pup. "It's fine JoyAnna. I actually want to know the things that you enjoy," he smiled and looked down. "Besides I do not mind that you are different than the other girls. I like it."
I finally realized how bad of an idea it was to open up to him. I made my way back into the stables with Gregory following closely behind. Joshua saw the wolf pup and started to go insane with questions. As much as I wanted to leave, I couldn't deny my brother. So it was just as uncomfortable as it had been during dinner. Gregory did not leave my side as he answered all of Joshua's questions. We even ended up eating lunch there with Gregory and his father.
"Can Gregory come home with us?"
I looked at Joshua confused. "We can't bring Gregory home with us. He isn't an animal."
"No," Joshua shook his head. "What I meant was," he paused and looked down. "I don't know what I meant."
"I think your brother wanted to show the wolf pup to your parents," Gregory said.
"Oh," I looked to Joshua who nodded. "Well if that is alright with you Gus," I turned to Gregory's father hoping he would say no. Unfortunately he allowed Gregory to take the wolf pup with him.
On the way to our house he had set the wolf pup down to play and run with Joshua as he walked by my side. My mother invited him for dinner again and to my relief he declined saying that he had to get the puppy back. My mother assured him that the invitation would always be open and allowed me a couple more minutes to talk to Gregory on the front porch.
Thankfully he did not try to converse with me further and said he looked forward to seeing me tomorrow.
The next day I was glad that I was making my way to the kitchen with the other girls. I would not be seeing Gregory after all. My smile disappeared the second I arrived there. They were building new tables and benches throughout the dining hall and Gregory had volunteered to help them. That's what he meant yesterday when he said that he would be seeing me.
Jack was one of the people who were assisting in the tables and benches. As I saw some of them leaving after we had served lunch, I breathed a sigh of relief that Gregory would be leaving. I even volunteered to stay late so as to avoid contact with him.
Unfortunately a couple of the boys had returned. One of the boys came in the hopes of escorting Felicity home. I hated hearing the girls' conversations about the boys around here. Along with Felicity's intended escort there was Gregory. When the first wave of workers had left, Gregory was still there.
"Gregory has been smiling at you all day," said Serenity. "I heard that he escorted you home yesterday after you spent an entire day with him in the stables," she nudged me. I could tell that Serenity was hinting towards something but I shrugged it off.
"Joshua kept asking questions about the wolf pups that they found. Gregory obliged to answer them," I responded.
"Well it looks like he stayed here for you," said Serenity.
"I do not know why," I offered.
"You don't? I believe he wishes to escort you home."
"I am perfectly capable of finding my own way home," I said under my breath. "Perhaps he came here for someone else."
"We're about to find out right now," Serenity grabbed my arm pulling me up to stand next to her.
Sure enough there was Gregory walking towards us. The hopes that he had come here for another reason were dashed to pieces when I realized that only Serenity, another girl, along with myself were the ones left. He came here with a purpose and sure enough when he smiled at me it was apparent I was that purpose.
"Good afternoon to you all. It's a beautiful day, isn't it," Gregory asked.
"It is," Serenity agreed as she giggled. Gregory didn't bother responding. Instead he just turned to smile at me. Serenity gripped onto my arm. "So what brings you here this afternoon, Gregory?"
"I was hoping to escort JoyAnna home. That is if it is okay with you, JoyAnna," Gregory asked.
Before I could respond, Serenity and the other girl, probably Melody, nudged me into Gregory. He placed a hand on my elbow to steady me before crashing into him.
"She'd like that a lot," Serenity giggled.
I turned around to tell her that I had something to do for my brother, anything to get out of having to be alone with Gregory. But luck was not on my side at all. Serenity and the others were already walking down the lane towards their own homes. Gregory held out his arm for me to take. The look on his face was almost pleading and I couldn't bear to hurt him further.
"Thank you Gregory," I said softly, placing my hand on his elbow.
We walked towards my house with Gregory controlling majority of the conversation. I couldn't help but notice how he spoke about the various trees that lined the dirt road towards my house. He was attempting to sound intelligent and although most of what he stated was true, I really had no interest in the trees that he was pointing out to me. I have seen them every day for the past fifteen years of my life. I have climbed up majority of those trees, ate some of their fruit, and made wreaths out of branches and leaves.
I knew what he was trying to do. The other day we had spoken about Eric. He had gotten a little concerned when I was speaking about Eric. It wasn't as visible as Eric's frustration when I mentioned Gregory but it was there. Realizing that my father was correct, now this entire situation couldn't have been more uncomfortable for me.
When we arrived at my house I attempted to quickly relieve myself of his company but Gregory reached out and took my hand. He pulled it to his lips and pressed a kiss on the back of it. It felt like a part of me burned. It wasn't the burning sensation I felt with Eric. This was just wrong.
"I will see you tomorrow," Gregory smiled.
Pulling my hand back, I shook my head. "I have something to take care of tomorrow," I informed knowing full well that I was meeting Eric.
"Oh, is it important?"
"Yes it is," I said simply.
"May I be of some assistance to you tomorrow then?"
"I actually already have assistance," I answered and turned to walk up the path to my home.
"Is it that Nose?"
That was the first time I had ever heard something so close to an insult come out from anyone in Amity, let alone Gregory. I turned quickly around and marched back towards him.
"You don't call him that," I bit back.
"Forgive me JoyAnna. It was not my intent to make you upset," he apologized.
"It hurt Gregory. That is my friend you're talking about."
"You can't be friends with him JoyAnna. One day you'll realize that your place is here in Amity and not studying books or learning. That could be a reason why you don't get along with the other girls," Gregory replied.
"Leave."
"Excuse me?"
"You need to leave, Gregory. Thank you for walking me home. I appreciate it but I do not appreciate you insulting my friend or insulting me. You need to leave before I say something insulting towards you!"
I had no idea that my voice had risen until I saw my mother out on the porch. She had a wary eye on her face and was looking between Gregory and I. Gregory's face looked defeated.
"Honestly JoyAnna I meant no harm," he looked hurt. "Please forgive me and allow me to make it up to you. I truly did not wish to insult you."
It seemed like he did not want to argue and for some reason I immediately thought him weak. Eric would always come back with some remark and although our discussions got heated, I enjoyed that we challenged one another. Right now, it seemed though that Gregory was surrendering to me. Was he hoping to...
"I will leave you then, JoyAnna," Gregory bowed slightly. "I hope that you have a wonderful day tomorrow and I sincerely apologize for anything I have said. It was wrong of me. I should have been more of a gentleman, especially to you. You didn't deserve it."
My heart stopped a little at his apology but it quickly beat again as one of my fist clench at remembering that he still did insult Eric.
"Will you be staying for dinner tonight as well, Gregory," asked my mother who had taken a few steps towards us. She obviously did not hear that Gregory was leaving.
"No thank you, Mrs. Summers. I have to be going back to the stables. Thank you for the offer. Good day to you," he smiled at her and then turned back to me. "Good day to you JoyAnna."
"Good day to you Gregory," I gave him a small smile before looking down.
Gregory quickly turned and walked down the lane. I hurried past my mother and up into the house, ignoring her pleas for me to return to her. I rushed up the stairs and into my room, searching frantically through the box where I put Eric's letters along with the glass communicator.
"Come on, come on," I whispered looking at the communicator as it sent the request to Eric.
"JoyAnna," Eric came on and smiled at me. "The oddest thing occurred today and..."
"Can we meet?"
Eric's smile had dropped from his face and I could see the concern that he displayed now. "We're seeing one another tomorrow," he reminded.
"I know but I want to see you tonight, please," I pleaded.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just..."
"JoyAnna," my mother knocked on my door.
"Please Eric," I whispered.
Eric nodded. "I'll meet you by the river, give me an hour?"
My head nodded up and down. "I'll see you then." I ended the communication just in time to slip it under my pillow as my mother opened the door.
"JoyAnna what is the meaning of your yelling at poor Gregory? He looked sincerely saddened by your discussion."
"It was nothing, Mother. Just a small misunderstanding," I replied shuffling my feet to move the box back under my bed.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes," I nodded. "Mother may I please be excused from dinner this evening? I remembered that I wanted to see something with Serenity and," I paused. "Harmony or Melody," I offered. "Honestly I do not remember their names because they laugh too much and say silly things."
"JoyAnna," my mother scolded me.
I continued on with my lie. "I know that was cruel of me. But one of them invited me out to the peach orchard to watch the sun set."
"Oh," my mother smiled back at me. "That is," she paused but the smile remained. "That is wonderful JoyAnna. I knew that helping out in the Amity kitchen during lunch would help you socialize more. Of course you can go," she pulled me to a hug and kissed my forehead. "Have fun, my dear."
I felt guilt swell up in me as she disappeared from my room. My mother brought the lie thinking that I was finally making friends. I already did make a friend though and his name was Eric and right now I rather see him than spend any more time with the other dependents from Amity.
I gathered up my bag with a couple books, a few things that I had drew or wrote during the week, and then put in some fresh fruit before from the trees near our yard before I sprinted down the lane and through the rest of Amity towards the border.
The second I hit the trees, I pulled my skirt up a bit higher so that I could run faster. I ducked around low tree branches and continued towards the river. When I reached the river's edge, I collapsed and fell to my knees, gripping my blouse and trying to catch my breath.
"JoyAnna?"
I turned my head to see Eric standing there. I got up quickly, dropping my bag from my shoulder, ran to him, and wrapped my arms around him tightly. "I missed you."
Eric's arms came around my lower back almost immediately and gave me a single squeeze before pulling back. He ran a hand down my cheek and smiled. "I missed you more."
He leaned in and gave me the same ghost of a kiss that we had left each other with those few days ago. Eric was right. It was like we were never apart. I forgot about everything back in Amity, forgot about Gregory, my mother, Serenity and her friends, or even the chores that needed to be done as Eric rested his forehead against mine.