CAPTURE THE FLAG

ERIC POV

It has been two days since Suzy and I just hung out at the net together. We ended up falling asleep and woke to find the stars looking back at us through the whole in the roof. We didn't say much while we were there but it was just a really perfect moment. Who would have thought I would ever be liking a girl from Abnegation.

I am sitting on my lounge just remembering the time with Suzy when there is banging on my door. It will be Four coming to get me to play capture the flag. I have lost to Four the last two years and it really pissed me off. But this year I just don't seem to care. What is Suzy doing to me? I shake my head as I make my way to the door to let Four in.

"You ready?" he asks when I open the door.

"Yeah, let's go wake the initiates," I say.

We start to walk down the corridor and I say, "I want Suzy on my team tonight Four."

"Really?"

"Yeah so let's make a deal. I won't pick Tris if you don't pick Suzy."

"I can live with that. But I am going to beat you no matter who is on your team Eric."

"We'll see Four, we'll see."


I let Four and his scrawny team of misfits jump off the train first. There is no way he is going to beat my team tonight. I have this one in the bag. I can feel it. I love playing capture the flag. It is a rush, I love being able to shoot someone and watch the paint from the paintball splash across their clothing. I am sure I wouldn't get the same feeling if I was having to shoot someone with a real gun.

Four kept his word and I now have Suzy on my team. I haven't had a chance to talk to her since our day at the net so I'm hoping we can get some time together.

"Okay everyone, start jumping," I say. I watch Suzy jump and follow straight after her. She lands on her feet and I can't help but smile. She is starting to fit in and it gives me a warm feeling throughout my body.

Once everyone has jumped from the train we gather in a circle and I give Edward the flag. "You need to decide where you want to hide the flag and come up with a strategy to find the other teams flag," I say.

I leave them to argue amongst themselves. If I get involved then they will want me to make all the decisions for them. They need to learn to start making them for themselves. Luckily it has only taken them five minutes to make a decision and the flag is going to be hidden in some trees. One group has gone out to look for the other team's flag. Suzy and I are staying to defend our flag.

I have positioned Suzy to be with me and we have moved away from the others. "How have you been?" I ask her.

"Good. I will be glad when stage one is over," she says.

"You've been doing really well Suzy. There is only one more round of fights to go," I say. I hold out my hand and she entwines her fingers with mine. I see a small smile come across her face and I know I have a smile on my face too.

I am looking around; even though I want to be alone here with Suzy I know that I need to be alert for the other team. I look toward the Ferris Wheel and I see two figures climbing. "What are you looking at?" Suzy asks.

"Look up there, at the top of the Ferris Wheel," I say. The two figures have stopped and it looks like they are kissing.

"That has to be Tris and Four," Suzy says.

"Why do you think that?" I ask. I can't believe that it is them. I have seen Four's fear landscape. Not that I was supposed to but being a leader has some perks. I needed to know what those four fears were. He is scared of heights so I can't imagine him climbing up there.

"Well, look at the height difference and Tris would definitely do something like climb the Ferris Wheel. And of course Four would follow her," she says. That is true Four would follow her, fear or not he wouldn't be able to help himself. I have to admire him for that.

"I see them pointing towards us, we better hope that our team finds their flag first. Otherwise they are going to get our flag," I say. "That will mean I lose to Four three years in a row."

"We better get ready. We need to be alert for when their team gets here," she says.

"Good thinking," I say.


I am sitting on the train on the way home. Suzy is sitting next to me. I can hear laughter from the other end of the carriage. I can't help but feel some disappointment that we have lost but I am enjoying just sitting here with Suzy. I know I can't openly show any affection towards her but I really want too. I let my hand brush her leg and I feel her shiver.

"Hey Eric," says Peter.

"What do you want Peter?" I ask. He is so annoying. He has been sucking up to me ever since he got here. Usually I wouldn't mind that. There is always one or two who will try and befriend me. They can't help themselves; they think that being friendly will give them some type of advantage. But it doesn't, in the past I would just use them to my advantage.

"Well we were on the same team. I thought I would come and hang out with you," he says.

"The game is over Peter. Why don't you go and play with your friends," I say.

"Why? Would you rather hang out with the Stiff instead of me," he says.

I jump up from where I am sitting and I grab Peter and slam him into the wall of the train. I am holding him by his collar and I say, "Don't let me hear you ever call her that again. Do you understand?"

Peter looks scared. Really scared. He is nodding his head but I have still taken one of my hands off him and I am about to take a swing when Four grabs my arm. "He isn't worth it Eric," Four says quietly to me.

I know he is right but I am so angry right now. "Eric," Suzy says.

I push Peter away from me and I walk back over to where Suzy is. Four follows me and says, "Be careful. Don't let them see your feelings for her; you can't afford to let that happen."

I know he is right. I hate knowing he is right. I just nod my head and sit back down. I know Suzy heard what Four said she has blushed a deep red. She has moved down away from me and is now sitting with Tris, Uriah and Marlene. Fucking Peter!


I get back to my apartment and just lie on my bed. I have to start thinking about what we are going to do about Jeanine. I will have to deal with Four being a leader. I am not looking forward to that; I have enjoyed always being able to be above him. I won't be able to do that anymore. Although I am glad we are able to get along together. I know it isn't his fault Jeanine killed my dad but it is always in the back of my mind that if it wasn't for him I would still have dad here. It's stupid to think this way but what you know is right and how your mind works are two extremely different things.

I can't sleep. I keep thinking of Suzy. I can't believe I have feelings for her. I don't understand it. I've always been able to have whatever woman I wanted in Dauntless but this is different. I don't want the one night stand with Suzy. I actually want to get to know her. This is not going to be easy with her coming from Abnegation and the fact that Caleb left her. I just hope I have a chance with her.