As I walk out, Four calls in Jacob, sending me one last look. I linger until he closes the door, then I turn to walk out, being stopped though, of course. Damien walks right next to me. "How did it go? My Dad wasn't too hard on you, was he?" His face was so full of concern and sincereity, that as much as I wanted to leave and forget this day ever happened, I couldn't just leave.
I always felt weird around Damien, to be fairly honest. Most times, I feel this is just a pity act, and that he really doesn't care. Then other times, it's as if he's the only one who cares. Which really confuses me. Am I being set up? Why is he just now acting nice towards me? Before initiation, he wouldn't spare me a second glance, so why now?
I sigh, looking around before twiddling my fingers and looking at my hands. "It could've gone better. Feeling as though you're being killed by dogs isn't the best thing ever. Your Dad was, well, he was Four. I think that's enough said."
He let out a tiny laugh, but I didn't mean for that last part to be a joke. Soon, his smile fades and a frown takes its place. "Well, at least you got out of there alive. It would suck if you didn't."
My shoulders lifted, then fell. I brushed my hair out my face as I walked around him, sitting down. He soon sat next to me, keeping a good few inches between us. A silence rained over us. Until he turned his head toward me.
"Shouldn't you be getting home?"
"I don't want to go home, just yet." I whispered.
Damien nodded, the paused. "You don't like being there, do you?"
I turn to face him. "Why do you think that?"
He shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. Damien knew that sometimes I get uncomfortable in our previous conversations, and I think he's trying to find a way to bring up gently. He stammers, attempting to find the right words.
"Well, I guess you just never talk about it much."
"I guess I don't. It's just something boring. You know? It won't really interest someone."
"Oh." He drops it at that.
I don't understand why I still stay. Any other time I would just go home. But it's like some invisable energy just draws me to him, and it makes me feel better. We stay quiet for the next twenty minutes, until Jacob runs out, leaving quickly.
"Damien. Let's go." Four says, standing in the doorway, beckoning his son, who stands up.
"You'll be at the celebration later, right? In the chasm?"
I laugh nervously. "Isn't that a dangerous place to have a celebration?"
"You won't know if you don't go." He says, walking into the room, his father closing the door behind him. I sit there for a while. It was barely noon. What else could I do? The memory of the fear landscape was behind pushed at the back of my mind. But, I do have one last thing too settle. Might as well get it over with."
. . .
I walked into the apartment, the bitter smell of alcohal enough to make me cringe. Peter was sprawled out on the couch, in the same position he had been since this morning. He was out all night, and came stumbling in around three a.m., yelling and laughing rather loudly. Brian came to sleep with me because of him.
My feet carry me to the bathroom, and I grab some painkillers before filling a cup of water in the kitchen. When I talk to him, he needs to be sober and focused. It wouldn't be impossible, just difficult. I set the items on the coffee table, clearing away all the beer bottle and cigarettes after. Seeing as he won't be up for at least another hour, I try to straighten up as much as possible. That keeps me distracted enough.
The living room looks cleaner than it has been in a long time when he starts to stir. A groan erupts from him as my father rubs his eyes, sitting up. He looks around, as I sit on a chair. Peter takes time looking at me, then glances at the painkillers and water. I nod, motioning for him to take it.
He does, chugging the water down then groaning. "What do you want?"
"I need you to sober up for two days."
My direct reply makes him chuckle, sitting back. "And why would I do that?"
Biting my cheek I take a deep breath. "Not that you've noticed, but Emily has been in the infirmary for a few days. She has schizophrenia." I give him a few moments to register what I said. My father was very aware my mother had the illness, but, in my eyes, it was never that severe. "They are releasing her tomorrow, at noon. I don't know if I can make it, beause of training. But it wouldn't matter if it was just me. They need your signature. You just have to sign the paper, then take your daughter to Natalie Eaton's. Right next to us."
"And why would I do any of this?" Peter spits.
"Because the government will get involved. And child neglect is something frowned upon, even in the Dauntless. Unless you would like to be thrown in with the factionless, I suggest you do what you're supposed to do."
His jaw sets, and he stares me dead in the eye. He intimidates me, he does. And he knows it. But he also know I'm right. So he shakes his head. "Fine. Fine! I'll stay sober for tomorrow. Don't say I never do anything for you ungrateful kids," Peter looks away.
"How could I ever?" I mutter, standing up and walking out the door.
. . .
"The initiates seem pretty out of it." Nat admits, looking at them all in the cafeteria. I twist my body so I can see, as well.
"Yeah, that simulation broke a lot of them. They were a lot worse." I say, turning backad picking at my food. Inside, I scream that she drops the topic, but she persists on.
"How did you do? I remember completely freaking out. My Dad had to call my Mom. I was a mess." She laughs at the memory, taking a sip of her water.
"Mine went, well, as good as it gets." I lied. Her own father warned me not to tell anyone, would that include the people closest to me? What could be so wrong with having more than one result?
I clear my throat, pushing the tray away. "So, can I sleep at your place tonight? Brian is going to be at his friend's again, so it'll just be me. And I really don't like it when I'm the only home." My fingers comb my hair to my side. Nat shrugs, her gaze averting to her food.
Patiently, I wait for her respose. "I guess. It'll be fun. We can just gossip and even make food. Oh! Why don't we go get tattoos? Since I work there, I can give you one for free."
Out of confusion, my nose crinkles, and I cock my head to the side. What an odd offer, especially from Nat. I never pegged her for the slumber party type, but this day couldn't get any weirder, I guess. Spending just a few minutes in the landscape, Four warning me, Damien inviting me to a small get together, Peter actually agreeing to be sober. This will probably be the most realistic thing that's happened the whole day.
Her voice snaps me back as she continues to ramble. "You could get a star and I could get a moon or even the sun! Oh! The moon and sun would be so cool and-"
"Nat," I interuppted her. "I already have a tattoo."
Her eyes widen. "Since when?"
"Since last year. Right, here." After moving my hair out the way, I push my right ear out the way, showing a tiny anchor hidden. She admires it for a short time, asking why that certain marking. "I don't know, just, when I see it, it just reminds me of strength. I figured if I got it I would somehow be stronger-"
"Hey, guys. What's up?" A familiar voice cuts me off, as Nat's brother sits down next to her, picking a fry off her tray. She rolls her eyes and he smiles. "Nat, I have been looking for you everywhere." he exaggerates on the last word. "I need a favor."
"What?" She growls, slapping his hand away as he tries to get another fry.
He takes in a deep breath, then exhaling. "I need to crash at your place."
"Wha- no!"
"Just hear me out." he begs, and I watch the sibling argumet unraveling. "I'm going to be home late, and I don't want to hear Mom or Dad lecture me."
"Dam-"
"I covered for you all the time when you still lived there. Did I not?"
She groans. "But Alyssa is already staying with me-"
I shake my head, stopping her. "It's fine. Maybe we could hang out another day." For reassurence, I send a soft smile, but under the table I play with my sleeves.
"Lyss-"
"I'll be right next door."
She sighs in defeat, and I keep a smile on my face to show it doesn't bother me. It really doesn't. Damien is her brother, he should be put first. But, he doesn't seem to think that way, because he shakes his head. "No, that's not fair."
"It's fine." I try.
"No, we can both sleep there tonight. I'll just stay away and not bother you guys."
His sister nods excitedly, her smile widening to the highest extent. "I'm down with it. Lyss?"
As I glance over at him, I try to think of a million excuses as to why I can't, but hope is flooded in his eyes as they both eagerly wait for my response. My heart skips a beat as he smiles, and I give up, raising my hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'm in."
"Yes! How about I walk to Nat's later and drop off my stuff and then we can walk to the chasm together?" Damien asks, standing up from the seat, his eyes never losing mine. I simply nod, and he walks away, to a different table.
"Okay, now I'm really not letting you two go near each other tonight, what was that all about?" Nat asks, and I quirk an eyebrow.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
"Nope. I don't. Hey, isn't your break over?"
She checks her watch, quickly standing up and running out. Not before shouting, "We'll talk about this later!"
(A/N) okay, last update for the night, i promise.
goodnight! favorite, review, all that boring stuff.
BYEYYE
p.s. i didn't proofread so don't give me shit about my terrible grammar
-Julissa