Disclaimer: I do not own Divergent
Chapter Twenty-One
Christina is jogging next to me, gritting her teeth and shaking with jitters. It's the day of the final fear testing. Me? Oh, I have nothing to worry about! Scratch that, I'm still worried. Will it count if I don't even go through the simulation?
Oh well. Live and let live, as they say. We stop at the doors to the final room and I push them open. Creaking, they give way to me. I step inside, forcing a bounce into myself.
"Oh look, it's the soon-to-be Factionless!" Peter smirks.
"Yeah right! In your dreams," I can't stop the laughter bubbling from inside me.
He looks incredulous that I'm laughing on a day like this. The emotion on his face even makes Chrissy snicker a bit. Soon though, the peals of laughter die down, and they are stuck in the nervous state from before.
"So, Chrissy, have I told you about what my brother did when he was younger?"
I'd do anything to make her feel better. Even if it's telling about my past life. About Caleb. About being a traitor.
"No, why?"
"Oh, it's the funniest thing," I say airily, "He decided one day when he was eight that he wanted to help an old lady carry her shopping."
At this, I start giggling at the memories.
"So he took two of the heaviest bags she had, and started to carry them down the street with her. He completed the errand, and his hands were super sore!"
"Is there a funny bit to this story?" Chrissy interrupts.
"I'm getting there, Jeez," I mutter, "So then the lady wanted to thank him, but he said 'no ma'am, I don't need any thanks for doing my duty'. He was all cute and stuff since he was only eight at the time. But the lady decided to hug him as a thank you."
"Yeah?"
"Yah. This lady was in Amity and had to go here for a meeting or something. So she decided to go shopping while at it. She reached out to hug my brother, who was completely freaking out at this point!"
Chrissy starts to giggle at the image of an Abnegation freaking out.
"She was hugging him for ages! When she finally let go of him, he came tottering over towards me. The old lady had hugged him right around the neck, and his eyes were all crossed! He kept staring at his nose."
Everyone starts to laugh again as my story ends. Wow, it wasn't even that funny a story! Guess they all are really nervous. I probably should be too…
They started to do the test about an hour ago. It's only me left now. I saunter over to the chair, stick my tongue out at Peter, and lie down. I feel them insert the syringe into my neck, and I grin at Max. He's in for a shock.
Looking at Maria, I wink and point to Max subtly. She glances at him, and laughs silently, hand over mouth.
I lie there for a while after they insert it. Must have been what? Three minutes? I am silently cackling at Max's incredulous look. Take that, Maxy-boy!
I hop off the chair, and pump my fist in the air. Chris is copying me on the other side of the room.
"Take that Dauntless! No fears for the win!" I scream at the crowd.
It takes them around five seconds to take in what I just said. Mutters penetrate the silence before they all start screaming and cheering for me. My name is being chanted again, and I am yelling 'Victory'.
I turn to look at Peter, who is red with rage. Just to rub the salt in the wound, I stick my tongue out and waggle my fingers.
Cackling, I run over to Max.
"Wh-wha?" he gasps.
"Did you like the surprise?" I grin at him.
"I-I can see why you said you knew you could be leader…" he mumbled, still in shock.
Many of the Dauntless crowd had quietened down as they saw me talking with the dumbfounded leaders. I jogged over to Maria, who patted me on the back and started doing a victory dance. This set even more eyes boggling at us.
Oh God, what about Chrissy? I head over to her, taking in her incredulous looks.
"Sorry!" I mouth at her.
She must think I've betrayed her. There are so many things she doesn't know about… I start to feel really bad about it, and beckon her outside. She nods, and we start to head through the crowd.
"Zero!" someone yells.
Zero? Like, for Zero fears? Where'd they get that from?
My mind flickers to the other person with a number name. Four. Four as in Four fears. Well, that makes so much sense.
"Zero, Zero, Zero!" they start to chant.
I like that, actually. It can be my alias. It has no relation to my name, and could come in use. Zero the leader. Zero the prodigy. Zero fears. I like it!
We are outside now, away from the crowded room. Chrissy is glaring at me now.
"What was that?" she hissed, "I thought we agreed not to keep anything from each other?"
"I'm so, so sorry, Chrissy – " I begin.
"No! Shut up! You don't get the privilege of calling me that! You lost it when you betrayed me!"
With a final glare, she sprints off.
"No, Chriss – Christina, I can explain!" I yell after her retreating form.
"She's gone," another voice speaks solemnly.
It's Four. Slowly, I sink down against the rocky wall. My mind is in overdrive.
"I didn't… I-I'm sorry, I – "
"Hush, its fine. She'll understand," he smiles softly at me.
I calm myself down slowly, thinking rationally again. He's right. It is better to explain when she's calmer. She won't accept anything at the moment.
"Look, I know about why you couldn't tell her. The leaders had to tell me because I'm your trainer."
He knew? All along? Right…
He starts to sink to the floor beside me as I bring my knees to my chest. My cheeks desperately want to heat at how close he is to me. We are only a few inches apart.
"I… you're right though. About Christina, I mean. I'll talk to her tomorrow."
"Good. I don't like seeing you upset, Zero. It doesn't suit you."
Zero. Zero. Zeerrooo. It's a good nickname, actually.
My breath draws in quickly as his thumb brushes my cheek. What is this? Why do I act like this around him? I blush slightly at the contact.
He starts to get up, but I stop him with a hand on his shoulder.
"Stay," I whisper.
"Of course."
"Let me guess something?"
"Sure, whatever you want."
Whatever I want. Whatever I…
Calm down, me! Focus!
"Four… as in, four fears?"
"Got it in one," he smiles at me.
Helloooooooooooo! (it's me. I was wondering if after all these years you'd li - sorry...)
Right! Some Fourtris in this chapter! YAYYYY! Another chapter is outttttttttt!
Wow I uploaded two things in one day! First the other story, now this! I'm on a rolllllllllllllllllll
Yeah I'm hyper.
BYE BYE PEEPS,
MG