A/N: *Busts through the ceiling like a boss* I'M BAAAAAACK! *throws chapter in your general direction and disappears in a puff of smoke*

For about five minutes, everything was fine. Belle and Veeta talked and ate and laughed, as if everything was back to normal. But nothing lasts forever. Veeta was the first to spot Shannon, coming towards them with a purposeful strut, Steven trailing behind her. He had cleaned himself up a bit, but his pants were still wet from the soup, creating a comical implication.

"Veeta," Shannon crossed her arms and looked down her nose at the teenage girls before her, "I have been informed that you committed an act of aggression against Steven today. Now, Steven has informed me that he was not blameless, but I need you both to come upstairs with me."

Veeta decided that it was best not to argue at this juncture, so she rose dutifully and followed Shannon. She was just hoping, maybe even praying, that Shannon led them to Johanna. Johanna would look at the situation reasonably, maybe with her Veeta would stand a chance. If they were taken to Alice, however, then she would never see her initiation day. They walked past Jerry's desk, down the main hall, a left would take them to Johanna, and a right would lead to Alice. Veeta thought about either possibility with each footstep.

Left, right, left, right.

They turned left and Veeta breathed a sigh of relief.

"Steven," Shannon halted, "run up that hall back there and knock on the door marked for Alice, see if she's in and ask her to meet us in Johanna's office."

Veeta's heart dropped again as Steven ran off. She felt rage towards this ex-Abnegation boil inside of her. What a prick, first he takes Belle and throws her away, then he can't even accept a bit of payback. Of course, he may not have been the one who told Shannon, the incident wasn't exactly private, but Veeta didn't want to think about his possible innocence right now.

Shannon Knocked on Johanna's door and look sideways at Veeta, "I'm very disappointed in you, Veeta, you were doing so well."

The door opened and Johanna smiled warmly at them.

"Shannon, Veeta," She said each of their names like it was precious to her, and hugged them both tight, "What brings you two to my office?"

"I'm afraid there is a disciplinary action I need you to see to, Johanna, Alice as well."

"Oh dear, well come on in." Johanna stood aside and held the door open, Alice and Steven arrived seconds later and followed them in. "Have a seat." Johanna motioned to the chairs in front of her desk, offering her own rolling armchair to Alice. "Now, what is this about?"

"Well," Shannon clasped her hands in her lap and pursed her lips, "it came to my attention that an incident occurred at dinner today, not more than fifteen minutes ago. Steven, why don't you tell them what you told me?"

"Okay." Steven shuffled his feet a little, his eyes darting nervously between the two leaders. "Well, Veeta was sitting across from me at a table, and I told a joke. I guess she didn't think it was funny, because she dumped her soup on me and left."

"Veeta, is that true?" Johanna asked.

"He said something very rude about my friend, Belle. I got up to leave, and I-"

"Johanna," Alice interrupted, "if I may, this sounds like criminal aggression, an assault. I believe we should let Eileen and the court handle this."

"Oh Alice, it was a first offense, and you haven't even heard Veeta's side of the story."

"We have never allowed leniency for initiates exhibiting violence, especially not for Dauntless."

"You know that's not true," Johanna crossed her arms and looked down at her fellow leader, "when Blaze and her sisters transferred she got herself in plenty of trouble, she's still here."

"Yes, but she never assaulted anyone." Alice was firm, gripping the arm of her seat until her knuckles grew white.

"We don't know that Veeta did either, for all we know she just spilled her soup and this is all a misunderstanding."

"Well that would be something a court could figure out. Or perhaps we could have a Candor transfer speak to her." Alice's face dropped a little as she realized what she had just said.

Johanna smirked, "That's a perfect idea, Alice. We'll have a Candor transfer talk to her. Isn't it lucky that you have one right on hand?" She returned her attention to Veeta. "Now, honey, tell me what happened. From the beginning."

"Belle and Steven, had a bit of a relationship. She ended it this morning, and Steven was saying rude things about her. I mean, not explicitly rude, but they just sounded rude. I decided I didn't want to listen anymore, so I stood up to switch seats, but I hit my leg on the table and tripped forward. I dropped my tray a bit and it fell on him." She turned to Steven. "I'm sorry Steven, I really didn't mean to."

Veeta knew Johanna would see through her lie, but she got the feeling that she didn't care.

"Really," Johanna eyed them both up, "that's all there is to it?"

"Not exactly," Steven said, "Veeta was right, I was saying hurtful things about Belle, but we didn't have a relationship. Not really. But Veeta and I both like her, I guess that's why things are tense and why I assumed Veeta tried to hurt me. I was wrong. I'm sorry."

"Well then, it seems like everything is okay then!" Johanna smiled brightly, turning her beam on Alice.

"You have got to be kidding me!" The pregnant blonde exclaimed. "I mean, um," she took a breath and regained her composure, "I mean, there is still some tension here, we should at least look into this little rivalry."

"You are absolutely right," Johanna agreed, "which is why Veeta and Steven will spend the next two weeks volunteering in the temple. Perhaps giving back to the community together will help them grow closer."

Alice was lost for words, she looked completely helpless.

"Fine, sure, okay." She mumbled, resting her head in her heads.

"Great," Johanna clapped her hands in completion, "now, Veeta and Steven, let's begin the healing process right now. I want to see you hug it out."

"Uhhhh…." Veeta looked warily at Steven, who stood and raised his arms. She rolled her eyes and met him in a quick and awkward hug.

"Thank you." Johanna hugged them both and opened the door for them. "I'll see you both next week at your initiation ceremony."

Veeta followed Steven and Shannon out, turning back briefly to see a smiling Johanna shutting the door. Through the narrowing frame, Veeta could see Alice, glaring at her from behind Johanna's desk. She felt a sinking feeling in her stomach and realized, as if Alice we sending the message to her telepathically, this wasn't over.