Miles: Control room supervisor

Sue: Hana's co-worker

Angie: Dauntless cook and one of Hana's roommates

Nick: Leeann's brother

Leeann: Hana's best friend and roommate

Aunt Taylor and Uncle Abram: Leeann's aunt and uncle, Eli's parents

Eli: (mentioned) Leeann's cousin

Jude: (mentioned) Eli's girlfriend

Jazz: (mentioned) One of Hana's trainers, Amar's mother

So if you aren't reading Milner's "The First Time", which are her one shots of Tris and Tobias meeting each other in modern day, you missed the fact that we both had chapters titled "Cake" published on the same day! If you aren't reading it, take a the time to read them. They are REALLY good.

Jackie, the last chapter wasn't "filler" it was "set up". There were a few things I realized I hadn't set up that you are going to need to understand events in upcoming chapters so (like Feast Day, this chapter)... hopefully next time I'll get them worked into chapters better than I did!

And of course I want to thank Bahrfamily as always for her help, on everything. (Like the title for the last chapter!) And being willing to keep up with editing, even when work is keeping her busy.

26 Feast Day

I take advantage of the time and the drives that Natalie gave me, to practice changing them out. I quickly discover that it's not easy. It doesn't take much longer for me to realize that even though it is going to be more challenging to change them out with just one hand, it will be less noticeable that way. All I can think is that I'm glad I have about a month to work this out.

Natalie must be putting a lot of effort into getting into these offices. Either that or, until she can get in there, she has nothing else to do, because for a month, we only correspond by tablet.

Five AM comes awfully early on Feast Day, especially when you have to be at work by then. I yawn as I set up my computer for the day. Natalie doesn't need me to start putting in drives until ten, so until then, all I have to do is keep from falling asleep, and of course watch the screens.

Shortly after I put in the first drive at ten AM sharp, Angie and a couple of other workers from the kitchen come into the control room with carts loaded down with food. There are only three of us working, but the amount of food is incredible. I've never seen so much variety at one time. I'm not actually sure I can identify all of it. Even though I have already learned from the cafeteria that the Dauntless menu is much more varied than the Abnegation menu ever was, still I'm impressed by all the different dishes I see.

My mouth starts watering just looking at it.

"Remember," Miles calls out from his seat, "don't eat all of it. The other shift is expecting leftovers!"

"If they really wanted some of this, they should have volunteered for first shift," Sue informs him sourly. From her tone, and from the way she has been sitting at her seat with her arms crossed against her chest all morning, I'd have to guess that she was assigned this shift; that unlike me, she didn't volunteer.

Miles shakes his head at her. "Sue, you haven't had to work day shift on Feast Day for five years. Quit your bellyaching."

Sue glares at him.

"Will it help your attitude any if I let you get your food first?"

Sue stands up and heads to the carts. She grabs a plate and starts filling it. "No, but I'm not going to turn down the chance, either."

Miles throws his hands up. "I give up, just be miserable, then."

"Thank you." Sue returns to her seat. "I intend to."

"Happy Feast Day!" Angie smiles and hands me a plate of cake before she leaves. "I made it myself."

I grin back at her. She never told us if she passed her cake test or not. I'm guessing this means she did. "Congratulations!"

At 4:55, I pull out the last drive. Mission accomplished. I hope Natalie was successful in getting the information on the Top Ten that she needed. I stick it back in my pants pocket and stretch. It's been a long day in front of the screens. Part of me would like nothing more than to go back to the apartment to sleep, before the mind-numbing effects of watching the screens while eating all the food the cafeteria brought in for us, wears off, but something tells me that if I do that, Leeann might never speak to me again.

When we are dismissed, it dawns on me that I don't know where I'm going. Leeann told me to meet her at her aunt and uncles apartment, but she never told me the number so I could find where they live. I put my bag over my shoulder and stand by the control room door for a minute. I'm sure they live in the Pire, but what floor? I walk to the elevator, wracking my brain to see if I can remember any clues. I have no idea. Guess I get to go back to the apartment to sleep, after all.

My finger is about to push the down button to go back to my own apartment when the doors open. Nick stands there. "Good, I'm in time. Leeann just realized five minutes ago that you don't know where Aunt Taylor and Uncle Abram live. I've been charged with finding you and escorting you to the festivities."

"Leeann couldn't come herself?"

Nick shakes his head, a smile playing on his lips. "You'll understand when you get to the apartment. Besides," he holds the door open so I can get in the elevator with him, "I volunteered. I thought this would give us a chance to talk without anyone else around."

"What do we need to talk about?"

"Jude." He pushes the button for the twentieth floor. "I've been thinking about what you said about her having more against you than just her paranoia about Eli."

I nod.

"Eventually she laid off of the rest of them. Angie when she started dating Rob, Kelly when Jude realized Kelly really did like me, and Natalie when…" His voice trails off. Last time, he didn't mention Natalie being involved. I guess he remembered last time that I don't really know Natalie.

At least, he doesn't know that I really know Natalie.

"Let me guess, Natalie when she traded places with me?"

Nick groans. "You still remember I said that, huh?"

"Sure do," I smile a nice reassuring Abnegation smile, "but don't worry, I haven't mentioned it to Eli or Leeann."

"Thanks. My concern is that if you have something on Jude, and it sounds like you do, she's not going to lay off of you when she decides someone else is after Eli."

I tilt my head and look at him. "So what are you suggesting?"

"Well, if you don't mind me saying something to Jazz, I think that Jazz and I should get you back into the training room and help you with your fighting skills. You may end up needing them."

I hadn't thought about that, but he's right. Avoiding the training room and not practicing is probably not a very good idea. "I hadn't thought about that."

Nick smiles. "I have, so when you work first shift, after dinner, you are going to work out with either Jazz or me."

"Nick, Jazz just had a baby. Are you sure she's going to be up to this?"

Nick thinks for a moment. "If I do most of the fighting and she does most of the watching and giving pointers, I imagine that will be just fine with her."

"Okay, but what about when I have the other shifts?"

"I haven't worked that out yet, but we'll figure that out when we need to. You're on first shift right now, aren't you?"

I nod.

"Good. We'll start day after tomorrow."

"Why not tomorrow?"

Nick grins that Pedrad grin. "You'll see."

Leeann is far beyond bouncing and bubbly when we get to Taylor and Abram's apartment. She's glowing. "Hana!" she squeals. "You're here!" She turns to Nick. "Where'd you find her?"

"At the elevators. She was getting ready to leave the floor when I got there."

"Thank you!"

"No problem." Nick smiles back. "I knew if she didn't make it here, you'd explode."

Leeann laughs.

"What's going on?" I ask suspiciously.

Leeann holds out her left hand for me to look at. She's wearing a new ring. The black metal is dull with small round circles around the rolling band. At the center of it is a small round black stone. I look at the ring, then at her, and then back at the ring. "Well...?" Her voice is full of excitement.

For a moment, I am stunned. Nuptials Day, the one day each year when couples can get married, wasn't even a month ago, and here Leeann is, wearing an engagement ring. A year from now, she and Chaz will be married.

When you transfer, you always know things will be different. Abnegations are discouraged from getting married until they have been members for a couple of years. In their minds, it is selfish to think of yourself and to get married when you could be spending that time focusing on other people without the distraction of a family.

I guess Dauntless sees things differently.

"Leeann, it's beautiful." I smile at her, and then take a step closer to give her a quick hug. "Congratulations."

Well, I had hoped it would be quick, but Leeann holds on tight. "He finally asked me!"

When she lets me step back, I laugh at her, just a little, "Finally? Leeann, he couldn't have asked you much sooner! You can't be married until you've been a member a full year, and Nuptials Day was less than a month ago. He couldn't have asked you before then!"

Leeann smiles, "I know, I know, it's just…" I catch her looking behind me, and the look in her eyes tells me Chaz must be in her sight. "Hana, we've been together forever. I don't remember Chaz NOT being there when I needed him." She suddenly tones down a notch; it's a more serious look thnt Leeann is known for. "Every horrible thing that happened in my life, Chaz was there for me. It's just good to know that he'll always be there."

I smile at her, wondering what horrible things she is referring to.

"I mean," she continues softly, "I shouldn't be surprised that he's going to always be there. Aunt Taylor pointed out to me shortly after we became members, that I've tried to push him away often enough with our fights, and he's always come back. I guess I just needed to know that… that he loves me, that he won't abandon me." There is a vulnerability in her eyes that makes her look like a young child.

"I can't imagine him ever doing that," I assure her.

"So anyway," bubbly Leeann is back, "it's getting too cold to zip line much longer. It's a tradition to put it up after Feast Day. Eli said if we wanted to go tomorrow, to celebrate my engagement, that he'd put it up for the year after that. We'll leave after work and have a late dinner."

Eli is putting it together; as much as I would love to go zip-lining again, I don't dare go this time. "I think I'll pass."

"No!" Leeann sounds upset. "You have to come."

I take a deep breath. "I can't."

"Give me one good reason why you can't," she challenges me.

"Leeann, can't you just take my word for this?"

Nick walks by. Leeann grabs his sleeve and tugs him into our conversation.

"Nick, tell Hana she has to join us for zip-lining."

Nick looks me straight in the eye. "You should come."

"I shouldn't." I stare straight back at him.

"Hana, you can't give in to her." Nick's voice is firm.

Leeann looks from Nick to me and back again before she groans. "Now it's Hana?"

Nick nods.

"She knows?" I realize I sound surprised by this, but it hadn't occurred to me that Leeann might know about all of this.

Leeann laughs. "I'm not the oblivious one. That's Eli."

"You need to go." Nick's voice is firm. "You can't back down from her."

"Nick…"

"No, Hana, listen to me. Eli will be the last one to go; he has to get everything taken care of for the end of the season. I'll be the first, so I can help on that end. You just make sure to go right after me. You stand by me when we catch." He shrugs. "It will be easy."

"I appreciate it, but..."

"Hana," Leeann cuts me off and looks me straight in the eye. "You need to listen to us. If you try to avoid her, it will actually get worse. Kelly tried that for a while before Nick figured out what was going on." Leeann shakes her head. "I'm not going to let another friend go through that."

"You two really think I should go?"

Nick and Leeann both nod.

I sigh. "Okay, I guess I'm going."

"Great!" Leeann grins. "Now, if I can just figure out how to push Jude off the roof, tomorrow will be perfect!"

I laugh and look around the room, which is full of people. I actually know more of them than I thought I would, but there are two people missing that I expected to see. I decide not mention Eli. "Speaking of whom, was she not invited?"

"Been here already and left when Eli got called in to work." Nick grins. "Aunt Taylor barely tolerates her. She doesn't stick around here when Eli's not around."

Leeann laughs. "She barely sticks around here when Eli is around! It's a definite advantage to doing things at Aunt Taylor's!"