Chapter twenty-six – Making friends

Wes listened to Eric and found me a task which wouldn't risk my life. For now I was grateful because getting killed before I finished my mission successfully would suck. I was sitting across Max and Trevor. Trevor was the serious guy who had no sense of humor according to Xenia. I never spoke to him face to face so this was my chance to get to know him and see for myself if he was indeed the most boring person in Dauntless.

"Initiation is in seven months, a lot is going to change." Max started, "Eric is going to be in charge of it and will oversee both classes." He informed me, "Four and Lauren will be our instructors of choice this year as well."

"Okay."

"The rules are changing, we got greenlight yesterday so we can move things along." Max continued.

I nodded, listening to him first to make sure I got everything he was telling me. I knew things were changing. Max made it sound like it was for the better, but I was sure it wasn't. Trevor beside him was awfully quiet, he wasn't even paying attention. He was engrossed in the file before him, flipping through the pages.

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Attend the meetings Eric is having with the instructors. Write up reports and report back to me."

I was basically his secretary, but it made sure I was close to Eric. I could get as much information as possible. I'd be meeting up with Eric and Max separately. Spying on my soon to be husband for Max and I was sure if I played my cards right I could earn Max's trust and make him talk.

"Got it."

"It's not that exciting." Max's lips curled up to a smirk, "But I heard it's how Eric wants it."

That made Trevor look up and meet my gaze, he didn't speak up though. His eyes were scanning my face, he was analyzing me.

"He doesn't want me to get hurt."

"Keeping the wife safe, I can respect that." Max collected his papers.

"I'm not his wife yet." I shot back, making the older man chuckle.

"He is speeding things up. You're signing the license the end of this week, right?"

"Yes."

He got to his feet and handed me the file he just put back together, "A congratulations is in order, but we'll celebrate it properly once it's official." I took the file from him and forced a smile upon my face. Max didn't know me well enough to know it wasn't real, "Read through the file so you're caught up with everything involving initiation." He gestured to Trevor who was also still seated, "Trevor will talk you through it, but it's good to be on top of things."

"Thanks, I won't let you down."

"That's all I ask."

With that Max left the room, leaving me alone with Trevor. He shifted in his seat and closed the file in front of him, focusing on me instead.

"Let's talk through initiation and I'll point out the changes which were implementing."

"Sounds good."

"Everything is explained in the file, so like Max mentioned read through it carefully. Memorize it by heart. I'm sure Eric will help you with it too."

I noticed how his eyes darkened when he mentioned Eric. I didn't want to flat out ask him if he was not a fan of Eric, but I got that feeling. Whenever Max talked about my soon to be husband he sounded like a proud father. Trevor however, he looked like he bit into a lemon whenever someone mentioned him. It was very interesting.

"I'm sure he will."

"Okay, let's do this."

Trevor talked me through initiation as I knew it and then explained the changes they were making. The next initiation was going to become brutal for transfers. I knew Dauntless born weren't going to struggle. It was drilled into them from the day they were born not to fear the unknown, face your fears and accept it when you failed. If they didn't win their fights they'd accept that they had to leave Dauntless because they weren't worthy. It was going to be tough and a lot of people were going to get hurt, but I knew the class which we needed to be cautious about was the transfer class.

"Eric is mostly going to attend the transfer class to make sure they behave."

"I figured."

"We need to inform the members, letting them know about these changes." He pointed at me, "That's your job. You write Max a speech which he can give so the parents won't get riled up." His lips twitched which told me Trevor wasn't as boring as Xenia told me, he had a sense of humor, "It's a lot more exciting being Max's assistant than patrolling Candor."

"You're so freaking hilarious." I muttered.

He chuckled, "Maybe there is hope for Eric yet."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Why'd you say that?"

He closed the file in front of him, taking his sweet time before he answered me. It was like he needed time to figure out how to tell me what was on his mind. He didn't know I wouldn't judge him though. Like everyone else in Dauntless he probably assumed I was a desperate chick he couldn't wait to get tied down to Eric. Only Four knew the truth, but he couldn't talk because I asked that of him. I'm sure he was pissed at me for it. But he knew it was the only way to uncover everything messed up going on in our home.

"Eric is not the easiest person to get along with, you know that." He looked up, meeting my gaze, "He also has ambitious plans which us Dauntless born are not very fond of. It's going against the original manifest and it pisses off a lot of people. In the end people still go along with him because he has that much pull, but he isn't making friends along the way. you get me?"

"I know."

Now he was the one being confused, "You do?"

"You forgot that I'm also Dauntless born. I had to sit through a dinner with my dad and Eric throwing the manifest in each other's faces. Also the fact that Eric and I argue a lot." I sighed, "And I mean a lot because we don't meet eye to eye when it comes to the rules and everything that comes with it."

"Let me give you a piece of advice and then I'll leave it for what it is." Trevor leaned closer, narrowing his eyes on me as he lowered his voice, "If a person isn't willing to change you can't force them too. No matter how close you are when you're not on the same page, people will still be able to put a knife in your back."

He thought I was marrying Eric to change him. I couldn't be honest with him and tell him I was actually going to stab Eric in the back because I figured a long time ago that I couldn't change him. That he'd hurt me no matter how close we were. I wasn't looking for approval so I kept my mouth shut and let Trevor walk away. Once he was gone I let out a sigh of relief and took a minute to collect my thoughts.

I went through my week without running into my friends, who were so confused about the situation. Neither Four or I explained things to them which pissed them off even more. Me refused to sit with them or talk to Four made Eric and Wes pay attention. They didn't comment on it, but I felt them watching me every time I sat with Eric at the leader's table. Wondering if I was going to get up and join my friends and go back to the way things used to be. I wasn't going there though. That was in the past. Eventually everyone would figure that out.

"Things will be official tomorrow." Eric told me as we finished up dinner.

"I know."

"Max wants to throw a celebration, he thinks it will do the compound some good."

"He already told me." I placed my hand on his arm and leaned closer, ignoring the eyes which were on us since we sat down at the table in the dining hall, "I rather celebrate things privately." I whispered to him.

I felt Eric tense. He liked that idea, but neither one of us could talk about it. We had an audience. I'm sure our looks told them enough though. I heard Trevor clear his throat while Wes chuckled. Not even pretending not to listen in on us.

"We'll join them for a bit and then celebrate on our own." Eric promised me.

"You have another deadly dress hanging in your closet?" Wes asked me, breaking my moment with Eric.

"No." I faced him, "But I won't disappoint."

Eric beside me didn't say a thing so I figured he didn't mind me wearing a deadly dress which made everyone stop and stare.

"Good, it will be hilarious to watch Eric get all riled up."

Eric grunted, "I don't get riled up."

Wes laughed, "Right, so you didn't get riled up last time?" He asked, reaching for his cup of water, "You were seeing red because she was mingling."

Eric wasn't happy with Wes spilling the beans, but I was enjoying every minute of it. Little by little they were telling me things. Slowly they were going to trust me so much they'd spill more important things like what the fuck Jeanine Matthews was doing here so freaking often. I couldn't flat out ask Eric because he'd catch on.

"She'll be my wife this time, so I'm not worried."

I smiled and bumped my shoulder against his firm bicep, "I won't leave your side, I promise. Whatever I'm going to wear is only going to be for you."

"I don't understand why a girl like her would marry you." Trevor met Eric's gaze, an intense staring contest going on between them.

Trevor was definitely not a fan of Eric, which could work out positively in the future. I figured since he gave me a piece of advice earlier I was already on his good side. Not wanting their staring contest to go on forever I interrupted them.

"Sometimes I don't even know." I muttered and shrugged when Eric narrowed his stormy eyes at me.

Placing his arm around my shoulders, Eric pulled me close to him, "I'll remind you later why you're with me." He told me straight out which actually made me blush.

For once I actually had a nice enough time at the leader's table when Wes muttered something about trouble heading their way. I didn't understand what he meant until her voice made me tense up and lean even more into Eric.

"Whatever you have to say, I'm not interested." I told May, hoping she'd just walk away.

"You're making a mistake." She told me, "Can we talk privately?"

"No." I sat up straight, pulling away from Eric and tossed my hair back, "I'm done talking to you, forever. So if you could respect my wishes, that'd be great."

Wes smiled at May, anyone could mistake it for him being nice. Xenia and I made the same mistake when we thought he was better company than Eric and Trevor. He wasn't. Trevor was by far better company. If Eric committed a crime Wes always drove the getaway car. I learned that the hard way, but now I knew. I could be friendly with him, but his loyalty was to Eric and not me.

"You heard the girl." Wes told May kindly, "Please, just leave it at that, okay?"

She looked nervous, hesitating as she decided to leave or not. She flickered her eyes back at me and for the first time in a very long time I saw the girl who I used to hang out with. Not the bitch who made new friends and decided I was her enemy.

"Bell."

I wanted to get up and talk to her, but I couldn't make decisions like that anymore. I needed to earn the trust of Eric and Wes and possibly Max. He wasn't present now but I'm sure he didn't want any drama. So I shook my head at her.

She leaned closer to me which made everyone at the table put their guard up, "Don't marry him." She whispered to me, but I'm sure Eric heard her.

After she said that she walked away. I'm sure she made her bed by that. I feared for her life, but I couldn't warn her. Instead I glanced at my friend's table. Four had his back to me so I couldn't make eye contact with him.

"You okay?" Eric asked quietly, putting his hand on my thigh.

I met his gaze, "I'm fine."

We said goodbye to the other leader and headed back home. I got ready for bed when Eric burst through the bathroom door and met my gaze.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He sounded so unsure which would have been hilarious, but right now I wasn't laughing. It confused me that May was warning me not to marry Eric. I was pretty sure she wanted me to drown in despair.

"No."

I continued my nighttime routine, not giving him much attention. Mostly because I needed to calm my chaotic mind.

"We don't have to do the celebration Friday, we can get out of it."

He was trying to please me, probably worrying May changed my mind about him. I never figured Eric was the kind of guy who doubted his actions, but he proved me wrong. Turning to face him I showed him he had nothing to worry about.

"We're fine. Everything is fine. I just want to get ready for bed and sleep it off."

He leaned against the doorway his stormy gaze intensifying, "How about you get ready fast and I'll get you off and then you can go to sleep."

Laughing I faced the mirror again, "That sounds even better."

Once he left me to continue my nighttime routine I let out a relieved breath. Everything was going to be fine. I wouldn't worry about May, it made me a bitch, but everything she had done up till now was her own wrongdoing. I didn't need to safe her. I'm sure she'd survive, her stay at Dauntless just wouldn't be pleasant anymore. And I didn't give a fuck, I had other things to worry about.