Yeah, I know I know. But here it's the new chapter. I haven't forgotten you. I'm not stopping writing either.
So here it is. Enjoy.
It was quite early in the morning, waiting for someone to answer me. I wasn't sure what pushed me into doing it, even after I was told how bad of a person I was, but I started to make it the same day the news broke and by the time I considered otherwise, it was already ready.
The door flung open and the smile that Shauna had on her face quickly disappeared the moment she saw me in front of her door and replaced it with annoyance.
"What do you want?" she asked sharply. "Did you come here to apologize?"
I pressed my lips into a thin line because I knew that she wouldn't get the apologize she wanted out of me. I still didn't see the point in doing so. I knew I could have asked nicely but it wasn't in my nature.
"No"
"Than I don't see a point in talking" with that she started to close the door.
Quickly I slapped my hand on the door preventing it from closing.
"Look" I started and pulled out a small glass bottle with greenish liquid in it. "I'm not going to apologize but take this" I offered it to her but she didn't take it. Her eyes were glancing from the bottle to me and back as if she wasn't sure what to make out of the situation.
"What is this?"
"Just, drink it and try again with Zeke," I said softly pushing the bottle into her hands. I hated that I had to plead for her in order to help her.
"I don't understand"
She was confused and I didn't blame her. Who would expect something thoughtful out of me? People here didn't know what I was capable of doing and they wouldn't understand why I act like the way I do and still try to help people when they need it.
"Nothing to understand." I shrugged " Just drink it, it barely has a taste, at least that what I was told. Put on some nice lingerie and try again with Zeke. All I want in return is for you to give me a blueberry muffin once you're sure it worked"
She looked at me dumbfoundedly and a small sign of hope crossed her face when she looked again at the small bottle. I know she didn't believe it that this small bottle could give her the thing she wanted. I had a hard time believing it myself but the recipe was old and used multiple times, not by me, but my grandma and other women. They said it worked so I had to believe it.
"But…"
"Just do it, there is nothing you could lose, only to gain" I shrugged again and started to walk down the hall. "Just remember! Blueberry muffin"
And just like that, I left her at her door.
The dining area was filled with more chatter than usual. There was some kind of excitement in the air all around the tables. You would think it had something to do with Eric winning the War Game but it felt different than that. Sure, he'd been a pain in the ass. Bragging about how he won, how he came up with the plan to use me as his spy and of course bragging about his protégé. God knows he didn't need his pride growing but I should have thought about that before I gave him the flag. Not that I complain.
By morning everyone in the compound knew what had happened. There were the usual people who were in bad mood about their loss. Sulking in a table far far away from the winners.
"What's with everyone's mood today?" I asked as I sat on the table next to Mike. He offered me a smile that reached his eyes, something like pride showing on them too.
"Congrats, on your first win. Even though you were not on the right team"
"Well, thank you"
"As for the why everyone is excited – it's because today is the end of stage one" he explained immediately draining the color of my face.
"What?" my head shot toward very smugly looking Eric, even he was happy today and something was telling me it wasn't because of his recent win.
"Today is the end of stage one. Soon Max will show the board" he repeated his satisfied expression still on his face and I knew why he had it. He was still the one that had say in the final score and of course, he knew what the final score was. Which said nothing good about me, since he was smiling like he already won.
"You know who won didn't you?"
"Better get used to the fact that you'll have a new tattoo soon" he smirked, raising his cup of coffee as a toast.
"It's not fair, you have the last say" I pointed my finger at him, but he was unfazed by the accusation.
"You should have known not to bet with me" he shrugged casually taking a sip of his coffee but his silver eyes never leaving mine.
"Damn it!"
"There, their sweetheart you'll learn not to bet with the devil" Mike patted me on the back, while I still watched Eric in disbelieve.
"Are you seriously saying that the arrogant boy got the first spot?" I asked "He looked so smug that was easy for someone to beat him"
"Yeah, but no one did" pointed out Eric "You see, I told you that I was more experienced in training initiates."
Shaking my head I murmured under my breath "Unbelievable"
The excitement chatter stopped suddenly and all heads turned toward Max, who stood tall on the open balcony overlooking the dining area. Behind him was the board that was going to reveal the ranking of the initiates, forever sealing their fate, were they staying or were they going to be factionless. I wouldn't want to be in their place right now. Worried about their faith, about their position on the board. They still had two more stages to pass before they truly feel safe and I could feel the tension rising in them by the way their bodies stiffened when they saw Max.
"Stage one is complete" Max's voice echoed through the now silent room, which is usually never that silent "Those who are on the last nine spots were going to be factionless and are required to leave the compound in an hour, if not they would be removed. For those who are above the last nine will continue toward stage two."
As he moved from the board the names of the initiates started to appear. Transfers and Dauntless-born together were listed with the correct numbers next to their names. Happy cheers of the passing initiates broke the silence, and sad sobs broke from those who didn't make it. Strangely Finn somehow made it. He was on number five but still made it and I couldn't be happier to see someone as shy as him, make it through.
"I'll be waiting for you in the tattoo prior, in an hour" I heard his voice in my ear, his breath on my neck and it took me every ounce in my body not to lean back toward him but there were so many people here, and even though they were too distracted by the board, I couldn't express that kind of affection. Not just because we were in public but because there was nothing between us.
"Fine" I groan and turned back toward the table, while Eric strides away from the dining area with a confidence. His ego couldn't grow higher than it was now. "I'm going to regret betting with him, aren't I?"
Mike pressed his lips but I could see he couldn't hold the smile off his face "Oh, yeah. Don't worry he wouldn't go easy on you"
"He never does"
I heard him snort beside me, barely holding his laughter "That has double meaning to it"
"What do you mean?" I narrowed my eyes at him, not sure if he knows about the 'one night' stands we had with Eric. I wouldn't be surprised if he knew. After all, he was friends with Eric and he was ex Condor who easily could read people.
"Nothing" he shook his head, trying to look like he wasn't just caught knowing something he shouldn't have. I was still squinting at him not sure how to react to his reaction.
"Okay then" I pretended like I believed him and turned around once again toward the board. The name of the initiates that Eric pointed out was mockingly sitting on the first spot, beating even the Dauntless-born below him. I was very far off. The boy I bet on was on number three spot and for that now I had to get a new tattoo.
I was passing a strangely dark corridor on my way to the tattoo prior. I wasn't happy with the way things turned out and I have to say that I learned my lesson. I knew the moment we started to bet, that it wasn't a good idea and I ignored the screaming in my head telling me not to do it and I did it anyway.
Oh, how sweet it would have been to tattoo his back with flowers, hearts, butterflies, and rainbows. But now I had to face the fact that I was getting a tattoo which I might not like, forever. It would be foolish of me to think that he would have any kind of remorse or mercy for me and get me something I would like, even though I'm very picky about my choice.
I thought that even if he desired to tattoo flowers or hears I would hate it just as much as he would.
Suddenly a hand, coming from the darkness, gripped my shoulder and pushed me into the stone wall. The push and grip weren't hard but damn it, I let my guard down and now someone was attacking me. I quickly brushed off the hand, coming back to my senses, ready for combat. Gripping tightly the attacker's wrist I twisted it back.
My attacker let out a small weep as I twisted his arm even more on his back causing him to drop on his knees. Whoever it was, it was very foolish and brave of him to sneak on me like this.
Before I could think of my next move a pair of hands grabbed me from behind pulling me from the first attacker. I trashed into the grip, the second person was strong but not strong like Eric and I might even guess it was a woman. A quick elbow to the guts loosened his grip on me. The attacker grunted and stepped a few steps back, clenching his stomach.
That gave me time to quickly pull out a small knife, meant for flying, out of my jacket's inside pocket. A movement that I was so familiar with that I could do it in my sleep.
I pulled the still grunting figure toward me, his back against my chest and the sharp knife against his throat.
It happened way too quickly for either of my attackers to understand what happened, a trick that I was very thankful of Eliot for teaching me. Be always prepared for an attack and move quickly.
"Wait!" I familiar voice yelled, her voice echoed through the corridors. My eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, focusing on Christina breathing heavily with her hands raised in surrender.
Just then I registered that I was holding a blond in my hands, who was too breathing heavily but cautiously with the knife on her neck.
With a quick move, I dropped my hand, pushing Tris toward Christina. She tripped slightly before she regained her step and stood next to Cris, who was rubbing her he shoulder.
With the knife still in my hand, pointing at them I made a step forward. They both were looking at me with shock in their eyes as if I was going to kill them here and now. They might as well be right, they just attacked a leader and I was furious.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I snarled at them. So foolish of them to think they could attack me and get away with it. Making a step forward the both made a step back.
"Gee Val, we just wanted to talk" spoke Christina my eyes darting toward her the minute she opened her mouth. I was still making my way forward and they were still making cautious steps back until their backs hit the wall.
"Talk, is this your way of talking? Pushing me into the wall? You just attacked a leader, do you get that?"
It must have been the way I was approaching them with the raised knife, maybe the murderous look on my face, that made them looks scared of me as they should be. Christina's face went white as I stood in front of her, the blade just inches away from her neck. So easy to make one swift motion and end her life. She had nowhere to go, nowhere to move and even if she tried, she would be dead before she could do so.
"We…we just wanted to rile you up and talk" she stuttered as she looked at me.
"How did that backfired, didn't it?" I smirked at her, throwing a sharp look at Tris who was frozen in her spot. So much for that Dauntless bravery. Maybe she didn't have any. Maybe because I was somewhat of a friend she didn't tackle me to the ground or maybe it was because she just knew that I was capable of slighting Chris throat with one swift motion if she ever thought of doing something.
"Look, we just wanted to rile you up a little bit for the way you betrayed our team at the games" spoke Tris as she saw that Chris was watching the blade pointed at her neck like she was scared to speak.
"Very foolish"
"We were just not happy, okay?" Finally found her voice Chris "To just give up the flag like this to Eric."
"And why not?" I asked rhetorically "Do you really think that people in the real world, in a real situation don't have alternative motives? People will say and do things just for the sake of staying alive or gaining something. You're very foolish if you think that everyone plays by the rules and obeys every order. Take it as a lesson from me, because you still have a long way to go before you understand that nothing it is what it seems to be"
"I bet the reward was worth the betrail" she snarled at me.
"Chris" warned her Tris beside her, shaking her head.
"It wasn't a betrayal Chris." I moved closer to her, boring my eyes at her as I kept the steady blade on her neck. "So tell me, do you have something else that doesn't please you about me or should I just get on my merry way?"
We looked at each other for a long time before she shook her head.
"Let that be a lesson for you. I don't appreciate people sneaking up on me. Next time you might not be so fortunate to live." I withdraw the blade but still didn't tucked it back in my jacket as I made a step back. "Someone will find you later for your assignment for attacking a leader"
"When I said an hour I meant an hour, not half an hour later." Snaped Eric at me the moment I stepped into the tattoo prior. I was still pissed and I wasn't in a mood for his snarking comment or the lost bet.
"I got held up."
"I don't care, I figure you will be more punctual, considering your previous mentor and such"
I grinned my teeth. He could be such an ass sometimes – outside his apartment.
"Yeah well, I'm sorry I got ambushed by Tris and Christina because they were not happy of my 'betrayal'" I raised my voice at him and I could see the change in his expression, from mocking it became serious and I even might think it was a concern.
"What happened?" he asked sharply, sounding more like an order. His eyes were lingering all around me, searching for some indicator that I was hurt.
I shrugged "Nothing, they both had a knife at their throats and I want them to be punished"
A faint smile formed on his lips before he nodded. "It'll be done."
"Oh, you two again. Who's the looser?" came out of the back room Tory, her eyes moving from Eric to me. Eric smirked beside me and pushed me toward the chair giving her the answer. She looked shocked before she laughed shaking her head.
"I told you not to play with fire"
"Yeah well, I learned my lesson"
As I sat down on the chair a little bit uneasy, looking around the prior, Eric rounded the chair and leaned toward Tory who prepared her equipment. I heard him whisper something but I couldn't hear what he said. It was enough for me to see the devilish smile on his face as he gave the instructions and that just increased the uneasiness. I was screwed. God knows what kind of stupid tattoo he thought of giving me.
Tory nodded her head and turned toward me, her lips were pressed into a thin line and I wasn't sure if she was sympathetic or she was trying not to laugh.
"Find me in the bar, when you're finished" Eric spoke, patting my shoulder before he made his way toward the door. Stunned I averted my eyes from the door and looked at Tori.
"Am I going to regret it?"
"Yes," she nodded quickly. "Now, get your pants down"
"What?!"
"You heard me, come on, be a Dauntless, pants down" she ordered more firmly and I just stood there, gaping at her. Taking a deep breath I started to unbutton my pants, cursing Eric existence. He was going to pay for this! I promised myself as I prepared for the tattoo.
Eric
The end of stage one was considered celebration among the initiates. One step closer to being a full member but not close enough. Probably most of them won't make it after stage three, some might die, some might give up. But for tonight everyone was celebrating and the bar was filled with initiates and members who too were celebrating, even though their celebration was more of an excuse to drink than anything else.
Sitting at the bar, while nursing a beer I waited patiently for Val, pretending not to listen to stupid conversations around me. The boy who got me the win in the bet was bragging about his first spot and I almost wanted to lose the bet so I wouldn't sit here and hear his annoying talking how he was the best.
"Where is Val? I thought you went to the prior" Mike sat beside me as he looked around for the familiar redhead.
"Still there"
"So what kind of tattoo you chose?"
I smirked "The kind that will make her come running here with thunder and fury" he laughed beside me shaking his head like he didn't expect anything less from me. I wasn't going to give her something she liked, so she could admire it for the rest of her life. I wanted to give her something that forever reminded her how she lost the bet and to whom she lost it.
"So what's up with you two?" asked suddenly Mike, making my head shot in his direction.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh come on Eric, are you a thing now?"
I averted my eyes toward the bottles that were sitting on the other end of the bar. I definitely hate the subject that he picked up. "Just sex Mike" I didn't have to look at him to know he didn't believe me. He snorted into his drink but stood silent.
The truth that I didn't want to admit to him or even to myself, was that I screwed up. I screwed up big time. For some reason, I listen to Mike and now I was in deeper shit than ever was. 'Sleep with her and move on' he said 'you will get her out of your mind' he said. Now neither have I moved on nor did I get her out of my mind. The constant 'one-night' stands didn't help me either and all I could think of was her spread naked on my bed. The soft moans she makes constantly haunt me. And I find myself unable to just move on. Every time I have her I always craved more and she made sure of that as she always disappeared every damn morning just before I wake up. After that it was the same, seek her out or she me, mindblowing sex and her gone by first light. Sometimes I think she would be there when I wake up but she never was and I didn't understand if that made me feel better or just disappointed. But like some unspoken rule, it was always the same, every damn time, so there was no point for me to think it might be somehow different than the last time.
"Sure, keep telling yourself that"
"You were the one telling me to just get her out of my mind!"
"Yeah, and where did that get you? Now you're with her regularly." He dared to smirked at me. "Tell me, have you been with someone else?"
I opened my mouth to say yes when the reality of the situation hit hard and I closed my mouth in defeat. I was definitely not been with anyone else than her and as awful as it sounds I didn't mind it one bit. Which only proved how deeply I screwed up.
I sighed and rubbed my forehead. The fact that Mike was laughing at me wasn't making it any better. I had to ask myself 'how the hell did I found myself here?' My friend was making fun of me, not that he wasn't in the past, but now he had more ammo against me.
"You have it bad my friend"
I scoffed "Sure…"
"Still in denial I see. You'll come to your senses"
"I'm stopping listening to you" I warned him, taking a sip from the lost forgotten beer in my hand.
"Why, you listen to me and now look where you are"
I threw him a sharp look, nothing, where I'm, is good.
"What, you going to tell me you don't like where you are right now?" he insisted. Growing I took a deep sip.
"We are changing the subject"
"Good, because there is a current redhead that just entered the bar, looking quite furious and her eyes are searching no doubt for you"
As I turned around toward the entrance my met with the said redhead, whose eyes were frantically looking at every person in the crowd before they landed on me with such fierceness that might shake the weak with fear. She started to push her way toward the bar, her eyes never leaving mine as if she wasn't looking I might disappear into thin air.
I knew she wouldn't be happy with her tattoo. That was one part of why I wanted to tattoo her just that because she wouldn't like it and it would be a reminder of why no one dares bet with me. The other part was somehow more wicked and somehow unexpected. Why I chose the spot and this particular thing, I didn't know. But I liked the feeling of knowing that it was there, marking a spot where I had been and if anyone else saw it, he would know.
I had to smirk at her expression as she stood in front of me, her eyes blazing. I half expected for her to pull a knife on me as she did with Tris and Christina when they attacked her earlier but all she did was smack her hand on the bar, catching a few questionable glances, and looking at me as if her glare could kill.
"Of all the things you could have picked. Hell, even a flower or butterflies would have been nice, you chose that?!" she raised her voice. I heard Mike snickered beside me. He didn't know what I've chosen but he might have guessed it was not smoothing she liked, judging by her reaction. It wasn't meant to be liked.
I shrugged, which only infuriated her more. Sometimes she could be so calm and collected as me, bringing more fear than when she was like this, with emotions all over the place.
"Are you serious?"
"That's permanently so I am serious"
"You marked me!" she yelled which made my smirk bigger. Oh, yes I did and I'm feeling very smug about it. "It's not funny you dumbass! How dare you! What you think you'll be the only man there, so that gave you the reason to mark me?!" she wasn't yelling anymore, she was hissing lowly.
"It wasn't meant to be liked"
"Yes, I know that." She said, "But still, your name on my inner thigh?"
Beside me Mike choked on his drink his eyes wide with realization before he composed himself, shaking his head and murmuring something under his breath ending up with '…it bad'
"I definitely want to see that later"
She forced a laugh "Yeah, not happening!"
I lifted my pierced brow in question "What you're denying me sex because of the tattoo?"
"Yes," she said proudly, lifting up her chin "I know you want to see it and I'll not show it to you"
I tried my best not to look like she had me there with her statement. My face stood naturally as I stared into her eyes. She was bluffing.
"You won't even make it until tomorrow before seeking me out"
her laugh ringed again "Why makes you think you will be able to resist me?" she dared me as her face came closer to mine.
"Wanna bet?"
"Oh, no I'm not betting with you again. I learned my lesson"
"Why you scared you'll lose again and here I thought you're a Dauntless? Where is your sense of adventure?" I mocked her, knowing that she would break under my gaze and words and bet with me anyway.
She snorted "I know when it's smart to retrieve and not dive head first into things"
"How very Erudite of you to think everything before you act" my hand slightly slip toward her waist pulling her body, between my legs, closer to mine. I felt her breath hitch from the closeness. I didn't care who might see, I wanted to break her showing her that she couldn't win this or any other argument with me, even though she might be the only one that was capable to oppose me in such way and have a chance to win. "You know how no one will want you when you have someone else's name on your thigh" I whispered my lips ghostly touching the ink on her neck. One of her hand was slowly placed on my shoulder like she wanted to stable herself.
"Was that what you wanted?"
My lips trailed up leaving small wet kisses on the way to her ear, burring my head in her red curls. Kissing the spot behind her earlobe where I knew would make her take a deep breath, fighting a moan, I whispered "Maybe"
The same hand on my shoulder tightened its grip on my jacket, making me smirk of how easy it was for me to get such a reaction from her. I had women reacting like this but it always felt like it was fake or acted out, just to get what they wanted. With her, I liked it more than anything because I knew it was genuine and even though she still wanted what every other woman did, she wasn't faking it to get her way.
For the first time in my life, I felt challenged. Not just with work-related things but in my personal life too. She wasn't easy, she always made sure I didn't get what I wanted so easily. Always challenging me to earn it somehow and now wasn't an exception. I knew sooner or later she would break because she couldn't stay away from me just as much as I couldn't stay away from her. Both stubborn as we are, we like to challenge the other with stupid bets and games. No matter how stupid it sounded I couldn't help but like it, feeling excited and thrilled to play every time because I knew she would give me a fair fight.
"Now, since we established that I might be the only one left in this faction that it's willing to satisfy your needs, because my name is on your thigh, lets go to my apartment so you could show me the said tattoo" I whispered seductively as I could feel her melting in my hands. Totally caught up in the moment of breaking her stubbornness I totally forgot about Mike or any other person that might be sitting close, being a witness to this.
But the world just seemed to stop when she was that close, breathing heavily, gripping my clothes for dear life and the feeling of my nose buried in her neck and hair, smelling the apple scent. So strange, red like strawberries to have a smell of green apples.
She slid her cheek into mine before our eyes met. She was smirking and I knew I had her. Smirking myself I felt her lips on my ear before one simple word made me freeze on my spot. "No!"
She whispered it so sweetly and seductively that sounded like 'yes' but her making a step back, out of my grasp, only proved how wrong I was to assume that the smirk was her braking under my touch.
She kept smirking, leaning closer to me, her lips ghostly hover over mine "You're not getting any today, or tomorrow… or the day after that. You think you can kiss my neck and make me forget everything?" She shook her head "Give me more credit than that Eric. And here I thought you knew me" she kept shaking her head while she straightened her back and with one last smirk she started walking away.
"You'll never last long Valeria!" I warned her my voice following after her. She swiftly turned her red curls bouncing on her back as she smiled with the most daring smile I had ever seen before she spoke.
"Neither will you"
With that she turned once again, disappearing between bodies, leaving me stunned watching the spot where she had gone. She was definitely someone who I couldn't underestimate and I was most defiantly challenged. Turning around toward the bar, still stunned by her playfulness rejection I rubbed my forehead.
"Just sex huh?" Mike chuckled into his cup.
I was screwed.
