"Four of them? Wow!"
"I know. Well, thanks again for the tip," I waved at her and made me way out of the dining hall carrying only one slice of chocolate cake.
"What held you up? Did you folks agree to a date," teased Blossom.
"Shut up," I pushed her. "She seems really nice. Although I have a feeling I'm not her type anymore."
"What? How," asked Kenny in disbelief.
"Because I admitted that I was scared of needles," I said quietly.
"You what?"
"We were talking about my hair but somehow we ended up talking about tattoos," I shrugged.
"Yeah, your badass card just went out the window with her," said Kenny. "Look at me, I'm scared of needles," he mocked in a baby voice.
"Ha," I rolled my eyes at him.
Kenny pulled out the wire racks from Peter's small stove and ended up making a small fire outside on Peter's small balcony. I had to start calling everything small because even though it was just right for Peter and for us to hang out, I kept thinking about Eric's apartment and how maculate everything was. According to Kenny, this was the way to make meat that he stole.
"Tonight was going to be a chicken night, Kenny," I told him.
"Scared to eat this too," he teased.
I shrugged. "Whatever it is, we trust you Kenny."
I walked back in to see Blossom by the stove and went to help her finish frying up the chicken. There were only five pieces. Blossom and I each took two and Kenny said he would take one since he had that other meat that he stole.
"What else do you think he stole from there," asked Blossom.
"I don't know. The chicken looks good though," I said cutting one of them open. "Let's go see what he has."
We walked out to see Kenny with a flask by the open fire.
"Okay, so I need to know, what exactly this is," I said picking at some long red...
"It's a hot dog."
"Kenny!" I ended up punching him and he laughed. "I'm not eating that! That's just wrong!"
"Relax Amity! That's what it's called."
"I don't care what it's called. I'm not eating a dog! Think about Lightning, Kenny! Would you eat Lightning?"
"Oh my goodness," he said standing up. "It's from a cow." He held up the hot dog. "It's meat from a cow, Ana, alright? They call the meat 'hot dog' or 'beef frank' or 'wieners'."
"Wieners," laughed Blossom.
"It's not a dog. I promise you," he said putting one in between some bread. He put some sauces on it and then told me to try it.
I smelled it, licked it and even squeezed it with my fingers. I took a deep breath and then ended up taking a bite of it. It was surprisingly good. After I swallowed, I looked over at Kenny and Blossom waiting expectantly.
"That tastes better than a hamburger."
"Why does everything taste better than a hamburger to you," Kenny proclaimed.
"I wasn't raised on meat," I shrugged.
"Now I'm really glad I didn't stay in Amity," Kenny chuckled.
We sat down eating chicken and hot dogs on Peter's balcony. We talked about things that happened in school mostly. How I got upset at this one Dauntless boy for jumping into a muddy puddle when I decided to wear my new skirt to school, the one skirt that I totally loved. It was a beautiful until he messed it up. I ended up yelling at him, which of course was uncalled behavior for an Amity. One of the counselors who just happened to be from Amity ended up sending me home under the peace serum of course.
Blossom got into an argument with an Erudite girl about stating that kids whose parents weren't originally born in their faction that they were being raised were more likely to leave their parents. At the time, a lot of kids in Candor picked on her and Peter for having a mother from Amity but for some Erudite prune to say it and insist that it was fact, made her upset. To get even, she didn't fight the girl. Blossom just threw all of the girl's homework out the window. The girl scrambled around trying to pick up every piece of paper calling it valuable intelligence.
Kenny said that he ended up getting back at a Candor boy who took away a Stiff's lunch. Of course the Stiff said it was okay but Kenny didn't think so. The next day at school, Kenny saw the same Candor boy and a group of his friends harassing some Amity kids. To get back at them he ended up putting the peace serum into their food. One of the Candor boys was walking around saying that he saw pretty clouds.
"Why do you think there's just so much animosity between factions," asked Blossom.
"I don't think that there's animosity per se," answered Kenny. "I mean we're supposed to be working together to keep the peace. It's just that certain people have different beliefs about it." We got quiet for a while. "Do you folks think that there would be another war?"
"Like the one that happened a hundred years ago," I asked. Kenny nodded. "No. I don't think that it will be that big."
"Why is that?"
"Because I believe in the system," I stated. "It works even though people have different values in life. If people stick to living by what their faction is founded on, I believe it would work. But that's where things go wrong. There are people who twist the values and principles that are supposed to guide a faction. That's why we struggle. That's why there will be little fights, arguments or disagreements between factions and even within a faction."
"I think that's true, too," said Blossom. "I was raised to believe that our leaders are the ones who shape our faction. Put a bad leader, one who, like Ana says, twists the ideals of the people, then you ultimately end up where we once were before. If we turn this city to what it was before they founded with the factions. We'd end up in chaos. Everyone has a place in society."
"My brother told me that there are other cities out there," said Kenny. "Just like ours. Some are worst and some are exactly how it should be. There are factions working together for the common good of their city."
"Sounds too good to be true," sighed Blossom.
"We'll have to go and check it out," I said. Kenny looked at me and smiled. We both turned to Blossom.
"Oh boy, another adventure, with you two," Blossom sighed again and shook her head.
"We'll do it, right before the next choosing day," suggested Kenny.
"Alright, I'm in," I nodded. Kenny put his hand out. "What are we doing?"
"Making a pact," he shrugged. "Just put your hand on top." So I placed my hand on his. "Blossom?" She looked uncertain, eyed me out, then bit her lip and turned her face. "Come on, it'll be fun!"
"Fine," she put her hand on top.
"Before the next batch of initiates comes in to Dauntless, the three of us will escape the city one day and see if we can find another city close by," Kenny declared. "No matter what, it'll be the three of us together. The three weirdos," he chuckled as Blossom and I laughed.
"To the three weirdos," I repeated.
That night Blossom and I slept in Peter's room while Kenny decided to sleep on the sofa. Blossom ended up sleeping quickly. But as I was laying there I realized that I was supposed to meet up with Eric. I got up slowly and walked out of Peter's room. I stopped when I got to the door and looked back quickly at Blossom. I couldn't just leave her here.
"Going to meet your boyfriend?" I jumped and turned around. Kenny was still lying down on the couch and his eyes were still closed. I walked closer.
"I trust you, you know that right Kenny?"
He sat up and met my eyes. I stared him down. "Was that a warning?"
"It's just that... We've been getting really close and I hope you didn't do all of that to make us put our guard down and then you..."
"I have no intention of doing that Ana. I've never had friends before. Never," he shook his head. It almost looked like Kenny was about to cry. "I don't feel like I'm... I just feel better when I'm with you two. That's why I've gotten close to you and Blossom. And believe me when I say this, I would lay my life down for either of you because that's just how much you girls mean to me."
I nodded and then looked at the doorway to Peter's bedroom. I walked back in and gently woke up Blossom, telling her that I was going to go for a quick walk. Surprisingly she said as long as Kenny was still here, she'd be okay. Walking out, I realized that he did something for her this morning with X and Blossom hadn't told me yet.
"Kenny," I said walking back to the couch. Kenny groaned and opened his eyes. "What happened with X?"
Kenny sat up slowly. He looked towards Peter's apartment and then back to me. "I really should let her tell you. But just so you know, you know how we think that Stiffs are all goodie goods and stuff like that?" I nodded. "He wasn't one this morning." I nodded again.
"Watch out for her for me."
"Mm hm," Kenny mumbled. I looked back and he already was back down on the couch. We had a rather long day, if you think about it.
I slipped on my boots and just decided to leave my shorts on. I grabbed my jacket and tied my hair up in a pony-tail. I liked leaving it in a braid but Kenny said I would have to do something with it soon. It still looked too Amity. I opened the door and looked down both ways. I don't know why. Elsa and her posse were gone. I guess the threat of Kenny's Dad's friends still had me jumpy.
I closed the door behind me, locking it. I hadn't gotten that far down the hallway when someone chuckled. I spun quickly around. But no one was there. I took a couple more steps and heard something move behind me. I turned and this time was met with a hand to my mouth.
I was prepared however. I pulled back, throwing my elbow into the person's face.
"Shit Ana," mumbled Eric.
"Dammit," I covered my mouth in shock and watched as Eric pinched the bridge of his nose. "Is it broken? It's not broken, is it? I'm so sorry Eric!"
"Just be quiet right now," he waved his hand at me and went to lean against a wall.
He moved his hand away from his nose but continued to keep his head up. When he stepped back out of the shadows, I could see that I didn't break it. I just made it bleed. I used the sleeve of my jacket and wiped away the blood gently as Eric stared down at me.
"Sorry," I whispered looking down. Eric lifted my chin to look up at him.
"Stop apologizing all the time. Let's just go," he replied quietly and took my hand. The walk to his apartment was quiet.
When we got in, I stood for a while in the living room, until Eric came behind me and helped me take off my jacket. He took off his and hung both of ours up. He took my hand and led me over to the bedroom. I really don't know why but for some reason I felt extremely nervous about getting into bed with him. I stood there awkwardly as he pulled back his blanket and then the sheet.
"What are we doing?"
"Getting ready to go sleep," he answered.
"Oh," I muttered rubbing my arm.
"Is it that intimidating for you to sleep in the same bed with me? Or would you rather be unconscious first and then I can put you in bed."
"No, it's just that, I wanted to talk about this afternoon," I said turning to him.
"Lay down first."
The way he said it, brook no refusal from me of any kind. He stepped out of the room and went to I assume the kitchen. I still stood in front of his bed and let out a sigh. Why was I nervous, especially now? Was it because of this afternoon? Did I have to be unconscious first before I got into a bed with Eric? I shook my head, took another deep breath, lifted my tank off over my head and shimmied out of my shorts. I laid my clothes on the couch where his book shelves were. I pulled back the covers more and climbed into the bed. This huge bed that could probably fit all these other girls inside...
What the hell am I thinking? Why am I thinking that? Can't I just drop it? I groaned and then rolled in bed pulling his sheet to cover my face. I just couldn't move past it, couldn't I? After all that Eric had done, I still had that lingering in the back of my mind.
I felt the bed move and the sheet slowly pull away from my face. Eric was already hovering over me. He moved my hair and pressed his lips to my neck. The guy was trying to distract me again. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and was rewarded with a soft moan from me. I really had missed him all day.
The sheets got pulled more away from me. How did he do it, you ask? I have no idea. Right now my mind is fuzzy and my body is on a high. Eric continued to lightly kiss my body. His hands ran over my stomach slowly. It was when he did this that things were agonizing for me. I never could focus when he was gentle. It was out of character for him. However he was doing it a lot lately and I did not mind at all. It made me feel different. Whenever his kisses were harsh it was passionate, heated and filled with lust. But this, this made me feel cherished and wanted. No, wait, I thought to myself as Eric placed soft kisses all over me. This made me feel needed.
Eric rolled off onto his side and pulled me flushed against him. He ran his hand down my cheek, his eyes staring into mine. I felt like drowning in them.
"You still want to talk about this afternoon," he asked after a while. I nodded and snuggled closer to him.
"Yes, I did." I stayed tucked into him with his arms wrapped around me. His heart was beating faster as was mine. I ran my hands slowly across his abs. I wanted to take in as much of this as possible right now. I finally decided to clear my throat and turned my head to look up at him. "I feel bad for thinking what I thought about you earlier."
"I don't know why you thought that way in the first place to be honest," Eric added with a bit of sharpness in his voice.
"Well, I couldn't help it. It's just that..."
"No," he interrupted me. "You made me feel like I've been dishonest with you this entire time. You called me a liar, Ana. Do you know how difficult it is for me to talk about my feelings but that's what I did. I communicated them with you. Then you basically threw it back in my face, like it didn't mean a damn thing, like I didn't mean anything."
"You mean a lot to me, Eric."
"Then treat me like it, dammit. I don't want you thinking about those other girls again," he said. I nodded. "No, I want you to say it Ana. Say it and mean it this time."
"I won't think about them."
"We spoke about this this morning Ana. I mean it this time," Eric added firmly. "You and I are moving on. Those girls are done and over with. They're gone so there's no need for you to keep putting them in between us, do you understand?"
"I understand and I'm sorry. It won't happen again Eric."
"Good."
"Can I just say one more thing?"
"You wouldn't be you, if you didn't," Eric smiled.
"About what I said in the hallway," I looked down. "I didn't mean to say that I hate you, Eric. I don't want you to think that you don't mean anything to me, because you do. All the things that you do, Eric, don't go unnoticed by me."
"Thank you, Ana."
Eric pulled me up just a little, enough to give me kiss. He nuzzled against my neck and kissed there as well. He left his face there as I heard him let out a sigh.
"Good night, Eric," I mumbled.
"Good night, my Ana," he whispered back giving me a tight squeeze. I barely saw the moonlight shining down on us through Eric's windows as I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.
I woke up the next morning feeling a bit cold. I was still lying in the same position on my side. The only thing was that was Eric wasn't lying down next to me. I wanted to get up and look for him but I continued to lay there as light entered his room. I buried my face into his pillow and let out a slight moan.
"Good Morning."
I sat up quickly and turned to see Eric at his desk in his room. Eric had on his sweat pants from last night. For a brief moment, real brief, I got upset that I didn't take advantage of seeing him like that last night when he came to bed. The man did look good. He looked over at me and I could tell that he was probably working on the computer for a while now.
I slipped out of bed, pulling the sheet along with me. The morning air was still a little cool in Eric's apartment. Not to mention, that even though he had me walking around half naked yesterday, I still wasn't used to it. I went to sit in Eric's lap and rested my head against his shoulder.
"Good Morning," I replied as he leaned down and gave me a soft kiss. "You didn't get much sleep did you?"
"No, I didn't. There were some issues that came up when I went to meet with Jonathan," he rubbed my back. "I didn't really get to look at it when I came back from Erudite either." I bit my lip and looked away. Eric didn't get to it because he was making sure that Elsa and the other girls were leaving. "I wanted to try and get a head start on today."
"If you want, I can leave so you can work."
"No," he wrapped his arm further around my waist and kissed my neck. "As trying as you can be, I rather you be here with me," he mumbled against my neck.
Trying, I thought. Well, I would try his patience now. I turned to face him, brushing my lips just over his. Quickly I got up out of his lap. I walked to the kitchen letting the sheet fall off of my body, leaving me in only my bra and panty. I glanced back shyly and heard Eric groan but I continued to walk out of the room. He followed me though. I walked the other way around the table he had in his living room and back towards his room so as to avoid him.
"Forgot my shorts," I smiled sweetly, leaned up to kiss him but moved away once again before our lips could touch.
"Ana," he growled.
"Hm?"
I pretended to innocently pick up my shorts, of course bending over and letting him see my butt stick up in the air. I really didn't need to pick up my shorts like this but I wanted to exasperate him right now. Unfortunately I didn't time everything too well, because as I was sexily trying to maneuver my shorts on Eric ended up coming up right behind me. Our bodies smashed together as I was pushed against the bookshelves.
"It won't be long," Eric kissed my neck. "Until all of your teasing has consequences," he nipped and sucked my throat while his arms were wrapped around me.
"That's a lot of talk," I spun around to face him, which only made him push against me harder. "I still didn't even get my punishment from yesterday," I whispered in his ears. "If you ask me," I pulled back. "You're the real tease here."
"You know why we can't do anything just yet," he lightly kissed my face. "Trust me I'll make it worth the wait."
"One can only hope you're able to make it worthwhile," I teased and pushed him back enough for me to escape out of his grasp and run into the kitchen. "I wouldn't want you to strain yourself by putting in any extra effort to make me happy."
"What are you trying to imply?" He ran after me once again. He looked like he was about to teach me a lesson right now.
"No, Eric," I put up my hand. "I'm getting breakfast." He smirked and took a step towards me. "Don't you dare!"
"You'll get it twice as hard later on for that comment alone," Eric assured me. "Challenging my manhood," he muttered as he walked into the bedroom.
I almost wished he did come after me. That was sexy as hell. Instead I turned around and looked for something to eat in his kitchen. The cabinets were a little empty. In fact there barely was any food here. His fridge was stocked on fruits though. So I took out some of that, sliced some of it up and walked back into his room.
"You don't have that much food here."
"Well, I usually don't have people stay long enough to feed them," he replied.
I paused as I set things down on his desk. That was because he usually would just sleep with them and then make them leave, I thought. He must have noticed my hesitation because I was pulled down in to Eric's lap and his arm wrapped around me tightly.
"Stop thinking about it," he ordered.
I nodded and started to scoop out some papaya, giving him a slice every now and then.
"You seem to have a lot of fruit in your refrigerator though." I grabbed a couple grapes and he did so as well.
"I took a couple baskets when they dropped it off for the kitchen."
"Why grab only fruits," I mumbled with a mouthful of grapes.
Eric cleared his throat and shuffled a little in chair. I turned to look at him, swallowing my mouthful. His blueish grey eyes began staring into mine.
"Because I knew you'd be staying."
I felt a tinge of triumph. Triumph because I truly had something that all those other girls didn't. He didn't even bother to get them food but he did for me. And it wasn't just any type of food either. It was food that I would have eaten in Amity. The thought of him reading to make something that my mom would usually make in Amity for me yesterday morning should have been a tip off right there. What Dillon said was true. Eric did take extra time and special care with me. I wanted to turn around, straddle him, and make out with him until we were both too tired, but I had to force myself to look away.
"Thanks," I whispered. Eric snuggled into my neck and I felt him take a deep breath in, as if he was inhaling me. He held me like this for a while until I finally had to pull back. "I should get ready. I'll let you get back to work."
"Stay for a couple more minutes," he whispered.
I nodded and smiled. I was going to sit on the couch but he wanted to keep me right there and hold me in his lap. I turned when I noticed something on his computer screen that looked familiar. It looked like my file.
"Is this mine?" I ran my fingers over the screen.
"Yes."
"That's the incident report from the attack in the showers?"
He nodded. "I need to finish all the feedback from the trainers on every initiate before submitting them tomorrow. The leaders review everything along with the final testing. I actually inputted everyone's scores, data, recommendations, etc. Well everyone, except for yours."
"Is it because of the shower incident?"
"No, not exactly," he looked at me and then back at the computer screen. "Perhaps you can help me with this last part."
"Okay," I answered uncertain.
"As you know yesterday I went to a meeting at Erudite."
"With Jonathan, right," I asked.
"Yes. He asked about you."
I turned back to Eric. "My brother asked about me? You mean he wanted to meet with you because of me."
Eric nodded and let out a sigh. "Apparently they intercepted a message you were trying to send off to someone at Erudite." I looked away. "Ana, who were you sending your simulations to?" I went to stand up but Eric's hand tightened around my waist and kept me against him. "Ana," he gently shook me.
"Eric, I..." I paused and shook my head. "I don't know how to explain it."
"Then why don't I?" I looked at Eric who continued to stare at me. "An email was sent to someone in Erudite. It was a coded email, one that was too elaborate even for certain Erudite technicians to break into. The way that Jonathan described it was as if it took them days to figure it out."
"Considering that I sent the email after I got back from Amity, it definitely must have took them days," I laughed a little to ease the tension but Eric wasn't having it.
"This is serious, Ana," his demeanor seemed more frustrated than upset. "Your brother called the email intricate. Jeanine," at the mention of her name I shrunk a little in fear. "Said that it shows your intelligence, untapped potential I believe is what she added. Ana, I know that you're smart. You've said some things before, quoted famous scientist, know about Greek history, read books during your spare time," he pointed to the bookshelf. "I let all of it go because you had told me that your brother would tell you things when you went to visit him in Erudite. Traits like that, I just took them as they were. Hell that's one of the reasons why I'm attracted to you. But this," he motioned to the screen. "This is really serious Ana. I can't ignore this email because they are looking into it in Erudite."
"I don't know what to tell you Eric."
"You need to tell me the truth, Ana." I shook my head and looked away. "I can't protect you, unless I know what you were doing. Ana, look at me." I shook my head. "Ana?" I shook my head again. Eric started to rub my lower back, encouraging me to turn my head. "Ana, please," he pleaded. I turned my head but didn't look into his eyes. "Ana, I need to know. Baby I can't protect you unless I know."
Did he just call me? He did. That word made my heart leap a little. Not even Cain or Scott used terms like that. Kenny only called me sweetheart once but that was to mock me. I remembered last night when we told each other good night that he even called me his Ana. He said 'My Ana'. It made me happy but at the same time, I just couldn't bring myself to smile fully about it. He was asking me about my simulations. I knew that if I told him the truth that this would be the end for me. Instead I leaned my head against his chest.
"Eric, I can't." His other arm wrapped around me and held me closer.
"We'll start off with one question at a time, okay," Eric told me softly as I his chin rested against the top of my head. "First off, who were you sending that email to?"
"My brother," I whispered, trying not to let any tears fall.
"Jonathan?" I shook my head against his chest. "It was Jordan, then," he stated more so than he asked so I didn't feel the need to respond to that. "Why would you send it to him?"
The next statement was going to make it or break it for me. I hesitated but I said it anyways.
"Because I know what Jonathan is doing. I know what he's researching. I know that you were told to do the same. I was told not to tell you. So I sent the email to Jordan. I knew he would protect me." My voice barely came out in a whisper. In fact I didn't even think I actually said it out loud but I did. I felt like my world was ending in this very moment.
"That answers my third question then," he responded. I closed my eyes. His third question was probably going to be: 'Are you a divergent?' This was it. I didn't care if he turned me in. I slowly stood up and the same time I did a tear escaped me. I turned the other way, so Eric wouldn't see me.
I felt like I couldn't breathe. It was like the walls were closing in around me but there was nothing to do to stop it. Eric may have cared about me but he did have a responsibility. I was warned not to tell anyone, especially Eric. He had a duty to fulfill and that would include turning me over to Jeanine and Jonathan. As I walked, all the more my heart pounded in my ears. I was definitely now a dead man walking.
"I'm sorry Eric," I turned but didn't look at him. It's not like I could anyways. My eyes were filled with tears. I grabbed my shirt and walked out of his room.
"Ana," he called.
I stopped midway in his living room and calmly moved around to face him.
"I'm sorry Eric that I made things complicated for you. I'll make things easier. No one here in Dauntless knew about the email or about me. My brother didn't know I was sending him that email. But it is true, what I am, whatever that is. It doesn't matter anymore. You can have me take the final testing tomorrow, all the more proof you'll need to turn me in, kick me out, or whatever you folks do to people like me."
My voice cracked as a tear escaped me. My lips were trembling. I was scared.
"Hand me over to Jonathan or to Jeanine. I know that's what you need to do. As for me, I never fit in at Amity," I wiped my face. "I never had friends there. And I know Blossom is going to make it in. She has..." I held a breath and looked down.
Blossom had Kenny to protect her and Peter would be back from the fence soon.
"My family," I paused again. "I know they're okay." More tears fell. "And you, well," I let out a sigh and gave him a small smile. "You'll be okay."
There will always be Elsa he can run back to.
"Things will be okay if you send me to Erudite." I turned and continued to walk out but Eric rushed over and grabbed me.
"What makes you think I'm turning you in, Ana?"
"Isn't that what you're supposed to do?" Eric chuckled and shook his head at me.
"It is what I'm supposed to do. But what makes you think that's what I'm doing?" I looked up at him confused as Eric stepped closer, running the thumb of his hand on my cheek. "You never listen to anything I say, don't you?" There it was that handsome smile. "Do you remember when we were outside of the compound and talked?"
I nodded meekly. "You thought I was seeing Cain instead of going to Amity."
"Do you remember anything I said then?"
I bit my lip and shook my head. "We argued a lot, Eric."
Eric brought his hand back up to my face and pressed his lips to my forehead. "Yeah, you never listen," he chuckled. He pulled back and stared down at me, wiping away whatever tears were on my cheek. "I told you that I didn't do all this work to come out empty handed. I worked so hard emotionally and mentally. What makes you think I'm going to throw all of that away now? When I fight, I fight to win. And I'm not losing this fight for you Ana."
"But you have a responsibility to turn in people like me..."
"That's true. I do have a responsibility. I took this job and that's what I have to do. But Ana, for some reason I feel that I've invested too much in you to just give up now. We've broken a lot of rules as it is. What's one more," he smiled and kissed a couple tears on my cheek. "I need to know that from here on out that you'll be exclusively mine, Ana. If I'm going to lie to Jeanine and your brother, I need something in return. I need you, all of you. Can you do that for me?"
"I..." I looked away towards the door. "Are you saying if I walk out that door that you'll turn me in?"
"Probably not right now because I can see in my mind what Jeanine would plan to do to you and I can't see you undergoing that sort of treatment. I just..."
Eric shook his head and grimaced a little.
"You know what, fuck it already," he chuckled. "I care about you, Ana. There I said it. I care about you. I care way too much right now. I don't want to see you, this stubborn, smart and sassy initiate from Amity turn into one of Jeanine's mindless experiments," Eric held onto my face tightly.
"But," I pressed.
"But I do know that if I was to see you with someone else, giving them what I feel I rightly deserve for putting up with you and doing a lot of impossible things for you, then I would let my anger and grief loose," he rubbed his thumb on my cheek. "Ana, I'm serious. I'm going to fight for you but I need to know the fight will be worth it."
Eric held my face in both his hands and pulled me just a bit closer to him. Our eyes stared at one another for a while, neither of us willing to look away. I knew why Eric was staring into my eyes. He was looking for an answer.
"I'm yours Eric," I whispered and placed both my hands on his chest. Four, Dillon, they were all right. I had Eric hooked whether I knew it or not. He had gradually taken my side, without me even knowing it. "I'll always be yours." He smiled. "What do we do now, Eric?"
"I will give them whatever information they want, Ana. Something to get their minds off of you because you, you are mine," he moved his hands to wrap around my waist. "And I'm not giving you up to anybody."
Eric pressed his lips against mine. Slowly both of our lips moved. I struggled to keep pace with him. It felt like he was consuming me. His strong hands held onto me. I tried to break away to breath but Eric kept up his passionate kiss. It only got more heated when he stuck his tongue into my mouth. When he finally ended, we were both panting heavily, me harder than him of course. He held me close to him and I rested my head on his chest. I could hear his heart beating quickly and closed my eyes.
"You can't send out any other emails like that, do you understand?" I nodded against his him. "I mean it," he moved my face to look up at him. "Ana, I can't protect you unless I know everything. If there's anything else you sent out, you need to tell me now so I can take care of it before Erudite finds it."
"There's nothing else."
Eric cradled my face in his hands like I was something fragile and kissed me softly. "Don't," he ended with one gentle kiss. "Do," he brushed against my lips. "Anything," he moved slightly over my cheek. "Stupid," he kissed near my throat. "Anymore," he pulled back to my mouth and kissed me firmly. "If you need something, you come to me. Don't send anything to your other brother in Erudite. As smart as you made that email that was also a dumb move."
I nodded and stepped back. "I understand, Eric."
"Were you going to see your friends?" I bit my lip and nodded. "I'll see you tonight, then. I have to finish my work." He kissed me one last time before I turned away from him.
I walked into the bathroom and rinsed my face. It still looked like I had been crying. So I took a couple minutes to calm down. I looked at my hands and they were trembling. Was Eric really giving me a pass? I still couldn't wrap my mind around it. So, did he not care about that? I did have him hooked. A guy like Eric, I actually won over. He was risking far more than ever before.
Before, he was risking just his job to keep me, Blossom, and Peter here at Dauntless. Now it was his life on the line, all because my life was in jeopardy. I looked out the door as I heard Eric shuffling papers and typing away, no doubt constructing some lie to Jeanine. He cares, he truly cares. Forget about those other girls already, Ana, I thought as I looked at myself in his mirror. It's you that he wants, so knock it off already. He even said it. I got Eric to confess his feelings.