DISCLAIMER: I do not own Divergent; Ms. Veronica Roth does.
Chapter Forty Nine: Can You Hear It?
Tris' POV
I rose from where I crouched just when the truck drives closer. It stops right in our area. Behind it is an open access where we spot baskets of apples along with three people wearing red and yellow. There was this boy who greeted me with a smile that shows his white teeth and for once, I thought I knew him.
"Beatrice," he says.
He hops down from the truck and surprises me with an embrace. Now I could only imagine my friends wondering who this boy is or how are we related. Tobias may also be thinking of confronting us of why we have to hug as though we haven't seen in each other for ages.
I haven't seen Robert Black since the Choosing Ceremony. I wasn't even aware that he transferred to Amity. He is Susan's brother, Susan—the girl whom I bet Caleb has an eye for. They used to be our company on going to school before. Robert was also nice for offering us a ride. Seeing him again gives me the sensation of being close to home. It is as if he's brought the scent of Abnegation with him.
He pulls away from the embrace at the first place. He holds me on both shoulders with the smile that didn't fade and says, "How have you been?"
With the thought that my friends might be waiting for me to introduce Robert to them, I force a smile and answers, "I-I'm okay. How's Susan?"
"She's chosen to stay in Abnegation. Didn't you know that?"
My forehead creases as I shake my head. I don't have the knowledge about that, either.
"Oh," I say. "Not until now."
He nods at me and peeks over my shoulder to have a glimpse of my friends' faces. Considering Robert's edgy expression as he looks at them one by one, they might have given him a glare or he was stunned with the number of tattoos that they have.
He turns back to me. "So… where are you guys going?"
"Um actually… we're touring around the city but we have no idea yet on where to go next. And well…" I glance at the truck and on the baskets of apples. "It seems to me that you're going to deliver those apples?"
"That's right." He says. "And if you guys want to have a ride… that'll be fine. We're just going to deliver the apples anyway."
None of us expected to encounter with the Amity before we went for a trip so I don't know if they're favor of Robert's idea. To have assurance, I spin around and ask them through facial expression.
"I'm just okay with that." Uriah says. "We haven't even decided yet on where to go next."
The others have no problem about it, either. However, among the nine people that I asked, Tobias is the only one who didn't give his answer. He gave Robert a cold look first then turns to me with calmer eyes. I wonder if he's thinking about that recent embrace which he may have given another meaning. Likewise, Robert begins to be cautious when he detected the manner Tobias looked at him. The gun that Tobias has in hand is probably another reason why he forces to avoid his gaze.
Once Tobias has given a nod of unison, everybody climbs up the back of the truck. There were no stools for us to sit at but the baskets of apples are located at the center, providing us some space on the sides. The nine of us fitted in one line. I'm sitting next to Tobias, our hands intertwined, while Robert sits across from us with his legs crossed, the baskets of apples serving as our divider.
The truck begins to drive, then. Nobody says a word until we have left the area. Other than the fact that Dauntless and Amity are different from one another, I haven't told them yet who Robert is. If they finally knew how we are related, then maybe they wouldn't be suspicious anymore.
"These are the friends that I've met in Dauntless, Robert." I say.
I begin with introducing Shauna who's on the last area and she gives Robert a small smile which I find as a forced one. I didn't have to speak anymore when Uriah utters his name himself. The rest that followed do the same thing, too. Some of them tried to smile at Robert; some just kept a usual mien.
"He's Robert Black." I tell them. "He was our neighbor back in Abnegation. He has a sister named Susan who's decided not to transfer."
As I say this, I am thinking twice about the idea of saying that Robert also used to offer me and Caleb a ride to school and to the way home when things haven't changed yet. The thing is I don't think that would make sense with Robert's sudden embrace recently. Maybe that just has to be left behind. Besides, it seems to me that they are quite satisfied with my explanation. I would just have to avoid meeting with Christina's gaze that's asking for more.
"Four," Tobias says when he figured that he's the only left who hasn't said his name.
Until now, Robert is still trying not to appear intimidated especially with Tobias's deep sound and dark eyes. He's also trying not to lay his attention on the gun settled in front of Tobias. Instead, he found our hands tangled and jumps to the conclusion that something bonds the two of us.
"So… you and Beatrice are… together."
"Yes," Tobias nods. "we are."
This leaves Robert in a stubborn point where he couldn't think of anything else to say other than, "That's… good." But fortunately, he has adapted within a minute. He had the excuse of introducing to us the duo of Amity girls on the corner of the truck who were quietly talking and playing music since we came.
"By the way… here are my fellow initiates. They're sisters and both born as Amity."
The girl on a yellow dress who has a ukulele made from wood gives us a warm smile. Her sister, on the contrary, looks pretty with the red dress matched with a headband on the same color. She's playing the violin whose wood shines with varnish.
"That's Jean." Robert gestures to the girl on yellow.
"And that's Isabel. She plays violin. Both of them have passion for music."
Judging by the way they smiled, I could tell that Jean is the younger sister. Her cheeks quite remind me of the apples with their rosy color and her eyes, when she smiles, glimmer with kindness. Her hair that she's tied on a braid is the color of the sun during the afternoon. The tip of her nose is close to perfect, leaving the rest of the flaws undefined. But I don't think her small face and her mole on the corner of her cheek are a flaw. They actually suit her features: young and slender. Not to mention that she can also play an instrument.
The same thing goes with Isabel, the one I assume as the older sister. Even from a distance, you could detect her ocean-blue eyes that have the ability to send you warmth just when they lay on you. You could also compare her hair with her violin since it almost has the same exact color of brown. And like Jean, she has a slender shape. The only thing that differentiates her from Jean, I guess, is that she has a long face and she's got no mole.
"You should hear them play." Robert says. "They're really good."
The sisters seemed fine with playing music themselves lately that they didn't think Robert will introduce them to us along with their talents. Isabel giggles as she leans closer to Jean to whisper something in her ear. Jean's lips curve into a smile after hearing her sister's message. Then, they angle their instruments as a sign that they're about to play. We all listen attentively.
Jean begins the music with the strumming of her ukulele. I watch the way her fingers switch from chord to chord and ask myself for how long did she practice herself just to be able to be that quick. If I were her, I bet my fingers would just settle themselves on any chord that they want. I bet they will be on chaos, not knowing which path to go. The more beautiful thing about is that her face is composed as she plays. Her fingers move automatically as if they were trained on this for years although her gaze is focus on Isabel, who enters the melody with her violin a moment later.
Isabel seals her eyes as the stick harmonizes with the strings of the violin. Their sounds blend together and the result is… beautiful. So beautiful. It's like you're taken away to somewhere far—somewhere far from here. It gives you the sensation of the wind embracing you like a man does, promising you safety and peace as you stand at the midst of a field where wheat crops grow. Then you close your eyes, and you see the memory of yesterdays. You wouldn't think about the bad times, just the good—the good things that have happened. Because that is the purpose of their music. To sooth your heart, mind and soul.
Jean and Isabel continue to play as the truck drives on. The sun has just set, sending us orange rays from east. The day is yet to be finished.
Xxxx
Robert invited us to have snacks at the Amity headquarters. We were hesitant at first due to some of the Amity who might get frightened with our arrival. They might assume that a war is going on when there really isn't one. But Robert insisted that everything will be fine and told us to consider this invitation as their gratitude for our help in delivering the apples. Since they offered us a ride, we decided to return the kindness on some extent through handing them assistance with the delivery.
We used the front gate to enter. Robert and the sisters lead the way onto a yard where a duo of benches is located at the middle. Around them are different sorts of trees and flowers such as orchids, roses and lilies. The air smells like pancakes. Or I'm the only one who can smell it that way. There's no noise, too. That's well guaranteed when you're in a place where what people do is pray, play instruments, paint and write poetries.
Some of the Amity members who are at the yard pay heed to our entrance while some just keep focus on their own business. Jean and Isabel separated from us when they found a circle of Amity gathered at a shed, playing music like them. Before we take the stairs through the hallways, Robert pauses before us and turns.
"To go to the cafeteria, you just have to walk a straight direction. Then, you will find a left and a right pathway. Go to the right one. You will instantly see the cafeteria."
"Where are you going?" Christina asks.
"I'm just going to talk to Ms. Johanna Reyes about the delivery of apples and about your arrival."
"Is she the leader of your faction?" Marlene inserts.
"No," Tobias answers for Robert. "The Amity doesn't have a leader."
"That's right." Robert agrees. "We only have a representative who would speak in our behalf and we have chosen Ms. Johanna for that role."
Then before Robert prolongs to his purpose, he first asks Tobias in his politest way to find the gun he's holding a hiding spot. Since placing it somewhere behind the plants may not be secure, he just tucks it on the belt of his jeans. After that, we finally take the stairs.
The Amity in the cafeteria isn't aware that we would come yet they still welcome us with warmth. Everyone is wearing red and yellow. It's sort of bizarre to know that we're the only people on black but it seems as if it doesn't matter to them. We sat on an unoccupied table. I was right with what I've smelled from the outside. They're making pancakes. Uriah sniffs the smell out from his nostrils and comments, "Delicious. I'm so hungry already."
Then his stomach roars at the midst of silence and we burst into laughter.
"Uh-oh."
"Yeah, obviously you are." Lynn teases.
An Amity woman standing by the stove gestures to us once the pancakes are done. We helped ourselves with providing each one a plate then our saliva almost drip with the image of the pancakes. Once our plates are filled, we went back to the table.
Uriah couldn't stop complimenting how the pancake tastes like. Every now and then, he would say something about it. And if it's not the pancake that he wants to compliment, it is, no other than the sisters, Jean and Isabel.
"I like her hair." Uriah says, referring to Jean. "And also her smile. Did you see her smiling at me when Robert said her name?"
"At you?" Marlene snorts. "Dream on. You might have gone blind."
Uriah chuckles. "Why, Mar? Are you jealous? Are you?"
Marlene makes a face and sticks her tongue out to Uriah. "Shut up. I'm not jealous."
Zeke whistles. "Seems like we have a new pair in here."
Since Marlene is just sitting next to Zeke, she nudges his elbow. "You can have Uriah for yourself, Zeke."
Zeke waves a hand. "Whoa, whoa there. We've been warned as kids not to fall in love with each other."
With this, we all laugh.
"That's disgusting." I say.
"I know, I know."
We were at the midst of laughing about the brothers when I realized that since we arrived here at the cafeteria, Tobias is no longer with us. When I turn to my right, I find an empty seat. He was supposed to be sitting beside me. Why didn't I notice that before? And where did he go?
"Where's Four?" The tense in my voice is evident enough for them to stop laughing.
"He was just… with us earlier, right?"
"No," I rose from the chair. "He isn't. I can't remember that he came here with us."
"But… but I really thought that he was—"
"What was that?" the woman who cooked the pancakes asks an Amity boy. "Where does the noise come from?"
The Amity boy shrugs. "I-I don't know. From the outside, maybe."
This makes us look at one another with alarmed expressions. Something is going on outside. And Tobias is lost. He might be there—there at where the noise is.
We instantly left our plates with no hesitation to run at the yard. The moment we got there, a lot of the Amity members are gathered in a circle as if there's a circus show. I insert myself into the crowd to find out what's happening then my heart thumps faster when I saw Robert separating Tobias from an Amity boy.
Christina appears to my side and links her arm with mine. "What's going on?"
"I-I don't know. I think… I think they almost spank each other."
"Hey," Christina untangles her arm then points a finger to the Amity boy. "I know him."
"How?"
"He was a Candor." She says matter-of-factly. "I remember him as the guy who frequently gets into trouble for his smart mouth."
If that so, is it possible that this boy has said something foul to Tobias that caused his anger?
"Don't you ever dare say that to my face again." Tobias warns the boy. I left Christina along with Will who just arrived, to get myself beside Tobias. I lace his hand on mine, looks up to him and ask, "What happened?"
He leaves one last glare to the Amity boy before facing me. "I'll tell you later."
Robert sides with his fellow Amity member in order to keep a distance between him and Tobias. The tension hasn't lessened much yet when another Amity boy comes running in of the scene, catching his breath as he reached Robert.
When he has calmed down, Robert asks him why.
"Ms. Johanna Reyes is asking for him."
A/N:
DUN DUN DUNNNNN! Okay, so first of all, I'd like to thank each one of you for making me reach 500 reviews! I wouldn't get there without you readers! This is amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Second,
I slept by 12 a.m. already since I was still reading a book then woke up by 7 a.m. and I cannot get back to sleep anymore. Some of the scenes on this chapter were just formed when I woke up. Maybe they were haunting me as I sleep. O.o
Anyway, regarding the scene where Jean and Isabel played music, here is the song that they played on the ukulele & violin:
"Nothing Has to Happen" by Hungry Ghosts
It's an instrumental song, very relaxing! I was listening to it, in fact, as I wrote this chapter. : D
And by the way guys, I may not be able to update tomorrow since we have a Speech Festival on school and I have to write four speeches. It's already due this coming Thursday. I will update once I'm settled. : )
So…. Why do you think Tobias got mad with the Amity boy?
AND, why is Johanna Reyes asking for him?
All of that will be on Chapter 50! : D
-Iris Molefoursted
