Tris POV:
Sometimes the best decisions you have to make for yourself are the toughest. I thought my toughest decision was to leave Abnegation for Dauntless. Do not get me wrong it was just one, yes I mean one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make. Over the past six years, I have had to make many more tough decisions for my own sanity and health. After I left Abnegation the second tough decision was to accept the Leadership role I was offered being the top initiate. The next was swallowing the grudge and hatred I had for Eric and allowing him to train me.
Standing in front of me currently, was the toughest decision I had to make in my short twenty-two years alive. Tobias stood with his jaw clenched preparing for another verbal spar. His cobalt eyes were alight with fire. I stared into his eyes with the same intensity. My grip on my duffle tightened as we stared each other down. Neither of us dared to speak as tensions rose in the room.
Tobias and I were not okay for a long time. As of late we were constantly arguing and barely making up before we were plagued with another argument. The six years that we spent together was too long. We had both mentally checked out of the relationship long before now. But today was the final straw. I had walked in on him with someone else. There were no tears, anger, hurt, or anything as I packed my things and the blonde bimbo scurried out. I recognized her as one of the bakers at the bakery.
After what seemed like hours of staring each other down Tobias finally broke the silence. "I'm so, sorry," the fire in his eyes extinguished. I soften my expression somewhat before I reply. "You aren't. I know you, Tobias. You make calculated decisions before you decide to execute them," my voice cracks slightly. "I love you, and you know I always will. But we don't love one another the same. I accept that. You should too." I turn and place my hand on the door handle but I pause before turning it. "Your secrets are safe with me. Goodbye Tobias." With that, I opened the door and walked out never looking back.
I later found myself sitting in my office on the Leadership floor. It was everyone's day off since it was the end of another Initiation. The silence inside the offices was deafening. Attempting to busy myself with the work that was not due for another month or so was difficult. So, I just sat there as much as I hated myself for it. I watched the digital clock on my desk slowly tick forward. About thirty minutes before we introduced the new Initiates I make my way to the cafeteria.
Climbing up to the Leadership platform I see Allison is already there. I take a seat next to her. We sit and eat in companionable silence for a while. She was the only other female leader and was slightly older by three years. The other leaders slowly start trickling in.
Once all six of us were up on the platform Eric starts banging banding his metal cup against the railing. The other leaders, including me, follow suit. Soon everyone in the compound is doing it. The noise dies down after a few minutes.
"Dauntless!" Eric booms. "Another successful Initiation has passed. Today we welcome the new members to our faction." A roaring cheer erupted from the crowd. "I expect a proper Dauntless welcome to our new members. If they would please rise at this time so we can welcome them." This was something new that Eric had decided to do after Max was convicted of his crimes against Dauntless and conspiring with Jeanine. I watched as the new members got lifted over the heads of older members once again. The corners of my lips twitched up into a smile remembering that once was me.
Standing off in the corner of the Pit I nursed the beer that was in my hand. Normally the Pit was alive with activity throughout the year. On the day after Initiation, it was the most popular spot in Dauntless. I smile and nod at passing members, new and old. I have seen sixty initiates enter Dauntless and countless more become Factionless. The Abnegation side of me still hurts to know that they are suffering out there.
I am pulled out of my thoughts by a large, warm hand landing on my shoulder. I look over and see Tobias. He opens his mouth to speak. I hold up my hand to stop him but he ignores me. "I am not here to beg for you back. I took the time after you left to sit and think," I snort slightly at the thought of Tobias not taking the time to think. "I realized you were right." I feel my eyebrows shoot up into my hairline. He takes a deep breath and continues.
"I didn't realize it at the time but we weren't okay. We hadn't been in years. I wanted to let you know I do still love you but you were right about that love changing. Sometimes we don't realize what we have until it's too late. I hope we can be friends Tris." My lips quirk into a small smile. I hug Tobias tightly which throws him off guard. After a few moments, he returns my hug.
"Thank you, Four. I would enjoy that. But I need time okay?" he nods and walks away. I feel a tear slip out of the corner of my eye. I wipe it away and put on a mask to hide the emptiness I now felt. The reality of it all was finally sinking in. Steeling my nerve I ventured out to get another beer then head to the tattoo shop.
I arrive in Tori's shop a few minutes later. She greets me and tells me to look around and decide what type of tattoo I want. Flipping through the books a drawing of a fox holding a large black and yellow flower. Immediately I knew I had to get this tattoo. Bringing the sketch over to Tori she agrees it will suit me well. I pull my black long-sleeved shirt over my head and lay down on my stomach on Tori's tattoo table.
"So, how are you and Four?" Tori inquires while starting the outline for the tat. Sucking in a breath I prepare myself to explain but the front door to the shop opens. She stops the needle and looks up. "Eric," she says curtly. "I will be with you in a moment, let me finish up Tris' outline." He says nothing as she goes back to work on the tattoo.
A few minutes later she finishes and we schedule to add color to it at a later date. She hands me some more aftercare stuff to put on it. I briefly locked eyes with the Head Leader as I exit the shop and head back to my apartment on the Leadership floor.
After what felt like hours of tossing and turning in bed I look to the digital clock on my nightstand. The bright red numbers flashed back that it was four in the morning. Deciding it would be no use to try and sleep I get up and get ready for my morning workout.
Tying up my sneakers I started off on my usual route for my warm-up run. It wasn't long before I felt a presence beside me. Looking to my right I see Eric falling into step with me. I wasn't in the mood to tell him to screw off. We ran over three miles around the compound together. We slowed to a stop outside of one of the training rooms. I decided to finally ask him why the hell he was here. He beat me to it. "You looked like you needed a friend. Yes, I know we aren't but you needed someone even though you won't admit it." Knowing he was right I begrudgingly went into the training room that we stopped at.
After training together for a couple of hours I had to admit Eric wasn't as bad as he used to be in my initiation and in my Leadership training. We walked to the cafeteria together in silence. When we entered all the chattering stopped. Eric kept walking but I stood there nervously for a moment before following. Not a very Dauntless thing to do but Eric was still mostly hated by everyone in the faction.
After getting my food I went to sit with my friends. I was greeted with sympathetic and confused looks. I bite the inside of my cheek trying to fight back the tears that their looks bring. The thud of another tray on the other side causes all of us to turn and look. Most of my friends glare at the newcomer while a couple has a small smile on their face. Eric looks at all of us and scowls. I kick Christina under the table and motion for her to return to eating so the others would also.
I pour over the paperwork of the new initiates jobs. Having to read over every single packet of information the new members had to write down was tiring. Each packet was about twenty pages long and there were ten of them. Dragging a hand down my face I lean back and stare at hellish packets. A deep chuckle comes from the doorway. I flick my gaze up long enough to see Eric and Allison in the doorway. I nod to them both politely. I hear Allison whisper something to Eric before I hear her footsteps retreating.
Looking back up I raise a brow as Eric comes to sit in one of the chairs across from my desk. "Allison told me what happened. So I am warning you that you and Four will be having to train together here soon, it's your year to oversee initiates when initiation rolls around." groaning at this sudden revelation. I was not ready to spend almost every day with Tobias again. Scrubbing my hand across my face again I stand.
"Can you possibly see if you can have one of the other Leaders oversee?" I plead hating that I sounded desperate. Eric shook his head and frowned slightly. He opens his mouth to say something. "I know, I know, you already asked knowing what I would ask and no one else would do it." He purses his lips at my statement.
Walking around my desk I could feel the tension radiating off of his body as I walked past him to get out of my office. Sighing to myself I started wondering why Eric's behavior towards me suddenly changed these past couple days. My mind starts to wonder even more. Could he have just hated Four so much that he hated me by extension? That could be a possibility. He could like me. I shake my head and snort at that thought. He hates me so that isn't even a possibility.
I hear his silent but heavy footsteps behind me as I cross the catwalk to get to the Pit. He finally catches up to me and falls into step beside me. We walk in semi-comfortable silence towards the meeting room for the Leaders.
Entering we see the other four Leaders have already made it. I greet Allison, Harrison, Henry, and Duke individually. After taking our seats we start the meeting talking about this year's initial class. We had a pretty large group this year for both Dauntless born and transfers. It was a shock to all of us when this year's class that made it into Dauntless was mostly transfers. I hated seeing most of the Dauntless born go. We adjourn the meeting after talking about the sensitive topic of me overseeing Initiation with the transfers as Four, I mean, Tobias trains them. Deciding to call it a night I start heading back to my apartment.
Just as I go to put the key into the lock a hand on my shoulder stops me. I turn to see Eric. "Look, I know it seems like I hate you but, would you, maybe want to come over and have a drink or two in my apartment?" Taken aback by his words I took a moment to consider what all this could mean and entail. Finally deciding why the hell, not I give him an answer. "Sure."
A/N: Hey guys! I hope you guys enjoy the rewrite of this story. I just was not satisfied with how I was writing the story and how it was going. Thank you guys for bearing with me. I hope to have the next few chapters rewritten soon and to be on a regular updating schedule due to the virus shutting down schools where I live and summer approaching. See you guys soon! ~Moon