Tris POV:
I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to sit with Eric in his apartment and have a couple of beers. Currently, we are sitting in awkward silence as we sip our drinks. I shift uncomfortably in my seat next on the couch next to Eric. I clutch the neck of the brown bottle in my hand tighter as I feel his steel-grey eyes on me. I politely excuse myself to use the bathroom.
Splashing water on my face I take a deep breath and take the chance to study myself in the mirror. My dull blonde hair hangs around my shoulders, my blue-grey eyes hold fire in them, and my slightly rounded face makes me average. I shake my head to clear my appearance out of my head. I don't know why I just started caring about that all of a sudden. I never really cared about my appearance anyway. I walk back out to the living room and find Eric gone.
I jump as I hear his voice behind me. "You know, if you were feeling uncomfortable you could've left." Cringing inwardly I turn to face him. His tall muscular frame leans in the doorway to the kitchen. I forced what hopefully was a sheepish grin on my face. He sighs and drags a hand down his face.
"If you want to go, go." He states coldly. I stare at him surprised by his sudden change in attitude. "Well?" he presses. I roll my eyes at him and exaggeratedly plop myself down on his couch. He rolls his eyes also and comes to sit next to me.
He hands me a freshly opened beer. I accept it with a small smile. This makes him frown slightly. I avert my gaze and pick a random spot on the floor to stare at. This time the silence is a little less awkward but holds tension this time. This time he is the one shifting in his seat. I decide it's time to break the silence.
"Why did you invite me over for drinks?" his eyes lock with mine. It takes a moment for him to answer.
He licks his lips before replying. "I wanted to make sure you were okay." I'm taken aback at this revelation.
First, running with me and saying it looked like I needed a friend to now wanting to make sure I was okay. Now I was wondering what in the hell happened to the ruthless Head Leader who didn't like anyone outside of Leadership. He really was only civil to the Leaders. Shaking my head at myself I catch Eric looking at me weirdly. He sighs.
"Alright, I've done some thinking and I realized that I have not been a good leader." My eyebrows shoot up into my hairline. "After looking back through old initiation files I realized most of the older members have turned out to be more hostile during certain Head Leader reigns. Max had the worst one. I wanted to ask for your help with it."
I stare at him. I open and close my mouth knowing that I look like a fish. It takes me a few moments to find my voice. Even then I'm not sure what to say, so I say the first thing that comes to mind.
"Why? But, why me specifically?" He looks at me as though I have grown a second head. I shrink back slightly. His face breaks out into a grin before he barks out a booming laugh. I smack him in the arm.
"Sorry. But, you're the most qualified Leader to help make these changes. You know how the system works and know how you are raised and treated in certain places influence how you are." It's my turn to laugh at him.
"You sounded like an Erudite right then." The back of his neck flushes all the way up to the tips of his ears. I stop chuckling. "You were and Erudite wasn't you." I don't ask it like a question but state it as an answer. We both go quiet for a few moments. "So tell me about this plan."
It was nearly three in the morning when I made it back to my apartment next door. I stretch and fight back a yawn as I crawl into bed. Once my head hit my pillow I was out.
Being awoken by someone forcefully banging on my door was not on the top of the list of my things to do today. Grumbling I drag myself out of bed to go answer the damn door. The floor is ice cold as I step into the living room. I swear quietly to myself all the way to the door.
Throwing it open I am met with three women all somewhat angry looking. Christina, Marlene, and Shawnna push their way past me and into my apartment. Closing the door and locking it I follow them to the small dining alcove in my apartment. They all sit at my small table and look at me. Uh oh.
"So what are you doing with that asshole? Especially right after you broke up with Four?" Chris questions angrily. I sit and blink at them for a few moments.
"Don't ask me. It was him that started all this." They all just look at me. "I'm serious. I went to his apartment and had a couple of drinks with him while we discussed the future of Dauntless Leadership." They all share a look. I should not have said that.
They all simultaneously started firing questions at me. I tried to answer all I could without giving away too much. Eric had made me promise to tell no one, especially the other Leaders until he had a proper proposal for it. I roll my eyes internally remembering that. Head Leader had a final say in this and now he was asking for approval from all the other Leaders.
It takes a couple of hours but I finally manage to get the three women in my apartment out. I lean against the door as I close it. Pulling out the cellphone in my pocket I check to see if I have any messages. I'm surprised to find that I have a couple from Eric.
Eric: Where the hell are you?
Eric: We went ahead and went to Candor without you. You're in for a shit ton of paperwork this week.
Groaning I remembered the Leaders were supposed to go to Candor for a meeting with the other Factions leaders. Cursing to myself I rush to change and head to the tracks hoping to make it in time for the second sessions of meetings today.
Barely making it into the conference room I slide into the seat between my father Andrew Prior and Eric. Almost every leader gives me disapproving looks, especially Matthew Warren, Erudite's new Leader. Ignoring their looks I focus on the beginning of the new meeting session.
It's after dark when the meetings adjourn. Everyone except Abnegation filed out. I hang back a little bit to be able to talk to my father. Watching the last of the people trickle out I see Eric stop the others and say something to them. They all turn and look at me. Turning away I go to catch my dad.
"Beatrice!" my dad exclaims when he sees me. I feel a genuine smile break out on my face as I go to shake hands with him. Even though I desperately want to hug him I still respect the customs of Abnegation. We sit in the previously occupied conference chairs and chat for a bit.
"I apologize for keeping you so long Dad. It was good seeing you. Send Mom my love." He nods and we shake hands again before leaving the room and going our separate ways. I am met with all the Leaders standing around chatting while waiting to catch the next train. It arrives shortly after I do.
I pull myself into the train car at the last possible moment. I never get tired of the feeling of running and jumping into the train. I sit down next to the open door. Tilting my head back I let it rest on the cool metal wall of the car. Just as I let my eyes flutter close someone clears their throat. Jumping at the sound I look around for who made the sound.
I see Harrison sitting across from me. He has a huge grin on his face. No doubt from him startling me and making me jump. I do my best to ignore him but his piercing gaze makes me slightly uncomfortable.
"What." I finally snapped. He grins again and doesn't say anything. Having enough I stand up and grip onto the handrails and hang my torso outside of the car. It was the last train of the night and the longest route because of Amity leaders needing to get home. It was a two-hour detour at least. Great, I'm stuck on the train with Harrison for another hour or two. Pulling myself back in I slide down to my original spot and close my eyes.
Feeling Harrison's eyes on me again I open mine and look at him. We just stare at one another for a while. At this time I take my time to study him. He has dark circles under his eyes, the lines on his face were clearly showing his age. I come to the realization that Harrison will not be in Dauntless for much longer.
In Dauntless we only take the strongest and most physically fit. I shiver at remembering being told that once you were past Dauntless' usefulness you were thrown out to join the Factionless. Hopefully, Harrison had some more time left.
He sighs, breaking me from my thoughts. "I can see that you've come to that same conclusion everyone else has. You're right. My time in Dauntless is running short. But I know I will be leaving it in good hands. Dauntless has prospered under Eric's leadership more than he knows. I know it will prosper even more," his eyes well with tears as he stands and walks over to the open train car door.
"I have no idea if Eric has told the others yet but, he has decided to not refill my position once I leave. Ever since he took Head Leader he thought there were too many Leaders to keep the workload even. He was right, and you know from experience because there were times where one of us wouldn't have to work." I nod knowing what he was talking about. "I can't change the old written laws of Dauntless, and no one dares to challenge them. Tris, I know of Eric's improvement plan of the inner workings of the Faction. I was the one who gave him most of his ideas. I tried to get Max to do it but he was too corrupt and too hellbent on hunting Divergents with Jeanine. I think when Eric and I were spared from being executed and had our Leadership ranks restored he didn't expect to be welcomed back nor for me to pick a whole team, Divergent Leaders." That steals the breath from my lungs. Harrison chuckles.
"No worries Tris. No one else except Eric and I know. I was blown away when Tori came to me warning me to be on the lookout for an Abnegation girl on Choosing Day. Three aptitudes were impressive as was the combination. Most Divergents have a blend of two that complement each other." I start to tune out as Harrison as he drones on about all the unique Divergents he has seen over the years.
I'm startled out of my thoughts as the train slows to be able to let the Amity leaders out. Erudite must have programmed it to slow so they could jump without harming themselves. I look at Harrison who has a smile on his face.
"This is where we part ways, Tris. The Amity leaders have offered me refuge here since I am getting too old for Dauntless. I have no doubt in my mind you will do great things one day and help Eric govern Dauntless as no one else could. Eric's like my son, guide him and treat him right okay?" Then he was gone. Tears well in my eyes as the train picks up speed to make the rest of the journey back to Dauntless Compound.
Everyone jumps off at different times. I am the last to make it onto the solid, unmoving ground. Instead of taking my time to regain balance I let myself fall to my knees. I start to weep over all that has happened the past couple of days. The empty feeling in my chest grows bigger as I cry for the relationship Tobias and I had, for the initiates who had become Factionless, and for Harrison. He was like my surrogate father. I hear someone drop to their knees next to me. I feel strong arms wrap around me.
I look up to see Allison, she forces a watery smile. Her eyes held unshed tears. This makes me dissolve back into tears. I bury my face into her shirt. Soon the remaining leaders, even Eric got down to hug us. We all sat on the cold, hard ground weeping over the Leader we had lost.
A/N: Hey guys! I got this done sooner than expected. Maybe I will be able to get chapter three out tomorrow. Review and let me know what you guys think of it so far! See you guys next time! ~Moon