Chapter 14
Edward had come back from the infirmary with nothing more than a bruised ego and maybe a headache that night for dinner. The table was surprisingly very energetic. We were all laughing and I threw a joke at Edward he took surprisingly well. I noticed Drew and Molly started to sit at a different table a few days ago and they seemed so tense compared to us. It just goes to prove how people help to keep you going.
"I wonder what our rankings are going to be." Christina says between the food in her mouth. "I hope I move up."
Myra shifts in her seat uncomfortable. She was last on the leader board and she hadn't improved much. "You've definitely gotten better in your fights." Al encourages. "I would know." Christina gives him a pat on the shoulder and shoves another fry in to her mouth.
"I wish we knew how the Dauntless born were doing. Then we could get a better idea of where we stand with them." I add. We hadn't seen the Dauntless born since we started training.
"I bet they're pissed that two transfers are in front of them, that's for sure." Edward says. He's nursing the bump on the back of his head and I shoot him a sympathetic look. He pretends to not notice and his hand drops to his lap.
Peter snorts, "I bet they are. I know I would've been."
"That's because you have a short fuse." Will interjects. Peter glares at him, but he knows it's true so he doesn't challenge it.
"Like you're one to talk. Remember when you had a fight with Noah because he was stealing your pencils?" Edward interjected. Myra was trying to hide her smile and Edward puffed out his chest a little.
"That wasn't funny. Ms. Crane yelled at me for being unprepared." Will defends.
"Oh my gosh I remember her! She kept losing my work and told me I never turned it in." I sour my face at the memory. She was an awful teacher.
"She did that to me too." Myra says and we both roll our eyes.
I feel a tap on my shoulder and see I Christina lean over Al. "I wanted to check out another shop before going to bed. Do you want to come with?" I nod my head at her. After dinner we break off from the group and she leads me to a little shop hidden in the back of the cavern. It's filled with jewelry and I admire the store. The ambience was very enticing. The lights on the ceiling were constantly moving and changing color. The air was slightly foggy and music rang out from the speakers.
"Welcome! How can I help you today?" A lady walks out from behind a counter and greats us at the door.
"I want to get my belly button pierced." Christina tells her confidently. I stare at her surprised but the lady just nods her head and leads her back to the counter. While they talk, I look at all the jewelry. I spot a pair of sparkling blue studs and I take them off the rack.
"What about you?" She calls to me. Christina beams next to her excitedly.
"Actually, I think I want to get my ears pierced." She nods and writes something on a piece of paper as I walk to the counter.
"Alright you guys can follow me to the back. My name is Alice." She gives us a court smile and I can tell she's been doing this for a while.
She takes us to a room in the back and starts to set everything up. Christina takes a seat in the chair and I wait in the doorway. "I saw another girl with her belly button pierced and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it." She wipes her palms on her pants and the lady rolls a tray up to her.
"On the count of three." Alice says. She aligns the needle just above Christina's belly button. "1….2…3" The needle pierces her skin and Christina squeezes her eyes shut.
"Do you like Peter?" She blurts out.
"What?" I ask blindsided.
"Just distract me please." Alice wipes up a little blood that spills out and continues to work.
"Uh, no." I shake my head. "There was one time I thought we might…. But no. We're just really good friends." I finish. Alice places the jewelry.
"I really like Will." She breathes out. She opens her eyes lightly and Alice finishes fastening the jewelry in place.
I smile at her encouragingly, "I know."
"All done." Alice announces. She moves the tray back and starts to clean up. Christina stands up and inspects her new piercing in the mirror. I step next to her and bend down to get a better look.
"Wow." I admire. "You like it?" I ask her. She nods at me happily and I stand back up.
"Good." Alice retorts. "Because there's no going back now." She finishes wiping the chair down and then motions for me to sit. Mine didn't hurt as much as I expected and it was over before I knew it.
"So pretty." Christina complimented as we looked at them through the mirror.
I turn my head from side to side and I'm really happy with how they look on me. "Yeah." I whisper.
"Olivia." I hear a whisper in my ear. I groan and turn over in bed. There is no way it was time for training. My body still felt as heavy as bricks. "Olivia." They say more sternly.
"Go away. I'm sleeping." I say grumpily.
"Wake up initiate." I feel hot breath on my ear and my eyes shoot open. My reflexes make me swing my arm out at full force but a hand grabs it at my wrist. I turn over and see Eric crouching over me in the dark. Confused, I wonder if I really was still sleeping.
"Eric?" I whisper. "What are you doing here?" I question.
"Playing a game." His eyes light up in excitement and I drink him up. He wasn't shielding his emotions. He was letting me see him in this moment and I loved it. Soon his mask was back on and I frown missing it already. "Wake up!" He shouts. I flinch out of his grasp and glare at him. He smirks as he stands up. "Wake up! I won't say it a third time!" He shouts again. He walks away and starts to kick at a few of the cots. Groans emit from their sleeping forms.
"He walks over to the light switches and flicks it on. "Get dressed and meet at the trains in 10." He informs us. We meet eyes again before he leaves and he winks at me. Still sleepy and caught off guard I start to get up.
Peter gets off his cot half awake and slips on the shirt he left there the night before. He stumbles for a good bit before padding off to the bathroom with his eyes still shut and I have to stifle my laughter. The rest of us get ready slowly and quietly.
"Peter really isn't a morning person." Christina comments as she walks over to me. He emerges from the bathroom and his hair is an absolute mess but he pays no mind to it.
"I'm not really a people person either." He grumpily shoots back at her. Christina holds her hands up in surrender and slowly backs away.
"She's right though." I pull up my pants and have to do a little jump to get the all the way on. I was definitely filling out.
"Don't start." He says. He picks up his shirt off the ground and throws it on. He runs his hands through his hair several times and tries to get it somewhat in place.
"I wonder what they have planned for us this time of night." Edward wonders as he walks to Christina and Al. I shrug my shoulders at them. Whatever game this was, it better be worth it.
We all walk out to the trains and I admire the pit at night. This was the second time I've seen it like this. All the lights were off allowing the moonlight to light the center of the cavern. Blue lanterns lit the hallways as we shuffle along. We were all silent in anticipation and a few of us were still trying to wake up.
Another set of steps walked opposite to ours and I saw Leo walking our way. He looked like he was in a rush but when he saw me, he waved and stopped.
"Hey! What are you guys doing up?" He asks. Peter stops alongside me still sporting a sour face.
"I wish we knew." He grumbles.
"Ohhhhh." Leo says as realization hits him. "You know, I'm running late for the shift change, but we should meet up sometime. We'll wanna hear about how the games go!"
"What games?" Peter asks.
"You'll find out soon enough!" He calls as he runs down the hall. Peter and I exchange looks and I try to smile at him. He walks away from me and I'm left standing alone. I run after him and decide to jump on top of him.
"What are you doing? Get off of me." I wrap my arms and legs around him so I'm securely on his back. He tries to break free of me but I refuse to let go.
"Keep going! We're going to be late!" I exclaim. Peter sighs his resolve and then bounces to adjust me higher on his back. His hands grip under my knees and he continues to walk. I can't remember the last time I had done this to him.
"I like the view from up here." I comment.
"Yeah well don't get used to it." Peter starts in to a light jog to catch up to the others. When we get to the tracks Four and Eric stand silently waiting for us. Both are tense in each other's presence and I wonder what the beef was between them. When Eric spots me his face turns in to disgust. I tap Peter on the shoulder. He drops my legs and I fix my clothing as I stand next to him. I have to pull my shirt down from exposing my stomach and I can see Eric watching me out of the corner of my eye.
Another group of footsteps sound from the exit and I look over to see the dauntless born. "What are we getting ourselves in to tonight?"