Eric POV
The Stiff.
Out of all the girls to be attracted to, it had to be her. The girl I was cruel to through her entire initiation. The girl who stood up to me like no one else ever has before. The girl who would probably rather swallow broken glass than give me a chance. Not that I can blame her. I've made some mistakes. A lot of them. Sometimes I mistake bravery for cruelty.
I wasn't the first choice for this job. Its no secret Max wanted Four and got stuck with me instead. He still wants him even years later. I'm just a consolation prize. I have to prove my self again and again to show that I belong here, that I was meant to be a leader. Cruelty just seemed like the smartest way to go. Of course now it comes to bite me in the ass.
I tell myself that it won't be a big deal. I've spent the last 2 years hiding how I really feel. I can do it as long as I need to. Pushing her against the wall probably wasn't a smart way to do that, but my feeling got the better of me. Her defiant, tear stained face did something to me. When she stood up to me, it reminded me that I'm not as strong as I think, I'm not the big shot I think I am sometimes. That dose of reality is beyond needed sometimes.
Now I'm in charge of her initiation and will have to be around her everyday for the forseeable future. My only hope is that I may have a chance to change her mind about me.
No matter what you do, she will always prefer Four. You will always be second place.
God, I'm sick of this voice in my head! It always says the things I don't want to face...the things that are true.
Tris POV
I am beyond ready for my first day of leadership training. After spending the night with Uriah and the other Dauntless borns, I feel ready to tackle the new day. My conversation with Christina still bothers me. I can't believe the girl I considered my brst friend would say that to me. However, today is a new and extremely important day. I won't let Christina's pettiness ruin my first day as a leader in training.
I get dressed in a pair of black leggings with grey trim and a flowy black tank top with the Dauntless flames on the front. After pulling my hair into a high pony tail, I feel ready enough to venture out and head to Eric's office. I'm not sure how to face him now. Before, it all seemed so simple.I hated Eric. He was cruel and cold hearted. He hated me simply because of my faction of origin. He forced Christina to hang over the Chasm railing. How could I forget that?
But then I remeber how it felt to be pinned against the wall after rankings were revealed. I remember what his breath felt like and how hard his body felt against mine. I remember him calling me strong and comforting me by the Chasm after Four. How he called me strong and didn't doubt me. No one else had that amount of faith in me and my abilities. Where do my feelings for him lie now?
No matter what my current feelings are, I have a job to do. Eric is a key part to achieving everything I've ever wanted for myself. Being on his good side is a definitely a good idea.
As I reach his door, I take a deep breath and sigh. I'm ready. I know it. And with that, I open the door.