Breakfast was always chaotic when Skylar was a child, and she had missed having her brothers around because of moments like those, but it was nothing compared to breakfast time in the Dauntless cafeteria. The most significant difference was that back when she was a kid; she didn't have to rely on coffee in the mornings to keep her a sane human being. She also had Shade, who had been a morning person, to keep her going.

The noise had echoed against the walls and rang in her ears, added by the dauntless standing on the balcony above then, watching the faction move about as they started their day. And among them had been Jami and Persi, who had been watching nothing but her and Meck for the duration of their meal. And on top of that, her friend was far too cheerful for anyone's good.

Plates and cups had dinged and banged around her, and for some reason, she heard just about every conversation in her vicinity with a clarity that had made her want to throw things against the wall because the only people she wanted to talk to were her stupid brothers, who still kept watching them. Too bad they were also the ones she didn't want to talk to because she was beyond frustrated with them. And of course, the only person she'd really wanted to see, was also the only person she didn't want to see, wasn't there.

Stupid Dauntless leader.

It had been the worst breakfast she'd had at Dauntless so far.

And now she was at training, dealing with Meck chatting her ear off while they stretched, Alec glaring at the two of them from across the room, Callie in another corner of the room chatting with Desmond, both of whom were shooting her glares as well.

On top of all of that, when they'd first arrived at the training room, Parker had made a feeble attempt at an apology for how rude he'd been the past week - right before he'd slapped her ass and earned himself a black eye, of course.

"I still don't get it," Meck said as he stretched his legs out. "Why apologize to you if he's just going to do something stupid like that right after?"

Skylar rolled her eyes if she knew why she wouldn't have bothered listening to his lame-ass apology in the first place.

"And all he got was a light punch in the face? You probably should have at least knocked him out, that way no one else got any funny ideas about grabbing ass and thinking all they'll get is one little punch."

"Little?" Skylar hissed at him.

"No, not little, but it didn't do much damage, obviously." He turned his head toward where Parker was sitting with Andy.

Skylar followed his gaze to find that both of the boys were laughing and smiling. And of course, as if he knew that she was looking, Parker caught her eye and grinned. And then he winked at her.

"See," Meck turned back to her. "Told you so."

Skylar let out a frustrated noise as she emptied the rest her water bottle. She knew she shouldn't have shared with Meck when he'd forgotten one. Suddenly remembering there was a fountain in the hall, she got up and stormed toward the door, shoving Meck back toward the ground as she did.

"Oh, cmon!" She felt Meck right behind her as she went toward the door. "Don't take your bad mood out on me."

Right as she was about to leave; however, Meck on her tail, Four had entered the training room.

"Where are you going?" Four asked her sharply as the other trainers shoved past them.

"Water fountain," she waived her empty water bottle in front of her.

"Hurry up, we're going running in less than five minutes," he explained sharply, adding to her foul mood. That, and the fact that the last thing she wanted to do was go running. Wasn't the last thing anyone wanted to do was go running!

"Skylar," Meck watched her as she filled the bottle. "What's really wrong? You were fine before bed last night."

"Nothing."

"Skylar, seriously?" Meck folded his arms.

"It's just; people are different here, alright?" she hissed. "I woke up today, and half the fucking initiates were staring at me. I miss Candor's honesty sometimes, alright? At least there people would tell you why the hell they were staring instead of leaving you to guess. And did you see Desmond and Alec's glares? How much do you want to bet that our 'friends,'" she held up her hands to make quotation marks, "aren't even our 'friends' anymore just because Alec is too busy bending that slut over in the shower when I'm not around and pretending like he is interested in me when he isn't."

"Sky-l" She paused when Meck interrupted her.

"Don't interrupt me," she slammed the half-full bottle on the fountain's worn-down stainless. "You fucking asked me what was wrong with me right now, and now I'm fucking telling you, alright?"

"But-"

"No," she shook her head and folded her arms and popped her leg out. "That's what you get for telling me to be honest with you. So, here it is. Alec, being the fucking asshole that he is, probably ran his mouth to them, and now they'll want nothing to do with me. Which, I mean whatever, that's not a big deal it's not like I can't make other friends, but it definitely made it easier not having all of the Dauntless-born against me, and I guess you now, while we are in initiation."

She swiped the bottle off the top of the old fountain and pointed at him with it when he tried to stop her from talking again. "I guess I owe you a thank you, by the way. Had you not have told me about him and Callie I probably would have done something stupid, like fuck around with him, then have to deal with him spouting off to everyone about the little virgin transfer he tricked into sleeping with him! And of course, Alec isn't the only fucking one who has nearly tricked me into that lately. Then I would have probably murdered him or something and gotten myself kicked out. Could you imagine how pissed Lucas would be then?"

"Probably pretty pissed."

Skylar froze at the husky words because it hadn't been Meck who had spoken. Though her friend's mouth had fallen open and his eyes were wide, the voice was from someone behind her. And unfortunately, it as a voice she knew quite well. A voice belonging to that one person that she desperately wanted to see, but also desperately needed to avoid. That supposedly ruthless Dauntless leader that had pinned her to his counter-top only days before.

She closed her eyes, realizing what the leader had just overheard her say, but when she opened them, instead of turning around, she took note of Four standing outside the training room, glaring at Meck's back.

Great. Just wonderful.

"Let's go initiates," Four's voice echoed throughout the hall.

Skylar opened her eyes and rushed into the training room, Meck shaking his head as he followed, leaving the Dauntless leader staring after them.

Skylar knew well enough this was going to bite her in the ass.