"Nah," Issy looks down as her blush resurfaces. "I'm good with what I've got."
Bree smirks triumphantly but no one notices how her eyes flicker over Issy's shoulder and into the shadows repeatedly.
After their detour, the girls did go and get their shit from the dorms. The Dauntless borns' dorm was practically empty of anything other than Flare and Lilah's stuff and the black duffel bags on their beds. As Flare and Lilah packed, they chatted about how weird it felt already with the freedom they've been given.
"God, I can't wait to wake up without either of our instructors yelling at us." Bree sighed happily. "I've almost forgotten what a lie in feels like." Flare and Lilah call out their agreements and Issy wishes she could too. Throughout initiation, Issy had always been up before either Four or Eric came storming in, or she would already be up and about. She wondered if things would be different now, if she would actually sleep knowing that she was safe without having to worry if she'd see Jeremy while she lived in Erudite or if she'd even make Dauntless during initation but now she had an apartment, her own home.
"What'll be weirder is not having multiple bodies in the same room with you." Issy adds.
"Yeah. I kinda liked it towards the end." Lilah pauses packing her bag for a minute, gazing around the room.
"Hey, did your brothers mention anything about tomorrow?" Flare asks as she zips up her bag.
Issy shares a confused look with Bree as Lilah's eyes light up. "No? Why, what's tomorrow?"
Lilah and Flare grin to each other. "Tomorrows something we call Dare Day. Its always the first Saturday after the end of initiation and you can dare anyone to do anything throughout the day."
"And," Flare grins mischievously. "At twelve all of the Leaders will stand up in front of Dauntless for anyone to dare them to do something. The Leaders can only be dared once each and can't dare that person back."
Lilah's eyes widen with worry. "That means next year if I pass Leadership training, I'll be up there with them.
Issy ignores them as they chatter on. Ideas flow through her mind that are both crazy and the tiniest bit evil. Suddenly she remembers one of the ideas dotted down hastily on the list Meg had given them. Issy needed to find her twin, like very soon.
Fingers click in front of her face. "– Issy? Issy!"
"Hm? What?" Issy blinked repeatedly, focusing.
Bree stands in front of her with Flare and Lilah either side of her with their bags slung over their shoulders. They smirk at her with knowing looks. "We're gonna regret telling you about tomorrow, aren't we?"
"No." Issy shakes her head. "Well, maybe not you." Issy grins, trouble shinning in her eyes. "Anyway, to the transfer dorms."
After they had gone to the dorms and Bree and Issy had finished packing everything they had, they split ways with Bree in the Pit. She headed to E block while Issy, Flare and Lilah walked to N block. On the sixth floor, Issy agreed to meet up with the pair sometime in the morning and she proceeded to climb three more floors until she stood at her door. Gently placing her bag by the door, she glanced around as she dug out her key. Her door and the door opposite hers was at the very end of the corridor with the other apartments further away so it seems like there's only hers and number 21 in this corridor. On the wall to her left was a large window that has the same view as the windows on the left side of her apartment. Issy finally finds her key and unlocks her door to complete silence. She was surprised how clean her flat was when she entered it. It was almost as spotless as to when she first entered it. Issy picks her bag back up and places it on her bed, opening it up and taking out a clean pair of jeans and a thin jumper. She changes quickly, realising with Dare Day being tomorrow, all plans of her shopping for her apartment goes out the window so she'll do that on Sunday, her last day off before her career starts.
Back in the kitchen, Issy nearly walks past the note on her island. Curious, she picks it up to find Hugo's neat scrawl with several lines of numbers on them. She glances it over and then reads it again to make sure she read it correctly. Basically Hugo had written his, Dec's, Max's and Eric's phone numbers on. He had written the last two just in case an emergency arises, stating that the two Leaders knew her number as well. After that was another number which happened to be Alec's. Apparently Alec had set his new phone up while herself and the girls were out. 'Well, at least that makes it easier to track him down.' Issy hummed to herself. She pulled out her phone from her pocket and added the numbers into her phone before selecting the phone icon under Alec's name. The phone hums against her ear until he picks up the phone. Instantly she hear the dull chatter of Dauntless until his voice come through.
"Hey Issy!" His voice is joyful over the background noise.
"Hey Alec. Welcome to the world of technology."
"Oh, fuck off." He huffs and Issy cackles. "Have you heard 'bout tomorrow?" There are multiple groans on the other end and Alec laughs gleefully.
"Yeah, Flare mentioned it. Number sixteen on Meg's list should do."
Alec laughs again. "Do I even want to know who for?"
Issy grins again despite knowing he can't see her. "I have an idea but to whether or not its a solid one I don't know."
"So you just need to obtain it and then you're settled?" Issy can her murmurings in the background and Alec muffled voice retorts back. "No, I'm not telling you what she's planned. She'd kill me!"
"You're coming with me when I go though." Issy remembers the headphones waiting for them from that morning.
"What? Why?"
Issy grins again at his panic. "Nothing like that. You'll enjoy it. Now where exactly is your sorry arse?"
"In the Pit."
She snorts. "That's helpful." She drawls sarcastically. "Where abouts in the Pit?"
"In a bar." Snickers come across the line.
"Fuck me running!" Issy curses. "Do you have to be difficult?"
"Fuck you?" Alec says incredulously. "I'd rather not, I'm not a shipper of incest."
"Alec!"
He laughs for the third time. "The usual table sis. See you soon." And with that he ends the call.
"Bastard." She growls before she throws on her leather jacket. As she pulls it on she finds herself sadden by the lack of scent it holds, soon she'll have to give it back to Dec and get a new one. Issy puts her phone in one of the pockets and grabs her keys before locking her door and striding to the Pit.
The Pit was as loud as ever. She walked with her head held high, grinning and winking to those who acknowledged her until she saw the familiar mop of black and grey hair with his back to her. Grinning viciously to Four who sat in front of Alec she walked up behind her brother, the loudness of her fellow Dauntless masking the sound of her boots against the ground. It isn't until she stands directly behind Alec does the rest of the table notice her and she notices them. On either side of Four sits Hugo and Eric with Cody on the other side of Eric. Alec is flanked by Declan and Uriah with Zeke opposite Cody. Her grin widens to reveal her teeth when she realises both Declan and Uriah haven't noticed her either. Her eyes glow brightly as the three oblivious twits carry one their conversation. Issy stands there quietly for ten more minutes before she rolls her eyes.
"Alec!" She shouts loudly and her brothers and Uriah jump hilariously, their drinks splashing over the rims as they yelp. She smirks and dodges the trio's out lashes as their faces grow red.
"Dammit Issy!" Alec pushes her away so he can stand up. "Bitch." He hisses and she rolls her eyes again.
"Why do people keep telling me that like I don't know already?" Issy huffs.
"Because we like to make sure you remember it." Alec snarks back, grinning as Issy sticks her tongue out, her BITE ME stud still in place. The twins laugh, taking pleasure from the way a slight blush comes onto Four's face while Hugo chokes on his drink.
"Please tell me that didn't say what I thought it said?" Hugo groans when she sticks her tongue out again.
"Come on," Alec wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her away from the table. "Let's go before Hugo gives you a lecture."
"Hey Issy!" Zeke calls out to her before the twins can even get two feet away from the table. They turn around and she arches and eyebrow at the wariness on Zeke's face. "What have you got planned for tomorrow?"
Her lips curl into a smirk as her eyes are set ablaze which has Declan and Hugo groaning. "Wouldn't you like to know?" She grins, spinning away from the table with Alec close on her heels, his grin mirroring hers.
Issy leads her brother to the tech shop she found earlier that morning, smirking at his confused mumblings.
"Issy, clothing stores are the other way?" Alec calls out to her and she rolls her eyes.
"I know but we have an appointment first."
"But what –" Issy cuts him off as she pulls him into the shop, glancing up at the shop name. Techno-fuckers. Issy laughs silently to herself as Alec's eyes widen, bleeding into a light gold. She doesn't let go of his arm until they're at the back of the shop by the shelves of headphones. Issy watches him take it all in. "Wow."
"Wow is what your sister said this morning." Issy turns around to see Becka smiling.
"Alec this is Becka, she runs the store with her cousin. She also made these headphones you're looking at."
"Damn." Alec mutters softly, glancing from Becka to the shelves in front of him.
"Why do I have a feeling Issy hasn't told you why you're both here?" Becka smirks as Alec shakes his head.
"Why are we here?"
Becka takes a step back, her hand stretched out to them and her fingers curling into her palm. "Follow me."
The twins follow her to the desk and Becka pulls out two familiar boxes. Alec eyes them curiously, glancing at Issy.
"As Issy said, I made those headphones. My inspiration comes from fellow members and these to boxes holds headphones inspired by both of you." Becka pushes one box to Alec. "Go on, open it.
A small gasp leaves Alec as he carefully picks up the headphones from within his box. He thumbs the triangles on the sides. "They look like dragon scales." Alec looks down to the blue dragon tail on his hand and all the way up his arm and Issy sees the connection too. "What do yours look like?" Issy pulls out her own pair, handing them to Alec after he wraps his own around his neck. He hums with a small smile and he looks up to Becka. "How much –"
Becka holds up her hands to stop him. "Free of charge."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
With their new headphones wrapped around their necks, they wave goodbye to Becka as they leave the shop. Grinning happily, they jostle each other as they scour the clothing shops for one item. When they find it, Issy starts giggling as an image pops into her head and she takes it to the counter. The girl behind the counter raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything as she takes Issy's card, taking the points and then handing it back. Issy also asks if the shop assistant had a large black bag. Her eyebrow raises further as she hands the twins a large bin bag and they shove the item into the bag and tying it closed. With pleased smirks, the twins go their separate ways as Alec heads back to the bar and Issy heads back to her apartment.
xXx
In the late hours on the night Issy contemplates how weird it truly is with only her own breathing echoing in the room. She lays in her double bed staring at the ceiling, her mind awake and ticking. Suddenly there's a loud knock at the door and she turns her phone screen on, wondering who the fuck could be awake at 23:15, minus herself. Sighing, Issy pulls a large hoodie over her tank top. They knock again, louder this time as she opens her bedroom door.
"Keep your fucking hair on, I'm coming!" Issy shouts out and the knocking ceases. She turns the key in the lock and swing the door open. Her eyes narrow as she takes in the scene before her. "What the fuck are you guys doing up?"
Declan grins. "I could ask you the same question." In front of her door behind Dec stands Hugo, Eric, Jason, Blake and Will. By them sit several storage units made from old crates, most of them are shelves but a few of them have draws too. "Now move over."
Issy turns to Eric shaking her head in confusion. "Is he high?"
"Not that I know of." Eric glances over her and she almost flinches at the coldness in his voice. She looks to Hugo, pain flashing through her eyes and her brother sighs. She knows she probably deserved it after leaving him in that alcove but still, they were sorta fine that morning. Issy looks back to Declan, watching as his jaw clenches a bit before opening her door wider.
"Come on in then." She smiles but it doesn't quite reach her eyes and Jason strides through first, carrying one of the smaller shelves and whistling his appreciation as he puts the shelves down.
"Damn. Is this what ranking first gets you?"
Issy shrugs her shoulders. "What rank did you come?"
"Third." Jason looks around her kitchen as Blake and Will carry one unit between them, placing it in the middle of the room. She watches Hugo as he carries another, smaller unit and places it down by her sofa. A smacking noise grabs her attention and she turns around to see Declan smiling at her. Her lips press together and her eyebrows furrow at his innocent look as he carries another unit in with Eric glaring at the reused wood.
"What was that?" Issy asks, stopping them from walking further into her flat. Eric's jaw clenches hard enough she can hear his teeth grinding together.
"Nothing." Dec chirps and she reluctantly steps out of the way so they can walk in.
Ten minutes later and all of the units are in her flat clustered together right in the middle of the floor, blocking the corridor leading to the bedrooms. Blake and Will had left soon after and she was left with fuck knows what. She looks over it all and realizes there's enough to fill her apartment and she looks up to her eldest brother. "What the hell Declan?"
"I know you prefer old furniture or something that's been remade so over the years I've been collecting old crate boxes that we get from Amity and making them into shelves and stuff."
"What if I didn't come to Dauntless?" Issy questions and the second it leaves her mouth she regrets it as four pairs of eyes snap to hers.
"Don't even fucking joke about that Issy!" Declan snapped and she raised her hands in her defence with wide eyes.
"Chill! I was just asking."
"Well don't." Declan bites out, a scowl forming on his face. "Is there something I should know? Are you not happy?"
Issy takes a step back surprised beyond belief. Declan has never snapped at his siblings like this, not even this suddenly. He's the happy, joyful one, always up for a laugh. Her eyes flare and narrow as her body tenses. She takes a deep breath as anger starts to simmer. "Declan," She says quietly, and Hugo flinches, knowing Issy is on the edge of ripping him apart. "There is nothing wrong. I'm fine –" Declan scoffs and she bares her teeth. Now Issy couldn't find shit to give, she was fed up. "Get out." Declan appears shocked as she snarls at him and he takes a step back glancing at the three on the side lines. Both Eric and Jason appeared out of place, glancing to the door very few minutes. Hugo looked between his siblings, desperation clouding his face as he debated whether or not to step in. "There is absolutely no reason for you to bitch to me when you came knocking at my door at quarter past eleven. I am fucking tired but there's not much I can do! I'm already allergic to sleeping tablets from my years in Erudite and I'm fed up. I've been in bed for five hours, slept for one and that's it, I know for a fact I won't get anymore." Issy sighs and her eyes soften. "I'm not in the mood for whatever the fuck this is so just get out."
Declan sighs, averting his eyes. "We'll just move these to the sides and then leave you be." He whispers, staring at the floor and Issy slumps into the wall. Without uttering a word to each other, the men move the units to the sides so Issy can easily walk around again.
Once Jason is finished he quickly scampers out with a quick bye to Issy. She goes to the sink, picking up the glasses she had left out to dry and places them back into the cupboards as the door opens and closes again. Slowly heat begins to radiate from behind her and she doesn't have to turn around to know who it is, she knows only one person who can radiate heat like that. His chest brushes against her back as he rumbles softly.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."
"S'okay." Issy looks down at her hands. "I'm sorry." Issy once again pours her emotions into her words rather than broaching the topic.
Eric sighs. "It's fine. I'll wait." Issy feels relieved and she leans back against his chest. His arms come around her waist and he presses his lips to her temple for a moment, breathing her in. "Declan's sorry too. He just overthought what would happen when you and Alec passed and now he's disappointed in himself for thinking it."
"I'll take your word for it."
Eric untangles himself from Issy and she turns around to face him. He grins toothily, making Issy grin back. "No offence but I hope I don't see you tomorrow." His grin widens as she barks out a deep laugh.
"Big bad Dauntless Leader scared?"
He takes a step forward, grinning down at her. "Never." He brushes a strand of hair away from her face before stalking out of her apartment.
xXx
Like Issy had said in the late hours of last night, she didn't get any more sleep, instead she spent most of it moving the storage units around until she was pleased with their placement. Now a narrow bookshelf was situated on the very end of the wall, diagonal with the smaller sofa and there was a low cupboard with shelves above centred with the chair on the wall next to the door. In her room Issy pulled a dresser on the wall opposite the fire exit and one along the wall next to it with another bookshelf flanking the other side of the door. In the spare bedroom there was now a bookshelf on the same wall as the door and a dresser along the wall opposite the bed. With one more dresser left, Issy pushed it into the bathroom.
After she had unpacked her clothes into one of the dressers in her room and her toiletries in the bathroom, Issy manage to get a small nap in, waking up around seven. In the bathroom she stripped off her clothes, making a mental note to get a wash basket while she was shopping tomorrow. Issy sighed contently as water hit her back and she was once again reminded of initiation, how there would be many people, both male and female, showering in the same room. It was weird at first but slowly they all got used to it and now it felt even weirder. It was going to take time before Issy got used to this new freedom and at the same time she both loved and hated it.
Issy sat on her fire escape with her headphones on, the music calmed her despite being upbeat. After she had came out of the shower, she had pulled on a pair of black jeans and a black and red knitted jumper. It was still early for the rest of Dauntless so she just decided to sit with her thoughts. Sometimes, Issy knew, that could be a dangerous thing but Issy liked being alone with he thoughts most days and now, with a slight breeze drifting through her hair, she loved it. Issy pulled the blanket across her shoulders as a shiver swept through her. It was nearly October and the days were definitely getting colder. The chime of her phone interrupted the song currently playing and Issy looked now to see a message from Dec and another from an unknown number. She types in her passcode before she scanned the message from the unknown number first.
To: Issy Vince, Re: Patrol Training.
At exactly 06:00 am on Monday morning, report to the Pit by the fighting rings where myself and the rest of the squad will be. You and the other recruit will be briefed further then. Workout clothes are also suggested.
Kind regards, Clark Cooper, Captain of Squadron 226.
Issy's eyes widened. She hadn't expected to get any more information on her job so soon. Issy was sure Max had said half six instead of six but maybe he got it wrong. She wondered what Hec will think of the early start as she adds the number into her contacts before selecting Dec's message.
Hey, could you meet with me for breakfast in the Pit at nine? There's a small café that's just opened up and I thought we could try it out?
Her stomach flipped anxiously. A small part of her was still fuming from last night and she almost wanted to turn him down but the tone of his text seemed uncertain, making Issy feel bad for even thinking about turning it down. Declan was her brother and siblings fight all the time. Issy bites her lip while she types out her answer, agreeing to meet him. Not even five minutes later her phone goes off with Dec's response and she can heard the smile in his words.
Issy gathered her blanket in her hands and ducked into her bedroom, shutting the window behind her. As Issy chucked the blanket on her unmade bed, she pressed the lock button on the side of her phone to check the time before turning her screen off but a moment later she found herself checking to time again as she didn't even register the numbers on the screen the first time round. 08:25. Sighing, Issy knew she had nine floors worth of stairs to descend so she took her headphones off to brush out her hair, deciding to leave it down, and slipped her headphones back on before tying her combat boots up. Issy pulled her watch on her wrist, shifting it until it sat comfortably. While she walked out of her bedroom and into the kitchen, Issy slid her – Declan's – jacket on and grabbed her keys and her points card up from the counter and slipped them into her pocket. She looked around her flat, wondering if she needs anything else before shrugging her shoulders and leaving her flat.
Twenty minutes later and Issy finds herself lightly huffing. The amount of stairs she could get used to but damn, right now its almost as bad as the runs they used to do as initiates when Four was in a pissy mood. Fuck, she doesn't miss those. As she strolled towards the Pit Issy thought of all the possibilities of how today could go wrong. A faction full of adrenaline junkies in a rocky compound without many rails. Honestly, Issy couldn't wait. She spotted Dec leaning against a wall near the centre of the Pit, tapping a beat on his legs. Taking a deep breath Issy paused her music and pushed her headphones to hung around her neck as she came closer to her brother. When Declan spotted her he stood up quickly and strode over. Once they were within arms distance Dec pulled her into him, his arms wrapping around her tightly.
"I'm so sorry." He mumbled into her ear and she tightened her arms around his waist when he began to ramble brokenly. "I didn't mean to snap, I just don't like the thought of you or Alec or even Hugo choosing something other than Dauntless or not making Initiation and even though you all have, there's now the possibility that Cara won't come to Dauntless or even make initiation if she does and –"
"Declan!" Issy holds him tighter, wondering if she can squeeze the breath out of him to make him stop. "Breathe. Its okay. I'm here, as is Alec and Hugo. Our family, those of blood and not, are safe. We're safe." Issy pulls back to look her brother in his eyes as a smirk takes over her face. "Anyway, Cara wouldn't miss the chance of being able to prank your miserable arse again."
Declan barks out a hearty laugh, his eyes shinning as Issy brushes his hair away from his face. He wraps an arm around her shoulders and begins to lead her into the Pit. "Yeah, that's gonna be fun. Imagine how many prank wars we'd go through. Uriah and Zeke would definitely join in, as would nearly everyone in your initiation class." Dec shakes his head as he motions to the stairs and they begin to climb to the next floor of the Pit, where most of the furniture shops were. "Heck, we could probably have a faction-wide prank war! Wouldn't that be great?" He questioned as he held the door of the café open for her.
Issy agrees with a laugh as she walks through with Dec close behind. Issy finds herself gaping at her surroundings. The café's main colours were mostly various shades of grey and black with small bits of silver but when Issy looked up to the ceiling she saw the night sky. Constellations and random stars were painted over a galaxy background and Issy could have sworn some of them glittered. As she stared up, she could pick out many starts that she knew by name and others she's seen in the night sky herself. Declan smirked besides her and pulled her to a table by the window.
"Like it?" He grins when Issy finally tears her eyes away to look at him and Issy just nods her head. "I thought you would." Dec thumbs his left finger where the shared tattoo they had gotten to honour Reece sits. Issy smiles and she looks up to the ceiling again, laughing when she spots a constellation that lays on her neck.
When the waiter comes over to their table Issy sits back as Dec orders for them. Minutes later, two back coffees are placed in front of them. Issy adds her sugar and stirs it in when a thought pops up.
"Oh, by the way, I've been wondering all night but how did you get those units up to my floor?"
Declan started to laugh for Issy reasons Issy didn't know. "You know there's lifts for every block right?"
"No!" Issy gasped. "Where?"
"At the end of the corridor." He giggled and leaned back when the waiter places a plate of pancakes in front of them both and they thank him before digging in. They eat quietly until most of their plates are empty before they start talking again.
"So I got a text from my squad captain this morning." Issy glanced up from her plate as Dec sipped his coffee, leaning back.
"Really?"
"Yeah, Clark Cooper of 226? Training starts at six am on Monday."
"Ouch." His nose wrinkled in distaste. "That's an early start, isn't it? I suppose its a good thing you have Clark though." When Issy appeared confused he elaborated. "Some of the captains are rather crude but because they get their work done to a good standard they're overlooked. I've heard Clark is one of the good ones though, he was trained by Harrison before he became Leader and took over the department."
Issy paused for a minute, digesting the new information. "So does each Leader have their own department?"
"Yeah. Harrison is the head of patrols so anything to do with squads, battle plans, tactics that's his job. Weapons Development also comes under his unit as well. Now Eric has a very similar department in a sense. He's in charge of the special ops that handles the bigger problems like faction uprising or faction traitors, that kinda thing, whereas Harrison's just patrols the factions. Anything important or unusual the squads see on patrols are reported to Eric and his squad checks it out. Eric is also in charge of security of our faction and Four, who's just been promoted to head of the control room, reports to Eric."
"Bet he gets a great kick outa that." Issy snorts as she finishes up and Dec laughs too.
"Yeah. Right so, Kim controls the supplies. She directs where they need to go and what Dauntless needs from other factions as well like food, materials, ammo etcetera. Winnie is probably the most busiest as it might be the biggest depo we have, other than our army of course. Her department is everything to do with children. So say someone wants to start a family they go to Winnie to request a family apartment. She supports single mums, couples with their first child or a child with disabilities and gives advice to new parents. She sorts nursery and education fees." Dec takes a sip his coffee before continuing. "Then there's Adrian, I don't think you've seen him or even his wife, Lottie, around. Their the last two Leaders and honestly they're getting old. I think Adrian is stepping down this year and it'll only be a few more years before Lottie steps down too. Adrian handles the points system, making sure everyone gets payed properly and Lottie is in charge of anything to do with the Fence really. And finally we have Max. As our Head Leader, he overlooks everything the other Leaders do."
"Wow, that's not what I expected. Honestly I don't know what I expected."
"It's more organised than what other factions thought Dauntless was capable of."
Issy shakes her head slowly, running her fingers through her hair. "I don't think I could do it. If I chose Leadership, I don't think I could handle it."
"You could if you put your mind to it but you chose patrolling, lets focus on that for now."
They chatted for a while after that, completely lost in themselves as they went through topic after topic. It wasn't until Issy checked her watch, she realised that they had been there for nearly three hours and she swore.
"What?"
"It's nearly half eleven and the Leaders will be standing up soon."
Something clicked in Dec's head as he gazed at her. "Your dare is aimed at the Leaders?"
"Yup." Issy and stands up and takes her jacket off and hands to Declan. "You can have that back."
"Why? What's wrong with it?"
"It's lost its scent."
Declan grins at her. "It's lost its scent?" He repeats unbelievingly, raising an amused eyebrow, and she shrugs.
"But I want another one, preferably like that one though." Issy watches as a smug smile takes over his face as he folds the jacket over his arm. She watches him pay for their meal before they leave the café, promising the staff they'd return soon.
Despite Issy's efforts, Dec follows her to N block and as she walks to the stairs he grabs her arm before pulling her in another direction.
"There's a lift, remember?" He calls over his shoulder and her laughter follows soon after Declan pulls her into a run. Issy follows after her brother as they go in the opposite direction of the stairs before stopping in front of two lifts, both with the letter N spray painted on the doors. The whole time they stood waiting for the lift to arrive and then for the lift to come to her floor Declan prodded her with questions on what her dare involves, who exactly its aimed at and what gave her the idea. She simply leaned her head against the wall and blocked him out until they finally came to her door. Dec was silent during the time Issy unlocked her door and strode over to the big plastic bag. When she picked it up he was still quiet, too quiet for it to be normal.
Issy sighed, rubbing her eyes as she elbowed him out and locked her door. "What?" She finally asked.
"I dare you to tell me everything about your dare."
Issy had the oddly satisfying idea to punch the pleased smile off of his face as he grinned down at her. She had to give it to him though, Dec played with her weakness: being unable to turn down a challenge or a dare. With Declan being nearly a head and a half taller than her she had to pull him now so she could carry the dare through. Issy told him of Meg's list, how the thought came to her while she was with Bree, Flare and Lilah, and how she and Alec had bought it last night. The only thing she didn't mention is just who the dare was for. One of the Leaders, obviously, but Issy hadn't decided which one. Throughout the whole trip to the lift and back down again, Issy was smirking as Declan practically gushed at the possible reactions from each Leader and he slapped her arm excitedly at the every thought of Eric going through with the dare, his eyes glowing with troublesome glee.
Both Issy and Declan escape the attention of their fellow members as the make their way to the centre of the Pit. Nearly all of the Leaders are already in the Pit, as are many people, eager to what will happen this year. Declan and Issy climb onto a rocky boulder so they can over look the crowd. Declan points to their friends at the front of the crowd, just in front of the podium the Leaders will stand on. From their outpost Issy watches as several more people dramatically confess their love for Max. Hilariously, both Uriah and Hector make an appearance sobbing something about their broken hearts. The crowds get bigger as it gets closer to twelve and silence falls in the Pit as the Leaders stand on the podium. She only half listens to Eric explains what happens now as she unties the black bag and opens it enough so Dec and herself can see the contents. As Eric's speech comes to a close she can hear Declan chuckling behind her as Eric asks who has a dare and Issy smirks.
"I have one!" She announced over the crowd, her eyes meeting Eric's. She grins when her friends start giggling from the front and she watches a muscle twitch in Eric's jaw.
"What is it?" He asked in a bored tone but Issy picked up on the caution in his voice.
"The dare is to wear this," Issy pulls out a flamboyant pink tutu out of the bag. The members gasp and laugh around her and the male Leaders blanch and shift comfortably. Eric however, keeps his gaze locked with Issy and the twitch in his jaw is the only movement from him. "Until midnight."
"And who is the dare for?"
Issy revels in the challenge in his tone. She slowly looks from one Leader to another, her gaze lingering on Eric for a moment too long and his fists clench until her eyes flicker away and joy fills her voice. "Max."
Gasps and snickers travel through the crowd as Max rolls his eyes, rubbing at his temples as he get off of the podium and makes his way to Issy. She slides down onto the ground and the crowd parts for Max. He comes to a stop in front of her and eyes the tutu with annoyance as he reluctantly snatches from her, grumbling as he pulls it on. "Happy?" He scowls as Issy grins.
She quickly snaps a picture of Max glaring at her in a pink tutu puffed out at his waist. "Completely overjoyed." Issy winks at him.
xXx
After Max had climbed back onto he glared at anyone who snickered too loud and it only took another half an hour before each Leader was given a dare. When the Leaders disappeared Issy was immediately surrounded by her friends laughing and congratulating her. Hugo remarks how mild it was compared to all of the ideas running through his mind and she laughed with him, stating that she thought it would be better to ease Dauntless into her pranks instead of hitting them full force in the face with her crazy ideas. Alec came up on her left soon after, handing her a pen and Meg's list and Issy proceeds to cross out number sixteen. Her friends are pulled in different directions by the crowd as most of them go back to their apartments or go to the closest bar. By the time it came to dinner the twins were dragged by their brothers into the dinning room and pulled to the Leaders table. Max was already sat on the table flanked by Eric and Winnie and Kim on the opposite side as the puffiness of the material made it impossible for anyone else to sit down on Max's side. Hugo slid into the bench next to Kim and Alec took the end with Declan and Issy in between them. Fugitive glances were shot in Max's direction but the Vince siblings immediately looked away when Max turned to them. Their Leader was trying to make conversation with Kim as he shuffled around on the bench, the material of the tutu rustling every time he moved. The Vince siblings laughed into their hands when Max sighed and turned to them.
"Just let it out."
Alec shuck his head, casting his eyes to the ceiling as he bit his lip and Issy clears her throat. "You know that tutu really suits you." Issy manages to get through her sentence without having to compose herself. Alec isn't as lucky as he bursts into a fit of laughter. Issy forgoes the innocent look as Max glares at her. However, Alec is still laughing rather hard. He leans slightly to his side and before any of them can react, Alec falls to the floor, giggling and pathetically clapping his hands. "Guys I think I've broken Alec."