*** DISCLAIMER ***

I own NOTHING regarding the divergent series e.g. the books/the movies
The only things I own are my own characters that I've created.

Hi guys! Sorry for the late update and for this being short, I do have more coming! Thanks for being patient.

"Gather round." Max called out loudly to Nix and the other transfers as they headed towards where he was stood in the pit on a platform, training had just concluded and they were told by Four to head there before dinner as Max wanted to speak with them.

The dauntless born initiates were already there waiting when they arrived along with a couple other dauntless members who were flanking Max.

After the family visit that morning training had resumed as it normally would have but there had been an atmosphere, there hadn't been the usual buzz of chatter from everyone as they trained, it had been weirdly quiet.

Nix, instead of going straight to training after her encounter with Eric had gone to the dormitory, she'd sat on her bed for a long time before she'd begun to cry.

For five continuous minutes she'd just let it all out.

Eric, her parents, training, the pain from her injuries...once it had subsided, she'd gone and washed her face.

She'd frowned when she'd used her cupped hands to splash water over her face, it had felt weird to touch, realisation had then hit when she'd noticed the water heading for the drain had changed colour slightly.

She had been wearing makeup.

With a sigh she'd took a piece of toilet paper, wet it then rubbed at her face, it had hurt but she'd gritted her teeth and kept at it.

When her face had become makeup free and felt normal to touch again she'd looked up at the mirror on the wall, her reflection had startled her, with the makeup gone it had revealed what was underneath, every inch of her face was covered in bruises and marks, the bruises varied from blackish blue purple to brown and yellow.

For a moment she had forgotten.

She had stared at her face for a beat before she'd then headed for training, she'd been chastised only a little by Four for arriving after everyone else before she'd been instructed to get on with training.

"I know you'll all be hungry so I'll make this quick." Max said to everyone once they were all stood before him, "I wanted to wish you all luck for tomorrow, so far I've received positive feedback from your instructors."

There was suddenly murmuring throughout the crowd, luck? What was he wishing them luck for?

Max smiled and nodded, "That's right, you don't know yet...tomorrow is the end of the first stage, do well and you might just move on to the second."

There were gasps and some people called out, 'we still have another week' and 'why weren't we told?'.

"What the hell? Tomorrow? No way are we ready for that." Andie said to Nix over the commotion and Nix couldn't find words to reply, she was currently having a mini heart attack, she would be kicked out for sure, there was no way she would win a fight against another initiate with her side the way it was.

Four and Adam called out to the crowd to be quiet and a moment passed before there was silence again.

"The fifth week is generally a week reserved for time to yourselves before stage two begins." Max explained with another smile on his face, "Tomorrow will tell who amongst you will be here for that."

Murmuring began again before they were hushed once more and Max waited until there was complete quiet before he spoke again.

"If you're lucky enough to be here next week, it will be revealed which two of you will be joining myself and Eric on expeditions outside the compound." he said to them and was met with enthusiastic exclaims from some of the crowd, "It'll give you the chance to put your training you've learned so far to use."

Someone called out to him asking what the expedition would be which he replied 'all will be revealed' followed by telling them it would be an initiate from both groups that will be picked.
A moment passed before he went on to explain to them what would be happening tomorrow.

"I hope we get picked." Andie whispered to Nix and just as she was about to reply with 'how could you even be thinking about that when Max just told us tomorrow is the day they decide if we're staying or not!', another voice interrupted her.

"Shut up." he said and Andie and Nix both turned their heads, Nix's eyes met his chest where he was standing right behind her, she moved her eyes up to be met with the irritated face of Eric looking down at her.

"Where did you come from?" she found herself asking, actually, it was more of a demand.

Beside her Andie gasped at the question, Eric stared at her for the longest moment with an unreadable expression on his face before he folded his arms across his chest then indicated with his head for her to pay attention.

She and Andie both turned back to look at Max where he was still stood speaking at the front of the crowd but Nix could no longer focus on what he was saying, Eric standing so close behind her was making her nervous, even more so because she felt him take a step forward so his crossed arms were touching her back.

Nix noticed Andie out the corner of her eye move her head towards her to speak but before she could Nix shook her head in a way that said 'don't'.

Andie faced forward once more and Nix exhaled softly, a beat then passed before she felt Eric move and when he did she almost gasped out loud but thankfully she managed to not, her heart began to thump against her chest when she felt his lips brush the top of her ear.

"Good girl." he whispered before he leaned back and gradually she began to let out the breath she didn't realise she'd been holding.

She glanced at Andie beside her to see if she'd noticed what he'd done but she was focused on Max's talking and for that she inhaled deeply in relief.

Another moment passed by before Max told them they were free to go and before they'd even moved she felt Eric shift behind her and as she was about to turn her head he moved swiftly passed her and headed for Max.

"Where did you come from?" Andie asked her with a smirk and when Nix looked at her she huffed out a laugh, "Dauntless is definitely rubbing off on you."

"I didn't hear him appear." Nix replied with a shrug.

"Me neither." Andie said then looked over at where Eric had gone, Nix followed her gaze and found him talking with Max, "Do you think he's the one who will pick who goes with him?"

Nix looked at Andie and saw her staring at Eric with a smirk playing on her lips, she narrowed her eyes at the girl as she said, "I don't know."

"A single initiate and him." Andie said, it seamed to be more to herself than Nix, "That would sure be an interesting experience."

"More like a nightmare." Nix found herself saying, unable to keep the annoyance from her tone, "Come on Andie, let's go get food."

A beat then passed before Nix had to say Andie's name again and the girl looked at her, as if she'd just remembered Nix was there.

"Yeah." she said with a nod, "Yeah, lets go."

Andie looked back at Eric once more before biting her lip and stepping ahead of Nix who glanced back at him herself, he was alone now and turned his gaze her way, she quickly looked away and headed to Andie's side.

Nix wouldn't have minded silence as they headed in the direction of the mess hall but Andie had other ideas and began talking about tomorrow, about how they would have to fight someone, either another transfer or a dauntless born and Nix's stomach began to hurt at the thought of it.