Hey yall! This chapter has a lot more excitement and stuff. Tell me what you think!
I wake to Amar calling for us to wake up. I roll into a sitting position, thinking of the wonderful dream I had. It was just me and Amar in the dream. We ran through the streets of our city holding hands, laughing, and kissing. Nothing in the world mattered. It was just me and him. In the dream, we could be together, forever.
Then, I woke up.
I stand up, my body aching as I get out of bed. I'm still sore from practicing yesterday. Quickly grabbing some clothes, I go to change in the bathroom. I feel the weight of eyes watching me as I pull my shorts on. I pick up my shirt, still feeling the weight of their eyes. I turn around. Eric is the first one I lock eyes with. He's staring at me now. His own eyes begin gliding over my skin. I look over at the group of guys looking at every part of my bare skin. Eric notices it too.
Uh-oh, is all I have time to think before he is across the room. He is in every guy's face, speaking too quietly for me to hear. I pull on my shirt as I watch the guy's faces go pale.
I smirk to myself. He's still protective. How sweet. But I have, or I think I have, Amar. Amar isn't Eric. He's sweeter, gentle, and, well, hotter (though that doesn't matter).Too bad I have to fight Eric, today.
But do I have Amar? Are we a thing? I frown as I think about that. It was only one kiss. One very passionate kiss.
I go to the bathroom mirror and pull my long blonde hair into a high ponytail. I look at my reflection. My hair is curly, my eyes bright blue, my skin is lightly tan. I wonder if Amar kissed me because he thinks I'm pretty. Although, I hope it's more than that.
I don't like the ponytail. I left it down or had it in a ponytail every day in Erudite. I grab two hair needles. I bought the hair needles my first day at Dauntless. Twisting my hair into a bun, I push the two needles in my hair, crisscross style. The needles hold my hair in place.
"That's a good look for you," Eric comments. "Come on. Or we're going to be late." He holds the door for me. I feel my face flush as I scoot past him. Protective and gentlemen-like. Who is this guy and what has he done with Eric?
We walk side by side. I feel the ghost of the gentleness of his lips on mine, again. I like Eric as a friend but how do I tell him? I don't want to hurt him.
I walk faster, getting into the room quicker so I won't have to see him. When I get in the room, Amar is writing names of people fighting today. I scan for my name: I'm the third group to fight. And next to my name is, of course, Eric.
I glance at him. His face goes pale, slightly. His face hardens, noticeably. If I wasn't so used to staring at his face up close, I wouldn't have noticed. I realize I'm staring and look away, my face flushing.
I look up to see Four have a worried look on his face. We make eye contact. I pull my eyebrows in at him. He holds up the number 3 and points to Eric with his head. He's worried about me fighting Eric. I give him a slight smile and shrug. Kinda like in a I-got-this way.
Amar calls to us. We all circle around him. "Alright! We're going to start actual fights that you will be judged upon. This is part of stage one and stuff. So do your best." Some people shift uncomfortably. "First up: Four and Mia."
I watch as Mia's face turn nervously pale. Four is strong so, reasonably, she's afraid of him. She should be. He's gotten stronger than he was when he first arrived. He isn't the little, sweet, quiet Abnegation boy that transferred anymore. He's becoming a strong, brave, Dauntless man.
I watch their fight. I noticed that Four was doing his best not to hit her. He almost lost. Almost. The next group fights. I watch the way they move. One person is too tight. One isn't tight enough. My mind wonders to mine and Eric's fight. I wonder who will win: me or Eric? I guess I'll find out.
Amar calls me and Eric into the ring. We awkwardly walk into the ring. I catch a nervous, worried glance that comes across Amar's face. Eric gets into a tight form. I take in his stance, his weak points, everything. I get into the form I showed Amar: elbows slightly bent, fingers slightly curved, my knees slightly bent.
We stay in our positions. Out of nowhere, he charges at me. I have enough time to go under his arm, before he attempts to tackle me. He gets to the other end of the mat and tries again. This time, his hand grabs my hair needle and pulls in out. Half of my hair falls down, out of its bun.
I straighten up, hair now in my face. I flip it over my head. He grips the needle in his hand, the pointed side facing towards me. I hope he doesn't poke his eye out. He continues to charge at me. I continue to move out of the way. I remember non-fatal presser points and get a few quick jabs in. His free hand goes limp.
Now, he charges at me, a look of murder on his face. So much for protective, I think. He tries to wake his arm up, but it stays limp. His face becomes hard, he's frustrated.
He makes his way towards me, forgetting he has the needle in a death grip. I try to move out of the way, but I'm too slow. I watch as the needle pierces my side and I cry out, in pain. I grip Eric's arm and pull him down with me, as I fall. When we fall, he accidentally jabs the needle in farther. I cry out again.
Everyone gasps.
"Abby!" a voice shrieks "Move!" I can't tell who it is. They sound too far away. I'm losing too much blood. I'm going to die because of Eric. Then, I'm lifted. Arms lift my head and go under my knees. Someone is running and carrying me. "Don't you die on me, Abby." A deep voice grumbles. Worry is in their voice. It sounds like Amar.
Amar! No... I can't just die. No, I have to fight. As easy as it would be to just let go... I can't. I can't for Amar. I can't. I think I might love him. The way he was there for me and all he's done⦠I can't just quit.
But I can feel myself slipping into darkness, losing consciousness. I hear a voice yelling for Max to come help and people being yelled at to move and more craziness.
The last thing I remember is gentle lips, I'm guessing Amar's, on my forehead and the words: "Don't die. Don't quit. Fight." And then, I'm out cold.
I wake up, my side throbbing. My hand is being held, lightly. I open my eyes, almost becoming blind by the bright light. I see a man sitting by my bed. I blink. Max? I follow his arm down with my eyes. He's the one holding my hand. His head is down and he's looking at the floor. He doesn't know I'm awake. What is Max doing here?
I lightly squeeze his hand, letting him know I'm awake. His head comes up, surprised. I release his hand.
"You're awake," he says. "How's your side?"
I manage a slight grin. "Fine." I lie, my voice croaks. "What are you doing here?"
"Amar is usually here but I told him to get a shower and something to eat. He hasn't left your side," he informs me.
"Ah," I respond. "He'll be mad he wasn't here." I try to laugh but wince instead. I clutch Max's forearm.
Max adjusts my pillow and holds my hand, gently. "Woah, easy. Quite a grip you got, too. You may not want to laugh for a while. And don't lie to me. Amar told me what happened."
I give him an apologetic look and sit back. I, unknowingly, pull Max closer. He braces himself with his hand, which he places directly behind my head. He so close to me that I can smell his cologne. I stare into his eyes. They're deep, dark brown, like his skin. He smiles, his bright white smile, is amazing. Amar has a better smile, I think. Max stares at me, his eyes hiding something he wants to say, but can't.
Just then, Amar walks in and clears this throat. "You're awake."
I look past Max. "Yeah. My side is doing better." He stares at the space between me and Max. I wonder what he wants to tell me. I catch them both roll their eyes. I've now told both of them a lie. Max still stares at me.
Amar mumbles, "You're lying. You kinda got stabbed."
Max looks up from my face and back at Amar. "I guess I should leave you two alone for a bit?" his voice rumbles. It vibrates my chest. Amar straightens and nods. "First, can I talk to you a second?" He asks Amar. Amar nods and Max brings himself up. Both standing tall, they leave with their shoulders back and I'm left alone.
Why did Max come? Did Amar really stay with me? Why did he only stay with me? All of these questions roll around my head.
Well? Why do you think Max came? What did you think of the fight? Tell me! I love getting reviews. Review! Love ya bunches!
