Four's POV

I stiffen as Eric walks towards me. He can't… it's not possible. Tris? Eric likes Tris? I clench my hands into fists and grit my teeth. The thought of Eric's lips on hers makes me nauseous. My stomach twists violently as I hear Marlene's muffled laughter from the other side of the room. But I can't see her; Eric blocks her from view as he stares down at me.

He takes a deep breath before leaning towards her. Tris stiffens in my embrace and her eyes widen in fear. Her face pales and she takes short, panicked breaths. I clutch her closer to my chest, shielding her from view.

Eric glares at me, before planting a quick, yet longing kiss on Tris' reluctant lips. When he turns to walk away, she scrubs her mouth with the back of her hand, her cheeks crimson. I caress her cheek with my thumb in attempt to calm her.

When Eric has taken his seat, he glances carelessly around the room before saying, "Four, Candor or Dauntless?"

I raise an eyebrow at him questioning. "Dauntless," I say, my tone uncertain.

Eric's smirk widens to a grin, making him look an awful lot like the Cheshire cat. I fight the urge to cringe away.

"I'll make it easy for you, Four," He spits my name accusingly. "Since you're getting awfully cosy with the initiates, I don't think it's fair for them to be kept in the dark. I dare you to tell us what your real name is and what faction you came from."

I glare daggers at Eric, my face flushed and lips parted in surprise. Eric's playing dirty, using his knowledge against me as a weapon to embarrass me, ridicule me. I see Tris frowning at him, a deep crease between her eyebrows. I wonder if we're thinking the same thing; Eric's Erudite is showing. Maybe he isn't as Dauntless as he thinks he is. But neither am I.

I tug at the hem of my t-shirt. Tobias Eaton, the abused Abnegation boy, is dead. I killed him. I'm Four, the Dauntless prodigy.

In one quick, lithe movement, I pull my shirt over my head and drop it on the floor. Tris' breath hitches slightly as her arms meet my bare skin. Her touch causes electricity to course through my body. I shudder.

Will clears his throat, bringing me out of my daze. I look up startled. "Oh, um…" My eyes meet Al's. "Al, Candor or Dauntless?"

Al's expression is a mixture of shock and horror. I realise that he'd hoped to stay out of the game, hiding in the shadows until it was over. I smile to myself.

"C…Candor," he answers, his voice shaky. I neutralise my expression. "Who do you have a crush on?"

I decide to let him off easy. It's clear that he likes Tris, the way he follows her like a faithful pet dog with a wagging tail. I smirk at his horrified expression. "IlikeTris," he mumbles.

"Speak up, initiate!" Eric snaps.

"I like Tris," Al says more loudly. Peter, Eric and Al like Tris? I stifle a laugh at my stupidity; why wouldn't they like her?

My jealousy surprises me; maybe I belong in Dauntless more than I ever thought.