(Long) Author's Note: Another chapter!

Joe: Run! Run while you still can!

Free2BMe: *ignoring him* More with Darien here. I haven't decided whether to make him good or evil yet. What do you guys think? *Joe holds up card in the background that says "Vote Evil!" and is waving it around wildly* As you may be able to tell, I have a hard time making cute guys evil. *coughADAMcough*

Joe: *rolling his eyes at Free2BMe's pathetic obsession with cute guys* You're pathetic. Evil is FUN! Why are you depriving the boy of good fun? Besides, I think your story could use some deceit, betrayal, and heartbreak. It's too cutesy.

Free2BMe: What's wrong with cutesy? I just like happy stuff.

Joe: *mutters under breath* prep.

Free2Bme: *throws hidden dagger at his head* Never do that again. I am NOT a prep. I'm just not obsessed with sadness and pain. I'm me, an original. Deal with it.

Joe: You are SUCH a prep.

Free2Bme: *grabs her axe* I'll have you know, I am NOT A PREP. And I hope you're ready to defend that statement with your life.

Joe: Umm, I'm you're Multiple Personality I'm inside you. If you kill me, you kill yourself too. And since you're not obsessed with sadness and pain, I'm guessing you don't like suicide either. *mutters something about her being a kill-joy*

Free2Bme: Oh. In that case, no tazer for you. I'll keep it.

Joe: *Falls to his knees* NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Alright Tris, this is quite enough. Will you tell me who it is already?" Tris looked at Sandry, who was looking back at her expectantly.

"Who who is?" Sandry rolled her eyes at her friend.

"Whoever the guy is that's got you under his spell. You didn't think you could hide it from me did you?" She asked, smiling. Suddenly she gasped as an idea hit her, "Is it Adam?" Tris looked at her, horrified.

"Ugh! Sandry, no! Please, give me some credit." Sandry wanted to say that maybe she should go for Adam, but kept her mouth shut about it.

"Well, then, who is it? I know there's someone." She said. Tris smiled involuntarily.

"Darien. I met him at the ball last night. He's gorgeous! Not to mention charming, an amazing dancer-"

"Wait." Sandry said, a confused expression on her face. "Did you say Darien?" Tris nodded. "And you met him at Uncle's ball?" She nodded again. "But…but there shouldn't have been anyone named Darien there. I must have gone over the guest list a hundred times, and there wasn't a Darien on it." Tris's smile faltered. How could that be? Anyone who was going into the ball would have had to get through the guards, no matter which way they entered. If they weren't on the list, they wouldn't be allowed in.

"Well, I don't know how it happened, but he sounds wonderful. I'm not sure how he got in, but I suppose I'm glad he did." Sandry said with a determined smile. Tris smiled back, slightly reassured. Slightly.

Meanwhile

A man was sitting at his fire, thinking. I know that I can do this. Jordan was foolish. His pride always was his undoing. He underestimated them all. I, however, will not make his mistake. Mother always said "Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make them all yourself". Too bad Jordan didn't heed that, or he would have acknowledged that these weren't your average people. Damn it! He knew that they were strong! Why did he insist he was stronger? It's not about strength, it's about strategy. And while I can't match their strength, strategy I have. Everyone has heard the metaphor. While a twig is weak and easy to snap, many twigs tied together are virtually unbreakable. Sandry, Briar, Tris, Daja, Evvy, Elizabeth, Adam, and Dan are the twigs tied together…or should I say spun together? But I plan to untie them. Divide, and conquer.

Author's Note: Short, I know. But I'm thinking of a conflict. I have a dozen half-baked ones that I need to develop. Give me a few days. Unless any of you have ideas? If you do, review or E-Mail them to me. My E-Mail address is KTK3C@aol.com

Joe: Hey, fan-mail is always good too. I'm 15, enjoy long walks and long talks, death, blood, gore, sadness, betrayal-

Free2BMe: Dude, I am SO not letting you date anyone in my body! Well, unless they're a guy and really cute.

Joe: Ignore her. We just let her out of the closet, she's a little feisty.

Free2BMe: *grabs tazer and zaps Joe* There, some piece and quiet. Since I didn't thank anyone in the first part (it just got too long…I get carried away) I'll do it now.

Erin: I'm glad you liked my other story, and I hope you like this one (long and drawn out as it's been)

Eve Eastborne: That was the funniest review ever! Joe's not paranoid anymore, just annoying. That's why I have sharp objects, a tazer, and extra-strength straight-jackets close at hand. And, yeah, I think you did know who the stranger was, but then I was hit with an idea that could make him work as a good-guy too and so I've been hit with a dilemma.