Just a little scene inspired by Despina478's review. I also thought it would be interesting to hear some rumors and maybe see the effects of them on Tris, so here is a little drabble that I hope you guys like. Strong T rating.
ooo
It was the first weekend since leadership training had begun and Tris was lingering around the tattoo parlor with Tori, spending some much needed time with someone who was not Eric.
If she knew anything about the rumors of Tris and Four she didn't comment and, for that, Tris was grateful.
Tori was content to work on her clients, chatting lightly with Tris as she did.
They discussed her training, but Tris found herself agitated as she heard herself consistently bringing up Eric in the conversation.
It was all about what Eric taught her this week, how many laps he made her run, how he was so averse to giving praise.
She had little else to talk about, honestly. Her time was spent almost singularly with Dauntless' youngest leader. She had even begun to sit with him at meals, finding the quiet and calm setting much more welcoming than the thought of the harsh atmosphere that seemed to float around the tables of her former classmates.
She had just told Tori about how Eric often stole food from her plate at meals when Tris promised herself not to talk about him any longer.
"You're moving on quickly," a drunken Lauren slurred from her seat in the tattoo chair.
"Excuse me?"
"From Four, I mean," she said as if it weren't painfully obvious what she meant. Then she said something that Tris was not prepared for. "So are you broken up? Do you mind if I..." She wiggled her eyebrows, the meaning clear.
Tris turned to stone in her chair, eyes turning to Tori who looked uncomfortable.
"How much have you had to drink?" Tori asked the younger girl. "I wont have you starting problems in my shop."
"It's okay, Tori," Tris said with resignation. She told herself she was calm, though she didn't believe it. Out of respect for Tori, Tris vowed to keep her temper in check. "Four and I were never together. So you don't need my permission to..."
Lauren laughed loudly.
"You don't expect anyone to believe that, do you? How else would a little thing like you get the number one spot?"
"I worked for it," she cried indignantly, forgetting her promise to stay calm.
"Oh, I'm sure you did, honey," Lauren laughed again, her glassy eyes roaming over Tris. "Only blow jobs don't really count as 'working' for it."
"Lauren! Get out of here, now! You're out of line," Tori hissed, pulling the drunken girl out of the chair. She tossed a sleek brown curtain of hair over her shoulder and scoffed.
"Say whatever you like, Tori. We all know what really happened with her training." The girl brought her hand to her open mouth and made an obscene gesture.
"Get out of here before I knock you on your ass myself," Tori growled, shoving Lauren towards the door. She stumbled slightly, but did not fall.
"Fine," she huffed. With another flip of her long hair, the girl finally departed, leaving the tattoo shop in a very uncomfortable silence.
Tori stared at Tris apologetically, with a hint of concern in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Tris. Drunken words-"
"Are sober thoughts. It's okay, I'm... used to it," she broke in quietly.
Tori fell silent, looking at Tris with pity.
She was shaken, but she hoped the older woman couldn't tell. She was certainly not used to people speaking so rudely to her, and Tris was suddenly grateful that the greatest majority of others simply talked behind her back.
The worst was perhaps that no one believed she could have made the number one spot on her own. It brought to life her fear of not being Dauntless enough, because she wasn't truly Dauntless at all. She was Divergent, and inside she knew that it was infinitely better to have people whispering about her and Four than for them to know the truth.
She could handle teenage gossip, but she wouldn't be able to hide from those who searched for Divergents.
With this in mind, Tris resigned herself to the thought of being known as that girl. If the episode with Lauren was anything to go by, she shuddered to think of the next occurence.