Thank you so much to Bamberlee for editing!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Have a realllly good weekend!
"Have you been working out? You're looking…good. Real good."
The words are spoken slowly, heavy with flirtation and dripping with obnoxious approval. I pause knocking down the final wall of the barn to see Noelle standing a few feet away. She's openly looking me up and down, and I stare her down until she gets the hint. She still doesn't look away for a good few seconds though, she merely throws me an insulted glare and sticks her nose up in defiance.
"It's a compliment. I was being nice. If you really were so smart, you'd have picked up on that by now. Everyone keeps talking about how hot you are."
"What do you want?" I bark, and I use this time to grab some water. May had dropped it off not too long ago, and I was grateful for the gesture. I'd been out here for a few hours now, helping Jerry finish the last few sections, and I was sent here instead of the greenhouse.
Turns out, there is more to Amity than labeling plants.
I don't know if I should be flattered, but my guess is this barn takes precedence over learning how to grow carrots, and no one saw me working in the greenhouses. It had been two days since I last set foot in there. Everly stayed behind with Sofia and Courtney, and I hate that I know both their names.
I also hate, well maybe more dislike, that I know a lot about them.
Everly sat by me on the second day and they followed. Within a short period of time, I knew they'd all grown up together. I knew Sofia was more dramatic than Courtney, but Courtney was funnier, or at least she thought everything was funny. Neither were much older than Everly, they all slept over at each other's houses while growing up, and most importantly –they wanted to know if I had any friends my age.
I did, but trying to explain Rylan was in Dauntless and his new friends –Jason and Frank—weren't going to stroll right in here and give up a life of action and adventure, was hard for them to understand. They both looked at each other, then turned back to me and asked if they could be there when I called them next.
I cocked my eyebrow at all of them, and shockingly, Everly was suddenly very busy talking to the person beside her about the weather.
"I'm supposed to drop off these worksheets. Hank said Everly will help you fill them out. Are you guys, like, together or what?" Noelle presses her lips together, and her eyes flick over the few sheep wandering by. "It's cool if you are. We can't all look like her. Everyone agrees you two are entertaining, pretending you don't like each other. It's one of the better topics in regard to you."
"What are you talking about?" I kick the last remaining piece of the wall out of the way, and Jerry yells his thanks as we near completion. "What did you hear?"
My nerves kick up instantly, and I shut them down.
The past few days had been the start of a lot of things, including quiet little rumors. I heard a few things whispered while I ate lunch, mostly from the transfers. Trent and Trevor are from Candor, and they are smarter than they let on. My defection hadn't gone unnoticed, and Jeanine wasn't the only one surprised at my choice of factions.
In between bites of fruit salad and sly looks in Everly's direction, I heard them: traitor, Erudite conspirator, run away, and worst of all –Jeanine's nephew. Add in a few theories about why I am here –a love affair spanning factions involving Everly, a family fight in which I decided I never wanted to see any of my family again –not entirely far off –and my favorite, I'm part of a high ranking military conspiracy and am here as a spy.
None of them were brave enough to say any of this to my face, of course.
In my few days here, I'd also earned a quick reputation of being quiet –which works given living in Amity means I need to get along with everyone and being quiet would help that –but also overconfident. The narrative pushed most is I'd come here to escape my family, not entirely wrong but annoying, and because I haven't been panicking, they assume I think so highly of myself that I don't have to try.
That one isn't entirely wrong, either, but it isn't entirely right. I know I have to be smart about my time here. I could walk around announcing the singing at lunch is annoying and pointless, or rolling my eyes when the millionth bonfire is announced. I show no weakness. I don't complain about the heat, the amount of work involved in living here, or even the fact that after being here for only five days, I'm working like I've lived here forever.
The physical aspect is fine, but the rest grates on my nerves.
Carole glared at me when I cut through her yard, though the whole fucking faction appeared to be everyone's yard, and her chickens run wild. I found one on the steps to the house, one sitting in a tree, and to my dismay, one in the kitchen sink.
I'd think I were going insane, except that Everly cheerfully picked up the chicken, brightly telling Travis the chicken she'd give him a bath later, and the chicken appeared to listen. She dropped him off on our walk to initiation, and I tried to imagine Daniel or Blythe coming downstairs to find a live animal in their kitchen sink.
So my assimilation to the Amity faction is in full swing, but I know some people are probably nervous. Like maybe I'm here for the wrong reasons, and I'll eventually snap if they get too close.
No one is willing to walk up and ask me about Jeanine, but they also aren't afraid to make their assumptions about me.
"I didn't hear anything about you and Everly. I can see it, with my eyes," she reaches down to pet one of the sheep, and it bleats before running away. "Everly is clearly enamored with you and your…no longer perfect hair. She practically volunteered to live with you. Of course, her brother would be in charge of housing. Of course he'd just…shove you together. It must be very cozy living with her. Meanwhile, we had a flock of pigeons fly through our housing last night."
"You also volunteered to live with me," I point out, ignoring Jerry yelling my name. "So what's your point? You want in on this, Noelle? The Amity boys not doing it for you?"
My words are sharp, and so is my defense. It's surprising, even to me, but I have my reasons. Everly is harmless. A few days of living together isn't enough to label any sort of relationship, nor do I have time for one. I feel edgy; I'm on alert waiting for someone to show up and try to drag me out of here, while balancing how much happiness and goodwill I can truly handle.
There is also a small part of me, a part so small I don't want to admit it, that is already mildly fond of Everly. I'd celebrated my birthday with her, the only one I'd ever had with an actual party, and in turn, I found her appealing. She, too, is quiet, and there is something calming about how unrattled she is. Most would go running if they learned they were living with me, even if just for fear of being around someone unfriendly.
Everly seems to be taking my closed off demeanor as a challenge.
Admittedly, one she is winning.
"You should take your shirt off while you work. You'd be much cooler," Noelle turns her nose up, and she slams the papers on the broken fence beside me. "I gotta go back before break is over. Good luck figuring out photosynthesis while watching Everly brush her hair all night."
She leaves before I glance down at the paper, and I'm not shocked at what I see. The assignment is neatly written, yet on a similar level compared to what I'd done in Erudite. Unlike Erudite, this lesson is clearly meant to make sure the subject understands it. The diagrams and questions are handwritten, there's a small note saying if I need help to stay after class tomorrow, and it's obvious Hank puts a lot of work into teaching.
"You know, I get told the same thing all the time. It's a problem here. You better get used to it. These women, they just go right after what they want. They don't hold back."
I look up in surprise when Jerry slaps me on the arm, and he shakes his head as Noelle shrieks when she trips over a squirrel running across the path. We both watch her bolt, running sloppily and drawing far more attention to herself than necessary, and I'm unsure what exactly she thought she was going to find here. The squirrel makes her its next target, and she speeds up as it trails after, thinking she's going to feed it.
"Which part should I get used to? Being told to take my shirt off or being questioned about Everly?" I raise an eyebrow at him, and he grins as he moves so his posture mirrors mine. He cocks his head and puts one hand on his hip.
"Both."
"You have to do it. Just…get it over with. Everyone's first time is a little weird."
She looks up at me, and her eyes are so green I'm forced to narrow mine at her.
I shake my head, refusing on every principle possible. "No. I don't want to."
"Eric," Everly says my name patiently, and her lips threaten to turn up in amusement. "You have to just…stick it in there. Really deep. The first time is always uncomfortable, but it'll get better. I promise. We've all done it."
I glare at her, and a few feet away, Trent laughs so hard he drops the pot he has in his hands. He immediately swears, and Hank hurries over to help him clean up the mess. Hank pauses to nod at me, cheering me on from the sidelines with loads of enthusiasm.
I give in, only because I have to.
"You like this? Really? This works for you?"
I glare at Everly as I shove the stupid, oversized plant into wet, disgusting soil. My aversion to this activity is not because my hands are going to get dirty, but because so far, I've been finding it isn't awful to work around here. I even like the physical aspect of living in Amity, though I would never voice that out loud.
I draw the line at planting flowers under the guise of this being useful knowledge.
"Harder. It's not in all the way. Wait, not that hard! You have to be gentle!"
Transferring plants, a very basic concept, is not anything I'm interested in. I was horrified to walk into the greenhouse this morning to find what appeared to be hundreds of pots everywhere, and hundreds of plants in desperate need of attention. Our task for the day is to move them and rehabilitate them. The bonus task is written on the top of the papers by each pot: if you can keep your plant alive for the entire initiation, you win some award.
It is more than likely you get to keep the plant, and I wonder if I have the option of opting out.
"I don't know how to be gentle. Who cares? It's in there," I snap, and a few feet away, Noelle is wheezing from laughing so hard.
As much as I hate to come off looking like either a snob or someone who would rather die than touch dirt, the soil is oddly wet, smells really strong, and has the consistency of cow shit. Some of the plants are tall, some are nearly dead, and most are labeled delicate. There is an art to getting them to take in the new pots, and Hank had announced we have to talk to them each step of the way, so they aren't panicked over their new home.
The idea is so stupid I nearly walked out.
I couldn't.
My return to the greenhouse was reluctant but required. I was assuming we had Saturday off, but I discovered we had a really short day, just a few hours with Hank. Some of us have a visit scheduled with Eden, and then two whole days off. I was hoping it would go by quick. I went in thinking I'd get done as quickly as possible, breeze through whatever Hank wanted us to do, say hello to Eden, and be on my way to enjoying two days of doing nothing.
It would be the first time in my life I really had nowhere to be.
Instead, I found myself struggling to feign any enthusiasm, not even when Everly quickly moved several plants without a single issue, then turned around to help me.
"I know it seems weird, but you'll get used to it. Here, I'll show you."
I glare at her and she steps in front of me, then helps push the plant lower. It's so large it hits me in the face, and my swear is muffled by her hair, then her giggle when she steps on my foot.
"You're not even trying. You have to work it in there," she half whispers, half cracks up, and I glare even harder when she shoves my hands toward the very bottom. They touch something cold and wet and moving, and I retreat so fast I nearly knock her over.
"Are you afraid? Eric, it's just a worm," Everly turns around, and for a second, we both stare at each other. "A really tiny worm. The soil comes from Jerry. He makes a fertilizer to help the plants grow and he brings it here."
"Great. And no, I'm not afraid. The plant is in there." I answer flatly, and Hank rises up to help Trevor. Trevor proudly shows him his work, and Hank is equally impressed. "Are we done for the day? Can I leave?"
"We just got here," Everly stares up at me, and I loathe being on an uneven playing field. "We have ten more plants to do. Then we're supposed to go –"
"Actually, Eric can you help me for a second?" Hank shows up with more plants in his hands, and behind him, Noelle is still laughing. She stops laughing when her plant tips right over, and her scowl is immediate. Trevor tries to help her, and a few others offer suggestions to help it stand upright.
I look back at Hank, and he makes no move to hand me either of the plants in his hands.
"Sure."
"Come with me. I think you'll like this a little better than what we're working on." He glances at his daughter, and his approval is immediate. "Yours look good, Everly. Would you mind running home and seeing if your mother is busy? I know she's working this morning, but I was going to see if she wanted to eat lunch by the lake. It's so nice out I thought we'd take advantage of it before the weather turns."
I exhale sharply as Everly nods, and her smile is genuine.
It's not that nice out.
It's hot, though maybe it's nicer by the lake.
"Sure."
"Okay, Eric you come with me. Noelle, these are for you. They might be easier. They're very sturdy."
I walk beside him, watching Noelle try to catch my eye, and I ignore her. I ignore her further when she watches Everly walk out the opposite way, and her jealousy is clear as day. Hank and I head down the long row of tables and greenery, and the hiss of misters going off is low and soothing.
I'm slowly becoming more and more familiar with the sounds of Amity. Unlike Erudite, it is noisy in a quiet way. Frogs chirp all night, something hooted as it flew past the bedroom window, and there is always something neighing or squawking as it goes past the house. Even now, I'm familiar with the clinking sounds of water rushing through the pipes, and the kick as it turns on.
I walk with him all the way to the end, then out a door I didn't know existed.
"Over here. I think this might be more up your alley. House plants aren't everyone's favorite part of initiation. It's more to see if you're willing to take the time to try and keep them alive." Hank talks while he walks, and he gestures to the second greenhouse. "I need some help making sure these are all accounted for. It won't take you long, maybe thirty minutes max. Just mark off anything I'm missing on this list, and when you're done, you can go home. The list is on the desk. I uh, would have someone else do it, but I need someone who doesn't want to touch these plants."
"You sure?" I stare at Everly's father carefully, and I try to figure him out.
He's so far from Daniel, the Erudite comparisons ceasing to stop, that he makes my head hurt. I don't miss Daniel in any way, but Hank is nothing like him. His shirt is unbuttoned at the top, a worn flannel almost everyone here favors, and his hair looks like he thought about combing it this morning. His boots are worn, laced properly, but still loosely, and he's tan. He's not at all polished or put together, but he's strikingly knowledgeable about his work.
"Come get me if you need help." Hank gestures toward the door, and he hesitates only to look at me. "I don't think you will, but just in case. And hey, if you and Everly want to join us for lunch, you're more than welcome."
The gesture, while very generous and also not generous at all given everyone here eats together anyway, is nice.
"Thanks. I'll tell her," I force a smile back, and I won't.
Eating with Everly has become a routine I look forward to. I still am not willing to admit this to anyone, not even her, but she is the most normal part about living here. Initiation might be out of my control, and there is no leadership job waiting for me when this is over, but one thing is for sure: she and I have our time at home together, and there is no one else.
It is quiet.
Safe.
Easy.
I would say it's boring, but after years of listening to Blythe rant about Daniel's work while she and I ate or Daniel slyly insulting Blythe's ability to care about any of us past appearances' sake, it is downright domestic bliss.
Which is something I never, ever wanted.
I don't even want it now, but I like the feeling, and I am unwilling to share it with anyone.
A few minutes later, I learn one of Amity's deep dark secrets.
They have a greenhouse filled with things that can kill you.
I realize this by the time I get to the second box, and I pause in front of the large table. This group of plants is labeled Giant Hogweed. It's unassuming; the plant is leafy, and the white flowers are arranged in an umbrella shape. If one didn't know better, you might be tempted to cut off an entire group of the flowers, given their natural formation.
Hank's notes are listed to the side of it, warning that it causes blisters and burns, and he believes would ruin your vision if you got it in your eyes.
The third table is Hemlock. There is a sign here warning me to stay a few feet away, and I ignore this for a single second. The plant, tall with white flowers and purple splotches on the stem, looms over me. It says it's poisonous if consumed and can be absorbed through the skin.
I glance around slowly, wondering if Hank is trying to kill me.
Each table in here, maybe a dozen or so, is covered with these plants. Everywhere I turn, are all sorts of things that cause some form of harm, even if it's mild. I walk down the row quickly, skimming the names as I go, and I come to a halt in front of a tray of herbs. These are dried out. They're being prepared for something, but I can't imagine what.
I finish the rest of Hank's list quickly, marking off that he has everything he needs to kill someone, given the opportunity for him to shove them face first into one of the plants, and I finish with a fleeting moment of triumph.
It's mixed with the odd satisfaction of knowing some danger does lurk in Amity, even if it's just in the plants.
We don't eat lunch with Hank and Eden.
We eat at home, on the balcony outside the bedroom. The air is cooler, hinting the slow summer is coming to an end, and it's quiet. There are a few shouts from children a couple houses down, and the chirping of birds around us.
Everly made sandwiches and salad, and she carefully carried them up the stairs while I carried the drinks. There was the quick feeling of appreciation for her and this break. Our first week of initiation slowly comes to an end with this lunch, and it feels like another lifetime ago I chose Amity.
I stare at Everly while the breeze floats past us, her hair moving and her fingers pointing at a squirrel jumping daringly close from the tree over to the railing in hopes we'll feed him. She laughs as he gets closer, coaxing him with the lure of a piece of turkey, and I watch silently.
Life here is nothing like I expected, and in this moment, I'm completely fine with it.
Hours later, there is the sharp smack of reality when I see Ashley.
I stand in line with Trent and Trevor, both discussing how hard they found the homework Hank had assigned, and they elbow me to tell me I'm lucky I was excused to help Hank and Jerry. They go on to say they like me best. I half listen. Part of me knows there is more to being asked to help than just acing a quiz. Everly has connections to Hank and Jerry, and so does Forrest. I feel like I'm being worked into the fold and prepped for something. I don't know what yet, and it's maddening to know the only thing I can do is go along with whatever comes my way.
Destiny is no longer in my hands, and it certainly isn't in my favor when Ashley turns, and her stare lands right on me.
In the few days I've been here, I can't look that different. I still keep my hair as neat as possible, but I skip shaving in favor of a few extra minutes to myself. My clothes are different –still a struggle but I understand why they dress the way they do here –but not different enough to make me unrecognizable. In a plaid button-down shirt, one with dark maroons and dark blues running alongside each other, and a pair of worn jeans Forrest had shoved in the box for me, I still look like Eric.
She must not think so.
Ashley blinks as if she's faintly recognized someone, but not really, then turns and walks across the path to ask Everly something.
The scene plays out before me like a bad dream. Everly is walking with Johanna, and she is heading this way to join a few of us waiting for our first official visit to Eden. We were told it would be quick and painless. The check-up was a mere formality, and only encouraged because it would ensure we were all healthy enough to continue with our initiation. On the off chance there was something wrong, we'd be given the option for treatment: take whatever Eden gave us or try and hitchhike to Erudite and visit their walk-in clinic.
We were assigned an appointment time, and when I got here, only a few people were ahead of me. I hung out with Trent first, listening to him rant about the crummy score Hank had given him when he killed his first plant, and we were soon joined by Trevor. They pointed out Everly was walking this way, and before I could tell them I had no clue what she was doing, I saw Ashley.
I'm immediately reminded of why things did not work out. In another universe, and probably her own mind, our few weeks together might have been enough to get me to stay there. I wasn't outright lacking human companionship until I was. Until a warm body –hers – was better than eating dinner alone.
Until the high of getting off in her hand won out over going to bed while Blythe drank wine by the fire and ranted about how Daniel still wasn't home.
Until I realized what a catty bitch she was when Rylan knew we'd slept together before I could tell him.
Now, I watch her wobble in unreasonably high heels as she points at the class she's here with. To my dismay, it's not just Ashley here, but a group from Erudite on a field trip. Ashley must have gotten separated from her class, and it's odd they're here so early. Usually, these trips are a reward, and never are they on a Saturday.
Rylan and I got to visit Candor early last year, and at the end of the year, Abnegation. Those two factions are routinely toured since they work to help all the communities, and we were often sent in hopes of possibly appealing to those who might want to pick them.
We'd fucked around the entire trip to Abnegation, going as far as to draw a look of disdain from one of their plain faced leaders.
"Who is that? Is she lost?" Trevor pushes me aside to see Ashley, and I can see the appreciation in his eyes.
Ashley, with her blonde hair recently cut and her fitted blue dress, is quite a sight here. She sighs when Everly tells her something she doesn't like, and when pressed for a different answer, Everly shakes her head. She's not bothered by Ashley other than being annoyed, and I find myself smirking when Ashley tries to storm off, and Everly watches her in anticipation of her falling.
Forrest stands beside her, and neither move when Ashley stumbles over a sudden drop in the ground. She glances down at her shoe, and her nose scrunches up in absolute horror over tripping. She quickly regains her composure and tries to delicately walk away.
"Eric! I'm ready for you!"
Ashley turns around at the same time I do, and her lips part.
There, leaning in the doorway waiting for me, is Eden.
Smiling brightly, cheerful as ever, looking right at me.
"How tall are you?"
Everly's mother stands across from me, writing down my answers on a paper. I saw the file when I walked in here; it appeared to be one used universally. Daniel had the same ones in his office, each labeled with the patient's name and information, though his were filled out by his assistant. Eden has a stack by her, and they are written in her own handwriting.
There is no computer.
No equipment.
Just a small room with a bed, lots of light, all sorts of herbs and powders, and the distinct smell of antiseptic. It's odd she'd have it here, but my guess is someone forced her to.
"Six-four."
"Okay, and have you eaten lunch today?" Eden writes this down on my chart, the Eric Coulter at the top looking odd and out of place, and she looks up when I don't answer. "Yes?"
"I did. Everly and I ate before I came here."
She looks at me, knowing full well her daughter also lives in the same house, and I can see her mind whirling. She smiles and offers me a snack. "Let me grab you something. You look like you've been working very hard."
"I'm fine."
My protest is ignored. I have the sneaking suspicion she thinks I'm afraid of the food. I'm not avoiding eating out of fear of being drugged with peace serum, but I've been very careful with what I do eat. I'd skipped breakfast this morning, but only because I slept through the alarm. Everly had set it, and every part of me wanted to make sure she'd done it right. I was arrogant in thinking I'd wake up on time, but I was more tired than expected.
I woke up with my face in Everly's pillow, her tiny self not in bed, and the sounds of the shower on. I sat straight up, realizing we had less than twenty minutes to get to the greenhouse, and that left no time for breakfast. I took a fast shower once Everly was done, got dressed as quickly as I could, and once ready, we walked to initiation.
"Here, I made them this morning."
Eden hands me a blueberry muffin, still warm and far larger than normal, and she waits for me to eat. Like most things in Amity, I compare her to someone from Erudite, namely Blythe, and my chest is oddly tense when there is no real comparison.
While they both could be the same age, Eden appears younger. She has more than one child, an entire army of children, actually, and endless patience. She's the same size as Blythe, though her dress is looser fitting and her long, dark hair is braided to the side. Her eyes are lighter, kinder, and there's not a hint of arrogance to her. There's a true sense of concern to her, and despite being shorter than me, I feel like I have to listen to her.
It's a strange feeling.
"Thank you."
I take a single bite while she watches, and she returns to her paperwork. She checks off a bunch of things she hasn't even asked me, and I smirk when she stops at the bottom and signs her name. I idly wonder who she turns these in to, or if she even does.
My guess is she puts them somewhere and they're long forgotten.
"Are you fitting in okay? Any major concerns?"
"Is this really my exam?" I blink at her, thinking of how going to see the nurse in Erudite required all my identification and then some. "You don't need to know if I'm up to date on my vaccines or –"
"We don't require them here," Eden answers softly, and she looks up at me the same way her daughter does. "Everyone comes to see me to make sure they're doing alright. The initiation can be stressful for transfers. Are you doing okay at home?"
Her words are not at all invasive, and yet they are.
Immensely.
I feel a flash of possessiveness I don't understand over my living arrangement with Everly. Eden had been there, she'd even made breakfast and I'd even gone to her house for a drink, but I feel like the home and time Everly and I share is private. Only Everly and I are there, and I like it that way. She isn't half bad to live with and going home and heading to bed have been the most normal part about transferring so far.
For some reason, I don't want anyone else involved in it.
"It's…"
"Fine?" Eden smiles, and she's not at all making fun of me. "Do you and Everly get along? Are you sleeping okay?"
I stall by eating another bite of muffin, and I wonder if she asks everyone these questions. "How do the other initiates sleep? All in one room or house? Do they sleep well?"
"Probably not," Eden admits, and she steps back to really look at me. "The initiation is meant to immerse you in our community. A lot of the space here is shared. You can eat dinner with the faction, you don't have to be alone, you never have to cook, there are plenty of people to talk to. For some, living with everyone is overwhelming. We always offer a back up option in case they can't handle it."
"Wouldn't that mean they get kicked out?" I swallow, and she shakes her head.
"No. Hardly anyone gets kicked out. You'd have to be either very violent or…do something reprehensible for the faction to want you to leave."
"Is it because you need the help?" I stare at her, my own mind whirling, and I try to make a connection I don't have enough information for yet. "What about…what do you do if you don't have enough help?"
Eden's stare is full of realization that I'm a step ahead of the ones outside. Trent and Trevor and Noelle might do just fine, and they'd take a normal job and live out their days. Everly would go on to do something absolutely suited for her, whatever that is. She hasn't told me what she wants to do here, but my guess is it's not working in the daycare.
But I've been trying to figure out how this place really works, especially with a dwindling population. Even at five or six kids per family, it would take years to replace the ones who left.
"We make it work the best we can," Eden flashes me a bright smile. "Everyone pitches in. We just hope we have good people transfer here, and we hope they like it. We sometimes get additional help, but we manage. You'll see."
"Really?" I stare back. "You just…make it work?"
"We do," she pauses, and Eden steps away to grab the file again. She glances at it and makes a face, and her next question is less forward. "Alright, I just have a few more questions and you'll be done. Have you been in a previous relationship? Are you having any headaches or dizziness? Any itching or weird rashes? Are you currently involved with someone?"
"What?" I take another bite of the muffin, enjoying how much better it tastes than the ones back home. "Are you asking me if I've dated someone? I have. And no, I don't have any headaches."
Eden pauses, and her next words make me tilt my head.
"No, actually, I'm asking if you're having sex with anyone. If you are, I have to sign you up for the sexual education course here. It's taught by Carole. While we look forward to your future children, you should know how to keep yourself safe in the meantime," Eden looks at me, and the muffin sticks in my throat. "Eric? Are you alright?"
"You're asking me if I'm having sex with anyone. I've been here for six days," I point out, and it hits me that she may assume I've persuaded her daughter to join me in bed for reasons other than sleeping. "You're asking me about Everly, aren't you?"
Eden shakes her head innocently, and I nearly choke when she writes something down.
A lot of things, actually.
"Everly is fine. She's been drinking the tea for years. You'll have no problem having children." Eden looks up, and her mistake makes her blink. "I mean… she'll have no problem. I know you're just…her roommate. But I'm responsible for everyone's health here, and sometimes our transfers come from very conservative backgrounds. Did your father ever sit down and talk to you about –"
"Mom!"
We both look as Everly stands there, looking horrified. Her stare swings wildly, from me to her mother, and her cheeks are red. She's walked in at just the right moment, and her eyes are as wide as saucers.
"Why are you asking him all that!" She half hisses, half groans this valid question, and I shrug from where I'm standing. I resume eating the muffin, not entirely bothered now that I realize why she's asking, and Eden throws Everly a look of extreme patience. "You need to stop."
"Hi, Everly. What are you doing here? You don't have an appointment until later." Eden is also unfazed. She keeps scrawling something down, her handwriting impossible to make out, and she stops only when Everly doesn't answer. "Are you okay? Do you want me to make you something to drink?"
Everly blinks. She looks at me, her cheeks burning, and I smirk back at her.
Amity looks horrified.
I eat another bite of the muffin without breaking eye contact, and I try not to laugh when her head tilts at me, then her mother.
"No, I'm…I just came to tell you something."
Everly stops talking, and she takes a step closer. There's a lone visitor's chair in the corner, and not much else. She stops by her mother, glances at the chart, then looks up at me with an unreadable expression.
They would both be surprised to learn Daniel was not as progressive as the members of Amity. He might have hoped for grandchildren one day, but I'd never heard about it. He'd never once sat me down to explain he didn't need a grandchild before I made it to the choosing ceremony, and if anything, he'd have had his assistant do it.
The last thing in the world any of us wanted was a sex talk from Camille.
Or Carole.
"Johanna needs you. She asked me if I'd come get you. She sends her apologies for interrupting," Everly averts her stare. She looks at the wall, where a polite sign announces if no one is here, to please head to Eden's house. "I wasn't aware you were in here giving out sex advice. You shouldn't be. You have ten children."
Eden's patience is endless. She smiles at her daughter and shoos her out. "Aren't you funny. Please tell her I'll be right there. Let me finish up with Eric. I'll meet you outside. I just have a few more questions for him and then you two can go home."
"Okay," Everly answers reluctantly, and she glances at me out of the corner of her eye. "I'll…just…wait. Somewhere else."
"Okay," Eden waves her away, not even bothering to see if she really leaves. "I take it you're good then? No questions for me?"
I shake my head slowly, wondering what on Earth anyone could possibly ask her. How to pass initiation? Does she have peace serum on hand? Does she take it? Why is Carole in charge of sex education here and what qualifications does she have? I think of other things, like if I told her I was sleeping with Everly, would she send me home with something to prevent her from getting pregnant, and it dawns on me she most certainly would not.
In a faction vast and always working, there would be no preventing of future members being born.
Family is everything here, and the faster that happened, the better.
I leave when Eden finally congratulates me on being healthy and ready for initiation, and she sends me out the door with one final, warm smile.
"How did it go?"
Everly stands off to the side of the small clinic, chewing on her lip. She waits for me to come over to her, and once by her side, we take off on the dirt path. Trevor and Trent are still waiting, and a second after we leave, Trent is called inside. He is back outside almost immediately, and I hear him agree to return in an hour.
"Which part? The few questions I was asked or the sex talk?" I glance down at Everly, her hair half pulled back and her dress a darker shade of pink, and she avoids looking at me. "It went great. She said I never have to come back."
"Really?" Everly is rightfully skeptical, and she looks up just as we come to the fork in the pathway. We both pause, and our choices are either continue to the Dome and join everyone else for lunch, or head elsewhere. I can see the hesitation all over her face, and it intensifies when I step closer to her.
My arm touches hers, and she tilts her head up at me.
"Let's go home. I told Judd I'd go to his birthday party tonight. You should go, too, so I can leave early?"
Everly looks surprised, but her face lights up. "You agreed to go to Judd's birthday? Really? Are you sure you know what you're getting into?"
"No," I point out, and she snickers at the look on my face. "But I needed a charger and I had no way of paying. That was his suggestion."
"He's really nice. He'll tell you all you need to know about UFOs." Everly watches as her mother leaves, and she sighs. "Alright, I'll go with you. But I don't want to stay long. Forrest gets annoying really fast. Want to go back home for a while? I think I'm going to take a nap."
I glance down at her, wondering how she could be tired when we'd barely done anything, but I agree.
"Do you remember how to get there?" She grins, waiting for me to scowl. "Or do you need my help?"
I shoot her a dirty look, but there's no real malice behind it. "We live right by Carole. How could I forget? Maybe I can stop there on my way home and see what she can tell me. I think your mom signed us up for her class."
"You're on your own with that one," Everly laughs, and the sound is nice. It's almost as nice as the sunlight on my skin, and I reject all of these thoughts because they sound like something someone in Amity would think about.
I focus on something else.
Everly and I walk back home in silence, and every so often, her fingers brush against mine, just a little longer each time.
Rylan doesn't call.
At first, my annoyance is rage filled over the fact that my former best friend –his declaration, not mine –can't be bothered to keep his word. I nearly throw the phone at the dresser, but instead, I decide to text him. He might be busy, or his plans changed, and I quickly tap out a message implying I understand.
I almost don't.
I want to talk to him. I need someone to reassure me this will work out in my favor.
For every good moment in Amity, there are some that lead me to believe everything isn't as peaceful as they pretend it is. Eden had slipped up by saying the faction sometimes had help, and me being pulled from initiation to assist Jerry made me think they needed someone who wasn't so loopy to help out. Hank had a greenhouse full of poisonous plants. To top it off, I was given not only an entire home to myself, but the approval to have Everly live with me, and it is obvious most are hoping it results in us winding up together.
I had even started to be suspicious of her, though she currently sits on the edge of the bed, patiently waiting to see Rylan.
Unfortunately, it's not happening. His response is quick, almost immediate, and it makes both of us scowl.
I'll call tomorrow. Shit's not good. Hug your wife for me. Frank says hi and please come save him.
Forrest's bar is named Harry's.
I stare at the sign in total confusion, and beside me, Everly tries not to laugh.
"It's named after our dad. He started it a few years ago, and we tried to convince him to pick something else, but he was stuck on it."
"Isn't your father's name Hank?" I stare at her in total confusion, her dress white and off the shoulder, and her hair pulled up into a bun. She's strikingly smaller this way, and I had stared when she walked downstairs.
I had slept next to her for five nights now. Each one was absolutely fine; she did her best to stay away, but even I wound up a few inches closer to her. The worst part of it was I knew she was there, and I had the sinking feeling it would be hard to sleep without her. I don't know where that came from, but the thought wouldn't leave. It was like my mind wanted me to suffer, and I thought of this when I opened my eyes to her waking up.
The room we share is spacious, bright light spilling in through the curtains as the sun rises, and secluded. I like that aspect the best, and Everly seems to really enjoy not having her siblings around. All of this pales in comparison to how pretty she looks, both half asleep and now.
"It is. It's…I'll explain later," she nudges my arm with hers and she points at the group of people milling around outside. "Um, you're really sure you want to go inside?"
"Why?" I stare at her suspiciously, and her hesitation is strange.
"Okay, well…you know what? Let's…go. You can find out for yourself."
She smiles up at me as she catches my wrist. She tugs my hand to follow her, and the two of us head inside, past a long line of people waiting to greet the guy standing at the door, and right into total chaos.
She catches my eye right as someone starts singing, not a chorus of Happy Birthday but something much worse, and I close my eyes in pure horror.
"You are a really handsome guy. I hope you know that."
Forrest, proud owner of a bar the size of the house I've been living in, sits on a barstool, drunk off his own beer. He's less inhibited tonight, if that's even possible, but he fits right in. The room is crowded, the bar standing room only and every table is claimed. The place is admittedly cooler than anywhere I've ever been; it's themed to look like an underground mine, or maybe this is just what Amity reminds him of. There are booths along the wall, tables shoved in every inch of space, and all sorts of pictures of people.
A few animals, too.
I can only make out half of them, and some I'm not sure are real.
Above the bar sits the head of what appears to be Bigfoot, proudly mounted for all to see.
"Yeah, I know," I answer, laughing at how cocky my own answer is.
I'm mildly intoxicated.
Maybe more than mildly.
Judd had greeted us the second we walked in, and it was obvious everyone in Amity really liked to party. He was red faced, several beers deep into his birthday celebration, and he introduced me as his friend. The guys surrounding him, a few Amity born initiates and a slew of friends who'd lived here their whole lives, all grinned. They were welcoming without question, slapped me on the arm, and they shoved a beer in my hands.
Each one was dressed just like Judd. I've never seen so many fitted pants, worn t-shirts, boots unlaced, and long hair. They all looked alike, but not. One guy had suspenders on. One had shorter hair, but he hadn't done much to it, and one had a black shirt on. The room was loud, so loud it was almost impossible to hear in, but the band had thankfully stopped playing two drinks ago.
I cringed through most of it, though no one else paid much attention to them.
"Has Everly annoyed you to death yet? Or has anyone asked you to babysit?" Forrest leans across the table, and he waves to someone behind me. "I'm kidding. Totally kidding. Wait, Dad hasn't asked him to babysit yet, has he?"
"No, but he made him label all the poisonous plants," Everly laughs, and her own cheeks are pink. A single drink sits in front of her, half full, and every so often she takes a sip. "By himself."
"Really?" Forrest looks surprised, and his eyebrow rises up. "He sent you to the second greenhouse? Wow."
"Is he trying to get rid of me?" I cock an eyebrow at Everly, and she snickers. "Yes?"
"Did you get to the Fanged Geranium?" Forrest asks, and I can't tell if he's serious or not. "No, he's not trying to get rid of you. He probably assumed you wouldn't try to touch the stuff. Everyone else tries to take a leaf or two home."
"Did you touch them, Eric?" Everly looks at me, and she takes a larger sip of the drink. "Forrest, what is this? It's so strong!"
"No clue. What did you order? I thought you got water." He spins around on his barstool, and our table is flocked by two people I haven't met. My phone rings right as they arrive, and I see Rylan's name on the screen. I fumble to answer it, but I slip and hit decline. I swear loudly, and when I look up, Everly is waiting for me with the two new arrivals.
"Um, I wanted to introduce you to some friends of mine. This is Jake, he's in our initiation class. And this is his friend Ryan."
I look over at them, both looking at me intently, and they have the biggest smiles on their faces.
"Jake and I grew up together," Everly explains, and she catches herself as her barstool tips. "Ryan is from here, too. They've been in a different group so far."
"We heard all about you," Ryan grins, and I blink at them.
In a moment of supreme weirdness, it's like looking at the Amity version of Jason and Rylan. Ryan has long brown hair, but it's curly. It's a mess, just like everyone else's here, and he's the exact same size as Rylan. Jake has the same red hair Jason has, though his is neatly pulled back. They are excited, wide eyed as they stare at me and enthused at the potential of our friendship. They wait eagerly, and across the table, Everly nods encouragingly.
"Hello."
My answer is flat, not as friendly as I'm sure they're hoping for, because my phone rings again. "Hold on one second. I'm…expecting this call."
"Sure. It's cool to see you in person," Jake nudges Everly, and she busies herself by finishing her drink. "We heard all about you. From…someone."
They both wink at Everly.
I stare at her curiously, wondering when she had time to talk to him, or how good of friends they really are, but I have no time for this. I answer the phone, and this time, Rylan and Jason are both there. They are in a dark hallway, and both yell hello, then fall dead silent.
"Where are you?" Rylan demands, and his expression darkens. "Eric Coulter, best friend of me and now best friend of Jason, where are you?! I thought you were in Amity!"
"I am. Look," I hold the phone up, turning it around to face everyone, and Ryan and Jake both lean in closer.
"Whoa! You're shitting me! Who are they? Are they in Candor?"
"Who are we?! Who are they, Eric? ERIC!? ERIC!" Rylan yells, and beside me, Everly orders another drink. On the other side of her, Judd runs by to thank us for coming, and someone drops off another round of beers. It grows so loud I almost can't hear him, so I slide off the barstool and yell that I'll be right back.
"Okay, we'll just be here…waiting for you," Ryan calls back, and on the phone, Rylan swears.
Over and over, louder and louder.
"Hold on," I hiss, making my way through the crowd. I make it outside after a minute, and the silence is deafening. "I'm at some bar that Everly's brother owns. It's super crowded because it's Judd's birthday and –"
"I'm just going to stop you right there," Rylan interrupts and I come to a halt. I lean against the wooden fence lining the bar, and I wait for him to continue. "You're at a bar, with Everly, in Amity. Meeting two new friends who want to take the place of your old friends?"
His insult is well earned.
"I don't know them. I just met them tonight. But yes, I am at a bar, yes, Everly is here, and…I don't know them. All I know, is after this, I have two days off. That's all I can think about," I exhale heavily, and he frowns.
So does Jason.
"Are you guys okay?"
"Not really," they answer at the same time, and I feel a twinge of sympathy for them.
Not picking Dauntless was the scandal of the century, according to my aunt. But so far, their initiation looked incredibly challenging. I wouldn't go as far as to guess it's miserable, but it's certainly not replanting plants and drinking in a bar.
"It's really hard to rank high. It's constant pressure to stay where you're ranked, it's hard to sleep, everyone hates each other, and on top of all that, Jeanine was here, again. She wanted to know Everly's name." Rylan looks at Jason, and they look sympathetic now. "We told her we have no clue who you saw at the choosing ceremony, and we'd report back if we did."
"But we won't," Jason reassures me. "Fuck her. She pulled us out of training and then we had to make up the time. Thank God Frank saved us seats in the mess hall. Are you liking Amity? Really liking it?"
"It's…it's interesting," I keep one eye on the door, hoping Everly won't come wandering out here. I'm not worried she'll ask them something stupid, but I want a minute to talk to Rylan and Jason without them asking about her. "Hey, have you guys heard anything else? I think there's something weird going on here. The faction is so big, I don't know how they take care of it. I don't think there's enough members."
"Really?" Jason is the one who answers. His head tilts, and he looks a whole lot like Jake. "Do you think they're having the factionless help? My dad used to say Abnegation and Amity would employ the factionless. It goes against some rule, but I think if no one notices, they can get away with it."
"What the hell would Abnegation hire the factionless for?" I ask curiously, and even Rylan looks at him.
"I think they used them to rig their election. That's just my theory. But who knows? Maybe helping out? Making really dull clothing? Cutting Frank's hair? We really need to go with him next time to make sure he picks out a better cut this time around."
"I think he said his dad cut it," Rylan looks thoughtful, then shrugs. "He doesn't like his dad. I tried to ask a few questions and he basically told me to fuck off. So I punched him in the face today, but it was during class so it was fine. I got a good score because of it."
"Do you think it's a bad thing if the factionless help there?" Jason changes the subject, and I look up when a group of members comes out of the bar. They are drunk, sloppy as they take off, and they yell and jeer at each other. "Is that the factionless?"
"Maybe," I watch them leave, but with the way everyone dresses, it's hard to tell. Anyone could be factionless if you looked fast enough. "I have to go back inside. I left Everly and –"
Neither answer.
There is a shout of their names followed by heavy footsteps. They take off running, and I hear them swearing, right up until Rylan whispers he'll call me tomorrow and the phone disconnects.
"You are handsome. I like how tall you are."
Everly blinks her eyes at me, and she smiles with all the confidence in the world. Her head tilts so she can really look at me, and in the least surprising moment of the night, she nearly falls over onto the pillows.
I exhale heavily because it appears no one in Amity can handle their liquor.
I'd grown up around parents who drank with their meals. Alcohol –wine or expensive brandy or whisky –was not uncommon with dinner. Blythe and Daniel were very careful about what they drank, always something exclusive or just enough to take the edge off their evening, and they were never intoxicated. It seemed like they drank more for their own sanity than to get wasted, and this was something I found a speck of admiration for. Rylan and I were occasionally allowed to drink if we ate with his dad, but those times were rare.
Still, I'd developed more of a tolerance than Everly, who after one whole drink and three sips of her second drink, was tipsy.
I glance down at her face, her skin flushed and her hair a wild mess behind her, and she smiles.
Widely.
I'd returned from my phone call to find Everly giggling as Landon stood next to her. The rage I felt at the sight was not my own. It was unfair how easy it was for him to be near her, and even more unfair that he had no issue touching her. I watched him touch her hair, then her cheek, and his eyes met mine when she moved away, visibly upset by him touching her.
He left immediately.
He disappeared into the crowd, now even thicker and louder, and I returned to Everly asking me if we could go home.
I willingly agreed, and the two of us said a quick goodbye to Judd. I failed to notice she was stumbling over her own feet, and she giggled as she crashed into me. I caught her by the arm and promised Judd we had a great time. I gritted out a very friendly Happy Birthday, and he looked so happy you would have thought I promised him to hang out every day.
Luckily for me, we left before he could ask. We said goodbye to Forrest, who had a very panicked look of oh shit when he saw Everly was a little drunker than he thought, and he made me promise to come find him if she needed anything. He advised me to have her drink some water, and he pressed a scrap of paper with his house number on it into my hand.
Our walk home was quick. Everly pointed out almost everything we saw. She lost her mind over a lonesome goat, insisting we tell someone, and when I didn't know who we would tell about a rogue farm animal, she laughed and told me I was really funny.
My mood swayed from finding her amusing –like the moment she did take hold of my hand, sliding her small one into mine, then immediately jerking it away to point out what she believed was an owl only to have it be someone's porch light –to having less patience than ever.
She is tiny, and the drink was strong.
She somehow made it upstairs, brushed her teeth, and changed for bed. She didn't put on one of her nightgowns, but one of my shirts, and practically fell into bed.
Where she now sits waiting for me, only to tell me she appreciates my height.
"Have you always been so tall?" Everly looks up from beneath long eyelashes, and she lies back when I stare her down. "Eric?"
"Yes. I've been the same height for nineteen years."
I answer her dryly, and she laughs. She throws one arm out at me, and she sighs my name when I don't move.
"I knew it." She pauses, and her next words catch me off guard. "Landon is just…the worst. Don't you think he should be banned from Harry's?" Everly mumbles. "Forever. I think we should ask Forrest."
"What did Landon do? Did he say something?" I pull the shirt over my head and wait for her to answer. "Everly, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," she sighs. "I just don't like him. He's not even that tall."
"Okay," I watch her pull the covers up higher, and I wonder if she even knows what she's saying. "Hey, why is Forrest's bar named Harry's? Shouldn't it be named…Hank's?"
She's quiet as I climb into bed, and I reach over to turn off the light. It takes my eyes a minute to adjust to the darkness, and when they finally do, she looks over at me. Her expression is serious, and her lips turn down.
"You haven't figured it out yet? I thought you were supposed to be a genius." She ignores my dirty look and sighs. "Hank's not our real dad. Forrest and I have another dad, but he doesn't live here. He comes by sometimes. Forrest loves him a lot, but…it's harder for me. Every time I ask if he'll stay, he says no." She averts her stare and her shrug is slight. "I think it's me. I think I made him leave. Hank married my mom when I was little. He's…he's a really nice guy but I think everyone I care about ends up leaving. Even if I ask them to stay. My dad here said I could stay, but they just need someone to keep Zander busy."
She closes her eyes tightly, and I wait for her to open them.
When she does, she looks like she's about to fall asleep.
"Where does your other father live?" I lie down facing her, and she's much closer than she promised she'd sleep. Her tipsiness fades a bit because her smile isn't all that happy. She answers me lowly, and this time when she closes her eyes, I know she's falling asleep.
"Dauntless."
This time, Frank's face is a bloody mess.
Rylan calls early, so early I'm not even sure how he's awake, and I answer it without thinking. I'd fallen asleep in a fit of exhaustion and sulky rage that Everly fell asleep seconds after telling me about her real father, and I answered before I could remember Rylan preferred to use the video feature. I blinked my eyes open to Frank looking at me, sort of dead eyed and clearly jealous of my living space, and Rylan whispered that Frank had nearly murdered someone yesterday.
"I think he's a serial killer. He broke their nose," Rylan loudly whispers, but Frank's eyes stare at me.
His expression is torn; he's absolutely silent, and he looks around to try and see where I am. I'd sat up for a second to answer the phone, and the only things on the screen are the pillows behind me, the wall, and the barest hint of the sheets. I squint at his face, and I notice there's a large gash on his ear.
"What the fuck happened to you guys?"
Rylan looks no better.
He has a black eye, creeping down lower to his cheek, and the bruise is stark. His hair is a mess, not that that's anything new, and there's more than some defeat to him. When he turns, I can see where someone punched the side of his face, and a deep scratch runs along his neck. It's red and raw, and it looks like the kind that burns.
"We're still fighting each other. There's no real point to it, other than to see who's the best. Uh, but we went on a mock patrol really early this morning to see what the soldiers do here, and we got attacked. The factionless were out and they decided to initiate us real quick. Apparently, they get pissy over being kicked out of the areas they live in." Rylan sighs, and he looks exhausted. "I'm still having fun, not as much fun as you, obviously. Where's your wife by the way?"
"Sleeping," I answer off handedly, forgetting to remind him she's not my wife. "You said shit's bad? Why?"
"Other than all that? Does he know?" Frank looks at Rylan, and I hate that he's there. I hate that he's friends with my friend, and I hate whatever relationship they have because it's clear they've formed some bond, and if I was there, it wouldn't have happened. "There's all kinds of stuff going on. Jeanine was here again, looking for someone named Harrison. She came straight to Rylan and asked if he'd heard from you. She said they're watching. She even asked me if I knew you and I had to lie and say I didn't."
"That must have been very hard for you," I retort dryly, and he starts to glare at me. I cut him off before he can respond. "How are they watching? Does Dauntless watch the factions?" I glare at him, but I need his answer. "And no shit there's something going on. I declined to work on her stupid project and now she's mad. She's probably there, hoping a Divergent will fall right into her lap.
"Divergent? What are you talking about?" Frank asks, and I dislike him even more. "Dauntless watches all the cameras. Amar told me one of the jobs here is in the control room. He said they have them everywhere and they use some network to run surveillance."
"No one told me anything about that," Rylan shakes his head, managing to look insulted over being left out of a conversation between Frank and Amar that didn't involve him. "I told Jeanine I'd take the job, but she's still not happy. She wants you. She's like, desperate to get you out of Amity. But uh, I guess you're doing well there. She'll probably be mad to know you're already living it up. Hey, let me see Everly. Is she really there?"
"She's not awake yet," I glance down at her, her dark hair everywhere and her back to me, and Rylan's expression changes to pure triumph. "What?"
"I knew it. I knew she was sleeping by you."
"We only have one bed, remember?" I roll my eyes, but I smile tightly when Jason waves hello from the background. He winces when he takes a step, and I watch him press on his temples. "She's going to be mad she missed your call. She wanted to call back the other night."
"I know," Rylan sighs, dejected as ever. "They watch us really closely. Everywhere we go. We tried to go outside when we were calling last night and we were pretty much told we'd be shot if we took another step. Then, they amped up the training since they thought this meant we were bored. Today, we ran a hundred miles. Super fun."
He sounds grim, and behind him, Frank throws me one final look. I can tell he doesn't like any of this, but his nod confirms everything Rylan is saying. He eventually says goodbye, and when he leaves, Rylan turns back to the phone quickly.
"Sorry about that. He's having a rough time. I think someone is looking for him, too. Dude's got more secrets than anyone here and he barely talks. He likes Jason, though. He's less a fan of me, but you know, I already have a best friend."
"I know," I swallow, and I feel the bed shift as Everly wakes up. She looks up in confusion, then sits up and moves right over by me. Her look is accusatory, but it fades when she sees Rylan's face.
"He called! You didn't wake me up!"
"Yes, well you sleep like the dead," I point out, and she shoves her hair off her face. "And he's my friend, not yours."
"Hey! I can be friends with everyone! Sorry, I missed you guys the other night. I even had everyone ready to see you. I told them all how if you pick Amity, you get a free wife," Rylan winks, and Everly shifts closer to me. She yawns, and I know she wants to go back to bed. "And last night, you guys were out partying. Is initiation in Amity even tiring? Or a thing?"
"We went out for drinks last night for our friend's birthday," Everly makes a face, and she struggles not to look at me. "I got a little tipsy. My brother trains all the bartenders and they make the drinks really strong. I don't think Eric had as much fun."
"Oh, you two have a mutual friend. How cute. This is moving right along. But wow, Eric didn't enjoy a night out. What a shocker. Let me guess, he made you leave early?" Rylan glares at me, and he struggles not to smirk. "Everly, are you aware who you're married to? Are you aware –"
"Wait, move to the left!" Everly sits up straighter, and she knocks me out of the way. My eyes widen when she manages to wrangle the phone out of my hands, and she ignores my protest. She does move closer, as if this is an acceptable compromise, and she asks Rylan to move again. "Can you go more into the light?"
"Anything for you, Everly Coulter," Rylan willingly and joyfully obliges, and Everly doesn't correct him.
Because he steps back into a wide, open space, and Dauntless abruptly comes into view. The area he's in appears to be deep underground, and the light filters down from somewhere high. All around him are members dressed in black. Some are fighting, some are laughing, and most are milling around, waiting beside a large ring. The walls are odd, a slick, cold looking marble, and there are all kinds of alcoves carved into them.
"There's about to be a fight. We all made bets. Uh, it's Chad versus Chad. Should be riveting. Everyone comes to watch these things for fun."
We both don't answer.
I find myself watching Everly instead of the phone, and she chews on her lip. She stops suddenly, and her lips part.
"That's him. He's right there."
"Who?"
"Yeah, who?"
Rylan and I both ask at the same time, and she looks up at me.
She's pointing at a man leaning against the wall, his uniform dark and fitted, and his stare unimpressed. His eyes scour the room with great scrutiny, and he barely blinks at Rylan having a phone and wandering around. I faintly recognize the jacket as a leader's jacket. I saw a picture of one of their leaders –Max –in a schoolbook. He had the same blue stripe on his arm, and the same stiff, formal version as this man is wearing.
Everly leans back, and my view is blurred by her hair.
"Behind you. That's my dad. He's looking right at you, Rylan. His name is Harrison. You should go say hi."
Rylan stares back at us in pure horror, and a second later, Harrison really is right behind him. He comes to a stop to see what Rylan is doing, and his eyes widen when he sees the phone.
They widen even further when he realizes he's talking to Everly, and then they move over to me.
He says my name right as the phone loses signal.