A sharp bang echoes throughout the forest, and everyone springs into action. The girls 20 feet to my right sprint forwards, and I can see Tobias follow suit ahead of me. It takes me a moment to get moving, but my practice on the metal the other day has given me the confidence and slight skill to climb quite well, and I manage to climb up the sturdy tree quite quickly. When I reach the top, I don't stop to take in the view, or even to assess how high I am, I just climb across a branch to the next tree.

Through the branches, I can just about see the ground and the people above me. I hear popping sounds from the paintball guns, and realize how much of an advantage I have now. I carefully wobble over to the next tree, my hands getting scratched on the rough branches and leaves. I keep going for what feels like seconds, but must actually be at least 20 minutes by the amount of gun shots I hear. Must be the adrenaline.

I don't even realize how far I've come when I look down and see the flag gleaming through the tree canopy. Nobody is around it, probably because nobody has reached it yet. When the game started, a white line was painted on the floor not far in front of where I was, so nobody could start to close to the flag. There mustn't be many people left now, because the popping sounds of the guns firing are getting less and less frequent as time goes on.

When I am certain nobody is around, I slowly start to climb down the tree. I am about 7 feet from the floor when I hear fast footsteps approaching, snapping twigs in their path. Normally, I would've sat frozen for a second, then start rushing up the tree, but I'm pumped with adrenaline and I didn't even think twice before I take a few steps down and jump the rest of the way. I sprint as fast as I can from the tree to the flag, not bothering to see who just emerged from the trees on the other side.

I wrap my fingers around the cold metal of the flag pole, lifting it high in victory. It's then that I realize that Peter was the one running out of the trees. A few feet behind him is Eric, both of them clear of paint, but holding their guns angrily. The fury if obvious on their faces, but I don't even have time to scream for help before they both pounce on me, Eric holding my hands back and Peter standing right above me, firing the gun into my stomach no less than 5 times. It wouldn't usually hurt, except that he fired the gun from about 6 inches from my skin. I cried out in pain, but it didn't take long for Christina, Will and Max to come running through.

Silent tears were running out my eyes, my stomach aching. I doubled over when I stood up, but I could hear Max shouting at Peter and Eric clearly. I was stumbling when I walked, but I still had a firm grip on the flag. It seemed in my moments on the floor in pain, a lot of paint covered people had come running out the forest. Upon seeing the flag in my hand, they started cheering loudly, whooping and lifting me up in victory. I tried to ignore it, but I could see a group of 4 girls on Eric's team looking at me and whispering behind their hands, no doubt about me.

I turn away from them to see Will and Christina laughing at the flag in my hand in disbelief. I shrug at them and laugh too as I'm literally carried back to the gym by the Dauntless crowd. It's then that I realize why my father calls the Dauntless hellions and lunatics. Being Abnegation, he doesn't understand the camaraderie formed when we risk our lives together. It makes me feel proud that I know how amazing this feeling is - and how I will never let it go.

The next hour is quite terrifying. After we arrive back at the gym, I gather my things and start heading home, only to be stopped by a group of taller, clearly agitated girls. I try to walk past them, but one of them grabs the strap on my backpack and drags me towards them. I give a short "Hey!" and try to leave, but then they start getting really mad. They must be quite stupid, because they all shout over each other, but I hear them crystal clear.

"You're such a slut!"

"Four doesn't even like you!"

"You stole him from me!"

"Why don't you fight me for him short stack?"

"Ugly little bitch!"

I chuckle to myself. They really think I'm bothered by being told Four doesn't like me? I take a moment to look at them, and notice they all wear tight clothing, have nose piercings and wear what looks like pounds of make-up. Eventually, they stop shouting and look up at me, as if expecting a response. I decide it isn't worth the effort to explain to them that Four and I are barely even friends, or try to make some kind of comeback, so I sigh, turn around and walk off. I hear them snickering behind my back, but it just makes me laugh even more. Why are they so obsessed with him anyways?

I get on the bus, only just in time to catch it. There aren't many seats left, but an empty double seat behind Uriah and Zeke seems like a sudden ray of sunshine through the dark clouds that are this day. I throw my back on the aisle seat, sitting by the window with my legs propped up. It's then that I decide to address the situation I should've faced earlier. I pull up a new text conversation with Four.

Tris: Hey

It takes him seconds to reply. He must walk home or be picked up, because he isn't on the bus.

4: Hey Tris

That confuses me. Uriah told me he would never give me his number, he rarely did. So how does he know it was me? I thought he would just get my number from this text.

T: How did u know it was me?

4: Zeke gave me ur number from Uriah

T: Ok

4: What are you texting me for

T: The rumors. I'm sorry I didn't say anything today. I was completely humiliated, and still am! I should've just talked to u about it, so sorry

4: Don't apologize Tris. It isn't your fault, and I understand. U were just upset

T: I still am. Everybody thinks I'm doing THAT with u...I barely know u

4: U can say sex u know, I don't mind

T: Maybe you don't, but I do! It's not something I really like to talk about if I'm honest with u

4: Sorry Tris

T: Don't be. I'm weird like that, I've just got 0 experience. You heard my phone call with Christina this morning.

4: Yeah. It was Peter right?

T: Yeah. I think he was annoyed at you beating him today in the fights

4: Bastard. Hey, Tris, I'm sorry about the other day in math. Uriah and Zeke are going with Marlene and Shauna to the bowling alley tonight and invited me, so, do u want to come to?

T: What? Really?

4: No, I just invited you to somewhere to murder you. Of course really!

T: What if people think we're ACTUALLY dating or something tho?

4: We'll be there with 4 other people Tris, and it isn't like a double date or whatever. Plus, if anybody says anything, tell me and I'll break their nose

T: There were these girls after school today. They grabbed me and started calling me things like "Slut" "bitch" and things like that. But don't break their nose. They'll break mine.

4: I won't. But seriously Tris, don't listen to them. You are nothing like that.

T: Thanks 4. So what time?

4: 6? We'll be back by half 7 at the latest, if you have a curfew or anything

T: U know my parents are abnegation?

4: How many Abnegation transfer to Dauntless?

T: Not many. And I've never been out with friends before really. I mean I've been to the occasional birthday party at a friend's place, but it was more of a "our parents are friends" than actual friends. But yeah, I'll be there. Is food involved?

4: maybe a milkshake and some fries? Tbh, Zeke and Uriah will probably have tonnes of burgers. But I don't have the cash for some Double Decker burger right now, so, it's up to u.

T: Sure. Milkshake and dauntless cake it is. See u soon 4!

4: See ya, Tris

I click of my phone. I chuckle to myself, before jerking forward when the bus stops at the stop near my house. Nobody else gets off. All the Abnegation walk, not wanting to take up seats on the bus. A few weeks ago, I probably would've felt embarassed and hurried off, but Dauntless has changed me for the better.

(It's short. I know. But I decided to do a second upload at the same time as this, in Tobias' POV. Hopefully that makes up for the train wreck that is this chapter. My laptop is still screwed, but I only have to wait 79 days for a new laptop. R&R!)