October 28th 2018

Tris' POV

It's been a month since I went bowling with Four. Since then, we've become good friends. I've become much closer with Zeke, Uriah, and the rest of my friends too. The rumors were gone within a week of that meeting as well, all teachers handing out agitated detentions to anybody who spoke of it. It was even in the October assembly, that we were not doing the things they said we were doing. It was a great relief to hear that said. I've been out bowling again with my friends twice since, and even went on a 3 hour shopping trip with the girls. Long story short, they convinced me into buying a dress and some matching heels I can barely walk in.

I started tutoring Four the morning after the bowling night. He really was bad at Chemistry and math, but he was really trying. I explained everything to him as best I could, and thankfully, his E in Math and F in Chemistry have changed to a C and a C-. To say Hana is thrilled with me is an understatement. The night after he got his exam week results back, she literally drove to my house and hugged me. Four comes over to study every Monday and Thursday night, and sometimes we study in the gym on a morning. Occasionally we get distracted, and Four ends up trying to teach me to play Fortnite. I'm still bad at it though.

It's my exam week this time, right before Halloween. I'm stressed out of my mind. Four, Shauna, Zeke and their year have said the exams this term were really difficult, and as usual, I went into crazy study mode. I've spent almost 3 hours every night this week tucked up in my room, reading, making flash card and sticking bullet point lists up on my walls with blue tack. I think I have most of it down, but there are a few bits I'm just not getting.

My parents and Caleb are super supportive of course, but when Caleb tries to help me I just end up snapping at him because he rambles and knows way more than he should. It's almost scary how much info he can fit in his brain. I'm waiting in a line right now, waiting to get into my Math exam. This one should be a bit easier than the others, I've put a lot more work into this one. I stand in front of Christina, and behind Al, waiting silently for them to let us in and for the test to start. My breathing starts to get faster and I clench and relax my fists from nerves. It isn't until the 2nd years walk through, including Four, Zeke and Shauna.

They stop for a minute, wishing us good luck. Zeke and Shauna walk off, but Four stays back an extra second to say to me "Hey, don't sweat it. You're a Math genius Tris." he says kindly before following Shauna and Zeke into their next class. It sounded empowering and genuine when he said it. Christina taps me on the shoulder just before the door opens.

"To think he was glaring daggers at you just 8 weeks ago..." she murmurs with a nostalgic shake of her head. I turn back to the door as our math teacher and an older examiner open the door, stepping aside as we file in. We're directed to our seats, mine right at the front. I sit down, still shaking slightly from nerves. I think back over what I studied, and the tests begins.

I sit in that room for almost 2 hours, filling out equations and answering algebra and working out word problems. When I'm finished, I set my pen down and push the booklet away from me, sighing and leaning back in my chair. The moment I'm finished, our teacher curtly announces time is up and dismisses us to go to our next test.

My friends and I confer how well we think we did, Christina and Al believing they had failed every question. Will seems pretty confident he's done well, but I stay silent. Either out of modesty or superstition over not wanting to jinx it. Over the course of the day, I take another 3 nerve wracking exams. English, Chemistry and Biology. I do my best in all of them, but I'm cut short on my English test, not finishing my essay on "A Christmas Carol".

I walk home in science, my results will be announced tomorrow. Before I can even get out the school gates, Four, Zeke and Uriah come running after me. Shauna, Marlene, Will and Christina are hot on their heels. They call after me, so I stop and turn after them, laughing. Uriah speaks up first.

"Hey, we're going to buy Halloween costumes tonight from the mall. Wanna come with?" he asks, panting from the sprint. The thought spirals in my mind. I've never been trick-or-treating before. I've had a costume before, but I was really little. My parents wouldn't mind, they have really trusted me this past month, but what would I go as? What time would I get home?

"I'd love to! Are you going now?" I say, before my mind even has a chance to consider it. The Dauntless in me taking over.

"Yeah, we're walking straight there. You can go home if you want to though." Four says considerately. I chuckle in response, dialing my mom's number.

"Nah, I'll just call my Mom." I say, before informing my mother of where I am going. She says I can go, just as long as I'm home by 5. I agree to that, and smile as I follow the rest of my friends to the mall. When we get there, Christina marches us to the Halloween store. I hang back with Four and Shauna, laughing as Marlene and Christina squeal over the stupid nurse costumes and things.

"I've never gone trick-or-treating before." I state randomly. Our entire group turns to me with shocked and mock appalled expressions on, making me giggle. I just shrug. We go inside the shop, and I'm instantly enthralled by all the decorations and costumes. There's fake blood, cream make-up, vampires, zombies, zombie nurses, zombie doctors, devils, spiders, witches, everything. We spend a good half hour just browsing through the costumes, and I narrow it down to 2 I really like and aren't skimpy so I won't be cold on the 31st.

Four is standing behind me holding this genuinely terrifying slender man costume he just bought. Since everyone else is in the next aisle over, I may as well just ask for his opinion. I hold out the 2 costumes I like, a long black and red Gothic dress that comes with little black wings, and a school uniform covered in blood.

"I can't decide, which one do you think would look best?" I ask, looking into his dark blue eyes. He looks between them a few times, and then back at me, as if to see which one would fit better. 2 months ago, I would have squirmed and quite possibly slapped him, but I'm comfortable enough with him now that I don't mind. He's a good friend.

"Um...I think the vampire one. More classic, and the material looks a bit thicker." he says honestly, and it's obvious he put real thought into his answer so I choose the better costume. As soon as he finishes speaking, I smile widely and put the bloody uniform back onto the clothing rack, and paying for the vampire dress. When I return to him with a black bag in my hand, he says "Good choice." with a cheeky smile I can't help but return. We leave the store at quarter to 5, giving me just enough time to have a look at everyone else's costumes, and hurry home. When I get home, I'm surprised to be confronted by my excited mother, who asks to have a look at what I bought.

I show her the dress, and and she smiles sweetly. I'm confused about why she is so exicted, until she says, "You're going to look great. I'm going to do your make-up all pale and everything sweetie!" she squeals excitedly, almost like Hana, before hanging my costume up on my wardrobe door and walking back off into the kitchen. All I have to do is go through 4 painful days of waiting for Halloween.