Chapter three:
A/n: Hey guys. Two chapters this week, so I can catch back up. Thanks to my amazing beta, CavyGirl1991. I really apreciate it.
Disclaimer: unless my name changes miraculously one day, I will never own Divergent.
Chapter Three:
My phone buzzes, and I grab for it. A group message, sent by Christina, naturally, to the gang. Smiling, I click it open.
Christina: Hey all! I've been thinking...
Will: uh-oh.
Tris: LOL.
Christina: Tris! Who's side are you on?
Tris: not yours, LOL.
Christina: I'm offended! It was actually a good idea!
Tris: well, shoot!
Four: Uh-oh.
Zeke: LMAO.
Christina: we should have, like, a gang party! As a way to celebrate Tris joining!
Shauna: yeah!
Tris: Uh... I'm down for the party, but not the reason behind it. What if it was just a back-to-school party?
Zeke: Yeah! We have to make the prospect of school fun somehow, right?
Four: I'm down.
Will: sure, why not?
Uriah: you don't even have to ask me!
Shauna: I'm in!
Lynn: I'm game! Just beware, Tris, Zeke loves alcohol.
Tris: I've never drank. I'm not planning on it, either.
Uriah: you're no fun!
Four: Leave her alone, Uri. If she doesn't wanna drink, don't make her.
Tris: Thanks Four.
Four: no problem.
And it's official. I'm invited to a party. When I tell Mom about what the plan is, she suggests that the girls come back over here, and we can have a sleep-over. That winds up with Caleb inviting Fernando over, and Shae inviting Rose-Anna and Kristina over for the afternoon.
Christina had told me to wear layers, so I slip into boy shorts, some leggings, a plain tank, a short-sleeved shirt, and a Twenty One Pilots sweatshirt. I slip on my tennis shoes, and then apply some light foundation, concealer, and eyeshadow. I straighten my long blonde hair, and then give myself a once-over in the mirror hanging over my dresser. Deciding that the chances of my pod being revealed, from it's place on the backside of my left arm, are slim to none, I decide that I'm ready to roll. I grab my kit and inhaler, and head down to the kitchen where Mom is sitting at the counter, doing some quick charting before everyone gets here.
"Eat a snack before you go." she says, pointing to the fridge. I sigh, check my BG, 100, plug in the carb count, and grab an apple from the counter. I sit across from Mom at the table, and wait for the litany of warnings I usually get when I go to someone's house.
"No drinking." Mom says, looking up from her chart. "Offer to be the designated driver, so you don't have to drink. Make sure the boys have one as well, please. Text me any time you get ready to eat, so I know what your BG is, and what you're eating. Use your inhaler if you need it, and make sure you have all the proper supplies to manage both your diabetes and asthma. I've spoken to Hanna Pedrad, but told her this information shouldn't be shared with Uriah and Zeke, or anyone else."
"Okay." I say, heading out to the car. I check my BG, 172, and pull out of the driveway. I turn onto Christina's street, and fire off a quick text to tell her I'm here. She climbs into the backseat, because Shauna's gonna need the front. I back out of Christina's driveway, and drive down to where Marlene works at a coffee shop. She piles into the back, and Lynn hops in with her. I drive to Shauna's doctor, and when she gets out to the car, Lynn picks her up, plops her into the front seat, and puts the wheelchair into the trunk. When everyone's finally settled, I text Zeke that I'm on my way, and pull out, taking off towards Zeke's house. Shauna's face turns red as I pull into his driveway.
"You like him." Lynn says, grinning.
"Shut up!" Shauna snaps. I smile at the sisters, and grab Shauna's wheelchair for her. She swings out of the car, and sits in the chair. I grab my kit and inhaler, and then smile at Lynn, who's helping Marlene carry cookies and stuff. "I've got her."
"Thanks, Tris." Lynn says, smiling in relief. I smile back, then grab the handles of Shauna's wheelchair, and wheel her up the ramp Zeke's family has on their porch, and into the house. Loud music blasts through huge speakers on the walls, and the smell of pizza fills the air. Hanna points us down to the basement, and tells me to wheel Shauna around; it's a walk-in basement.
The guys are already here, playing air hockey and ping pong. Shauna thanks me for helping her, then wheels over to watch the ping pong game between Zeke and Al. I step over to air hockey, where Four is facing off with Uriah.
"Winner plays me." I announce, grinning.
"It's so on, Trissy-poo."
"Don't ever call me that again." I say, glaring at Uri.
After smacking the puck for awhile, Four scores a goal on Uri, and flips another point on his score thingy. Uri fishes out the puck and sends it whizzing back towards Four, who executes a picture perfect block, and sends it flying back into Uri's goal. Four winds up winning the match.
"Okay, Four. You ready to face me?" I ask, grinning. Four just shrugs. I grab the stick from Uri, and retrieve the puck from the goal. I set up the shot, then smack the puck, and send it flying across the table at super-speed. Four tries to block it, but misses, and winds up hitting it backwards into his goal. I flip the number up on my score-keeping thing.
The game continues in this fashion. Several times, the puck flies off the table, and one of us has to run and get it. In the end, it's a close match, but I come out victorious. I throw my fist into the air, then start to sing that DJ Kaled song:
"All I do is win, win, win, no matter what, what, what. Got money on my mind, I can't ever get enough. And every time I step into that building, everybody's hands go up!"
Four actually does something very rare for him: he smiles. Zeke smacks his fist into mine, grinning.
"We've all tried to beat Four. He's undefeated, or at least until now."
"What can I say? I'm just awesome!"
"Yeah. Well, let's play Candor or Dauntless before we eat, in case someone gets too drunk."
"I'm not drinking; I'm the designated driver." I say, shrugging.
"Whatever." Zeke says. Then, "alright y'all! Candor or Dauntless time!. We all circle up, and Zeke explains the rules. "Basically, someone asks you Candor or Dauntless. If you choose Candor, you have to answer a question truthfully. If you pick Dauntless, you have to do a dare. If you refuse to answer your question or do your dare, you have to take off an article of clothing, not counting shoes and socks. I'll start. Shauna, Candor or Dauntless?"
"Dauntless."
"Go out with me."
"Deal!" Shauna turns away from Zeke, positively glowing. "Tris, Candor or Dauntless?"
"Dauntless, I guess."
"I dare you to eat a whole family-sized bag of Potato chips."
"Hell no!" I yell, removing my sweatshirt. "Four, Candor or Dauntless?"
"Dauntless." he answers shortly.
"I dare you to kiss Zeke for fifteen seconds."
Four shrugs and heads over to Zeke, who cringes. Four leans forward, and presses his lips to Zeke's, standing there awkwardly. I start a timer on my cell, and wait until it vibrates in my hands to release him.
"Okay. Uriah, Candor or Dauntless?"
"Dauntless! I'm no pansycake!"
"I dare you to do the cinnamon challenge."
"Yeah, okay." Uri says, running up the stairs and returning with a bottle of cinnamon and a bucket. He pours some into a spoon from the table, and pops it into his mouth. He gags, and thrusts his face into his bucket. When he comes up for air, he looks at Four.
"Four. Candor or Dauntless?"
"Dauntless."
"Tell us your real name."
Four swiftly whips off his shirt, and throws it into the middle of the circle. "Tris, Candor or Dauntless?"
"Dauntless."
"Do the Keke Do You Love Me challenge."
"Okay." I say, grabbing my phone, and heading out to my car. I hmp behind the wheel, and Four crams into the passenger seat. I skip the BG check, since I'm just pulling out of the driveway, then swap with Four, giving him the wheel for a few seconds, while I use my phone to find the song. Four holds his phone up as I start the song and hop out of the car, dancing along to it, my hair blowing in the wind.
The game continues in this fashion, until Christina is down to just her bra and jeans, Zeke is wearing just an undershirt and jeans, I'm wearing everything but my sweatshirt, Will is in everything but his jacket, Shauna is in everything but her jeans, (there were legging under them, though), Uri is missing a shirt, Four is missing a shirt, Lynn is in everything but her uniform pants, there were jeans under them, Marlene is missing an overshirt, although she's wearing a camisole, And Al is out, hiding in the bathroom because he wouldn't do any dare or tell any truth.
"Okay, Trissy-poo, Candor or Dauntless?"
"Candor." I say, trying not to sound nervous.
"What's your deepest secret?" he asks. I remove my tee shirt, forgetting about my pod. Everyone gasps at something I can't see, and Uri breaks the silence, true to form. "Tris, what's on your arm? And where'd those bruises come from?"
"Shit." I whisper, before taking a shaky breath. It's time to tell the truth.
"Okay." I say, taking a deep breath. "Have any of you ever heard of diabetes?"
"What!" Christina shrieks. "You have diabetes?"
"Wait. You have what?was Will exclaims.
"Okay, so some of you have heard of it. I have Type 1 Diabetes. I was diagnosed when I was seven. Basically, Type 1 Diabetes effects the pancreas, which is the part of the body that produces insulin. Insulin is responsible for the body's ability to process sugar.
When your body can't make insulin, your blood sugar, called blood glucose or BG, gets higher and higher. People with diabetes have to get insulin from outside sources, and monitor their carb intake, and BG.
Some people give themselves shots of insulin, through an insulin pen or syringe. I have an insulin pen on me, in case my pump fails. Other people, like me, use insulin pumps to get their insulin. I use an OmniPod insulin pump, which is tubeless. I also have a PDM, personal diabetes manager, that connects to the pod and administers my insulin."
"Wow." Christina says, biting her lip. "I couldn't do it, Tris."
"You could if you had too." I tell her.
"Don't you also have to like, stab your finger several times a day?" asks Shauna.
"Yeah." I answer. "I use a lancet to check my BG before I eat, and if I have any symptoms of high or low blood sugar."
"Can you show us?" Uri asks. Leave it to him.
"Um, okay? When we eat, I'll show you what I have to do."
"So that's why you wouldn't get any cake." Christina says, realization flashing in her eyes. "You couldn't, because it would fuck your blood sugar up."
"Yeah. That's also part of the reason I don't drink." I explain, tucking my hair over my shoulder.
"Let's all put our clothes back on." Shauna suggests. "Then we can eat. I'm starving."
"Yeah, okay." I say, grabbing my shirts, and throwing them back on. Zeke pounds on the bathroom door to tell Al the game's over. The rest of the gang throws on clothes, and Uri runs up the stairs to get the pizzas.
"I come baring food!" he yells, coming down with the pizza boxes stacked precariously in his arms. I run forward and grab three boxes before he can drop them.
"Okay." I say, grabbing the paper from the top of the box of cheese pizza, and reading the carbs. I nod and replace it. "Before I can eat or bolus or anything..."
"What's a bolus?" Christina asks.
"It's a certain amount of insulin to match the carbs I'm eating." I answer. "Anyway, before I can do that, I have to check my blood sugar. Maybe it's a good thing for y'all to know what to do, because when I get low, sometimes I'm a bit disoriented. Anyways, I take this strip, and put it into my PDM. Then I take this lancet device, prime it, and put that down next to the PDM. You have to clean your finger off before you can check your BG, because any sugar on your finger can mess up the reading. Then you just prick your finger with the lancet, and place the blood onto the strip."
"Ew!" shrieks Chris, staggering away from me. The machine beeps, and I read the number out loud.
"122. My target range is 80-180."
"So you can eat now?" Uriah asks, tearing into the pepperoni pizza.
"No." I say, laughing at the tomato sauce he's somehow managed to get on his nose. "Now I have to bolus it. Then I have to wait five minutes before I can eat." I put in the info, and wait for the bolus to start before packing up the kit. I text my BG to Mom, as well as my bolus, before sticking the PDM back into the kit.
After dinner, I stand with Christina out on the porch. Her gaze is far away, like there are a million thoughts running through her head, although that could also be due to the hefty amount of alcohol she had to drink. I wind up helping her out to the car, as well as getting the giggling Marlene and aggressive Lynn. Shauna's staying at Zeke's because one of the wheels on her chair came off, and she can't go anywhere without it, having been partially paralyzed from a car accident.
The drive to the girls' houses is surreal. Christina isn't in the mood to chat, Lynn is extra violent; I'm scared she'll punch a hole to my seat, and Marlene is muttering something about cats. I suppose there were some drugs involved with the drinking, but I'm not one hundred percent sure.
When I arrive home, my father is pacing. As soon as I get out of the car, he grabs my arm, and drags me into the house.
"Andrew, let go of her." Mom says, entering from the kitchen.
"You were supposed to text me your BG before you started driving home, young lady."
"I'm sorry, Dad. When you're dealing with three drunk teenagers, you kind of forget to text a number to someone. It feels like you don't trust me to test. Here, here's my PDM. It can see for yourself."
Dad frowns, grabs the device from me, reads the results of my last blood test, then passes it back to me, storming off to the living room. Mom sighs and runs a hand through my hair.
"Night, sweetie." she says, heading for her bedroom.
"Night, Mom." I say, heading up the stairs to my room. I take a quick shower before climbing into bed, and drifting into an uneasy sleep.
A/n: Longest chapter yet! Yay! Please review; it motivates me.
Bianca.
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