"Knock, knock!"
"I'm back here, Eric! Come on in!"
Eric walks into my bedroom and sticks out his bottom lip.
"Aww, you're already dressed. I should have come over sooner."
I can't help but laugh. "Don't start that," I warn him, "we have a staff meeting in fifteen minutes."
As we walk to the office hand-in-hand, Eric asks, "Did you ever talk to Tori about putting Four through the aptitude test?"
"I did, actually. It doesn't look good. The serum for the aptitude test is completely different from the fear sims, so it won't work on the same equipment. She said they do need guinea pigs on the day they train the test administrators, but I can't see Four agreeing to go through it in front of an audience."
"True," Eric agrees. "He's pretty private. I mean, I know it's not like going through your own fear landscape, but he's probably divergent, and I'm not sure how that would be received, or if he would want to have a whole group of strangers to know that."
"Most of the testing volunteers are from Abnegation, too," I add. "I don't think he wants to bump into any Stiffs that might know him."
"Yeah," Eric agrees. "Having to deal with you is all the 'Stiff' most of us can handle."
"Hey!" I protest, bumping him with my hip.
He laughs and drops a quick kiss on my temple. "Sorry babe, I couldn't resist."
"Shut up, Nose," I grumble.
"Hey, that gives me an idea," says Eric as we walk through the lobby and wave at Kyle. "I have family in Erudite. I wonder if they could help us get access to the test."
"Do you talk to them?" I ask, wondering if my role as leader might enable me to have contact with my parents. Usually just Max goes to the council meetings, so I haven't seen my father since I chose Dauntless, and I haven't seen my mother since visiting day.
"I haven't seen them in person," Eric answers, "but we keep in touch a little here and there. When I was spying on Jeanine I couldn't have any contact with them because I was afraid of what she would do to them. Since her death I've talked to my parents a few times. We always say that sometime when I have business at Erudite we should get together. I'd really love to see my little sister. I can't imagine how much she's grown up in the last two- almost three years."
"My dad was pretty upset when Caleb and I transferred," I say sadly. "I wonder if he would even talk to me."
Eric pulls me into his arms right there in the hall outside our offices. I'm instantly comforted by his big, strong arms around me and his familiar woodsy scent.
"What are you doing?" asks Max from his office door.
"Being a good boyfriend," Eric fires back.
I laugh and he gives me another squeeze and a kiss on the forehead before we pull apart and walk into the staff meeting.
.
xxxx
.
My piercings are healed, and this afternoon I'm going to see Tori for a smaller bar in my tongue. I had to have a big one at first to accommodate the swelling while it healed. Now that it's better, this bar is too long. I'm going to get a second hole pierced in each ear, too, and I've been thinking about another surprise for Eric, but I don't know if I'm brave enough to go through with it.
"Hey Bud! Hey Tori!" I cheerfully greet my friends as I walk in.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite pin cushion," Bud teases. "Are you here so we can put a few more holes in you?"
"She's here for a barbell change," says Tori, swatting at him.
"Actually," I say, "I'm here for both."
"Yes!" yells Bud, triumphantly. "I called it! You owe me a drink!"
"Wait. What?" I ask.
Tori rolls her eyes. "Bud bet me a drink that you would ask for another piercing when you came for your barbell appointment. Now I gotta buy the idiot a beer. Thanks, Tris."
"You love me and you know it," says Bud, forcing a sloppy kiss on Tori's unwilling cheek. "I knew you would want another piercing because they're addicting. And because you have to keep up with your man!"
I can't help but laugh. Bud reminds me of an older version of the Pedrad brothers. I do a quick count on my fingers.
"Yup," I confirm, "this will put me in the lead on the piercings count."
"But you have a long ways to go to catch up with his tattoo count," says Tori.
Bud laughs. "I'm going to sketch at the front desk. I don't need to see where you're sticking her. I'd have her hulk boyfriend after me, and he's scary!"
Bud fakes a frightened shudder as he walks away, and Tori and I laugh as we head to the piercing room.
When we're finished, I walk out to the front. Bud is sitting at the desk, leaning over a sketchbook. He's concentrating so hard that he doesn't hear me, so I sneak up close, lean toward his ear, and whisper as seductively as I can while trying not to laugh, "It's just us here. Do you want to see my new piercing?"
Bud's head snaps up, and his face registers shock as he swallows hard. I can't contain myself any more and burst out laughing.
"Right here," I giggle, pointing at my earlobes, I had Tori put a second piercing in each ear."
Bud throws his head back and roars with laughter. "Are you sure you came from Abnegation?"
"I left for a reason," I say as I hand Tori my card to pay for the new barbell and three new piercings.
.
xxxx
.
I'm in the middle of reviewing the faction's monthly food order when there's a knock on my office door.
"Come in!" I call.
Max opens the door and enters with Kyle behind him.
"Any idea why Dr. Marshall's assistant called to schedule a meeting with you at Erudite?" Max asks, skipping the pleasantries.
"No idea," I answer. "What did his assistant say?"
"He just said his boss wanted to schedule a meeting with you," Kyle explains. "I looked for a day when you and Eric were both available because of that whole 'creepy guy' thing, and scheduled it for Tuesday of next week. Before we hung up he asked if you're a transfer from Abnegation. It was strange."
"What was the assistant's name?" I ask.
"Caleb," says Kyle. "I think he's new since Dr. Marshall took over. We admins get to know each other setting up meetings and such, and I don't know a Caleb over there."
"My brother Caleb transferred to Erudite last year. I wonder if it's him. I wasn't called Tris until I came here, so he might be wondering if it's me."
"That would explain the question, but not why Dr. Marshall wants to meet with you," adds Max.
Eric and Harrison, walking down the hall together, pop their heads into my office.
"Kyle," says Harrison, "the phone is ringing up front."
Kyle nods and excuses himself.
"Do either of you know why Dr. Marshall's office called to set up a meeting with Tris?"
I see Eric's jaw clench and his hands ball into fists.
"I have an idea," says Harrison, "but you won't like it."
"I have the same idea," growls Eric, "and I definitely don't like it."
"I'm going to call over there and get to the bottom of this," says Max, marching out of my office.
Harrison follows him out, but Eric stays behind. "I really hate that guy," he grumbles.
"At least he doesn't want to kill me, like Jeanine did," I say, hoping to lighten the mood. It doesn't work, so I try a new tactic. "Kyle scheduled you to come with me, and we think Marshall's new assistant is my brother Caleb."
I retell Kyle's awkward conversation that led to our theory about Caleb. "I hope it's him," I conclude, "I'd like to see him again, and you can meet him too."
"That reminds me," Eric says, "I talked to my mom the other day. She's going to ask around about the aptitude test." He walks around my desk and drops his strong hands on my shoulders, rubbing the sore muscles. "I also told her I'm seeing someone."
I turn my head sharply to examine his face. He looks hopeful, and a bit nervous.
"What did you tell her?" I ask.
"That I'm dating the most beautiful girl in Dauntless," he says in a cocky voice, "and that she's smart, and brave, thoughtful, and a hardworking star around here. She wants to meet this girl."
"So do I," I say, rolling my eyes.
"Don't be so down on yourself, Stiff," he scolds.
Max walks in, knocking on my open door as he enters.
"I talked to Dr. Marshall," he says. "You were right, your brother Caleb is his assistant. He claims that he wants you to visit for lunch next week so he can congratulate you on becoming a full leader, and to reunite you with your brother. I told him that since you've never been to Erudite, Eric will be coming along. You know, since he grew up there and all."
Max must not know about my visit to Erudite back during initiation. Either that or he's playing innocent.
"I still don't like it," grumbles Eric.
"I know, baby," I say, grabbing his hand. "But I'd like to see Caleb. And maybe we can see your family, too."
His face brightens a little at this prospect. I know he would really like to see his family again, especially his little sister.
"It's settled then," says Max.
.
xxxx
.
The week passes slowly. I can't wait to see Caleb. We had our differences growing up, but we chose the factions that suit us, and it seems like we're both excelling in our new homes. I'm optimistic that we'll enjoy catching up since we don't have to pretend to be selfless anymore.
Tuesday is sunny and warm, a perfect May day in Chicago. Max offers us the use of a car and driver, but I miss jumping on and off trains, and the weather could not be more enjoyable.
Again I turn to Christina for fashion help. I'll be jumping off trains, seeing my brother, having lunch with the head of a faction who also happens to be a sexual harasser, and meeting my boyfriend's family. That's asking a lot from one outfit! Christina chooses black legging-like pants, knee-high black boots, a fitted charcoal tee with a scoop neckline and elbow-length sleeves, and a thin black quilted vest. I pull my hair back in a simple braid and keep my makeup neutral. My ear piercings and leadership tattoos show, but I look pretty tame by Dauntless standards.
Eric picks me up at my apartment and greets me with a peck on the lips.
"What time is the train?" he asks.
I chuckle. "You really should learn the schedule. We need to get going."
Jumping on the train is much easier, but just as much of a thrill as it was when I joined Dauntless nearly a year ago. I stand near the door of the train car, feeling the wind whip around me as the city rushes by.
"Are you nervous?" Eric asks as he wraps his arms around me from behind.
"About Marshall? No. He won't do anything with you there. I'm more nervous about meeting your parents."
Eric chuckles. "Don't be. They're going to love you."
I hope he's right. I lean my back into his muscular chest and enjoy the gentle sway of the train car. When Erudite comes into view we jump off, both landing easily on our feet.
Dr. Marshall uses the same penthouse office where I was taken to see Jeanine during initiation. We're quiet on the elevator ride up. I can feel the tension radiating off of Eric the closer we get to the office. He's not happy about me being with Dr. Marshall, and I'm sure this place has plenty of unpleasant memories from his time spying on Jeanine. I rub gentle circles on his back until the elevator arrives and the doors open.
"Mom?!" Eric's voice is both surprised and tender. He steps off the elevator and right into the arms of the middle-aged blonde woman who came running when the elevator opened.
"Eric!" she says in a voice thick with emotion. "Look at my baby! You're so tall! And all those tattoos?! Even on your neck. You look so completely Dauntless!"
She holds her son at arm's length to examine him, and I'm able to get a good look at her. She's petite, like me, with chin-length blonde hair streaked with silver. She looks a lot like Eric in spite of their tremendous size difference. In fact, it's comical to think that a woman her size gave birth to a big guy like Eric.
A tall, broad-shouldered man in a blue polo shirt comes around the corner with a willowy teenage girl with long blonde hair. "Emma," Eric breathes as he sees his baby sister for the first time in nearly three years.
The tall man laughs and pulls his son into a back-thumping man hug. Emma steps back. I can tell she's uncomfortable with this new version of her brother. She was twelve when he left, and he was a skinny sixteen-year-old kid who looked very little like the muscular, tattooed and pierced Dauntless man that he is at nineteen.
Suddenly remembering my presence, Eric turns from his family and pulls me to him.
"This is my girlfriend, Tris," he says. "Tris, this is my family. My mom, Karen, is a teacher at the Lower Levels school. My dad, Anthony, is a surgeon."
"Mrs. Coulter, Dr. Coulter," I say, nodding at them.
"Please, Sweetie, call me Karen," says Eric's mom. She's warm for an Erudite woman, and I can easily imagine her nurturing a classroom of little kids.
"And I'm only Dr. Coulter at the hospital," says his dad. "Please call me Anthony."
"You must be Emma," I say to Eric's sister, who nods in response. "He talks about you all the time," I tell her.
Her eyes bounce back to Eric, who smiles. I can tell he's upset that she's being distant. I step close and put an arm around his back.
"I'm sorry to cut the reunion short," I say, "but we have a meeting with Dr. Marshall."
"Actually, Eric is having lunch with us during your meeting," says Karen.
"No I'm not," snaps Eric. "I stay with Tris."
"Son, I'm sure your lovely Dauntless young lady can hold her own with Reggie. He's harmless," chuckles Anthony, thumping his son on the back.
Eric tenses, but doesn't contradict his dad. Just then a door opens at the end of the hall, and I see a familiar mop of unruly dark hair.
"Caleb!" I call, rushing toward my brother.
"Beatrice?" he asks. "You look...different. Are you really a Dauntless leader?"
"I am," I say proudly. "I finished first in my initiation class and joined leadership."
"Dr. Marshall is expecting us," he says.
I move to follow Caleb, and Eric follows.
"Aren't you coming with us?" Emma asks her brother. Eric pauses, clearly torn.
I face him and place a hand gently on his chest. "Go with them," I encourage. "I'll be fine with Caleb there."
Eric looks at my brother and nods reluctantly. I give him a quick kiss on the cheek and turn to follow Caleb. The Coulters stay in the hallway until we disappear into the office.
Caleb walks me through the reception area to a door which I know leads to the leader's office. He taps twice, and Dr. Marshall calls, "enter!"
Caleb opens the door and ushers me in.
"Ah, Miss Prior! Welcome to Erudite."
"Thank you," I say coolly.
"Caleb, is lunch ready?" he asks.
"Yes sir," my brother replies.
"Bring it in please."
As Caleb brings in the food, Dr. Marshall leads me to a table under a window in one corner of his office. I notice that it is set for two people. I guess he never intended for either Eric or Caleb share the meal with us.
When everything is set, Dr. Marshall dismisses my brother. He hands me a plate with a beautiful fresh salad of greens, raspberries, blue cheese crumbles, chicken, and candied pecans. It's early in the season for raspberries; I haven't had any in months.
"This looks delicious," I say, "thank you."
"The raspberries are a special treat," he boasts. "We've been working with Amity on some new greenhouse technology and they brought some as a thank you. It's a nice little perk of leadership. Kind of like reuniting with family in another faction. 'Faction before blood' is important, of course, but once one achieves leadership status, what's the point? We've proved our loyalty; we're entitled to some extra perks."
I let the man ramble and enjoy the flavors and textures of my salad and the buttery croissants served with it.
He continues. "I've been hearing interesting rumors around here. People are saying that the Dauntless leaders are looking for access to the aptitude test."
I'm dumbstruck. This must be the real reason he wants me here today. I decide to play it cool and nonchalant.
"It's not important," I say, "just some aptitudes we would like to see. Eric is interested in how a person's results might change after undergoing Dauntless' rigorous training."
By this time we've finished our meal. "That's an interesting question, Miss Prior. Please, join me on the sofa and we can discuss this further."
I stand, drop the blue cloth napkin onto my chair, and walk toward the sofa Dr. Marshall indicates.
"Miss Prior, forgive me for saying so, but your ass looks spectacular in those pants," he says, leering at my backside as he follows me to the sofa.
I sit as quickly as possible to get my "spectacular" backside out his his sight.
"Excuse me? Forgive you?" I say, flabbergasted by the blunt and crude comment.
"I know, I know," says Dr. Marshall, chuckling as he sits beside me on the couch. "It's silly of me to apologize for complimenting a beautiful girl. Now back to your interesting proposition about retesting people's aptitudes. I think that, leader to leader, we can work out a suitable arrangement. I've always wanted to sleep with a Dauntless girl. I give you what you want, and you give me what I want."
As he says this, he clamps a fleshy hand high on my thigh and leans in to kiss me. He's so close that I can smell the blue cheese on his breath.
My training kicks in and I slam an elbow into his solar plexus and leap off the couch.
"I see the kitten has claws," Dr. Marshall says as he also stands, giving me a devilish grin. "This is going to be fun. I like it rough."
He reaches for me again, but this time I'm ready. I cock my right arm and lunge it forward, slamming the heel of my hand upward into his nose. I hear the sickening crunch of cartilage and bone, and blood begins pouring from Dr. Marshall's nose, staining his blue button-down.
He groans loudly, dropping back onto the white leather sofa with his face in his hands. I step toward him, maintaining my fighting stance.
"Don't ever touch me again!" I say in my most menacing voice. Dr. Marshall nods, and groans again as the movement causes a fresh wave of pain.
I march to his desk and grab a box of tissues, tossing them on the sofa beside the bleeding man. He grabs a handful of them and begins mopping up the blood.
"Listen to me, you prick," I seethe. "I could take this to the council and see you stripped of your position, publicly humiliated, and possibly imprisoned. But I don't want to go through that." ...again, I think to myself. Plus there probably aren't cameras running in here, so it would be your word against mine.
"You're fond of backroom deals," I continue, "so I'm going to make you an offer. You are going to send an aptitude test computer to Dauntless for one day, and we can do as many tests as we want. Erudite gathers no information, and gets no report. You do not accompany the machine. In fact, send Caleb. You lured me here under the ruse of seeing him, and you haven't let us spend any time together. In exchange, I'll keep my mouth shut, and you can make up whatever bullshit story you want to explain that broken nose. What do you say? Do you accept?"
"Yes," comes the small, muffled reply from the pile of tissues.
"Caleb!" I yell, faking an edge of panic in my voice as I cross to the door. I fling it open as my brother scurries in.
"What happened?" he says, alarmed.
"I'm not sure," I say innocently. "I wasn't looking. He fell. I think his nose is broken."
Caleb jogs to the desk and hits a few buttons on the phone. "Send medics," he says into the handset. "Dr. Marshall fell and he's bleeding heavily." He slams down the receiver.
"Beatrice, go out to the lobby and let the medics in when they arrive," he instructs.
I'm happy to get out of there. I wash my hands at the kitchenette behind Caleb's desk, and am drying them when the medics arrive. I let them in, and they rush back to Dr. Marshall's office. A few minutes later they emerge with the bloodied leader and guide him toward the elevator.
"Get well, Doctor," I call after him. "Thank you for the lunch. When you're feeling better, just let my office know when we can expect that equipment."
He waves in acknowledgment as he steps into the elevator.
"Well, that was unexpected," I say, turning to my brother. "Let's get things cleaned up before the blood dries. We don't want it to stain the carpet or that nice white sofa."
While we clean up, I ask my brother about life in Erudite. He tells me that he has an apartment near the office, and then begins a long monologue about all the fascinating things he learned during initiation.
"How did you end up working here?" I ask as I gather the lunch dishes.
"When Jeanine was removed," he explains, "her assistants were sent to prison for helping her. When Dr. Marshall came on as I finished initiation I applied, because Jeanine's assistants got to help with some exciting groundbreaking research. At my interview they seemed especially interested in my Abnegation background. I thought maybe since Dad is on the council I would be an asset in interfaction relations. So far I've mostly answered phones and juggled schedules. It's important, of course," he adds quickly, "and I have lots of time to read anything that interests me."
"That's nice," I say.
"What is Dauntless like?" he asks, curious.
I tell him about initiation, leaving out details like having knives thrown at my head and being dangled over the chasm. I talk about my friends, my apartment, and the parties in the pit.
"You know Eric, the leader who came with me today?" I ask.
"Big scary guy? Yeah, I definitely noticed him."
"He's my boyfriend."
Caleb stops in his tracks and turns to stare at me. "Beatrice, I don't think you're old enough to be dating anyone, much less an older man who looks like he could break you in half."
I can't help but laugh. "Caleb, I'm an adult. I chose my faction and passed initiation. I'm a leader, for goodness sake. If I can run a faction, I think I can run my own life. Besides, Eric is just nineteen. And he's not as scary as he looks, I promise."
I hear a tap on the glass door to the office. "Speak of the devil…" grumbles my brother, hitting the buzzer to admit Eric.
"Hey," he says, looking me over.
I give him a broad smile. "Hey yourself. How was your family?"
His face brightens. "Good. Next time we come here I want you to spend time with them too, so they can get to know you. How was your time with Caleb?"
"Good," I reply, smiling at my boyfriend and my brother. "He was telling me all about his job, initiation, and life in Erudite."
"That's nice," says Eric, visibly relieved to hear that I got to spend some time with Caleb. He is not going to be happy when I tell him what happened with Dr. Marshall.
"We have a train to catch," I remind him.
I surprise my brother with a hug, which he returns awkwardly. Eric nods at Caleb and we make our way to the elevator. We're quiet at first.
"Did Emma warm up to you?" I ask, squeezing Eric's hand.
His face lights up. "She did. It took a little while, but then we couldn't get her to shut up."
"Spoken like a true brother," I tease. "I suppose since she was so young when you left, you must feel like a stranger now. Plus you're kind of intimidating with all that muscle and ink."
"Are you intimidated by me, Miss Prior?" he asks, stepping close.
"Not at all," I reply, looking up into his steel-grey eyes. "I know you're really a teddy bear. Besides, I was well trained."
Eric tips his chin down and gives me a chaste peck on the lips as the elevator dings and the doors open.
We walk hand-in-hand to the train tracks and wait in silence for it to arrive. I need to get Eric away from Erudite before I tell him what happened or he might go back in there to finish off Dr. Marshall himself.
When the train arrives we jog beside it, then propel ourselves into a car. I join hands with Eric, and he raises my hand to kiss my knuckles. Stopping suddenly, Eric stares at my hand and asks, "Tris, why is there blood under your fingernails?"