Caleb's POV
I barely managed to avoid stuttering while speaking to her. She goes back to her book. It is a book on automobiles and engine parts. She wears a plain black shirt with dark navy jeans. I don't even understand what the title of it means. I don't consider myself as someone who stereotypes but I didn't think that she would be reading this kind of book. This girl stumps me at every step.
"I find you in the library so often." She says.
"The same could be said of you." I say, attempting to steer the conversation away from me. I need to know more about Rhiannon.
"Yes, I do enjoy myself in the library, although online versions of each book in this library could be found on the intranet."
"It is a blessing then, not finding any talking people in a library." I say, in a mysterious tone. I really like that we are the only two people in the library, save for that batty old librarian.
"I don't know about the blessing but it is kind of the only place where you can find peace." She says.
"All of the statements you said right now are completely correct. I came here to escape the pair I call my friends. They can get really annoying sometimes." I let the conversation flow; never did I talk to someone whom I met for the first time with such ease.
"Oh really, Caleb? Do you want me ratting it out to them? Who are they anyway?" She says cheekily.
"I trust you enough that you wouldn't, Rhiannon. They are a pair known as Tristan Dominic and Anahita Carrin."
"I don't know them. Are they Transfers?"
"Right you are, once again. Anahita is an Amity transfer. She is the one with the red curly hair and green eyes. Tristan is a Dauntless transfer. He is tall and has brown hair cropped so short that it is almost nonexistent. I could take you to meet them someday."
"You are also a Transfer, right?" She says.
"Yes, I am an Abnegation transfer but an Erudite initiate." I ramble. I am really testing the waters now. I wait for her to go out of the library and away from me. She doesn't.
"Tell me about your friends, Rhiannon."
"I guess I spent too much time in the library to actually make any." She says.
"Well, this is my favourite place too. Tell me about your favourite places in the whole compound." I say.
"My favourite places are the library, obviously, the automobile forge and the vending machines."
"Hey, I didn't see any vending machines here."
"There are, you just don't know about them."
"The automobile forge, huh?"
"Yes, my Dad works there. I can show you around someday."
"I saw that today and was a really fascinating place. I didn't go inside though."
"What book were you reading right now?" I change the topic; I don't want to talk about Dad.
"I don't want talking and flirting inside the library." The librarian says.
Both of us develop a deep pink blush. I can feel the blood flowing into my cheeks. All my courage is lost right now. I wasn't like this with Susan. She comes to my thoughts after so many days. Earlier my days were filled with her thoughts. She was the one who I thought I loved. My cruel mind wasn't correct on that matter.
I notice a weird irony here. Susan was Susan Black while Rhiannon is Rhiannon White. Black and White, I can't help thinking there is strange sorcery at play here. I gather my wits and resume the conversation.
"I was asking, what book are you reading right now?"
"Oh, it is just a book on automobile engines. I hope to work in the forge someday."
"Aren't you studying for the government, English and computer test tomorrow?"
"Nah, I'm going to ad lib it, or in other words, wing it." She says.
"How did your entrance exam go?" I gather you are good at Physics when you read such complicated books on automobiles." I say. That girl is way too smart for me.
"You guessed right. The whole paper went well. Biology not my thing so I left three questions in it. Physics and Math are my favourite subjects."
"You like math?" I say, incredulous.
"Yeah, I like math. What's wrong with it?"
"I guess math is 'not my thing'. My favourite subject is Biology." I put air quotes around not my thing. That is a phrase which is relatively unused in intelligent Erudite conversation.
"Really, then help me with those three Biology questions." She says.
"Help me with the math ones then" I say. It is a futile exercise since the paper's already gone to check but it may help me later.
"Alright" We say with a second between each one.
I go to the main desk. I glance at the old librarian. I don't think she finds many visitors here. I ask for a piece of paper and a pen. She readily hands me some.
"Let me bring the question paper from the dorm." I say to her. Somehow I feel reluctant leaving the library. It must be the smell of old books.
I run to the dorm quickly and pluck the question paper out of the cabinet.
"Where are you off to?" Anahita asks.
"To the library" I speak.
"In such a hurry?" Anahita replies.
"Hey, that rhymed!" She exclaims.
"I really need to go now; we can make crazy rhymes later." She must like poetry very much.
I enter the library with pen, paper and question paper in hand.
"I come bearing arms. As the saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword." I say at the risk of sounding cheesy.
"Alright hyperactive soldier, calm down and come to the table now. I remember you needed help with some math problems."
I mark the problems I need help with and hand the paper to her. She asks for the blank sheet and solves those problems in seven minutes.
"These are the solutions to your problems." She marks the Bio questions and hands the question paper to me. I turn the paper to the other side and write the answers down.
I look at the math solutions. How could I miss such a simple process? Now that the answers have been handed out to me, I can see how easy the questions were.
I give the paper to her. She has a similar expression of 'how did I miss that?' on her face.
"I seem to have a really hard time decoding your handwriting." She says.
"Hey, even doctors have bad handwriting." I defend.
I look at the clock. I see that forty five minutes have passed talking to this girl. I really need to concentrate on my studies now. I try to read the IT book I had brought with me but it fails to grab my attention. My mind is focused on that girl sitting in front of me. She looks so pretty sitting here, reading that book. I bet she likes to get her hands dirty in the automobile forge.
"So, will you come here tomorrow, Caleb?" She asks.
"Oh yeah, sure, same place, same time"
"I need to go now. It was very nice meeting you."
"It was really nice meeting you as well. Shall I call you my friend?" I say, my heart going in a nervous flutter at the last sentence.
"Oh yeah, goodbye, friend" She says.
Friend. For once I made a friend so easily. I remember it took me two weeks to say hello to Susan in Lower Levels. I used to always stick with Beatrice then, since we were in the same class. Beatrice and I used to be the best of friends when we were very young. After that, we drifted apart. I became the scolding brother and she the meek sister. Her true colours came to light when she chose Dauntless. Mine came out the same way when I chose Erudite. I just hope that she is happy there.
Rhiannon leaves the library with purpose in her stride. I go out of the library reluctantly. Rhiannon is so easy to talk to. I head towards the dorm and go inside. Anahita and Tristan are sitting there. Anahita nudges Tristan's temple in a 'you're crazy' way. They look so happy together. I bet they would become more than friends. Well, I am not going to play Cupid here. Let them sort it out. They look at me while I enter the dorm.
"Where were you?" Tristan says.
"In the library" I say.
"For so long? Why didn't you join us? I discovered that you could get every book present in the library by downloading that book onto your tablet computer. I was reading a book on my tab a while ago." Tristan babbles like a four year old in a sixteen year old self.
"Whoa, one question at a time. Your lung function will get impaired if you speak like that." I say jokingly.
"Don't worry about my lungs. I find it hard to believe that you were in the library for so long, with only books for company." Tristan points his eyebrows skyward.
"Actually, I was talking to someone. She helped me solve those three math problems."
"She?" His eyebrows develop a suggestive wiggle.
"Oh, it's nothing. Her name is Rhiannon White and I found her in the library, rather, she found me."
"Invite her to our table at dinner. A lot of places are empty anyway." Tristan says.
"Is that why you were off to the library in such a hurry?" Anahita asks.
"No, I just wanted the questions solved. Speaking of questions, here are the answers to those three problems."
I hand the paper over to them. They get the same 'how did I miss that' expressions on their faces.
"Didn't realise they were so easy, probably the easiest in the whole paper." Anahita says.
"Don't you think 'easiest' is stretching it a bit too far?" I say.
"Nope. I just missed those three sums." She says.
"What are your favourite subjects?" Tristan asks.
"English and Biology and yours?"
"Biology, really? Mine are computer science and anything related to technology. Don't tell anyone but I hacked into my friend's computer once. I won't disclose the name of that friend." Tristan gets a mischievous smile on his face.
"Hey, computer's my favourite subject too. Even I hacked into my dad's computer once. There was nothing useful in there, just some floor plans and a weird animal immunisation chart."
Both of them seem like a really valuable asset if I plan to gather information on divergence. I don't know a bit about hacking computers and I know that the most valuable information would be on Jeanine's personal computer. The first step would be trusting him and her with the secret. I decide to wait a few days before doing that.
"Hey, what's wrong with Biology?"
"I won't say because you would be defending Bio, all of us would get in an argument, Anahita would be the peacemaker and we would get in trouble with Alev." He presents a rational argument. I can't deny its correctness.
"Initiates, you are requested to report to the main hall right now."
"What the hell? Today's stuff is over, right?"
"Looks like it isn't and no swearing please." Anahita says.
"Oh come on, what is wrong?" Tristan asks.
"Make line fast, initiates! Jeanine Matthews is going to give a speech." Alev shouts to make the whole dorm known.
We get into a line quickly. Everyone is grumbling at the sudden announcement. Alev takes the role of a Dauntless soldier as a lot of headless-chickenry can be seen here.
Alev leads us into the main hall. A small podium is set there with a microphone ready. Jeanine stands aside the podium with her haughty expression and waits for all of the others. After a long time, everyone comes in and is riled into rows. Jeanine adjusts the microphone and clears her throat to begin something evil.
"Welcome initiates, please keep quiet until I finish and then I will allow questions."
"For so many years, we have been governed by the Abnegation."
Oh no. All that crap again. I can see a few people glancing over to me, especially that weird guy Xander.
"As I published a few newspaper articles regarding them, I have found definite proof of an Abnegation storehouse where goods are hoarded."
Oh %#&! (I censored my thoughts because they probably weren't suitable anywhere in this city except the Dauntless dinner hall.) She shows a picture on the white walls where a projector is focusing on the wall. It shows a grey coloured factionless building. It shows some Abnegation and some factionless standing before its entrance, nothing else, no suspicious vehicles etc. This picture was most likely taken when the Abnegation were volunteering.
This is silly. I bet someone will raise his/her hand and ask me totally useless questions. The only motive for displaying this picture would be casting Abnegation in a really bad light. Again, what does Jeanine aim to do?
"As we can see, Abnegation is the complete example of abject falsehood." Jeanine says. Oh, how I would love to strangle her. I completely missed the entire speech. I didn't want to hear it anyway.
"Do you have any questions, initiates?"
Xander raises his hand. I would love to swear at him but I control myself.
"I have a question for Caleb Prior, the Abnegation transfer." He asks for permission to continue.
"Present your question, Mr. Horowitz."
"How would you justify this piece of incriminating evidence?" He has a huge sneer on his face. I would love to kick that off his face. I can hear a lot of "Answer that now!" from the other initiates. I gear myself up and craft a reply in my head. When I've done that, I start.
"First of all, I wasn't present there when this picture was taken. Just because I belong to Abnegation doesn't mean I am responsible for these actions. This picture was taken possibly when the Abnegation were providing food to the factionless. I can advocate for that. I had volunteered myself a lot of times."
I am so relieved that I calmed those probable panic attacks. Tristan and Anahita smile at me. I glance over to Rhiannon; she smiles a little bit at me too.
"Your answer is satisfactory" Jeanine admits defeat.
I can see a lot of poisonous glances from the Erudite born and Jeanine's subordinates. Alev is standing with his usual stoic face.
"Initiates, you are dismissed for dinner." Alev speaks.
We go outside the main hall and into the cafe. Tristan slaps me on the back and shakes my hand.
"That reply was awesome!" He congratulates me.
"I'd rather say it was intelligent." Anahita says.
"Come on, let's grab some food." I change the topic once again.
I get whatever looks good and dump it on my plate. I make my way to the table and sit down. I eat that silently, reflecting over what I said. I think that sated Jeanine for a while but I know that more sharp jabs would be coming. I must have gotten higher on Xander's hit list. I see Rhiannon on the side table on the wall farthest to the centre. Tristan nudges my elbow when he sees me staring at her.
"What are you waiting for, Christmas?"
"Oh yeah, I'll sweep her off her feet on Christmas." I say in jest.
"Come on, call her to the table." Anahita encourages me,
I gather whatever remnants of courage were left in me and go to her place. I take a deep breath (Whoa, am I reciting a mantra?) and open my mouth.
"Hey, would you like to join us at our table?"
She seems to be shaken awake from a trance. Her food lies uneaten before her and she is in deep concentration. Her eyes stop glazing over and she smacks her hand up and touches my nose, barely. She realises what she did and snaps awake. Her hand was so warm. You're falling for her. The weird part of my brain replies.
"Oh hey, Caleb. Did I hurt you?"
"No worries miss. Would you like to join us at our table?"
"Oh sure. Let me grab my tray along."
She takes her tray and I lead her to our table. Funny, I didn't see any of her friends on that table. I can see a lot of strange glances at us. I wish I could shout at them, "I am not an alien nor is she!" but as always, I force myself to remain calm.
"Oh hey, are you the one that helped this Biology nerd in solving the math problems?" Tristan asks.
"Yes" She sits on the table after finishing this brief reply.
"What's your name?" Anahita greets her with a smile.
"I am Rhiannon White, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you as well." She replies.
"I am guessing you must be Anahita Carrin and he must be Tristan Dominic right?"
"Right you are. I guess it is hard to mess that up since I am a girl and he is a boy." Anahita says.
"Oh sure" Rhiannon gives a big smile.
"Why are you quiet? Make her drop to her knees with your charm." Tristan whispers in my ear.
"Oh sure, I would be lucky if I managed not to stammer and a guy who took aeons to ask Anna's name is giving me lessons how to charm a girl." I reply. It's true; I cannot be charming or suave how hard I try. Tristan bumps my head away when I mention Anahita.
"What is going on there?" The people in question, Anna and Rhiannon ask us.
"Oh, nothing. It is probably something you wouldn't want to hear cause it's pretty gross." Tristan makes a story about the conversation.
"Okay Rhiannon, never mind this goofball. So, what stuff do you like to eat?" Anna asks.
"I like ice-cream very much. I could live on it for days but on second thoughts I'd be having a sugar high multiplied by a hundred."
Oh man. This girl is on another level. Which girl is honest about liking ice-cream so much?
"I tasted ice-cream a few days earlier and even I liked it." I contribute my first piece to the conversation.
Dinner ends. I go to the transfer dorm and head towards my bed. I can't help but have a big and loopy smile on my face. I open the tablet to do some research I see that a huge smiley with its tongue stuck out is displayed on it. There is a timer set on the screen which shows that it will start only after an hour. This is why Tristan didn't disclose the name of the friend whose computer he hacked.
"TRISTAN DOMINIC! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY TABLET?" I go to him with a punch on his face on my agenda.
So, how did you like it?
I have a few questions for you since I have no clue about these
1. Does USA get nice weather in June and bad weather in September? (I heard this in fall out boy songs)
2. What is the age difference between Will and Cara?
I hogged the computer and my brother bugged me for doing so. I got a Watschen from mom. (Those who have read Book Thief will understand this.)
The last chap had a reference from 'Call me Maybe' by Carly Rae Jepsen. I know it's not the best of songs. Guess the reference in this chapter.
Read and review please,
TheVibrantNight