Chapter Two: Arguments and Decisions

Waking at first light, I got up, going to the bathroom, embracing the silence. Looking at my reflection, I felt rested and yet looked worse than I did yesterday. Sighing, I smoothed my hair before making my way downstairs. I had hoped to grab a bite and then find Four and the others. There was a lot of discussion that needed to take place and it would be better done sooner rather than later. However, I wasn't that lucky. Hearing noise as I reached the base of the stairs, I turned the corner to see my mother in the kitchen. She already had breakfast underway, with bacon, eggs, and cubed potatoes that were lightly seasoned. We were only allowed so much but she brought out everything for me this morning. She even had enough time to squeeze some fresh apple juice.

"Wow." I smiled at her.

"It's nice to have all my children under one roof again." She beamed back at me.

"It's just until we figure out what we're going to do next." I stated, making her happy expression disappear. "I'm sorry, Mama, but I am Dauntless and will leave when my people do."

"Why?" She asked me. "Why would you risk your life for whatever they're fighting against?"

"Because I'm fighting too. I believe in it just as much as they do." I told her. "I know you don't understand, and I can't tell you anything right now, but I need you to try. What's happening affects us all whether you realize it or not. Things are going down and none of us are going to make it through unscathed."

"Pen, you need to give me something to work with. I'm your mother. You can trust me." She replied.

"It's not about trust, Mom. It's about loyalty and right now I need to be loyal to my faction."

"Even though they slaughtered Abnegation?" She frowned.

"Most of Dauntless are just as innocent as those who were killed. They didn't know what they were doing."

"A simulation?" She frowned.

I nodded, though a wave of fear passed through me. "Don't ask me anything else. I can't talk about this right now. I don't know what to do, or what Four will want to do, or Marcus, or Johanna. Please just wait until Johanna gathers the faction and then we can go from there."

"Okay." She told me.

I felt guilty for speaking to her like I have. I'd never been so hard with her. I'd always been cheerful and happy. Now I was terrified about what would happen. Feeling emotion clench in my chest, I met her eyes as a glistening entered them. "A lot of people died, Mom. I nearly died. Tris lost both her parents in the attack on Abnegation. I need to help them. If I can help prevent others from dying, I'll do whatever I have to. Especially when it comes to the people I care about."

"Andrew and Natalie are dead?" My father asked stepping into the room.

"Patrick." My mother spat at him.

My stomach dropped as I looked between them. They were keeping something from me. "Yes." I stated flatly. "How do you know them? I never told you their names. I didn't even tell you Tris's last name. How could you know who I'm talking about?"

They exchanged a look, my father slowly stepped toward me, sitting on the stool next to me. "What happened to them?"

"How do you know them?" I repeated.

"Please, Pen." He said with furrowed brows. "Just tell us what happened."

Keeping his eyes, it took a long moment for me to say anything. "Natalie was shot to death saving mine and Tris's life while escaping Abnegation. Andrew was shot to death while we attacked the Erudite who had infiltrated Dauntless, both of us attempting to give Tris enough time to shut down the simulation. We were both shot at the same time. I made it, while he didn't."

"Lilian." He said meeting her eyes, gripping my hand painfully.

"What's going on?" I asked looking back and forth between them. "Because it's clear that something is." They were silent. "What aren't you telling me?" I shot at them. Before they could reply there was a knock on the door. My father walked to it, opening it to see Four standing there. "Hey." I told him.

"Come in." My father said stepping aside.

"Thank you." Four smiled.

"Just in time for breakfast." My mother beamed at him as if the moment prior had never happened.

Thanks to him, I'd have to wait till later to figure out what the hell was going on here. They didn't seem to recognize Tris and yet I hadn't said her last name or the names of her parents and my father knew exactly who I was talking about. I felt unnerved, like I was missing something important that was right in front of me and yet I couldn't see it.

"You okay?" Four asked.

"Yeah." I told him as I ate. "Avoid the bread."

He nodded, digging into the eggs and potatoes like they were the best thing in the world. Smiling, I wrapped my arm around him, kissing his cheek. He just smiled at me, placing a kiss against my forehead in return. My mother raised a brow at me but smiled. My father cleared his throat as he got a cup of coffee, frowning at the man sitting next to me.

"You're Marcus's son, aren't you?" My father said softly. Four didn't say anything. My father sighed and nodded, "I'm sorry, Tobias. I know you haven't had it easy."

Four shot me a look but I was staring at my father. I once again needed to have answers. Not only had he recognized Tris, he now knew exactly who Four was and who his father is. "I didn't say anything." I told Four with a subtle shake of my head. "Dad –" I started, but before I could say anything else, there were steps and my sister came into view.

"Oh, hello." Maggie said stepping up on Four's other side. She was wearing a cute yellow sundress and leaned against the counter provocatively.

"Maggie." Our mother frowned at her.

"Sorry." She smiled but clearly didn't mean it.

"Stop." I told her.

"Alright." She said raising her hands.

After devouring more food than was necessary, I went upstairs to shower and get dressed. Four followed me, sitting on the toilet while I hummed to myself. "How do they know me?"

"How do they know who Andrew and Natalie are?"

"Andrew is understandable, even my father, but I don't know how he would know Tris's mom."

"Because she was Andrew's wife?" I countered.

"Maybe." Four replied softly.

"Either way, it's obvious that they're hiding something from me." I stated.

Then the door opened and there was a scream. Hazel. "Get out!" She yelled at Four.

"Okay." He said standing up.

"Get out, get out, get out!" She bellowed at him.

Laughing, I finished up, stepping out and wrapping a towel around myself. Hazel was standing guard at the door, glowering at me; I patted her cheek before walking away. Going to my room, Four was sitting on the bed. Still grinning at my sister, I shut the door. Laughing, I turned to Four, seeing a raised brow and an annoyed expression.

"What?" I told him, still smirking. "I'll probably never see her again. And besides, it wouldn't be the first time you've seen me naked."

"Not the point." He told me.

"Avert your eyes please." I smiled at him.

He did as he was told, clearing his throat. Wrapping the towel around my head, I pulled on a pair of yellow underwear and a bra to match. I had to admit that it was nice to see bright colors again. I love wearing black but this was equally as nice. Grabbing a long skirt from a drawer, it was tiered with red, orange, and yellow as well as brown around the trim. Grabbing a white, short sleeved shirt, I pulled my hair back, before turning back to Four.

"All done." I told him. He turned around from the corner he was staring at, a smile of fondness crossing his face. "What?" I smiled, feeling a small blush rise in my cheeks as I tucked my swooping bangs behind my ear.

"You look good, Opie." He replied.

Laughing, I felt the blush heat my cheeks. "I'm cut, bruised, and littered with bullet wounds. I can't imagine I look that great. And despite the sleep I got, I'm pretty sure the dark rings are growing."

He nodded, stepping up to me, gently taking my head in his hands, pressing a kiss against my forehead. "You're still beautiful."

"Thank you." I smiled, wrapping my arms around him. I was perfectly content, only then Eric flooded my mind and I pulled away from him, turning to the door, and swiftly leaving the room.

"Opie."

"It's fine." I told him as he followed me down the stairs. My family was all standing in the kitchen, growing quiet when we came into view. "Hello, everyone." I told them suspiciously.

"Opie." Four said again. "We should talk." He added softly.

Nodding at him, I looked at my family. "I'm going to step out for a bit with Four. I'll see you all at the meeting."

"No." My mother stated, her grip comparable to a vice, her fingers wrapped around my wrist.

"Mother." I told her with seriousness. "Please let go."

"Lillian." My father told her with a firm voice.

"She just got here." She shot at him. "If I have it my way, she won't leave my sight until a decision is made."

"You can't have it your way." I told her gently. "I've said it before. Things need to be decided. Now please let me go."

She met my eyes, her grip slowly loosening until I could pull free from her grasp. Four pulled me against his side, protectiveness flowing off of him. Smiling at my family, I moved toward the door, ready for a break from them.

"Pen, can I come?" Maggie asked.

Smiling wider at her, I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tightly. "Not this time."

"You're just going to let her go with him?" Hazel shot at my father.

Sighing, I looked at her. "Hazel, he may be my father, but I don't answer to him anymore."

Turning to the door, Four and I slipped out, feeling a weight lifted off of me as soon as I was apart from them. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, we walked toward the orchard, knowing there would be less people there.

"I've been meaning to ask you," I told him as we walked, "do you want me to keep calling you Four or should I switch to Tobias? Now that our world is falling apart, you aren't hidden anymore. People know who you are."

"Whichever." He replied. "You calling me Four might not be bad. Tris has taken to Tobias and I guess I like that she's one of the few who know my name. I've asked her to use it."

"And you still want me to use Four?" I frowned at him. He just looked at me. "I don't quite get your reasoning, but okay."

"It doesn't matter. Call me whatever you want." He retorted.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."

"I know." He nodded.

"So how are you and Tris doing? You two okay?" I asked carefully.

"Yeah." He replied but there was something in his voice.

"Four." I stated, stopping us under a large apple tree.

He fiddled with a stick he had grabbed, breaking it into tiny pieces. "It's just - you know - I don't even know what it is. She lost both her parents in one day. Will's dead. She's suffering but she won't talk to me about it."

"She's processing and dealing. She's gonna be angry for a while. Just let her know that you aren't going anywhere and wait it out. It'll pass."

"And if it doesn't?" He asked.

"It will."

"And what about you?" He asked.

I just frowned at him, "What about me?"

"Do I wait you out too?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked him. "I'm fine. I haven't lied or kept anything from you."

"You regret coming with us."

"No, Four, I don't." I told him. "I got to see my family again. That means a lot to me."

"And yet you wish you were with Eric."

"Of course I do." I replied quickly, my brows furrowing. "More than anything. But we're on completely different sides of this. I don't know where his head is or what he wants. He can't protect me from those he answers to. I'd more than likely be killed if I had stayed with him."

"Which is why he hit you and pushed you away." Four nodded.

"I think so." I told him, sounding unsure, but then changed my tone, sounding sure. I was sure. "No, I know so. He's loves me, Four. And I love him. I will do whatever I have to do to make it right with him. He can rebel just as easily as we did. Maybe he's working on the inside. I mean, maybe he's going to surprise us and help us."

"Opie." He frowned sadly.

"I know." I said quickly. "I know. But it's nice to imagine."

He wrapped his arm around me, "I know you want to see the good in him, but I just don't think he has our best interests in mind."

Sighing, I moved away from him, looking off at the wall that was in the distance. "He's out there, Four." I told him. "I don't care what he's doing. I need him back. I need him with me."

"He's not something you can just claim, Opie. He's Eric. He's a leader of Dauntless and is Jeanine's left hand. He is so far on the wrong side, you need to be realistic about our situation."

"I haven't forgotten, Four." I shot at him. "And I don't want to claim him. He's my Tris. Are you telling me that if you were me and she was him, you wouldn't do everything in your power to reunite with her?"

"I'm not saying that." He told me gently.

"Then what are you saying, Tobias? Because I don't know what to do. I want to be here and I want to be there. I need him, Tobias. Not just because I love him. I'm just not me without him anymore."

"You are." He frowned. "You are far more independent than you give yourself credit for."

"I know." I nodded. "I guess I'm just saying that I'm better with him."

"And you're terrified of what he's going to do without you." He replied. It was a statement, not a question.

Meeting his eyes, I nodded, "I really am." He nodded back. "I know what he's capable of, Four. He's a better man but Jeanine is manipulative and I'm sure she'll convince him to do a lot of things he may have second guessed when he was with me."

"Like killing people?"

I nodded. "I think he'll kill more people before this is over."

"And?" He said with a raised brow.

Frowning at him, I crossed my arms, "And I'll see him through it."

"You'd take him back, just like that, even though he's killed people."

"Yes." I replied quickly. His jaw clenched and he averted his eyes from mine. "How many rounds are we going to go where Eric is concerned?" I asked him. "You know where I stand. I won't turn from him, Four. He'll come for me."

"He'll come to kill you." He frowned back at me.

"He won't." I retorted.

"He will, Pen. He will because Jeanine will tell him to."

"You've already seen him tell her no. He won't kill me. I know for a fact that he won't."

He scoffed, "Fine, he won't kill you. But he sure as hell won't save you."

"You don't know that!" I screamed at him.

"Be smart, Pen."

Calming myself, I tried to keep my temper at a manageable level. "I am being smart."

"No. You're blinded by your feelings for him. You think that you can change him, that you can make him something he's not. Well guess what, you can't."

"He is not the same man you knew. He's changed."

He laughed and paced away from me. "I just can't see how you would want to be with him after this."

"Because he doesn't have a choice if he wants to survive." I shot back at him.

"Everyone has a choice. He chose wrong."

"He chose me!" I yelled at him.

"Then where is he?!" He yelled back. "Where is he, Pen?"

Feeling emotion creeping in, I crossed my arms, looking at my feet. "Everything he's doing is because of Jeanine."

"I know." He nodded. "But that doesn't change the fact that he's killed people. By choice."

"So have we." I shot at him. "We've knowingly killed several Dauntless."

"They were under a simulation." He replied. "It's different."

"It's only different because you choose to see it that way." I shot back at him. "All of us were absent choice."

"You're making light of it." He frowned.

Without warning, tears brimmed in my eyes and I bit the corner of my bottom lip, shaking my head at him. "You don't understand."

He sighed, stepping up to me, putting his hands on my arms. "I do, Opie. I do understand. But he is on the opposite side of this. He's killing everyone like us. How can you be so blind to that?"

"Love is blind."

"You're not that naïve."

"I love him, Tobias." I told him, anger creeping in again. "I hate to say it, I really do, but where he's concerned I can forgive him. No matter what he's done."

"He was going to let you die!" He yelled, going from a three to a ten in an instant.

Feeling small, I wanted to disappear. I knew what was going to happen. I knew that he hadn't done as much as he could have. "I'm choosing to believe that he did it to protect me."

"HOW?!" He bellowed, making me jump.

A tear slid down my cheek and I swiftly brushed it away, "So he could protect me from the inside. He would know what her next move is and he could save me from it."

"Are you listening to yourself?" He frowned at me. "You can't possibly know that."

"Maybe I can." I frowned at him. "Why is it so hard to believe that he would do the right thing?"

"Because he was going to let her kill you!" He was yelling again.

Calming, I nodded at him. "I know. Okay, Tobias? Is that what you want to hear? I know." He sighed, his shoulders slouching. "Do you want me to tell you how much it hurt that he barely lifted a finger to save my life?"

"Opie." He said sadly, heaving a heavy sigh.

"Do you want me to tell you how much I wished things had turned out differently? How loving him may cost me everything? How scared I am? What do you want me to tell you, Four?"

"I don't know." He said softly. "I may not have thought about you enough in all of this."

"Meaning?" I frowned at him.

He sighed again. "I've only thought about all the wrong he's done. Not how it affects you. Not really."

"You're not alone with what you're thinking and feeling. I'm just going to look past it and love him anyway."

He sighed, bringing his hand lightly to my face. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." I said giving him a small smile. "You're not wrong, Tobias. I'm just not willing to give him up. Not for anything."

He nodded, wrapping his arms around me. Hugging him tightly, I rested my head against his chest, not wanting to let him go. Starting to walk again, he wrapped his arm around me. We walked in silence around the orchard for a while before he went to get Tris and the others. I wasn't ready to be with people yet. I wanted to walk a bit more. Four understood, making me promise to join them before the meeting started. I didn't hesitate to give him my word. There were very few I trusted more than him.

It felt weird walking the same streets as I used to. I remembered everything, walking them without thinking, taking everything in as if I were seeing it for the first time. Wrapping my arms around myself against the morning chill, I heard the steps behind me before anything was said. It wasn't Maggie, I knew that. The steps were too heavy to be hers. Part of my wanted to hope that Eric had slipped in without anyone noticing, making me the happiest girl alive. But when I stopped and turned around, it wasn't him. Though I did smile, stepping up to the boy - man - that stood in front of me.

"Cal Higgins." I smiled.

"You remember me." He smirked.

"Of course I do." I told him, furrowing my brows. "I've known you forever." He nodded, hearing more steps as a young woman joined us. "It can't be." I grinned as I recognized her. "Melody?"

She slipped her hand into Cal's, smiling the entire time, "We should go to the cafeteria."

"I just wanted to say 'hi' to her." He replied kindly.

"Let's go." She smiled and pulled him away.

He looked over his shoulder, waving, "Good to see you, Penelope."

Smiling, I nodded. I guess I should have known it wouldn't be a completely warm welcoming. Even the Amity had their own thoughts and feelings. I knew some wouldn't be happy about Dauntless claiming sanctuary in their peaceful place. Though their kindness would never falter. They would more than likely remain neutral throughout this entire fight, and I was fine with that. Their neutrality would save their lives. Even though it could also mean the death of others that their involvement could have prevented.

With the sun coming up, Amity was coming alive, starting the daily chores. The cows would need to be milked, the fields tended, apples picked, clothes washed, and everything else that encompassed their daily lives. Passing several, a few stopped to talk to me but most smiled and continued on or avoided me all together. If they didn't acknowledge me then they wouldn't have to worry about anything, keeping their neutrality intact. That hurt a little bit. A lot of these people I'd known for sixteen years, then I left, and now they were completely indifferent to me. No hugs. No questions about my wellbeing. Nothing. The ones that did talk to me kept it very generic. Not that I was willing to share anything anyway, but still...

"Penelope Farrier." A voice said from behind me as I walked through the orchard. Turning around, there was a pretty blond stepping toward me with a basket full of apples. Her hair braided over her shoulder and her blue eyes filled with excitement.

Smiling, I met her halfway, "Melissa Conrad."

"I heard there were Dauntless among us but I didn't think it was you."

"Surprise." I smiled opening my arms to her.

She laughed and shook her head. "I can't believe how much you've changed."

I nodded, "I know. It's kinda crazy."

"And now what?" She asked. "Are you factionless now?"

"Technically." I nodded.

"Your parents will take you back." She stated sadly.

"I know." I replied. "But I don't belong here anymore, Lissa. I belong with my faction. I have people who I can't leave behind."

She sighed sadly and nodded, starting to walk again, "You didn't belong here before either."

Falling in step with her, I nodded, "And I like who I am."

"I'm happy for you." She smiled at me. "Really."

"Thank you. I don't think many would agree with you."

As if to reiterate my words, we passed several people who averted their eyes and the air around us was filled with whispers. My smile fell, my brows furrowed, feeling like I was walking a path of judgment, when I was simply accompanying an old friend.

"Have you seen Cal?"

"I have." I nodded. "Looks like Melody has him wrapped around her little finger."

Lissa laughed, "She does. But he's happy."

"She didn't seem thrilled to see me."

"She's not. He's the first boy you ever kissed."

"And it was a good one." I told her, both of us laughing.

"You're also the first girl he ever loved." She added.

I nodded, "That was a long time ago."

"You leaving was probably the best thing that happened to her."

"I believe that. She's been in love with him for a long time."

She nodded, "They're getting married next month."

"Good for them." I told her excitedly. "She's good for him. He needs someone to dote on and she loves being doted on."

She laughed again, "Yes she does. But she's become an excellent musician and is extremely diligent at helping run the kitchens."

"Good." I nodded. "I'm happy for her." Lissa sighed and just grinned at me. "What?"

"You can slip right back into Amity like you never left."

Taking a deep breath, I looked around, "I never lost Amity. I just created my Dauntless-self around it. I mean, I am far more Dauntless than Amity, but there are things about Amity that I appreciate and hold on to."

"Forgiveness?"

Furrowing my brows, keeping the smile on my face, I looked at her, "You know, everyone assumes that that's the only part of Amity that I've held on to."

"Are you saying it's not true?'

"No. Everyone is perfectly correct; I just didn't think I was that transparent."

"You're not. It's just the one thing you were good at when you were still here." She replied.

"I guess that narrows it down a bit."

Laughing again, we walked to the cafeteria to drop off the apples. Seeing Melody, she smiled at me but I knew she wanted nothing to do with me. Smiling back, I felt everyone's eyes on me. There was already a murmur of voices but now I felt like it all shifted toward me as eyes darted my way, some even started to stare. Looking at myself, I knew they knew who I was but I was wearing Amity colors. But my hair and tattoos were visible and I could only imagine how weird that looked. Not to mention the visible wounds. Everyone knew about Abnegation. I was just a reminder of what happened.

Then there was a voice I did not wish to hear. One that had been the difference between peace and defiance for years. Turning around, I looked at Holly. She was tall, burly, and had transferred into Amity two years before I left it. She had transferred from Dauntless - a rarity in itself - and there was something about her that just pissed me off. She looked like a frumpy troll. Molly had reminded me heavily of her and the similarity in name and appearance didn't help me differentiate between them. I hated Holly. I hated Molly. Both were just instigators for havoc.

"She's still here?" I asked Lissa, forcing a smile onto my face.

"She is."

"That's it? Not a happy tale?"

"She has her moments but she fits in okay."

Her eyes turned toward me and she was immediately moving my way. "We need to go. I am not even-tempered enough to deal with her."

"Let's go." Lissa said and swiftly turned me away from her.

My hands were already balled into fists. Dauntless had made me an adrenaline junky when it came to fighting and I enjoyed fighting. Not enough to seek it out but even training with the bags and sparing with friends was something I looked forward to.

"Penelope!"

Moving faster, I gripped Lissa's wrist. "This isn't going to be good."

"Keep moving." She told me.

"Penelope!" Holly yelled again. I didn't respond to her. She still followed and then she decided to open her big mouth. "I just have a question. Why are you running from Erudite? Were you one of the Dauntless who was murdering Abnegation? What did your parents say? How about your sisters? Are they going to let a murderer back into their home?" Stopping, I was starting to shake. They weren't said with anger or disdain. She sounded friendly and genuinely concerned, making it that much worse.

"Penelope." Lissa said softly. "You don't have to do this. You're a good person. You're better than she is. Let's just keep walking."

"I can't." I whispered. "She doesn't understand. None of you understand."

"I know. Which is why you can't engage her. Just keep moving. I'll talk to her."

"I don't let anyone fight my battles for me." I said meeting her eyes. Then the steps stopped and I turned to face her. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak to me. We spoke with Johanna when we arrived. No questions will be answered until Johanna calls the meeting."

She just sneered at me. "So you're not going to deny killing people in Abnegation?"

"I did what I had to. Something you couldn't possibly understand." I told her as kindly as I could muster, but she knew that I was being false.

She frowned and stepped closer to me. Close enough to smell her rank breathe and see the scar against her brow I'd given to her. "I'm from where you are. I understand." She told me with venom.

"Careful." I retorted unblinkingly. "Your Dauntless is showing. Which would make you the same as me."

In the next second she'd punched me, making Lissa shriek. Getting to my feet, I touched the cut she'd opened up on my cheek. I was in no condition to be fighting. Both physically and emotionally. But I sure as hell wasn't going to back down either. Facing her, I waited to see what she was going to do.

"Walk away." I told her when she didn't move.

We were far enough away from the cafeteria that very few - if anyone - had witnessed it. She didn't heed my warning, lunging at me again. I easily leaned back, pivoting out of her reach. That only pissed her off. She charged me, her fist nearly hitting me. Shifting just in time, I landed a hard punch to her ribs. She gasped but retaliated, attempting to backhand me. Gripping her wrist, I cupped my hand, slamming it against her opposite ear. I was sure it was ringing horribly as she gripped it. Blocking and pivoting out of several more punches, she finally stopped. She stood hunched over with her hand on her knees. Turning away from her, Lissa smiled at me, taking a deep breath. At least I had one old friend on my side. In the next second there was a yell from behind me. Spinning, ready to defend myself, there was a blur and Holly was lying on the ground.

"Four." I said looking at him with wide eyes.

Then he was to me, taking my head in his hands, "You okay?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Are you sure?" He asked touching my cheek.

"She didn't start it." Lissa defended me.

Four smiled at her, "I didn't think she had."

"Thanks." I smiled at him. He nodded, pulling me into a hug. "I thought you were getting the others."

"I did, only I heard commotion and naturally thought…" He said trailing off.

Smiling, I nodded, "Naturally you thought I was getting myself into trouble."

He gave me a small smile, "You have been known to lose your temper. And after what we were talking about, I just…"

"I know." I smiled, hugging him again. "Don't worry about me, Four. I'm being on my best behavior."

He smiled and nodded, "I know." Then a more serious expression crossed his face. "I'm glad you get to see your family, but I didn't like being apart last night."

"I know." I nodded. "But it won't be for long. Then you'll be stuck with me."

"Boyfriend?" Lissa asked.

We both looked at her before laughing. "I'm Four." He said holding out his hand. "And no. I'm more of a brother."

"Do you have a girlfriend?" She smiled sweetly.

Then Tris appeared, stepping next to him protectively, crossing her arms. "Yes. He does."

"Sorry." She smiled at Tris. "I should go. The meeting is starting soon. My family will be expecting me. I'll see you later, Penelope."

"Okay. See you." I smiled at her.

"Let's go before someone notices." Four said gripping my wrist and leading me off.

Meeting up with the others, we made our way toward the glass building where the meeting was going to be held. It was awkward enough being here and not being able to be ourselves.

"It's okay, Opie. I hated her before she left Dauntless. It would appear her personality hasn't changed much." Four told me, gently nudging my arm.

"Thanks." I smiled at him.

"How you holding up?" He asked.

"There are a few faces I'm happy to see. But I feel very judged walking these roads. Everyone is looking and whispering. Most are just avoiding me like I have the plague or something."

"It's probably for the best." He nodded, putting his arm around me. "We won't be here long anyway."

Nodding at him, my stomach was starting to turn. I was excited for the meeting that was about to take place, but was also dreading it. Joining the crowd of people, it was kinda fun seeing all the color in comparison to the constant black of Dauntless. Though black was slimming. Smiling to myself, I looked at the squat building made entirely of glass. The sunlight reflected off the panes making it hard to look at, yet I couldn't look away. The sun felt amazing, my skin soaking it up.

The doors to the building are wide open. Around the edge of the circular greenhouse, plants and trees are growing in troughs of water or small pools. Dozens of fans positioned around the room do little to cool it, making the air thick and heavy, sweat already beading on my neck, rolling down my back. Smiling fondly at the huge tree in the center of the room, its branches spread over most of the greenhouse. Its roots bubble up from the ground, forming a dense web of bark. There's water in the spaces between the roots, and metal rods holding the roots in place. Looking at it made me want to reach out and touch it. I loved trees. And we'd accomplished many agricultural feats, though they had all been with the help of Erudite technology.

Running my hand across my hair, my bangs falling free, I felt torn in a million different directions. Trying to focus on Johanna, she stood on a cluster of roots, looking out over her people. We were different in that she wasn't Amity's leader. She was simply the voice of the people. Everyone was a part of the decision making processes, and usually the decisions were nearly unanimous. But today I had a feeling there may be many who think we should move on immediately. I hoped that wasn't the case. My parents had some explaining to do and I didn't want to leave them or my sisters just yet. I may never see them again when we leave and I wanted more time with them.

Taking a deep breath, I looked around the room, seeing Cal and Melody nearby. He noticed, smiling and waving at me. Doing the same, I sat down on the floor, blending in with the rest of Amity. Bringing my knees to my chest, I wrapped my arms around them. The Abnegation sit in tight rows a few yards away and I see both Four and Tris looking at them before they share a few words and finally sit next to me.

Johanna lifted her hands and bowed her head. All conversation in the room ceases immediately. Shutting my eyes, I let the silence fill me, feeling peace even though I knew it would only last a moment. I didn't open my eyes until Johanna's voice broke the silence, everyone's eyes training on her.

"We have before us today an urgent question." She tells us. "Which is: How will we conduct ourselves in this time of conflict as people who pursue peace?"

Every Amity in the room turned to the person next to him or her and started to talk. The discussion was on. My stomach was fluttering as I listened to all the muttering. It was hard to hear much of what was being said but I knew that each and every one of them was taking this seriously.

"How do they get anything done?" Tris asked as the minutes of chatter wear on.

I shot her a look but she didn't see it. Four gently touched my arm before replying to her. "They don't care about efficiency." He told her. "They care about agreement. Watch."

As if on cue, two women in yellow dresses a few feet away rise and join a trio of men. A young man shifts so that his small circle becomes a large one with the group next to him. All around the room, the smaller crowds grow and expand, and fewer and fewer voices fill the room, until there are only three or four. I can only hear pieces of what they say: "Peace—Dauntless—Erudite—safe house—involvement—"

"This is bizarre." Tris states.

"I think it's beautiful." Four replied as he watched.

"This is how I was raised." I added. "Four's right, it is beautiful."

She gives both of us a look.

"What?" Four laughed a little. "They each have an equal role in government; they each feel equally responsible. And it makes them care; it makes them kind. I think that's beautiful."

"Thank you." I told him, not feeling like I needed to defend them. I wasn't judging Abnegation while it was being slaughtered.

"I think it's unsustainable." Tris replied. "Sure, it works for the Amity. But what happens when not everyone wants to strum banjos and grow crops? What happens when someone does something terrible and talking about it can't solve the problem?"

"It wouldn't happen because we talk it out. Any conflict is resolved by the party involved. We utilize the peace serum to calm and make those afflicted level headed so it can be discussed rationally until a solution is met."

"Again, unsustainable."

"Because Abnegation can sustain their selflessness especially now that they're scattered to the wind." I shot at her before standing.

Moving through the crowd, I passed Melissa and her family, touching her shoulder as I passed her by. Not lingering, I searched the crowd until I finally found Maggie and my family, swiftly moving to them.

"Hey." Maggie said. "I thought you were going to sit with your people."

"Tris is a real piece of work sometimes. She's criticizing our methods as unsustainable when she has no idea how we work. She thinks she knows things but she's just a child. One that people think is important when all I want to do is slap her." The words fell out of my mouth without my permission. Rolling my shoulders, I attempted to calm down. I didn't want to be mad at her.

"Bread?" My mother asked.

I glared at her but she just laughed at me. "What's been said over here?"

"We're leaning toward sanctuary. But there will be conditions." She replied, their group speaker had already gone to Johanna.

Nodding, I fell silent as I watched the talking die down. Eventually someone from each of the big groups stands and approaches Johanna, picking their way carefully over the roots of the big tree. When everyone has said his or her piece, they sit down again, leaving Johanna alone in the center of the room. She angles her body toward us and folds her hands in front of her. Part of me wants them to send us away. I don't know where we'd go but if we went home than maybe I could find Eric and just talk to him. I just wanted to see him again.

"It's going to be all right." Maggie said taking my hand and squeezing it tightly.

"I know." I nodded. "But that only solves our immediate problem. There are so many more that we have to face."

"One thing at a time, Pen." She said running her hand down my hair.

Then Johanna addressed the crowd. "Our faction has had a close relationship with Erudite for as long as any of us can remember. We need each other to survive, and we have always cooperated with each other." She's telling us. "But we have also had a strong relationship with Abnegation in the past, and we do not think it is right to revoke the hand of friendship when it has for so long been extended."

The sound of her voice is honey-sweet and calming. She chooses her words carefully, speaking them slowly and with conviction. Nodding as she spoke, I gave Maggie's hand a squeeze, needing her comfort. She sensed it, wrapping her arm around me tightly.

"We feel that the only way to preserve our relationships with both factions is to remain impartial and uninvolved." She continued. Sighing, I bowed my head, dread filling my stomach.

"It's okay." Maggie told me.

"Your presence here, though welcome, complicates that."

"Maggie." I whisper, more air than sound.

"It's okay." She repeated.

"We have arrived at the conclusion that we will establish our faction headquarters as a safe house for members of all factions," she says, "under a set of conditions. The first is that no weaponry of any kind is allowed on the compound. The second is that if any serious conflict arises, whether verbal or physical, all involved parties will be asked to leave."

"We're doomed." I said looking at Tris from across the way.

"The third is that the conflict may not be discussed, even privately, within the confines of this compound. And the fourth is that everyone who stays here must contribute to the welfare of this environment by working. We will report this to Erudite, Candor, and Dauntless as soon as we can."

"Report it?" I frown. "That - no - they'll come for us."

I watch as Johanna's eyes drift to where Four and Tris are sitting. "You are welcome to stay here if and only if you can abide by our rules. That is our decision."

I think of the gun that Tris still has and the fact that she will not be able to stay quiet for long. Training my eyes on them, I feel like our time here will be spent tiptoeing around what we're really thinking and feeling. "We won't be here much longer." I tell Maggie as I continue to look at them.

"What do you mean?" She frowned.

Meeting her eyes, I felt anger start to boil inside of me. "She's going to ruin it." I tell her. "She can't stop herself. If someone says or does the wrong thing it's all over."

"Talk to her, help her through this."

"I don't want to." I told her and stood. "I need a minute."

Moving through the orchard, I waited till the sounds were barely a whisper behind me. Moving behind a tree, I slid down its trunk until I was sitting in the dirt. Putting my face in my hands, I started to cry. Everything was so screwed up and there was nothing I could do about it. I would bet almost anything that Tris would be the first to move against someone whether it was one of us or one of Amity. I'd already had a confrontation that I was lucky enough to get away with. But it would happen again. I didn't want to point fingers but I was truly certain that it would be Tris. I needed to talk to Four, making him watch her, be there with her to stop her from doing something foolish.

More than that, I just wanted everything to go back to the way that it was. I wanted to be home with Eric's arms around me, with Tori and the tattoo parlor and the infirmary where Simmy was to keep me motivated. I needed my home and my people. This place no longer provided either of those things and once I realized that, I couldn't help the guilt and sorrow I felt guilty for not loving my family as much as I should. But I had accepted Faction Before Blood. I had accepted it and embraced it. I had Eric and Four and Tori and Claude and Henry...I had a new family that I loved. That I needed. None of that was here. The unknown was scarier than anything that had happened yet. Not knowing what happened to my family after the simulation was ended. Or what had happened to Eric. We had run and now, because of my old faction, we were going to be thrown in with members of every faction. They would all know where we were and they would come for us. We needed to figure out our next move and act on it. But what? Gently banging the back of my head against the tree, I willed for the answers to come to me.


And there we have chapter two! I hope you all are enjoying it so far! Lots of funness to come! And don't worry. Eric will reappear before too long. ; )