A/N: knife throwing today. Before you tell me how knife throwing comes at the end of stage one, I'm going to say: I know. I was going to fix it, but I really don't want to, okay? Okay.

Disclaimer: sadly, I own nada. ?

Chapter 4: Knives and Targets

I am so tired. I didn't sleep at all. I need to tell Four that I know he is Tobias, but I don't know how. I walk to the training room and stand close to Four as if it is a coincidence, but obviously, it's not.

"Today, you'll be learning how to aim." Eric says. "Everyone pick up three knives, and pay attention while Four demonstrates the correct technique for throwing them."

We don't move.

"Now!"

I walk to the table of knives and grab four of them, like we're supposed to. They are dangerous. I'll have to be careful not to screw up throwing them.

Four picks up four knives and walks over to the target next to mine. Then he throws. I watch his stance the first time and his arm the second time. All four times, he hits the center of the target.

"Line up!" Eric says when Four is finished.

I stand before the target and practice my stance, trying to imitate Four's movements. Then, work on the throwing technique.

"I think the Stiff's taken too many hits to the head!" Peter says. "Hey, Stiff! Remember what a knife is?"

I ignore him and practice a few more times without a knife. Then, I practice with it, but I don't release it.

When I actually throw the knife, it hits the board, and I smile. I am the first to hit the target.

"Hey, Peter," I say. "Remember what a target is?"

Peter flowers at me, and I grin back.

It is now an hour into practice, and everyone is hitting their targets by now. Except Al. It's a shame Eric notices.

"How slow are you, Candor? Do you need glasses? Should I move the target closer to you?" Eric says, his voice strained.

Al throws again and the knife sails into a wall. "What was that, initiate?" Eric says.

"It—it slipped." Al stutters.

"Well, I think you should go get it."

We stop throwing.

"Did I tell you to stop?" Eric says, his pierced eyebrows raised.

This is not good.

"Go get it?" says Al. "But everyone's still throwing."

"And?"

"And I don't want to get hit."

"I think you can trust your fellow initiates to aim better than you. Go get your knife."

"No."

"Why not? Are you afraid?"

"Of getting stabbed by an airborne knife?" says Al. "Yes, I am!"

"Clear out of the ring," Eric says. Then, to Al: "All except you. Stand in front of the target."

Al walks over to the target, gulping.

"Hey, Four. Give me a hand here, huh?" Eric says.

I crane my neck to see Four's reaction. He is glaring at the floor.

Eric says, "You're going to stand there as he throws those knives until you learn not to flinch."

Four scratches eyebrow with the point of his knife.

"Is this really necessary?" He says, sounding bored, but his body suggests otherwise; his spine is ramrod straight, and his eyes look stormy. Literally. The blue in them makes them look like orbs of a stormy night sky.

"I have the authority here," Eric says. Then he gives Four a hard look. "Here, and everywhere else."

"Like in the bedroom," someone whispers, provoking snickers from everyone but me.

Blood creeps to Four's neck and face. Then he walks up to face the target and Al. This is so wrong.

"Stop it." I say.

Four turns to glare at me, like that will get me to shut up. I give him a cold stare. He is such a disappointment.

"Any idiot can stand in front of a target," I continue. "It doesn't prove anything except that you're bullying him. Which, as I recall, is a sign of cowardice."

"Then it should be easy for you," Eric says, pushing his hair back so it curls around his ear. "If you're willing to take his place."

I walk up to the target. Al looks grateful as he slips back to the line of initiates.

"There goes your pretty face," Peter says, across the room. "Oh, wait. You don't have one."

I ignore him and lean casually against the target, although I don't feel casual at all. Four is spinning the knife in his hand, like its a toy, and not a weapon. It makes me sick.

"If you flinch, Al takes your place. Understand?" Four says.

I shrug. Four throws the knife and it hits the board a half-inch from my face. I close my eyes.

"You about done, Stiff?" Four asks.

I am furious. "No."

"Eyes open, then," he says, tapping the skin between his eyebrows.

I stare at him like I want to burn a hole through his head while he throws the second knife.

"Come on, Stiff," he says, almost pleading. "Let someone else stand there and take it."

This makes me want to punch him. Four was so mean. He actually wants me to fail. I am so furious, I can't even think about what I'm about to say.

"Shut up, Tobi - Four!" I shout.

Shit.

"Four, is what I meant to say." I add.

"Stiff, you know Four's name?" Eric asks. "Tell me what it is, and I'll let this drop." I see Four's eyes drop to the floor. He is mad. He thinks I'd give his name away to the whole initiate class.

He has no faith in me.

"I don't." I say. "I know a boy from Abnegation named Tobi. I was stressed, and I called him Tobi by accident."

This wouldn't fly if I called him Tobias. I would have felt horrible.

"C'mon Stiff. He'll stab you next time. Just say it." Eric is horrible. Too bad he already knows Four's name. Otherwise I would lie.

"I'll take my chances." I say. "I don't know Four's name. I don't even know which faction he came from, so how would I know his name!" I stare Eric down for a minute. Then I lean back against the target.

"Go ahead, Four. " I say. "Stab me. I don't really care."

"You got it, Stiff." Eric replies. "Just give her a little trim."

I stare at Four. He throws the knife and it nicks my ear. I sigh.

Eric turns to the rest of the initiates.

"I would love to stay and see if the rest of you are as daring as she is, but I think that's enough for today,"

I straighten up and start toward Four, but Eric grabs my arm.

"I should keep my eye on you."

He says. He leaves and the room is empty. Except for Four. And me. He walks toward me.

"It's your-" I cut him off.

"My what? Stiffness? I know! You actually stabbed me! On purpose!"

"Yes, I did. And you should be thanking me." What the hell?

"Thank you? You almost stabbed my ear, and you spent the entire time taunting me! Why should I thank you?"

"You know, I've been getting tired of waiting for you to catch on!" He says. What the heck?

"Catch on? Catch on to what? That you wanted to prove to Eric how tough you are? That you're sadistic, just like he is?"

I almost said Marcus instead of Eric, but I would have felt horrible.

"I'm not sadistic." He says. "If I wanted to hurt you, don't you think I would have already?"

"I guess."

"Just watch out for Eric, okay Tris?"

"Okay, Four," I say. I hug him quickly. Awkward, but he doesn't resist me.

"You're not like Eric, by the way." I add. "I just wanted to see your reaction." I smile.

"Why did you tell me to stab you, Tris?" Four asks. "Why did you let me throw knives at you?" I laugh. Four frowns.

"Your aim was pretty flawless. Besides, you looked like you wanted to. After the whole name thing, I mean." Four looks crushed.

"It's okay, Four." I say. "I still like you."

I grimace and walk out the door. I lie down on my bed in the dormitory, my stomach churning.

I just told Four that I liked him.