Disclaimer: I don't own Divergent.

"Mai!" I called frantically, rushing out of the shop. "Mai!" But Mai was nowhere to be seen, she had vanished. I felt awful, and angry. Why hadn't I pushed Isabelle off sooner instead of thinking about how much I wished that it was Mai on top of me? I took a deep breath to try and calm myself down, the last thing I needed to have was a broken hand from smashing the glass window of the piercing shop. But why had Mai been so upset?

I walked through the crowd of people, searching for Mai everywhere. Where could she be?

"Eric! Eric! Over here!" I heard someone call. It was Andrew and Tobias.

"Uh hey..." I muttered distracted. "How was it?"

"It was grand," Andrew beamed. "I like your eyebrow piercing - it suits you."

"Thanks." I answered, still searching the swarm of people for the little blonde Amity. "What did you get?"

"A tattoo of a tiger on the back of my neck." Andrew answered. "It was sore but worth it."

"Cool," I nodded as he turned around to show me his tattoo. "And you Tobias?"

"Don't bother asking him." Andrew snorted. "He won't tell me what he got. All I know is that he is starting a tattoo sleeve well... on his back. No matter how pervy this sounds, I can't wait to see him shirtless." Andrew laughed. I gave a tight smile.

"Have any of you see Mai?" I asked.

"No, I thought you were with her?" Tobias answered, his eyebrows pulling together with worry. "Is everything okay? You look tense, and worried."

"I'm okay," I answered. "I'm going to find Mai. Talk to you later." And with that I left Tobias and Andrew confused in the middle of the Pit.

. . .

I walked to the training room, I thought of what a douche I had been. I liked Mai, so why had I let Isabelle kiss me? I let out a low growl of frustration. And why had Mai been so upset? I had searched everywhere for her, to no avail. She had simply vanished. She wasn't in the Pit, any of the shops, the sleeping quarters, and nobody had seen her. So now I was on my way to the training room to let off some steam and prepare for tomorrow.

As I got closer to the training room, I heard the faint thump of someone beating at a punching bag. As I got even closer, I heard angry groans and shouts. I heard panting of exhaustion and frustration. I wondered who was in there, I knew the training rooms were open for entire Dauntless population. Staying fit in Dauntless was pretty much a necessity.

As I opened the door, I was surprised to see Mai standing at one of the heavy punching bags and attacking it violently. I guess she was right when she said that we shouldn't underestimate her. Looks like she could work up a sweat if she ever so wanted to.

"Mai?" I asked, keeping my distance. I didn't fancy a bust up lip or a black eye from a small, innocent looking girl. She stopped for a moment and turned to look at me.

"Oh, it's only you." She said, and started punching and kicking the bag once again.

"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned about her.

"I'm perfectly good, why would you think anything other?" Mai answered panting with exertion but not stopping.

"Are you mad?" I asked her, not sure why she would be mad but with the way that she was beating the crap out of the punching bag...

"No, not mad." She panted, still hitting the object with as much force as she could manage.

"You are mad." I pointed out.

"How observant of you." She bit venomously at me.

"Why are you mad?" I asked, confused and hurt. I had no idea why I was hurt.

"I-" but I didn't hear the end of the sentence, or the beginning really, because Mai had stopped mid-sentence, stopping hitting the bag, and was panting heavily, doubled over - clutching her stomach. I stood still for a few seconds and then Mai lowered herself onto the ground, breathing heavily and clutching her head.

"Mai!" I called out, and was standing beside her in a split second, not caring if she hit me for it. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she choked. "I'm just dehydrated. And tired. That's all." She glared at me, as if I shouldn't care and that it wasn't any of my business. She grabbed the water bottle off the ground and chugged on it for a few moments, before recapping it.

"You're mad at me."

"Thank-you for pointing that out Captain Obvious." She glared pointedly at me.

"How mad?" I questioned, probably pushing her to breaking point, which would certainly end up with me having a broken nose.

"Mad enough to make you hope that you don't have me as your opponent in the ring tomorrow." She spat, getting up. I was confused, this wasn't the Mai I thought I knew, this was an angry person that hated me, like so many others.

"Mai!" I called after her. "Why are you mad at me?" But she didn't answer and when I looked up, she was gone.

I walked over to a punching bag and took a deep breath, before absorbing myself in my anger and hitting the punching bag so hard that I was sure that it would split. Leaving clouds of dust in the midst with every hit, punch and kick.

I hoped I didn't get Mai too. That would be a disaster.