Disclaimer: I don't own Divergent.
I run in a random direction, splitting up from the others, who have also gone their separate ways. I run and run until I spot someone running towards me, and I tighten my grip on the gun. I shoot the person, somebody that I don't know, and grin triumphantly as he throws himself on the ground and shoot me a glare. That is, of course, until somebody shoots me in the back.
I groan and turn around, facing Mai, who is cheering wildly. She sticks her tongue out at me and runs.
. . .
Eventually the game is finished, and Amar's team has won, much to George's frustration. Zeke had managed to grab the flag, but apparently he had also shot Shauna, so she was giving him the silent treatment. I had tried to be angry at Mai too, but it didn't last long. Pretty much everyone is splattered with paint, but Mai managed to keep her hair free of the stuff, much to her delight.
Tobias and Andrew were squeezing paintballs at each other and participating in a 'paint fight' with some of the other Dauntless-born. And pretty much everyone, even the losers, have a satisfied smile on their face. This is the life.
. . .
"Okay people, I am very sad to say that tomorrow is the last day of Stage One, yes, I know, I know, it is very disappointing, you may sob into your tissues later, but for now, we are going to learn how to aim by... throwing knifes. Yes, big, sharp knives. So for God's sake please direct your aim at the target board, and not a person." Amar said. "Tomorrow will be your last fight," a few people smiled. "Hey, don't look too disappointed." Amar said sarcastically.
"Anyways, you get three knives each, no more, no less. I will show you how to aim, and hopefully you will take heed of what I'm saying, and not hurt yourself, or anybody else in the process."
We all gather around Amar, and I watch his stance as he aims, and throws the knifes. Right in the middle every time.
I stand in front of my target, take a deep breath, and hurdle the knife across to the target - hard. My aim is a little off, okay, a lot off, and I strike the person next to me, slicing their arm. Marie.
She glares at me, and turns to throw a knife back at me, but Amar stops her. "Hey, your target is in front of you!" He yells as he storms up to us. He picks up my knife and pushes it into my hand, glaring at me. "Watch where you are throwing the knife okay? Steady does it."
As he walks away, I feel slightly embarrassed, but that only fuels my anger. I aim the knife right this time, throw it hard again, and it hits smack bang in the middle, wedging itself in. When I walk over to pull it out, I find that it is stuck, and won't move. I underestimated my own strength... again.
And as I turn around, I see Mai looking at me. She meets my gaze, holds it for a few seconds and then turns around, continuing to throw her knifes...
. . .
"That was amazing," Andrew breathed as we walked out of the Dauntless training room. "Right Tobias?" He smirked at that, and then informed us: "He hit the target right in the middle every time - I looked where the knife holes were after training." Tobias rolled his eyes.
"Maybe the knives didn't stick to the board," he said, his Abnegation traits coming through. Modesty. Everyone knew that he was a natural when it came to this stuff, how I have no idea.
"Don't deny it Tobias," Mai answered, rolling her eyes. "We all know that you are naturally amazing at this kind of stuff. No chance that you'd teach us some of your wonderful skills, is there?" I felt a little bit of jealousy rise up in my chest. I wanted to be the one that Mai thought of as talented and amazing...
"Whatever Mai," Tobias answered, sighed. "I'm bored, I'm going to get another tattoo, anyone want to come with?"
"Naw," Andrew answered. "Not unless you show me this tattoo of yours! You never take off your shirt Tobias. Mai, shut-up, I can tell you are going to make a comment on how dirty I am." Mai closed her mouth, scowling. Tobias turned red. He was a Stiff, what did Andrew expect?
"You can stay here then," he answered firmly. "Anyone else?" I shook my head.
"Nope, I'm going to head down and get another piercing." I touched the bar in my eyebrow. Mai narrowed her eyes at me.
"Oh no you're not," she said.
"Oh yes I am," I told her.
"Fine, I'm going with Tobias. Andrew, go with Eric, and make sure that whoever is doing his piercing is a man. An ugly man. And don't let him near anyone with the name Isabelle," she looked at me. "And as for you, don't you dare look twice at any women, or you'll get worse treatment that what I gave poor, old Andy here."
"Andy?" He asked.
"It's your new nickname," she told him. "Get over it." And with that she walked away with Tobias.
"Told you that she'd hurt me before you did," I told Andrew.
"What does she mean, not allowed anyone called Isabelle or pretty men?" Andrew asked me, puzzled.
"Last time I went to the piercing shop, a woman named Isabelle threw herself at me, and Mai happened to walk it on us before I could push the woman away," I muttered. "And as for the men part, she was either trying to be funny, or extremely over-protective."
"Don't act like you aren't over-protective of her or get jealous easy," Andrew scoffed.
"What do you mean?" I asked him, not sure whether I should be offended or not.
"Every time Mai so much as touches us, or we touch her, you get all tense and your eyes get all narrow-y." Andrew informed me. "You too are as bad as each other. Anyway, have you thought about where you are going to take her on a date?"
"Yes," I nodded. "I have an idea."