I was flying for so long, that I inadvertently squealed when my back hit something, bouncing me back into the air a good couple feet, then back onto a net. I laughed, rolling as someone was pulling the net down to get me off. I felt hands reach out to me, and I grabbed them, hoisting myself down. The hands belonged to a tall fair skinned boy. Well, more like man. His eyes were a mixture of green hazel and his hair was light brown. His shirt stopped at his shoulders, so his muscles were exposed. His smile was soft, something I didn't expect from a Dauntless member. "Welcome to Dauntless. What's your name?" He asked, his voice deep.
"Um. Rosalinda." I said. My voice still sounding winded from the fall. I cleared my throat.
"Well Rosalinda, this is your one chance to create a new identity for yourself. Throw away your past and restart. Up for it?" He suggested. I gave him a look, more excited than anything. I can change myself? I can leave my old factionless behind? Am I ready for that? I guess at this point I have to be. I gave him another smile.
"I think I am. I'm Rose." I said.
"Second jumper, Rose!" The man said, and I heard cheering from around the room. "I'm Trystan, hope to see you around." He finished gesturing down the steps to where Peter was standing, arms crossed and huffing to himself. I walked down the steps and leaned against the wall, somewhat a distance from Peter.
"Aww what's wrong Peter? Upset because you we're forced down instead of being all big and bad?" I said, mimicking his posture. Geez, I already was acting like a Dauntless. His glare said it all, but his mouth said nothing. We both watched as the rest of the initiates dropped form the hole and onto the net. Zeke was smiling once he landed, walking over to stand next to me. Eric was second to last, hoisting himself out of the net with ease. I watched as he walked over to us, standing behind the group. He must have sensed me staring, because he looked up at me, raising an eyebrow again. I leaned over to Zeke and whispered to him, "Is everyone in Dauntless buff, and menacing?"
Zeke chuckled and whispered back, "Pretty much. And right now you're the twig in a forest full of whomping willows." As if he could hear us Eric gave me a long look over, head to toe, and gave a snort and a wink. I blinked at him confused then gave him the same look, watching him from head to toe. His arms were crossed across his chest again, his muscles tight against his vest and shirt. His jeans were very worn, with holes in the sides, tucked sloppily into the same type of boots I was wearing. I rolled my eyes, mostly at Eric, but it included Zeke who chuckled again while Max walked to the front of the group. I gave Eric one last look, turning the rest of my body before my head followed, raising an eyebrow. Were we actually flirting? There's no way. I stopped my internal battle while Max had the Dauntless-born follow Trystan, and us initiates to follow him, giving us the grand tour. I waved bye to Zeke, hoping to see him at lunch.
We passed by the Pit, a big open area where people were laughing in groups, sparring, and the occasional couples making out. I rolled my eyes as we passed by one couple who were getting real close, almost too close for public. I hadn't realized I stopped to look at the people in the Pit, until I felt a strong hand on the small of my back, pushing me forward a lot more gently than I expected. I looked back to see Eric giving me that questioning look again. "You're falling behind, initiate. Interested in something?" He questioned, and not breaking his gaze as we walked forward, slowly catching up to the group.
"You know, for a leader in training, you're very hands on." I spoke, ignoring his question and following the group to what they called the Chasm. The water that rushed down into what looked like total darkness looked like it scared everyone else, but to me the water was soothing, almost peaceful.
At that his face turned hard, obviously thinking I'm questioning him. He pushed me away, closer to the railing of the bridge above the chasm. "Keep moving, initiate." He said coldly, pushing past me to walk up front. I rolled my eyes again, brushing myself off and walking behind everyone. His mood swings were annoying. Max and Eric showed us the dining hall, the shops, and the training room, where we would be for the next couple weeks. We walked down the hall to the co-ed initiate dorms, which was a big room with about 25 cots. We only took up about half, so I picked the one closest to the door, and a couple beds down from everyone else. Max and Eric chuckled at all of us as we gaped at the bathrooms. Showers on one side, toilets on another. There were walls to give some privacy, but no doors on any. We all walked back to the beds, as Max and Eric walked towards the door.
"Alright. Everyone get changed and head to the dining hall. Get some dinner then a good night's sleep. Tomorrow training starts." Max announced as he turned to leave. He stopped when I reached my bed, turning his head to me. "I need to speak with you. I'll come find you once dinner's over." He said quietly, only so I could hear. I nodded, watching him walk out the door with Eric on his heels.
I picked my way through the clothes they provided for us. Everything looked like it would swallow me. I gave up after a while and picked a spaghetti strap top with jeans. I kept the same boots I came with, not wanting to have to break in another pair during training. I waited as everyone changed and left the dorm, wanting to have a moment to myself before going to dinner. I looked up just in time to see Peter whisper something to his girlfriend to which she laughed too loudly. They were the last to leave, smirking at me as they walked out the door. I ignored them, walking to the showers with my clothes and a towel. I showered a lot longer than I thought, enjoying the water to much, because the voice that rang out scared me so bad I squealed, yet again, and crouched to the bottom of the shower stall.
"Initiate! Let's go! For you, Dinner isn't an option!" Eric barked as he walked into the shower area, stopping at my stall as he blinked then looked down at me still on the floor. "What the hell are you doing?" His voice was still gruff but there was an undertone in it. Amusement? I slowly stood up, grabbing my towel off the bench before standing up completely and wrapping it around me.
"I'm not used to being able to have a good shower. And even then depending on where we were, people would come up and…you know." I stated, watching him sit on the bench next to my clothes and look at me.
"You're Dauntless now. No one does that." He said, still watching me as I slip on my undergarments with my towel still on. He pulled at the towel once I was finished, taking a look at me before handing me my pants and shirt. "Yeah, you definitely don't need to skip dinner." I looked down at myself. My hip bones were sticking out a lot farther than I remember. I really had no fat on me at all, it was the little muscle I kept from running home and protecting myself.
"Why do you even care? Don't you just want me gone too?" I asked, putting on my boots last. I stood up fully, putting my hands on my hips. He just stared at me for a minute, then stood up. I barely made it to his chest, God why is everyone so tall? He started walking to the dorm, when he noticed I wasn't following. He gestured to the door, putting both arms out on front of him. "Let's go. Before the dining hall closes and you starve." He said, annoyed. I roll my eyes, but follow him out of the dorm and into the hall. I follow him into the dining hall, where most people are finishing up. Eric went one way, going to sit down with Max and a couple other people. I looked around and saw everyone still wrapped up in conversations. I walked over and sat next to the rest of the initiates, looking at all the food on the table. I've never seen so much food in one place before. I took only small portions, a burger, mashed potatoes, broccoli and a roll. I ate quietly, moving from one item to another. I didn't bother looking up or joining in conversation, I'm used to being alone. Someone plopped themselves down next to me, and I look up to see a bright face.
"Hey! I was hoping to see you again. How are you so far?" Trystan says, sitting backwards on the bench, resting his elbows behind him on the table. He looked at me while I finished a bite of food, chewing and swallowing before speaking up.
"Well I've completely embarrassed myself in front of Eric, twice, but so far so good." I say, taking a drink from the tin cup in front of me. "I mean now I get to dress and undress in front of total strangers, which isn't uncommon already, but now I get to prove that I can stay in Dauntless." I take a bite from the roll, the last thing on my plate. I watch with a frown as he reaches over and places more food on my plate.
"You'll thank me later." He says and gestures for me to keep eating. "And trust me I'm sure it's not as embarrassing as Eric walking in on a threesome in his new office when he was first appointed leader in training.
At that I snort, choking on the food in my mouth. I cough for a bit, then stare wide eyed at Trystan, who's….blushing? "Really? Wait, was it you?!" I said, staring at him as he looks down and nods.
"Guilty." He said and we laugh, a little too loudly. Eric looks up from his seat next to Max to us, and his eyebrows crinkle in the middle. I can't help but laugh harder as I see him frown at us. Trystan and I keep talking, him telling me some things about Dauntless, me telling him things I've learned about being factionless. The entire time he looked at me not like I was different, but like I was already in the faction. It was different, but comforting.
After my 5th plate of food that Trystan managed to sneak under me, my stomach was descended really far. I rubbed at my stomach and laughed at a corny joke Trystan told when I felt a hand tap me on my shoulder. Trystan seeing who it was straightened up, and I turned to see Max looking down at me.
"You ready?" He asked. I nodded and stood, giving Trystan a wave and a thank you smile. Trystan nodded at Max and smiled at me as Max and I walked from the dining hall. I followed him around corners and different corridors until we came to a stop in front of a door. He pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the door, opening it and letting me enter first. He followed in after me, closing the door and going to sit behind the desk in the middle of the room. From the looks of his room this was his office. He gestures to the chairs in front of his desk, and I walk over and sit in one of them. He looks at me for a minute, before sighing and slumping his shoulders a bit.
"I'm sorry to say this, but unfortunately training won't be the only thing you'll be doing here." He says, moving a couple papers to pick one out, looking at it before handing it off to me. I stand to grab it from him. "Your 'punishment' for coming from the factionless will be helping the leaders." He sneers as he speaks. "I thought it was completely ridiculous to make you do anything besides initiation, but the other factions signed it into place. You'll be cleaning up the offices after training each day. There's only 5 offices so you'll get 2 days off. You'll report to me each day to get the keys to a new office, just in case you're not finished by the time the leader goes home for the night."
I frown at the paper. The only two signatures not on it is his and Marcus'. I look up at his with a small smile, handing him back the paper. "It's okay sir. I wasn't expecting to get off scotch free. I'm used to having to serve others, so this will be easy." I say, trying to convince him more than me. "Just let me know when I start." I say with a bigger smile, inwardly throwing a fit. Why the hell do I always have to prove myself? Didn't I do that enough to show I can even pick a faction?
"After training tomorrow. I'll come find you again after dinner and we'll get started." He said putting the paper back into the pile on his desk. He looked back at me, smiling softly as he stood up. "I want to be honest with you Rosalinda. When your parents fought for you during that meeting, I could see that you deserved a chance. I was the one who convinced them to give the go ahead. And I know you won't disappoint me. Please let me know if anything bothers you, or if you need help in anything." He said walking over to me and placing a hand on my back, walking me to the door. It felt different from when Eric did it, but still warm. Wait, why am I thinking about Eric? I mentally shook myself and smiled at Max.
"Thank you Max. I know my parents, and especially me are grateful for your confidence in me, and the opportunity to be like everyone else." I say as I look at him, stepping away from his hand by standing outside the door. I'll see you tomorrow." I say as I give him a small nod. I start to turn, but stop and look at him again. "Oh and sir? It's Rose." I say smiling as I walk back down the hallway, feeling his eyes on me as I leave before turning the corner.
After some time I make it back to the dorm. Everyone is getting ready for bed, making small talk with each other. I walk to my bed, changing into a long shirt and shorts before crawling into bed. I face the wall as everyone shuffles into their beds, someone flipping the lights off. I sigh as I snuggle into the sheets, drifting to sleep.
Thank you for reading this far. I apologies this is so late. With my son stealing my laptop and writers block, it's pretty difficult. Thanks to avadak3davra for her awesome self. Please R+R! [: