Step-Brother Chapter 2
I drive to the mall by myself in our old family vehicle. Now it belongs to me and my mother after my parents divorced. I have about a year until I turn eighteen and a little over a year till the choosing ceremony. I'll enter society as a full grown working adult after I choose where I want to be for the rest of my life. It's not really fair. I'm young and still have no idea what or who I want to be. I grew up Abnegation, a simple life and now am finishing out my childhood as a Dauntless. And then I could go anywhere I want to be. Be whoever I want to be. I let my mind wander away from my curiosity and questions as I pull up to the mall. Everyone who goes to this mall is Dauntless. Abnegation aren't really allowed here all the time and Amity don't go to the mall and then Erudite, well, they have things shipped to them. They don't really think it's logical to spend time in a crowded mall when they can just order from online and have it shipped to their homes. Which makes sense but I think they are really afraid of the dauntless. But me, I wasn't really afraid. And if I felt intimidated I would just keep my eyes down and keep walking. I was on a mission to find new clothing in my new faction. So of course I will stand out and get looks. Abnegation are allowed to shop here but only for gifts. We don't really go often unless it's someone's birthday or it's a holiday.
I lock the vehicle and head towards the opening of the mall. One, two, three…. Yup, there's at least ten people staring already and I haven't even made it in to the mall. Wonderful….
I begin searching for new clothing in a couple stores. I find some black leather skinny pants, leather jacket, some black shirts and tanks. After finding all my outfits, I head to the food court to grab something to eat for breakfast. I find a seat to eat and a tall man with dark hair, short stature but with big muscles heads toward my table with a big smile.
"Hey, you must be the new family transfer I heard about" he says
"Yeah…. That'd be me. I'm Tris" I say
"Well, welcome to Dauntless. I'm Uriah." He says holding his hand out
"Thanks, you're actually the first person to welcome me. Nice to meet you." I say shaking his hand.
"Shopping for new clothes?" he asks.
"Is it that obvious?" I laugh
"I'm transferring in a year. When I heard you were in my year I knew I had to come meet you" he says excitedly.
"Wow, that's great. Wait, how did you know I was transferring here today?" I ask confused
"I know some people, they told me a few days ago you would be transferring today. And I happen to be here at the mall. Plus, I kind of guessed you would have needed new clothes anyway. I swear I'm not stalking you" He says shrugging. I laugh at his comment.
"I definitely don't blend in. But soon I will." I say
"Why don't you go and change into something. You might feel less awkward. I can wait here if you'd like?" he asks. I hesitate to answer back, but something about him makes me feel like I can trust him.
"Okay, sure. That's a good idea actually. I feel like someone's constantly staring at me" I say getting up.
"Go Go. I'll be here." He says smiling. I grab a bag of clothing and head towards the restrooms. I take all my clothing off and let my hair down. Once I do that, I put on my new dauntless clothing. Black skinny jeans, black boots, and a black long sleeved shirt. I stuff all my abnegation now in the empty bag and walk out of the stall. I instantly see my reflection and feel shocked at my now sexier appearance. Holy cow. Who knew I could look like this? I smiled at myself in my reflection and look down at my bag that has my old abnegation clothing in it. I start to feel sentimental but make a quick choice and discard it all in the trash.
I walk out of the bathroom and wobble in the heeled boots I have on. Woah. This is definitely new. I start to get the hang of it and walk towards Uriah. He whistles at me as I get closers and I couldn't help but blush.
"Wow, you really do fit in now. It's actually quite stunning. You were beautiful before but now…" he says shaking his head.
"Yeah yeah, I know, I clean up well. Thanks." I say still blushing and smiling.
"I should really get going, it was really nice to meet you, Tris." He says standing up.
"You too, Uriah." I smile and watch him walk towards a big family and leave.
I drive home with all my new outfits and wonder what Eric is up to. My mother never told me much about him just that he helped his father out with leader work. But that was it. I pull into the driveway and park the vehicle.
I walk inside with my bags and see no one about. I wonder if they all left.
I go upstairs to my bedroom and see that Eric's door is closed but I heard music so must be home. I walk into my bedroom and place the bags onto my bed and sit.
"Woah, that was quick. Went over to the dark side in under an hour. I'm impressed." I hear Eric say at my doorway. I look up and see him with his shirt on and pants hung low.
"Thanks, I think?" I say to him
"It's a compliment, Tris" he whispers. He walks over to the bed and puts both hands on each side of me and now our faces are just a mere inches apart.
"Can I help you with something?" I ask annoyed.
"I just wanted to go over some rules in the house with you, if you don't mind." He says smirking.
"Rules?" I ask
"Rules. Yes. I'm sure you are well aware of them since you are from Abnegation. You all had lots of rules there I assume" he says.
"I'll listen to your rules but I can't promise I will follow them" I say stubbornly.
"Oooh, a bad girl. Maybe you do have some dauntless in you after all. But let me clear up a few things. One, you are not my sister. Two, you stay out of my bedroom. Three, you will not ever be a cockblock to me and get in the way of any dates I have." He says seriously
"Dates? More like gross sleepovers." I say under my breath.
"I won't apologize. It's my business. Who I do or don't do isn't your business." He says standing up.
"Oh my god, are you done yet? You are acting like I'm some stupid twelve year old. I'll be eighteen in a year." I say annoyed.
"Really? Well I guess we are closer in age then I thought. Rules still apply, they are actually even more serious now that you may risk getting in my way of any girl who wants me" he says
"Oh gross, can you just get out of here already. You are one step away from getting literally kicked out of here" I say angrily. He laughs and turns away.
"But seriously, you do look kind of hot in those new clothes." He winks and shuts the door. I throw a bag at the door disgusted at him. If he wasn't such a disgusting dog I would actually find him attractive. I literally shake my body in disgust of the thought and try to rid it out of my head. I promised myself right then and there, that I will never use the word attractive and step brother in the same sentence. Ever.
I had hoped.
The next week went by so quickly. Eric attended regular schooling while I finished homeschooling with my mother. Which was beginning to start a family fight with Marc. He wanted me to attend normal schooling and not continue my abnegation teachings. My mother and he had their first biggest fight in this house about it.
"Mom, I don't mind going. Eric will be there with me and it's just for a year. It can't be so bad. It might be good for me" I say trying to calm my mother. Even though I really do not want to hang around Eric at all or be seen with him. I don't need a bad reputation on my first day of schooling.
"Are you sure, Tris? I don't want to send you into something you couldn't handle." She says
"Mom, it could be much worse. I think Marc is right. I think it'll be good for me and my future. I'm dauntless now. I may as well act like it" I say. My mother pursed her lips. She hated when I reminded her that we were no longer Abnegation. It's not that she hated the dauntless she was just comfortable with me being an abnegation girl.
"Fine, we'll go after the school day ends today and I'll sign you up" she says
"See darling, I told you it would all be okay. I'll see if Eric can take her to and from school too. It'll all work out." He says hugging her.
When Eric got home, my mother and I were getting ready to head to the school.
"Eric, your- Natalie, is going up to the school to sign Tris up for her final year of school. She will be graduating in the same class as you. Isn't that great? I was wondering though, could you take her to and from school? It'd be a big help, son." Marc says to Eric.
"Why can't she drive herself?" Eric says annoyed.
"Its fine, I can walk. Solved." I say annoyed and rolling my eyes. I start to head towards the door and Eric stops me and grabs my arm without looking at me.
"Okay, ill drive you but you don't get to mess with my music or company in the car. Got it?" he says
"More rules? I'd rather walk." I said rolling my eyes.
"You aren't walking, it's not safe for some goody girl like yourself" he says still holding my arm.
"Goody girl? Are you kidding me?" I say astounded. I unhinge his hand on my arm and open the front door ready to leave.
"Alright guys, let's just get on with our day. Please?" Marc says calmly.
"Let's get going honey, we need to get there before the office closes" my mom says.
My mother and I arrive at the high school and pull up closest to where the office is. The school is pretty much deserted except for a few teachers and office receptionists finishing up.
"Let's get this over with." I say
"Aren't you nervous? This is the first time you will be attending public schooling and not to mention in a complete different faction. The kids may be more aggressive here." My mother says worried.
"Mom, its fine. It's less than a year of schooling. I'm sure it'll be fine. Max is one of the leaders. I'm sure they don't want to mess with the step daughter of a leader. And then there's Eric who does leader in training classes. I'm sure I will be well protected. Let's try a drill, you stay here while I go in there. Loosen up the cord some mom." I say to her
"mmhm, I see what you're doing. Trying to get rid of me. Are you embarrassed of me, honey?" she asks
"Of course not mom. I'm proud of where I come from. Lets just get this over with" I say shutting the car door. We walk into the office and my mom speaks to them first about enrolling and setting up classes for me. I sit and look around the office waiting for her to let me know what I need to do. My mom comes back with a clipboard and things for me to sign and soon enough they hand me my schedule. I look it over as we leave the office and I read:
1st Period- American History
2nd Period- Astronomy
3rd Period- Reading
4th Period- Leader in Training
Woah, wait, what?!