Thanks for all the reviews! They make my happy with all mah HEART! :D! Here's chapter 4, hope you like it!
xxx
Tobias's POV
I walk in the door from another day at work. Today has been a blur with preparing for the new initiates. I used to work at the computers, but then I transferred jobs. Tris works with me. Her first day back from personal leave is tomorrow, with the new initiates. The scent of chicken and cous-cous wafts from the kitchen and then I remember.
Today was my Tasi's aptitude test.
How did she do? Did she get Dauntless like she was born to? Or is she... I can't even finish that sentence.
"Dada!" I hear Jake call. He toddles over to me uneasily. I smile and bend down to my son.
"Hey, little man!" I say and stroke his cheek with my thumb. He giggles and I pull my hand away. It's sticky from a drool stain. He then crawls away.
Tris walks in, wiping her hands on her shirt.
"Hey, baby." I greet her. She smiles. "How was work?" She asks.
"It was okay." I say and walk past her about a foot. I then stop and reach back, capturing her waist and pulling her close to me. She laughs and I kiss her deeply.
Tris's fingers curl ever so slightly on my chest and my left hand is still wrapped around her waist with the other lost in her jungle of hair.
"Hey, Daddy, how was- OH MY GOD!" Tasi screams and jumps back. Tris and I pull apart with her looking smug and me blushing profusely.
"Seriously! I'm scarred for life now, thanks to you!" Tasi says.
I blush a deeper red. "If you want to have sex go do it in the bedroom, not here!" Tasi exclaims. Tris looks surprised and begins to reprimand her for saying that in front of Jake, but I start to laugh. Tris gives me a look and then laughs along with me.
Tris goes back in the kitchen to finish up dinner. We sit at the table when it's ready and Tasi's teeth sink into the chicken over and over, not chewing.
"Geez, don't choke!" I say. She doesn't listen to me and just continues to eat how she was.
The dinner table is unusually silent. What's on all our minds cannot be mentioned.
I have to break the silence. "So Tasi, how was the aptitude test?" I ask casually.
She shrugs but looks bothered by my question. "It was ok." She says and looks at a painting to avoid the question that's nagging at all of us. Will she stay with us? Or will she leave?
We finish dinner and Tasi takes the plates. I think she wants to be left alone, and I respect that.
Tris and I go upstairs to Jake's room to put him to bed.
"The end." Tris whispers the end of the story, since Jake is already asleep. We tiptoe out together and she sighs.
"You ok?" I ask her. "Yeah. Just worried about Tasi." Tris replies.
"There's no need to be worried." I say, trying to reassure her.
"But you're still worried about her." Tris says, going to the restroom to shower off.
I walk down the hall to Tasi's room. The door is wide open. A soft glow emits from her desk lamp. She's in a black shirt and black plaid pajama pants brushing her long golden hair. I knock gently on the doorframe.
She turns, her hair following her. "Hey, Dad." She smiles.
"Hey, hon." I say.
"Are you ready? For the Choosing Ceremony?" I ask.
She looks down. "Yes. I have my whole life." When she used to say this, it sounded confident. This time, after the first syllable her words falter.
I nod and smile. I walk in and bend down in front of her.
"Honey, I know you're nervous. But your mom and I will love you wholeheartedly no matter what, ok?" I say.
She nods and looks sad for a second, but replaces it with a smile. "I know, Dad." She says.
I think she wants to be alone, so I just kiss the top of her hair. "I love you, honey."
"I love you too, Dad." She says. I walk out and go to Tris and my room.
I walk in and I'm surprised at what I see. "Whoa," I say. Tris is in a black lace nightdress and she looks very sexy.
Tris smiles and puts her hands behind her back. "You like it?" She asks. I smile and walk over to her.
"Oh Beatrice, no matter how brave or smart you are, you'll always be that little Abnegation girl who's always trying to please me." I say.
"Well, has she?" Tris asks.
I laugh lightly at her question.
"You tell me."
Anastasia's POV
This is it. The moment I've been waiting for. I've decided not to take the bus to the Choosing Ceremony. Just to walk. My black leather boots kick at the pebbles on the cobblestone sidewalk.
"Hey, Tasi!" I hear a familiar voice call. Jason.
I turn and smile at my friend. He runs over. "Better run faster than that, slowpoke, or we'll miss the ceremony!" I tease him.
"Oh, shut up, Anastasia." He replies.
A car hurtles down the cobblestone and he dodges it just in time. It's horn blares at him and someone shouts obscenities from the window.
"Sorry!" Jason apologizes and grins.
He reaches me and stops. "What's up, sexy?" I tease him.
He stifles a laugh. "Nothing much, angel." He replies.
We race to the Hub, his footsteps fading behind mine as I gather speed to reach the building first.
I see Parker and Vicki leaning against a pillar, making out intensely. His hair is rumpled and her shirt is crooked on her body. The Abnegation stare at them with disgust in their eyes. They hate PDA and think any form of it is gross. Her diamond ring glints in the sunlight.
We all get in line how we're supposed to, with me between an Amity girl and a Candor boy.
Then our new leader goes up and drones on and on about how the factions were created after the great war and then came the great peace. I want him to finish up so I can get to training sooner.
He finally finishes and I see all the A people go up. Then the Bs. Then we get to Vicki Carello, in the Cs. I know she'll pick Dauntless with us; she promised.
She slowly walks up and I notice she's sweating. Why is she sweating? This is the easiest choice. She promised. It makes me wonder if something's up. But nothing can be. Parker's definitely going to be in Dauntless, and they're engaged. Of course she's going to Dauntless, Tasi.
You should be worried about yourself. Divergence seems really dangerous. I mean, to them. Not to me. Would they really... kill me? Just for a stupid test result?
No way. I can fake it. I mean, I don't look any different. I'm not acting any different. I've been acting this way all my life. Like I'm Dauntless-born. I am Dauntless-born. I am Dauntless.
But I'm not so sure that's true anymore. I mean, I could also be Erudite. Or Abnegation.
I hate Erudite. I always have. They manipulate people into siding with them. They made my mother kill Will. I really hate them more than anything.
But Abnegation? I don't admit it to my parents, but I admire them. The way they always give themselves up for others. I love that aspect of life. When I think about it, I've been doing that my whole life. I mean, helping people. Giving my seat up for others on the train and standing on the 30 minute ride that always makes my legs ache going to school. Helping people that drop their books or lunch trays instead of laughing at them like the others do. Cooking for my parents when it's their night to cook. Little things I can try to avoid, but when they add up, it creates this big wall that no matter how hard I try to climb it, it always stretches even higher.
Vicki accepts the knife from our new leader and winces as it cuts into her palm. A drop of blood inches down her hand. She sighs and then holds her hand over one of the bowls.
"Candor!" The new leader shouts. She smiles nervously at the crowd, then our eyes meet. Mine narrow and she looks apologetic. I shake my head. Her and Parker aren't engaged anymore... oh God. What must Parker be thinking? Just a few minutes ago they were... canoodling in front of this place. Where did all that go? Just out the window?
I sigh and wait for my name to be called. Finally, it is. I step up casually and walk to the bowls. Picking up the knife, I look at my options. Grey stone for Abnegation, water for Erudite, earth for Amity, lit coals for Dauntless, and glass for Candor. I look in the Candor bowl and see Vicki's crimson blood pooled on the glass. Hot tears of rage fill my eyes and I cut my hand quickly. It stings a little, but I ignore it.
A drop of blood rolls down the side of my hand. I, without hesitation, squeeze the droplet on the lit coals. It sizzles slightly and our leader calls, "Dauntless!"
The Dauntless cheer loudly and I pump my fist in the air. I look in the crowd and see Mom, Dad and Jake. They're clapping and cheering, proud of me. I'm glad.
I walk over to the black-clothed people and smile. An African-American boy with frizzy black hair smiles at me and welcomes me. I grin.
Then we get to Jason. I know he'll pick Dauntless. And he does. No surprises from him.
When we get to the last few people in line, I see Parker. His face is red. I can tell he's recently been crying. I would too, if my fiance abandoned me.
He cuts his palm and squeezes his blood over a bowl. "Dauntless!" The leader calls. We cheer, but he doesn't smile or even look at the crowd.
I beckon him and he comes over stiffly. "Parker, it's ok." I say. He nods with a sad smile and hugs me. I hug back, squeezing him gently.
At the end of the ceremony, we all run down the stairs. I help lead the others to the train station.
"W-we have to climb it?" An Erudite boy asks, scared.
"Of course. What, you too scared?" A Dauntless asks. I know him to be rude. Before I can reprimand him, he starts to climb.
I smile at the boy. "Don't mind him. As for the climbing, you'll be alright. It's fun." I say to the boy. He smiles shyly and I think he has a nice smile.
I then start to climb and he follows me.
"I'm Jacob. What's your name?" He asks me on top of the canopy.
"Anastasia. Call me Tasi." I reply.
I see Jason and smile. He does the same and waves to me. I wave back.
I hear a rumbling and look toward the end of the track. A train is approaching us.
It blows past me before I know it and my hair is swept in the wind. I laugh and lift my arms while beginning to run.
My boots pound the metal in time with my breath and I jump on the side of the train, punching the button that opens the door.
I help the others launch on, including Jacob. He seems tired, so I hoist him up. He looks surprised at my strength. Everyone is on already, so I close the door.
Alright. We're on. Everyone's fine. Nobody's died. Nobody's factionless.
I smile and slide down the wall. A Candor girl looks at me.
"You ok?" I ask her. "You guys are insane." She replies. I laugh. "Can't argue with that." I say.
She grins. "I'm Katherine. Call me Kat." She says. "Anastasia. People call me Tasi. And yes, my faction is insane compared to yours. But you'll grow to love it. I did." I say.
"You grew up with it." Kat says.
"I didn't always love growing up with it." I answer.
In about 45 minutes, we're there. I'm so excited. The door slides open. I prepare to jump onto the roof.
Just as I'm about to get a running start, Jacob stops me.
"Wait. We're jumping again?!" He asks, appalled.
I smile. "Dauntless is a strange faction." I reply.
Jacob then stops me again. "No, let me go first. I don't want you to get hurt." He says.
"Trust me, she knows this place better than you ever will." Jason says. He sounds jealous and a little cocky.
"I'll be ok, Jacob." I say to him. He nods and I get a running start. I leap off the train and land on my feet. A sharp pain shoots through my legs for just a second, and then it turns into adrenaline coursing through every vein in my body.
The others launch onto the roof. Parker looks battered from crying and landing on his face while jumping. Jason has a slight limp, but he'll be ok. Kat landed on her knees. Jacob is the most hurt. I help him up and he thanks me for being so nice.
"Anytime," I say with a smile.
"Attention, initiates!" I hear a voice like my Dad's call.
I turn and see Mom and Dad standing on a ledge I never noticed before.
"I am Four. I'll be your instructor for both stage 1 and stage 2. This is my... partner, Tris. You'll be trained together for stage 1, but seperately for stage 2. Stage 1 is physical. We'll try to push you to the breaking point. Stage 2, breaking point. The way to get into Dauntless? Jump." Dad says.
I'm confused. We always went in through the staircase. Nobody's ever used this. Well, not Dauntless-born at least.
"Who's the first jumper?" Mom asks.
Nobody steps forward. Somebody has to do it.
"I will." I say as if it's no big deal. I step forward and Dad smiles at me.
"It's safe, right?" I whisper to him when no one's looking.
He shrugs and I step on the ledge.
Don't think, Tasi.
Just jump.
And I do.
xxx
There's the chapter! Hope you liked it. Bye everyone! :P