Chapter 2-
I look at all the faces of the new initiates we have. Some stick out to me and others I worry about becoming factionless. They all stare back at Lauren and I, waiting to see what will happen next. I take a deep breath, trying to avoid meeting Tris's gaze.
"Dauntless born, you will be training with Lauren! You won't be needing a tour of the place so after she gives instructions, you may report to dinner! Transfers, you're with me. Let's go." I yell.
The initiates shuffle in behind me and I see the Dauntless born follow Lauren eagerly. I smile her way and then quickly snap back into instructor mode. I can't let the initiates see that side of me.
"Listen up initiates! My name is Four and I," before I could finish, a short girl with dark cropped hair opened up her mouth.
"Four? Like the number? What happened? One through three were taken?" She laughs.
I can already tell which faction she came from. Candor. I catch Tris staring at me.
"What's your name, initiate?" I say while keeping my eyes fixed on the transfer that rudely interrupted me.
"Christina." she says.
"Well, Christina.. If I wanted to put up with Candor smart mouths, I would have joined their faction." I say and she immediately backs down from my gaze.
"The first thing you will learn from me is that if you want to survive, you keep you mouth shut!" I snap.
The initiates all nod their heads in unison. Except Tris. I ignore her stare and start heading towards the Pit.
As soon as I turn around I hear Christina whisper, "What a jerk!"
Then a soft voice whispers back, "Maybe he doesn't like to be laughed at." I think that was Tris. I don't know and I don't really care right now.
"This is the Pit! This is where you will be learning how to fight! For the next few weeks, you will report here every morning at 7. No later, or you can consider yourself 'Factionless'" I say, trying to make my voice sound as serious as possible.
"Next, I'll show you the Chasm.." I say as I turn on my heels to walk the other direction. I hear the roaring of the water crashing to the bottom of the Chasm. I see Eric sitting by the railing as soon as I get there. I try not to let my anger show in front of the initiates, but I can't help it when I feel my hands clench into a fist.
"This is the Chasm. It's one of the most beautiful places here in Dauntless, but also one of the most dangerous. It reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy. One dare-devil jump off the edge will lead to your imminent death. Don't be stupid. You aren't proving anything." I say. I quickly see Christina gulp in fear.
All the initiates stand there in awe. As I size them all up, I can already tell which ones I will have to keep an eye on. The tall one in the back, I'm assuming he is from Candor, worries me with the way he eyes Tris.
"Hey Stiff, if you jump now, maybe you won't have to worry about living with the factionless later!" Peter says.
I roll my eyes and make my way towards the bunks where they will be staying.
"Alright. This is where you will be sleeping for the next few weeks. All of you. You each have been given a new set of initiate clothing that you will be expected to wear. Get changed and then head to the dining hall in five minutes! You're dismissed." I say.
I turn my back to the initiates and head to the dining hall to find Zeke and Shauna. Training hasn't even started, but I'm already irritated with the initiates. Hopefully, I was strict enough so that they don't end up antagonizing Eric. I can't help them once he's involved.
I walk into the dining hall and grab a tray. I find a seat at a table with Zeke and Shauna. I eat my food in silence as I try not to listen to them talk about the initiates this year.
"Four! Earth to Four!" Zeke says while snapping his fingers in my face.
"What?" I say sounding more hostile than I meant.
"Dang man. Sorry you interrupt your little day-dream, but Shauna and I both thought that it was weird that a STIFF jumped first." He said.
"Yeah, that is weird. Wouldn't have expected that to happen in a million years. Maybe there will be a new Dauntless legend around to steal all the glory. You worried Four?" Shauna says with a teasing look in her eyes.
"Nope. She won't even make it past stage one dude! She is scrawny!" Zeke replies.
Just as I go to defend her, five initiates sit down at the table with us. I look up and see Tris right next to me. Christina, Will, Al, and Uriah join her. Uriah keeps looking her up and down as if he is interested in her. This makes me uneasy and I don't know why. I shake off the feeling.
"What is this?" Tris says as she pokes at the hamburger patty with her fork.
"It's beef. Put this on it." I say as I hand her a bottle of ketchup.
"You've never eaten a hamburger before?" Christina says, elbowing Tris in the arm.
"Stiff's eat plain food." I say. I hate using the word stiff, but if I didn't, it could give away the fact that I was from Abnegation.
"Why?" Christina replies.
Before I can say anything, Tris looks up from the hamburger and says very matter of factly, "Extravagance is consider self-indulgent and unnecessary."
"Now I see why you left." Christina says.
I expect Tris to get annoyed at such an ignorant comment, but she doesn't.
"Yeah, that's why I left. Because of the food." Tris replies.
I am immediately impressed. She has a sense of humor. I look away from Tris to catch Shauna and Zeke staring at me with wide eyes. They must have seen me looking at her.
Just as I take a sip of my drink, I hear Eric's voice and suddenly all the muscles in my face tense up.
"Max is looking for you.. Says he needs to discuss something with you." he says, not bothering to hide the annoyance in his voice.
"Tell him I'm not interested." I reply.
"So am I right in assuming he was offering you a job?" He says.
"Yes, and I have declined numerous times." I say before taking another gulp of my drink.
Eric rolls his eyes and says "Well let's hope he gets the point."
Before he leaves, he looks at everyone at the table and his eyes land on Tris.
"Hey, who's this?" he says. Obviously talking about her.
"My name's Tris." She says without any hesitation. Eric's eyes open wide with amusement.
"Right, the stiff. You're the first jumper. Well, enjoy Dauntless while you can. Stiff's never last here." He says.
I can already feel my blood starting to boil and my face gets hot. Eric was in the same initiate class I was in. I beat him and ranked first. He's never been able to let it go.
I look at Tris and can tell that she wants to speak up. She meets my gaze and I hope she understands the warning in the look I give her. Don't challenge Eric. Please. I won't be able to stop what he does to you. She seems to have caught on and lowers her head in defeat.
I turn back to Eric and he laughs.
"Later Four." He says as he turns to walk away.
"Are you friends with him?" Christina blurts out.
I see Shauna and Zeke look at me with concern. They know I don't like Eric. At all.
"No. He was in the same initiation year as me. He transferred from Erudite." I say, wanting that to be the end of the discussion. I take another sip of my drink. Trying to get the memories to leave my mind.
"Were you a transfer too?" Tris asks.
I look at her, bewildered by the fact that this little girl from Abnegation asks more questions than her Candor friend. Zeke and Shauna are smiling. Clearly they're amused by Tris's boldness.
"What makes you think you can talk to me?" I snap at her, expecting her to coil back in fear.
I'm completely taken back by what she does next. Instead of looking away, she meets my gaze head on.
"It must be because you're so approachable. You know. Like a bed of nails." She says.
Zeke and Shauna try to suppress their laughs, but they can't hold back the giggles that escape their throats. I look at Tris and I can see the life in her eyes. She's different. I don't know why, but there is something so intriguing about her.
"Careful, Tris." I whisper as I lean in closer.
I get up to go throw away my tray and just before I'm out of ear's reach, I hear Christina whisper "You my friend.. have a death wish."
Immediately Will, Uriah, Al, and Christina start laughing hysterically.
I dump my tray and head back to my apartment for the night. I can feel Tris staring at me as I leave.