Once out of Janine's office I headed to the computer lab. There I was to meet Hayden, and the initiates. Last year, my initiation, had been filled with mostly Erudite borns. This made me even more thrilled to rank first. However I always got to study, and willingly while I grew in Candor. Everyone knew from the time I was eleven I would switch to Erudite. The best part was they were supportive of my decision.
Reaching the lab I sat my computer on the table and turned on the bug I implanted in Haydn's jacket. I never used the bugs to spy, except for in this situation. Why? Because I wanted to hear what was going on with the initiates. They were running a bit behind schedule so I allowed myself to speak to him. I was gonna laugh so hard if he got scared by the unexpecting voice, and jumped.
"Hayden what's taking you so long!" I asked my voice gentle. "We have a two week deadline in case you forgot." Of course he didn't forget but I wanted them back, soon.I heard his low voice give a soft chuckle.
"Relax. We are on our way back now. And did you really think I wouldn't notice the bug?" Before I could answer there was a buzzing noise. It took me a few moments to realize the high-frequency waves were caused by music.
"Hayden, is this bug working right?" I asked unaware he was listening to music until I heard the high frequency waves interfering with the bug. "Ow ow okay ow." I called as I tried to turn it off. 'I probably seem like i have turrets.' Luckily nobody was around to see me slapping my ears ."See this is why I never put expensive modern bugs on your clothes. Cause you break them!". The mic clicked off so he could no longer hear me. The rest of the day was dull. We gave them a tour, led them to their dorms ect. After I retired to my apartment.
Blue slippers, baggy blue sweater, and tan skinny jeans is what I was wearing when I got a text from Hayden asking to meet up for dinner later, the usual place. It was a group message so I could only guess the other receiver was, Channing. 'When where what do I wear?' I texted back quickly, and glanced around the library.
"Casual. I figured we would go to the normal cafe," He replied and a smile played on my lips. The cafe was something I would never forget, no matter about an hour I stood and quietly made my way to the conservation room. A room where you could sit and stargaze. Not many people knew about it, or maybe they just all didn't go around the same times. Hayden loved the place and I had to admit it was divine. By now I had changed into a royal blue dress, and flats. A blue clip holding my outgrown side bangs above my ear. After sitting next to him I sent m a quick email. Work had been getting crazy lately. Our conversation was hushed, and casual as if none of us were really into the conversation. I had even put my laptop away for a good half an hour to gaze at the constellations above. The peaceful moment was broken by Hayden standing, saying something about meeting him by the dorms in half an hour to make sure the initiates were settled.
Hayden got there before I did, but I was too busy typing to notice. If I didn't begin taking more breaks from work I was worried I would wear myself out. I had expectations to live up to. I did not leave my family to fail. While I was preoccupied by the screen perched on my arm as usual I bumped into Hayden letting out a small yelp of surprise. Soon as I registered it was him I turned to the girls, wanting to make this the last time I had to check on them tonight.
"Um hey,girls. Just making sure you have everything and didn't need pads and tampons are in the bathroom ,extra makeup, i know last year we had lotions and perfumes." I tucked my hair behind my ear but it only fell forward again so I left it. Hayden got an awkward look to his face which threatened to release a small giggle from within.
"Ok there are guys in the room," he said to me shoving me I only shook my head and smiled. It was science nothing to be awkward about. I noted the way his eyes skimmed the room lingering on the blonde initiate, Chase Matthews for a few milliseconds too many. I hoped he wasn't planning anything with her, at least not until initiation had passed. "If any of you guys or girls need us, we'll be at the cafe down the road." Hayden's voice was casual, as if they knew what Cafe he was referring to.
"Uhg. someone stole my contacts,again." I informed him as we walked to the cafe to meet up with Hayden. It was the third time I had ordered a new pair, because the new pair was stolen.
"I told you I could make you a specially designed contact case. But you never believe me," Hayden teased me and I gave him a challenging look. I knew he was taking a break from new projects, having been trying to perfect a new medication he was creating. Plus we had initiation to worry about. "At least your eyes aren't really that bad," He said nudging his head toward Channing, who was sitting at the usual booth. A booth so commonly visited by us that even when we weren't here it was usually empty. I sat down with a laugh. Did he really think I had good eyesight? Setting the computer down on the table I looked between the two of them remembering channing and his sister but deciding not to say anything. After-all they we're on lunch break.
"I got you two something." I announced pulling out two navy blue leather jackets. "I figure they'll give you a sort of Dauntless look, so initiates won't try and test you. Also the leather is a great insulator and should keep you warm." Though I wasn't looking at the computer I was still typing at a remarkable speed, trying to finish a report. Nobody ever knew or asked what I was typing. But they all had their speculations; Some even believed I walked around recording everything everyone said. I had to admit sometimes I did this if I thought something someone said I would need to remember. Hayden sat down next to me and across from Channing. He ordered his usual; an italian hoagie, fries, and a strawberry milkshake. As he slipped out his phone. He looked at me, and his eyes instantly lit up. He loved presents, especially cool ones.
"This is awesome," he said taking his. He ran his fingers along the leather. "Why did you get us these," he asked and slid the jacket on, and being a medium in mens, the jacket fit perfectly. Not only that, but it gave him a badass look to him and it fit him. Especially since he wasn't a normal Erudite. Just like I had anticipated. My friends were lucky I know them so well.
"One because now all three of us have leather jackets, different styles of coarse." I informed the two and took out my own blue leather jacket putting it on. "And two because I win." I had a devious smirk, as I quickly ordered a mint chocolate shake and sweet potato fries. "I know it's a lot of sugar and carbs but i'm allowed to splurge." Hayden shoved me softly in the way friends did.
"Hilarious Art," he said with a laugh, "Who cares about the sugar splurge? You only live once right?" The jacket brought out the blue in his green eyes,He looked at Channing, who was writing stuff down. "Whatcha working on," he asked with his eyebrow raised as he looked at the work. I continued to smirk and didn't bother to hide it. I have such great friends. Channing was too concentrated in his work to answer. Looking across I saw a few initiate girls walk by, one of them Chase. Her friend, Purity i believe was the name swayed her hips slightly as if flaunting them.
I rolled my eyes and looked to my comrades. "Uhg, you know it's really exhausting watching girls try to flaunt themselves and get you to notice them," Shaking my head I continued. "It's extremely annoying." As if I hadn't even heard anything Hayden stood, finishing his food that I hadn't even noticed had been delivered, and said something about getting a new tablet and pen. I sighed and looked at channing his blue eyes concentrating on his paper.
"I think he just wanted to talk to the girls." I said staring down at my dress. How was it that they got him to get up and leave. When they brought my milkshake and fries I thanked the waitress, being polite but as soon as she left I pushed it away. Deciding I needed to get in better shape. "I'm not really hungry." I lied. Milkshakes were my favorite especially mint chocolate chip ones. Though I had a very nice body and a near perfect weight; Though no weight really is perfect I didn't feel like I did. Despite what the chart in the gym said. My phone buzzed with a text and I checked it, being hayden.
'I heard that comment about me chasing after the girls.'
'Well its not like I was hiding it, after growing up in Candor you learn to not care what people think of your opinion,' I replied, looking back to Channing. The sunset made his blonde hair turn even more golden as if the sun itself had created it.
"Rude," Hayden replied probably joking, "Btw Chip said your bugs are ready. Im there now. Want me to get them?"
"Yes that be great Isn't it funny that Chip has my Bugs ready?Get it? Laugh out loud" I never really understood texting things like lol or gtg so she just spelled them out.
"What are you so smirky about?" Channing asked raising an looked in the jacket I gave him to find a bug on the inside pocket. "Really?" he asked with a laugh tossing the bug on the table. Unlike Hayden, Channing never destroyed them. He usually turned them off and gave them back. This made me smirk even more, I was never the best at hiding my emotions being from Candor. I couldn't help but be so smirky after all I had placed a few faux bugs in the jackets. "Did you hide another?" He threw a french fry at me and I threw it back, "Uncool. For all I know, you could've put one in my food."
"of course I put more. but this one is gonna be a hard one to find."
"Can I at least have a hint," he asked with a puppy dog pout making his eyes all sparkly. Channing was pretty good at playing the charming role. I could only guess he thought I fell for it. The thing is I only fall if I choose to and right now I was not choosing to...Or was I?
"Well first off if you go tearing apart the jacket I'm gonna be pretty mad cause that's a nice leather jacket. Also the bug is in plain sight." I informed him as I watched him look around. It was comical because I knew he wouldn't be able to locate the bugg.
"Aaarrtteeemmiisss," He whined playfully.
"Channnniinnnngggg." I whined back before standing up and heading toward the door. "Now I want to go get a new dress for tomorrow,coming?"
"Not fair. I will find it eventually," he said paying for both his and myfood. Despite my protests. He got up, and stretched his arms above his head. "Yeah Im coming," he said with a smile. We walked out to a clothing store down the block. Reluctantly I put my laptop away so I could find a dress. Finally I settled on a navy blue, fitted dress. It had a blue sequin collar and no sleeves, along with a small ruffle giving the illusion it was a shirt and a pencil skirt.
"What do you think of this one?" I asked holding it up for Channing to see. As my male friend it was his duty to shop with me, and pretend he understood fashion.
"I like it. It looks very formal but unique." He nudged me with his hip smiling. I couldn't help but blush at the contact even if we were friends it was always different between me and Channing, than Hayden and I.
"If you just give me a minute i'll try it on and if i like it we'll be done."
" What is this for again?" Channing asked as I disappeared into the dressing room.
"It's for tomorrow, I'm going to be training initiates and I want to wear something new, and crisp." I said as I emerged and walked to a mirror to see how I looked. It seemed to fit snugly in all the right places. "What do you think? Yes? No? Good, bad?" He took a moment to look me up and down causing me to shift my weight from my right to my left foot. Not in a creepy way but in a critical thinking sort.
"Fits perfectly," Channing said standing up and touching the collar of her dress.I could feel the warmth of my breath being so close to him, and he realized he was standing too close. "Sorry," he said taking a step back as he blushed slightly.
"Thanks." I said blushing I tucked a cluster of hair behind my ears but they fell forward. Reaching down into my bag I pulled out a hair clip and clipped them back to hold them in place.
"Youre welcome. I should probably get another tie. Considering my other one has seen better days." Channing said with a laugh as we began browsing through ties. I called after someone I thought was Hayden, ridiculing him for ditching us. When I discovered it wasn't I ducked behind a clothes rack and looked to Channing.
"Let's pay and go," I whispered hastily and hurried to the cashier. Channing looked between me and the guy I had mistaken for Hayden.
"One too many bugs thrown at you," He teased as we bought our merchandise. I could tell he was trying to figure out how to say something, but he was too busy texting someone for me to figure out if it was a question for me or someone else. This made me sigh.
"You do know I don't really listen to your life through a bug except every now and then to check that it works." I had heard enough peoples secrets in Candor, too many for my own good. I quickly pulled out my lap top and began furiously typing.
"Im used to it by now. My life isnt that exciting for you to listen to anyway. Im not like Hayden where I hate them. They dont bother me," he said with a laugh. "Besides I usually find them. What are you typing about?"
"Stuff." I said quickly. "Just stuff. And I don't go listening to Hayden's either. I'm thinking of applying for a second job, you know somewhere in a big chair." I was trying to change the subject as fast as possible. However it wasn't a lie, I was thinking of aplying for a job a little more public and less secretive.
"Stuff? Sounds.. Important," he teased as we walked down toward the computer rooms. Channing needed to get newer software on his tablet and he had to take it down to the IT room. He was good at solving things, but he didn't have time to figure out software. His phone went off again, and he groaned. "Chase again," he said out loud.
"You know I have to go work on my other job's and its really late so i'm just gonna go home and get some sleep." I stated seeing the time was 9:30. Once home I stayed up till midnight working before dozing off, tomorrow would be hectic.