GUYS I FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT NOT UPDATING IN SO LONG AND THAT THIS CHAPTER IS SO SHORT.

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Am I the only one who is a Gamer girl and is obsessed with GTA V?

I mean, it's like my therapy. After I read Allegiant I played GTA V and shot everything pretending it was Veronica Roth xD

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Chapter XXXII. Flashing Underwear

TRIS

We stand in a large, open room that somehow reminds me of the pit, lively and spacious and filled with Dauntless; Dauntless women, men, and children are everywhere, and there is no Candor in sight.

The wall is black and the floor is too, except for a huge white symbol in the center of the room. Bunk beds are everywhere.

"Déjà vu moment, huh?" Lynn says, slightly frowning.

I nod. "Yeah. It seems like initiation was just yesterday,"

She shrugs. "It was a week or so ago, I guess. But that's past." She puts a hand on my shoulder comfortingly. "Follow me," She hesitates for a second before speaking. "Four."

I smile a little at her consideration of the earlier events.

I follow her to the left side of the room, dodging Dauntless children playing tag, and between the rows of bunks. Across the room I see a familiar couple, and I wave at them. Zalia and Gabe wave back with a small smile on their faces.

They seem quite skeptical of being close to me, especially after earlier. I almost frown, but then understand where they're coming frown.

Their close friend is an abused, Abnegation girl who is the daughter of the Abnegation leader.

Lynn looks at the boy sitting on one of the bottom bunks—he is a few years younger than we are, and he is fumbling with the knotted laces of his shoes.

"Hec," she says. "You're going to have to find another bunk."

"What? No way." He says without looking up, his voice high in irritation. "I'm not relocating again just because you want to have late-night conversations with one of your stupid friends."

"She is not stupid," snaps Lynn. I almost laugh. "Hec, this is Four. Four, this is my little twelve-year-old brother, Hector."

At the mention of my name, his head jerks up, and he stares at me, jaw-dropped.

"Nice you meet you," I say politely, trying my best to not burst out laughing.

"You-You're Divergent," he says. "My mom said to stay away from you because you might be dangerous."

"Don't you recognize her?" Lynn taunts. "She has the least amount of fears in all of Dauntless. She is a prodigy." Hector audibly gulps. I almost feel bad; Lynn is using my intimating rank to frighten an innocent twelve-year-old.

"Yeah. She is a big scary Divergent, and she's going to make your head explode with only the power of her brain." says Lynn, jabbing him between the dark brown eyes with her index finger. "Don't tell me you actually believe all of that kid stuff about the Divergent."

He turns bright red and looks down, fear in his eyes. He snatches some of his things from a pile next to the bed. I feel bad for making him move until I see him walk a few feet and toss his things down a few bunks over. He doesn't have to go that far.

"I could have done that," I say. "Move over there, I mean," My Abnegation is kicking in.

"Yeah, I know." Lynn grins widely, showing teeth. "He deserves it. He called Zeke a traitor, right in front of poor Uriah. I mean…" she looks down. "It's not like it's not true, but that's no reason to be a jerk about it. Hec feels like he can just say anything he wants whenever he wants. I think the Candor are rubbing off on him."

She looks at something behind me. "Hey, Mar!"

I spin around and see Marlene poking her head out of one of the bunks and she smiles toothily at me.

"Hey Lynn, B-Four!" she smiles sheepishly at her slip-up but I ignore it. "Welcome," she says to me. "What's up, Lynnie?"

Lynn rolls her eyes. "Can you get some of the small girls with muscle to give up a few pieces of clothing each? Not all shirts, though. Jeans, underwear, maybe a spare pair of shoes?"

"Sure," says Marlene.

I place my knife down next to the bottom bunk.

"So…" I start, "What 'kid stuff' where you referring to?"

"The Divergent. People with special brainpowers? Come on." She shrugs her shoulders. "I know you believe in it, but I don't."

My lips twist into a small frown. "So how do you explain me being awake the simulation? Until I got injected again of course. But Tobias was awake the entire time," I reason curiously.

"Hmm." She meets my eyes. "Actually, I think the leaders choose people at random and change the simulations for them."

"Why would they do that?"

She waves her hand in my face. "Distraction. You're so busy being worried about the Divergent—like my mom—that you forget to worry about what the leaders are currently doing. It's just a different kind of mind control."

Her eyes skirt mine, and she shuffles her feet. I wonder if she's remembering the last time she was on mind control. During the attack.

I have been so caught up with Evelyn and all the events happening that I forgot about how much guilt is in the air.

Hundreds of Dauntless woke to discover the blood of innocents on them, and they didn't even have a choice.

I decide not to argue with my friend.

We sit on the lower bunk together in silence for a moment or two until Marlene steps in front of our bunk, holding a stack of black clothing. "I come bearing clothes,"

She hands me the pile with a proud look on her face. "I even guilt-tripped your sister into handing over a dress, Lynn. She brought three."

Sister? I think.

"Shauna," Lynn shakes her head and sighs. "I told her none of us would need dresses anytime soon, but she didn't listen, as usual."

A part of me is glad that Shauna made it out safely.

"I actually think it might be easier to fight in a dress," says Marlene, putting a finger to her chin. "It would give your legs freer movement. And who really cares if you flash people your underwear, as long as you're kicking the crap out of them?"

Lynn's and my eyes widen. Her words are a spark of brilliance. I never really thought about it that way.

"What's this about flashing underwear?" a familiar voice rings. He walks up to us, grinning. "Whatever it is, I'm in."

Marlene punches Uriah in the arm.

"Oww!" he whines, and Marlene rolls her eyes and pecks him on the cheek.

I almost forgot that they were a couple.

Same with Lynn and Joey.

My eyes widen in realization.

I hide a look of sympathy from Lynn.

Uriah turns to us. "Some of us are going to the Hancock building tonight," he says. "You should all come. We're leaving at ten."

"Zip lining?" asks Lynn.

I gulp.

"No," he shakes his head. "Surveillance. We've heard the Erudite keep their lights on all night, which will make it easier to look through their windows. See what they're doing."

I look down, and think about it.

"I'll go." The words pour out of my mouth with pride.

Lynn looks at me. "Me too."

"What? Oh. Me too." says Marlene, smiling at her boyfriend. "I'm going to get food. Want to come?"

"Sure," he says.

Marlene waves as they walk away. She used to walk with a lift in her step, like she was sipping. Now her skips are smoother—more elegant. She used to be a happy Dauntless, but now it seems like she doesn't know where she belongs anymore, and that makes her a bit gloomy. I wonder what she did when she was under the simulation.

The feeling's mutual, I say in my head.

Lynn's mouth puckers.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing," she snaps. She shakes her head. "They've just been hanging out alone all the time lately. I feel like a third wheel. And…" She trails off, but my ears pick up the starting letter "J".

I ignore that. "He needs all the friends he can get, it sounds like," I say, trying to bury the thoughts of Joey in her head. "What with Zeke and all."

I still can't believe that one of my older brother figures would be with the traitor Dauntless.

"Yeah. What a nightmare that was. One day he was here, and the next…" She sighs. "No matter how long you train someone to be brave, you never know if they are or not until something real happens."

Her eyes fix on mine, and I never noticed how strange they are.

From far it would seem like ordinary dark brown eyes, but they are actually flakes of gold sprinkled on a dark brown weathered surface.

I also never noticed how deep she is. How deep her words are.

Her blonde hair has grown in somewhat, completely covering her scalp. I notice her delicate nose, her full lips; she is striking without trying to be.

"You are brave," she says. "You don't need me to say it, because you already know it. But I want you to know that I know."

She is complimenting me, but I feel like she smacked me with something.

Then she adds, "Don't mess it up."

-o0o-

After I ate lunch with Zalia, Gabe, Uriah, Marlene, and Lynn—Christina ate with her family—and taken a short nap, I sit down on the edge of my bed and talk to Lynn.

There are a lot of Dauntless around, gathering between the bunks, laughing at one another's jokes. Lynn and I watch as a group of ten people, a year or two older than us, sit down in a circle and talk rowdily.

They're playing Candor or Dauntless, which brings back memories.

"Is it just me…" Lynn says, "Or is Candor or Dauntless actually Interrogation or Weird sexual activity?" I laugh.

"You're not wrong,"

"So…" she starts, "What do you think will happen? What will become of this?"

I never really thought about the question. I frown. "I don't know. But hopefully things will straighten out."

Lynn nods. "Yeah," She frowns. "Things are as bad as my grades."

I burst out laughing.

"Hey, if anyone has terrible grades, it's me," proudly shouts Uriah with a grin on his face as he approaches us with Marlene at his side.

"And you're proud of that?" I ask.

He puts his hands up in defense. "There is a reason I am not Erudite," We laugh.

Marlene looks at the seventeen and eighteen-year-olds playing Candor or Dauntless.

"Ahh, memories." She sighs.

Uriah grins. "Yep. Thanks to a game, we got together." He kisses her on the lips and she obediently kisses back, until the whole room of Dauntless screams, "GET A ROOM!"

Uriah pulls back and rolls his eyes. "Maybe we will," he sticks his tongue out at Gabe who does the same. He throws Marlene on his shoulder and charges down the aisle, and the sound of Marlene's shriek of laughter dies down.

Lynn, who is sitting on the bunk across me, snorts. "I don't see how Uriah could be so flirty, with everything that's going on."

"He's supposed to shuffle around, scowling all this time?" I respond, fixing the sleeve of my borrowed black tank top. "Maybe you can learn something from him."

Lynn chuckles. "You're one to talk," she says. "You're always moping. We should start calling you Four Eaton, Queen of Tragedy." Then her eyes widen for a bit, like she thinks she hit a soft spot.

I ignore it, as everyone knows anyway.

I stop for a moment, closing my eyes. Have I really been so bad that Lynn notices?

"Shut up," I say, punching Lynn in the arm.

Lynn shoves me. "I don't take orders from Stiffs," she says. Her lips curl up the slightest bit and I have to suppress a grin. Changing the subject, she adds, "Ready to go?"

"Where are you going?" A familiar voice asks. I suppress a sigh and look down; I can even feel the hurt in his eyes.

"Top of the Hancock building to spy on Erudite," Lynn says. "Want to come Tobias?"

My mouth feels dry. I haven't spoken to him all day, and I'm not sure what to expect. Will it be awkward, or will we go back to normal?

Tobias gives me a look, probably seeing the discomfort visible on my face. "No," He says hesitantly, "I've got a few things to take care of here. But be careful," he reprimands.

I would have stayed as well to try to avoid the heights, but it's too late.

He touches my arm, holding me back for a moment. I tense up—he hasn't touched me since our fight—and he releases me.

"I'll see you later," he mutters. "Don't do anything stupid."

I frown. "Thanks for that vote of confidence," My voice drips with sarcasm.

"I didn't mean that," He says, frustrated. "I meant don't let anyone else do anything stupid. They'll listen to you."

He leans toward me like he's going to kiss me, then seems to think better of it and leans back, biting his lip. It's a small act, but it still feels like rejection. I avoid his eyes and run after Lynn with only one word escaping my lips.

"Bye."

Please review, follow, favorite, and check out my other stories!

Goal: 268 favs, 372 follows, and 721 reviews!

Bai!

~TrissyPoo