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I struggled to catch my breath as I threw my fist into a punching bag. I needed to get out my frustrations and there was no better way to do it. From my brother, to my mom, to Jake, I felt like I was talking hit after hit and never swung back. This was me swinging back, letting off some steam.
I felt Eric come up behind me, but was too focused on my target to pay him any attention. But that killer focused was shattered as he pressed himself up behind me, reaching out to grab my arms. I felt the fabric of his shirt against my sweat drenched torso. I had thrown my shirt aside and was left in just a sports bra.
"You're going to hurt yourself," I felt his breath on my neck as he spoke.
"I'm fine," I said, catching my breath.
"If you're going to go that hard, take shorter swings, you'll be less likely to throw out your shoulders," he let go of my forearms and began to trail his hands up my arms.
"I'll keep that in mind," I instantly felt goose bump rise on my skin due to his touch.
"You want to tell me what's bugging you?" His fingers traced the claw marks that were inked onto my arm.
"I just need to stop caring so much," I took another swing at the bag.
"No, you just need to let things play out instead of thinking that everything that happens is a direct consequence of your actions. Fuck that little punk," he said referring to Jake. "Fuck your brother and everyone else who thinks that just because you're not their little princess anymore means that you're not good enough."
I couldn't help but smile at his words. Who knew he had a soft side. He kissed my neck, his hands finding my waist. "You're my princess now, and you'll never not be good enough."
I turned in his arms and tilted my head, a smile still firming planted on my face. "What?" he asked.
"Who knew you were such a softly. This is super out of character for you," I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"You make me this way. You and only you. But if you tell anyone I swear I'll kill you," he smirked.
"What would you do without me?" I teased.
"Don't make me have to find out," he pulled me closer, his lips meeting mine.
"Wow, that was gross," we pulled apart to find Jenn standing in the doorway.
"How much of that did you hear?" I questioned, chuckling. Eric looked away from both Jenn and I, embarrassed.
"Enough. Eric go back to being an asshole. Soft, cute, Eric make me uncomfortable," Jenn's face contorted to a disgusted look as she shook her head.
"That can be arranged," Eric untangled himself from me and head over to the bench to grab my shirt and a towel. He threw both at me.
"We're gonna be late for that meeting, let's go," Jenn turned on her heels, leaving me and Eric to follow.
The walk to Max's office was short, but comfortable. When we entered, Max, Leo, Jason, and Jenn were already sitting around a round table that was off to the right in his office which was probably half the size of my apartment. "Take a seat you two," Max instructed.
We did as we were told. I sat between Eric and Leo, Jenn sat directly across from me, Jason and Max on either side of her. "As some of you may know," Max started, "times are changing throughout the faction systems."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked. My father being the leader of the government meant that I was always informed on the latest issues we were having among the faction. Sure, there were a few arguments here and there and differences of opinions and view, but the workings and fundamentals of the faction systems have always maintained their order.
"The number of Divergents that we are coming across is on the incline and the threat that they pose to the faction system can no longer be ignored," Max informed the group. "They don't fit into any of the five factions and because of that, they cannot be controlled. If we expect to maintain the level of order that we've have in the past, then we have to put a plan in motion to rid the factions of Divergents."
This information hit me like a ton of bricks. I didn't know what to say or do. I looked up at Jenn, who must have seen my reaction, and she shook her head, glaring at me, telling me to keep quiet.
"Are you suggesting that we kill every Divergent?" Leo raised an eyebrow in curiosity, his face concerned by the topic at hand.
"Yes," Max answered bluntly.
"How would we even go about doing that?" Eric asked. My breath caught in my throat. Was he really considering doing this?
Max gave him a smirk. "The foundation for this operation has already been played out and discussed between myself and Jeanine Mathews."
"What?" Leo nearly spat. "You've made an alliance with the Erudite without the consent of any of us?"
"It was in the best interest of Dauntless. I didn't have time to discuss it with you all. The offer was on the table and a yes or no answer was required right then and there," Max said, defended his actions.
"We're talking hundreds and hundreds of people," I interjected. "Even if we did go through with this, how would we single out the Divergent from the rest of the population? They wouldn't just give themselves up."
"I set up a meeting with Jeanine for next week so she can go over the plan in detail with you all," Max's face remained emotionless through all of his dialogue, having no empithy for the lives he wanted to take.
"We haven't even agreed to this yet," Jenn pointed out.
"I understand that, but after the meeting next week, we'll discuss our options and your concerns," Max folded his hand in front of him.
I felt like all this information was being thrown at me at once and I wasn't having time to process it, but from what I gathered so far, Max wanted to kill me, my brother, and every other Divergent he could find.
"How dare you set this all in motion without running it past me first," Leo snarled. "You are all dismissed," Leo said referring to the rest of us. "I need to speak with Max."
Jason was the first out of the door, followed by myself, Eric and Jenn. "Is he serious?" I asked, completely baffled by this sudden turn of events.
"Divergents are a problem," Eric spoke. "everyone knows that."
"So we kill them all?" I looked at him wide-eyed. If only he knew I was Divergent. Would his opinion on the matter change or would it remind the same?
"Would you rather have the faction system crumble? They can't be controlled. What's stoping them from overthrowing the government and retaliating?" Eric challenged.
"What stops anyone from doing that?" I argued.
"Enough," Jenn said, putting a holt to are argument. "No more talk of this. We're going to let them deal with this," she pointed to the not closed door that head Max and Leo. "Once we get the final word from them, we'll go from there, okay?"
No, it wasn't okay. I wasn't going to sit back and let this happen. "Okay."
"Yeah, Okay." Eric agreed.
"I know you were supposed to be with me today, Alex, but if you want, you can 'shadow' Eric today," she smiled, knowing that no type of leadership training would happen.
"You sure?" I asked.
"Yeah, as long as he still comes back an asshole," Jenn joked.
"Deal," Eric agreed, chuckling.
"I'll see you guys later then," Jenn smiled at us before she walked off, leaving us alone in the hall.
"What do you want to do?" Eric asked.
"I need some air," I needed to get out of these Dauntless walls. I know I had an adventure last nice outside of them, but it wasn't a pleasant trip. I needed to relax, forget about everything.
I grabbed his hand and began to pull him along. To my surprise he went alone without question. When we made it to the Pit, I dropped his hand, I heard him sigh behind me, but didn't pay him any attention. I headed for the exit, Eric in tow. We were nearly there before I heard my name being called.
"Alex!" Aidan smiled as he jogged up to me. His smile faltered as he saw Eric, greeting him with a small nod before focusing on me. "What happened with you and Jake earlier?"
I glanced over at Eric, looking for a reaction. He held his cold façade, but he couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Nothing. He needs to grow and realize it's not going to happen."
"After all this time? I would have alway thought you guys would end up together..." I saw Aidan briefly look at Eric.
"I never saw him like that," I could tell Eric was getting impatient as he shifted from foot to foot. "I'm sorry, Aidan, but I have to go."
"I'll see you later then," Aidan looked at me, a little confused. He knew we were headed outside, but he probably wasn't expecting to keep the company that I did. Eric drooped his arm around my shoulders to my surprise.
"Come on," Eric, turned me in the direction of the exit. I saw Aidan's eyes go wide.
"So it's true?" He questioned.
"Yeah, it is," Eric answered for me. I was shocked by his sudden PDA and his openness. Eric pulled me along, leaving Aidan in the Pit.
"What was that? What happened to laying low?" I asked.
"It doesn't matter who knows. Your biggest concern was Four and he knows so who gives a fuck now?" I took the lead and led Eric to the train tracks.
"I do," I frowned. "I like this little bubble that we're in right now. I don't want this relationship to consist of me, you and all of Dauntless."
"It won't. I'm not shouting it from the roof top for everyone to know, but I won't deny it if I'm asked about it." He dropped his arm, facing me.
"Won't that take away from your cruel façade?" I smirked. I heard the train horn in the distance.
"I don't see why it would, but if it does, I don't care enough about their opinions for it to matter," he stated.
Nothing was said as the train approached. We broke into a run, easily making our way into the train car. "Where are we going?" he asked.
"Nowhere. I just wanted to take a train ride," I said as I sat against the back wall of the car, getting a good view of the passing scenery. Eric joined me, putting his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.
"I would have never thought I would have been sitting here a few months ago," I said after a while.
"What do you mean?"
"Here, with you," I smirked. "I remember when I first met you, there was something about you that scared me, but intrigued me at the same time. You were this big scary bear that I just had to poke with a stick."
"God, I was so pissed," he chuckled. "Here comes this Abnegation girl and her sharp tongue, sassing me in front of a new group of initiates."
"You were rushing me! It's not everyday someone tells you to jump off a building," I shoved him.
"You were taking forever!" He laughed.
"I still can't believe the shit you put me through..." I started. "You knocked my ass out, stabbed me, gave me so much shit on so many different occasions."
His smile disappeared and was replaced by a frown. "I was an asshole. You were getting in my head, in my heart...I was trying to push you away, but it didn't work. I'm so sorry. I'll never be able to make that up."
"Hey," I shifted my position. I pulled away from him and faced my body towards him, crossing my legs. I grabbed his hand, "I forgive you. It's okay."
"But its not," he looked away from me.
"Eric, look at me," he brought his eyes to mine. "I don't want your pitty. What you did, it lit a fire under my ass. I was determined to beat everyone, I was determined to send a big 'fuck you' you're way. In a weird twisted way, you helped me."
"You're a strange one, you know that? Nobody else would put up with that much shit from me and still be sitting next to me." He rubbed his thumb over the top of my hand.
"Well maybe if you didn't push people away with every chance you got you would have more people sitting next to you," I looked down at our hands, my eyes following the movement of his thumb.
"The only person I need sitting next to me is you," I looked back up at him, his grey eyes were focused on me.
"You made a deal with Jenn that you'd come back still an asshole, I think you're headed in the wrong direction," I chuckled.
"It's nice to not be an asshole for once, to be myself," I moved closer to him, laying my head on his lap, propping my knees up as I looked up at him.
"So then why do you act like one all the time?" That was a question I had been asking since the day I first met him. That was the question that I had wanted an answer to since I took my first steps in Dauntless.
"It's easier not to care. I'm a brand new leader. A majority of this faction is older then me," the fingers to his free hand began to trace the claw marks that climbed down my arm. "They wouldn't respect me because to them I'm was just this Erudite kid who wiggled his way into leadership. But with fear, comes respect. It was the fastest and most efficient way to get it. Plus, coming out of initiation, a lot of people didn't like me because I didn't like your brother, and EVERYBODY loved your brother, so I was labeled as the bad guy," he kinda smirked as he played with my hair, "I had the label so I figured I'd just play into it."
"Why didn't you like Four?" A stray string from the hem of his shirt caught my eye and I couldn't help but to twist it around in my fingers.
"He was the underdog, I was the top dog, it became a rivalry. Everybody loved him because he was the underdog and it drove me crazy that he was put on the same level as me," he said. "I came in second to him."
"I bet nobody ever asked for your side of the story." I stated. Hearing this from him gave me a whole new perspective, not just on him, but on Dauntless too.
"Nobody cared enough to ask," it hurt to hear that. To think, the guy that nobody liked, that everybody thought was so cruel and cold, was just like everyone one else. He had a heart, he had an opinion, and he had a side that nobody was ever on.
"Well I care, and I'll always ask," I smiled at him. "How was your day? Why'd you yell at that kid? Why'd you beat the shit out of that guy? Why are you so grumpy? Why-,"
"Alright, that's enough," he chuckled.
That's how we stayed all afternoon as we rode through the city on the train, talking and laughing, it was exactly what I needed.
Once we finished our third trip around the city, we decided to head back to Dauntless. Before we head down to dinner, we headed back up to our apartments for a shower and change of clothes. I had just gotten out of the shower when I heard a knock at the door. I quickly got dressed, brushing my wet hair as I made my way to the door.
I opened the door and was greeted by Jenn. "Hey, what's up?"
"I need to talk to you. Is Eric here?" She looked over my shoulder and into my apartment.
"No, he's at his place. Talk about what?" I stepped aside, letting her in.
"I need to talk to you about this alliance with Erudite and the plan to get rid of the Divergents. I know you don't want it and neither do I."
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