Chapter 6
I fling knife after knife into the target, and most manage to hit the center of the board. Knife throwing is a general past time here at the compound, so none of the dauntless-born have any problems. Brian, again, is having major difficulties. We stay like this for a few hours.
"Initiates, tomorrow you will start with sparring and fighting. Get some rest. You are dismissed" my father waves us off.
I see a wave of black hair before I am practically pounced on. I turn to see Huxley with a huge grin across her face.
"What are you smiling about?" The grin is infectious.
"We got invited to a party!" Huxley says a little too loudly. My parents look over at us. They probably know exactly what she just said. I try to nonchalantly pull her out of the room.
"Calm down. And what party? It's only the first day of training." I ask.
"Well Oliver, one of the dauntless-born; I've never really had classes with him. I think you might have though, but…" I hold up my hand to stop her.
"Huxley, you're rambling again" I remind her.
"Oh, sorry. So, his parents work the night shift on the fence now. He invited a few of us to play Candor or Dauntless" she says making air quotes.
I had heard of the game before, but I had never played it. My parents told me that it was a rite of passage after initiation. They also told me that it was a way for guys to get you drunk or naked.
"Let's go shopping!" Huxley jumps up and down.
"It's not a great idea. I mean" she stops me. "No, we are going. You can wear layers. But, we are going to have weeks of training ahead of us. I just want a few hours of freedom." Huxley pleads.
"Fine, I'll go. Let me go tell my parents that we're going shopping" she smiles as I walk back into the room. Once they see me, it is full-on question mode about Huxley's outburst.
"Did I hear that you are going to a party?" My mother asks. "Oh god, they are playing candor or dauntless, aren't they?" My father purses his lips together.
"I am not going to lie" Mostly because they wouldn't believe me anyways. "Yes, we are going to a party. Yes, we are playing candor or dauntless. But, I promise that if anything bad or stupid is about to happen, I will leave and drag Huxley with me." I can see that my father is about to protest. "I promise. Now, I came to tell you that Huxley and I are going shopping down at the pit. I love you. Goodbye." I run out to catch Huxley.
I know that they are probably mad at me. I know that for the moment, I don't really care.
A few minutes later, Huxley, River, and I are down in the pit.
"What's up with you and Mr. erudite, Calah" Huxley interrogates me, as I flip through the racks of black clothing.
"Well, I uhhhh, I don't know. I could like him, but I'm not sure and don't really know if I want a relationship at the beginning of initiation. Two people are going home."
"Oh please, Calah. Just on the first day, he definitely made an impression on your…uh…the trainers." Nice going Huxley. "He is staying. Not too sure about Brian, thank god." She pauses. "My point is: Henry isn't going anywhere. If you want him, then go after him."
Huxley does have a point. River nods in agreement smiling.
We finally leave the shops hauling at least four bags each. I bought some normal clothes for training, as well as an outfit for tonight. We were supposed to be at the party around seven and had about two hours to get ready.
The three of us start to make our way up to the members' apartments later that night. I can hear the music when I reach the door. A tall guy opens it. He has black hair, green eyes, and an undeniable grin across his lips. He is… charming. Gorgeous.
"Welcome girls" he ushers us in with his arm, revealing an intricate black tattoo down to his wrist. I have a weakness for tattoos. "Everyone is here" he says turning down the music. "Party is over. 'Candor or dauntless' time. You know the rules. Don't answer the question or take the dare, take a piece of clothing off" Oliver smiles as we sit down in a circle. Most everyone has left, leaving a dauntless-born initiate, Quinn and Alex [the candor siblings], Henry, River, Huxley, and me.
I ended up wearing a fitted leather skirt [upon Huxley's request] and leggings, a cami, a black tank top with roses, a dark sheer blouse, and combat boots. I hope that it would be enough layering. The last thing I want is for Henry or Oliver to see me naked. Wait, Oliver? Why do I care what he thinks? I like Henry, maybe.
"Okay, I'll go first" he says sitting down between Huxley and me. "River, candor or dauntless?"
"Candor" she smiles. "Why did you want to leave amity?"
She thinks about it for a moment, either trying to come up with one good response or sorting through a million.
"You're not allowed to do anything without thinking of how it could upset others, first. Kindness only, no fighting. It gets boring."
Honestly, she didn't seem like the type of person to pick a fight. On the other hand, I could have just been seeing the side of her that was raised without violence. Either way, she has proved just within two days that she belongs here.
"Huxley, candor or dauntless?"
"Who am I? Dauntless!"
"Okay. Kiss the first person you see in the pit and tell us what happened when you get back." River is smirking as Huxley gets up to leave.
The dauntless-born guy, Cameron, gets up too. "I'll be her witness" Cameron offers.
The two of them leave and come back a few minutes later giggling like idiots.
"What happened" River presses. They both smile.
"Cameron was the first person I saw in the pit" Huxley laughs sitting back down next to him. She looks around for her next victim. Please don't pick me. "Calah, candor or dauntless?" Damn it. This could go badly either way.
"Candor" I reply gingerly.
"Do you like anyone who is currently in this room" Huxley asks grinning. I could answer yes and be bombarded with questions about it, or I could take off my shirt and give them the answer anyways.
"Yes" I don't give anyone time to question.
"Umm" I knew who I was going to pick when Huxley called me. "Oliver, candor or dauntless?"
It feels ridiculous, but I want to know more about him.
"Dauntless all the way."
"Get a tattoo, River's pick" I tell him.
For a minute, Oliver looks like he might actually do it, but seems to change his mind instead.
"Hell no. She'll probably make me get a rainbow on my ass." And River doesn't deny it.
Oliver stands up and takes his shirt off, fully exposing his black sleeve and a tattoo of wings that covers his entire back. Beautiful. Wait, what? What is wrong with me? This is wrong.
Oliver can clearly see me gawking at him.
"See something you like?" Oliver asks winking at me. Everyone starts to laugh and I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
"My turn! Ermmmm… Cameron. Candor or dauntless, my friend?" Oliver asks wiggling his eyebrows.
"Dauntless." I know exactly what's coming up.
"Play seven minutes in heaven with Huxley." Cameron smiles and pulls Huxley towards one of the bedrooms. We wait in silence. After seven minutes, we push open the door. Cameron and Huxley are sprawled out on the bed making out. She gets up in one swift motion, flipping her hair, and prances back to her spot on the floor.
"Calah, candor or dauntless?" I let out a sigh. "Dauntless."
"Hmmm… interesting. Sit in Oliver's lap for the rest of the game." I look over at him in permission. "Well, come on over then." I think about it. I could be embarrassed for sitting in a shirtless guy's lap or I could be rude and embarrassed by taking off my clothes.
I get up and slide into his lap. Oliver sets one hand on my waist which sends shivers up my spine.
"I, uh, Henry. Candor or dauntless?"
"Candor, maybe" he replies pushing his glasses up his nose.
"Has anyone ever seen you naked" it may have been lame, but it meant more than one thing.
"No" Henry replies flatly.
"Quinn, candor or dauntless?"
"Candor."
"What is your biggest fear?"
She looks down and mumbles. "What's that, Quinn?"
"Turtles! Turtles freak me out!" With that we all bust out laughing including her brother, Alex. She hauls off and punches him then storms out.
"Then there were seven" Oliver chimes in.
"I'll go!" Huxley shouts. "Alex, candor or dauntless?"
"Dauntless."
"Heh. Switch clothes with River and walk around in the pit for ten minutes." Alex looks over at River. She is wearing a long black skirt that is cut up the left leg, a tank top, and a lace over-shirt.
"No offence River, but I would never hear the end of it" he takes off his shirt.
Two hours later, Henry and Oliver are in their boxers, Cameron and Alex are in their jeans, a drunken Huxley is in a bra and underwear, a tipsy River is in a bra and skirt, and I am still in a cami and leggings.
"Come on, Stiff! Let loose!" Huxley shouts at me. "Candor or dauntless?"
"Dauntless."
"Strip down to your underwear and run around the compound" She slurs. "Huxley, I"
"Come on. Do it for your Ollie!" Apparently, Huxley is a total ass when she's drunk.
I start to get up from Oliver's lap. "You're going to do it?" Huxley asks laughing.
I feel like I'm about to cry, but there is no way that I will in front of a bunch of people I barely know, let alone guys that I like. I don't answer her. I turn back to Oliver.
"Thanks for inviting us. We should probably get going though. Fighting and everything tomorrow" I manage to croak.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
I look away from his eyes. I really don't want him to see me upset.
"Nothing. Thanks." I say walking over to Huxley. I am absolutely mad with her. But, I'm not going to leave her drunk at a party on the first night of training. I haul her to her feet and walk out of the apartment.