I am again very sorry about the delay. The last couple of weeks have been nuts with band, golf, and our Canada/New York trip. Even right now, I probably should be finishing summer work for one of my honors classes, but I'm in the mood for writing. I am going to do my best to update, however my schedule might not agree with that. So, here is chapter ten. I Hope you enjoy it. –Lil

Chapter 10

"You should have seen it, Cal. The fight was epic!" Huxley enthuses while sitting down at our normal table in the dining hall. I sit down between Oliver and River. Henry sits across from us, by Huxley. "Oliver totally kicked Brian's ass!" She continues as I laugh. Honestly, I knew he would. Oliver was born in dauntless and is stronger than Brian would ever be. Suddenly, I'm lost in a trance thinking about his muscles, his tattoos, and his undeniable hotness.

"Earth to Calah…" River says waving a hand in front of my face. Oliver smirks as my face starts to heat up. Huxley and River break out in smiles, and Henry, ironically, just looks confused.

"What were you thinking about?" River asks grinning like an idiot.

"Nothing" The word flies out of my mouth all too quickly. Big mistake.

"You're lying" Huxley states.

"Wh…what? No I'm not." I try to steady my voice. "I am not lying."

"Oh come on. We all know what you were thinking about." River presses.

"No we don't. I know what I was thinking, but it wasn't that." Everyone laughs except for Henry, who still hasn't caught on. I desperately want to change the subject.

"So good job on your fights. Uh, anyone want to go get a tattoo?" I actually didn't really ever think of getting a tattoo myself, but it seems to have distracted everyone now. Besides, it's a rite of passage in dauntless. I might as well try it.

Everyone agrees and we start down to the parlor where my parent's friend, Tori, works. When we get there, we see that it is not all that full. Tori sees us and immediately smiles.

"Calah. I was wondering when I would see you in here." She says walking towards our group. "Anyone know what they want?"

Henry and River both bob their heads up and down. Tori signals for them to have a seat at the stations while we look through the designs that are strewn across every bit of the textured walls. There are a lot of flames and dauntless symbols, but I have never cared for any of them. I wanted something more personal. I just didn't know what. Oliver and Huxley look like they are having the same thought.

After what seems like forever, Henry has a book engulfed in flames, on his back. River has part of the dauntless manifesto around her ankle.

"Why the manifesto?" Oliver asks River.

"Well it was the reason that I wanted to be dauntless originally. I've always liked the idea that I could be brave, that I could stand up and protect others. There's a beauty in it." She adds smiling.

I can understand that. It may not be entirely true that the sole purpose anymore is to protect others, but originally, it was beautiful.

"What are you guys getting?" River asks securing the bandage on her leg.

"Well my mom has this symbol on her arm that she got right after she passed initiation. I might not get to see them a lot depending on what job I get, so I think I might want her tattoo." Huxley says nonchalantly. I know that she is trying to act casual about it. But Huxley is really close to her parents. After her brother, Cade, left for Candor two years ago, they grieved with each other. If he had not left, I know that Huxley would have.

"I don't know. I think I'm just going to wait. I already have two anyways." Oliver says, scratching the back of his neck. Everyone turns to me as if they expect a response.

"Uh, I still have to think about it." I admit.

I sit down by the station to watch Tori draw out a sketch of Aunt Christina's old tattoo. Her hands fly effortlessly, and I am instantly mesmerized. My mother always told me that there is art in loosing yourself. I thought that it was just an abnegation kind of thing to do until now.

My mind drifts back to my tattoo. I like Huxley's idea. I don't know where I will be after initiation, if I will even be in dauntless. But a tattoo is permanent. I think I finally have an idea when Tori finishes Huxley's design. It is made of clean black lines in etched formations. Aunt Christina told me that it symbolized honesty. It is simple but forceful in a way, like the both of them.

"Calah, you ready?" I nod and slide into the reclined chair. I set my hand down on the metal armrest which sends chills down my spine.

"What do you want?" Tori asks while cleaning up her equipment.

I motion for her to come closer so that I can whisper what I want. She smiles. I turn my left wrist over and offer it to her.

The pain doesn't bother me in the least. I can tell that the others are trying to look away from the needle as it punctures my skin. I look directly at it. I am amazed with every mark the needle leaves, and I feel like an erudite with newly found information. Tori seems to notice this.

"Your mother is the same way, you know. She told me right before you were born that if she hadn't been chosen as a leader, she probably would've worked here." I smile at this too. We don't tend to talk about the simple things in our family. My parents can be so serious about life, about acting the right way in dauntless, that sometimes it feels like details or trivial facts are really just secrets.

"How did my parents become leaders? They've never told me." I ask.

"Well, right after your mom's initiation, one of the leaders was seriously injured" she pauses to think for a second. "I don't actually remember how. The dauntless are always getting hurt. Anyways, they needed someone to fill the position immediately. They asked your mom, then they begged your mom. Eventually, she said yes. In just two years, she had made a lot of change in the compound. It was more like the original dauntless. So when another leader resigned, your father finally accepted Max's offer. I've known your dad since he was an initiate himself. But, I have never seen him happier than when he found your mom, and it only got better when you were born." Tori explains.

Tori finishes the last line and wraps up my wrist for me. We pay and walk back to the pit before I am bombarded with questions of my 'secret tattoo'. I hear a 'what is it' and 'why can't we see it' until I take off the bandage.

The landscape flows across my wrist in beautiful pieces. I have no idea how Tori managed to remember everything, but she did. Everything is right, from the Ferris wheel to the sunset behind it. This tattoo is my existence. My parents fell in love on this Ferris wheel. My father proposed to my mother here. I remember picnicking with my parents under it when I was younger. I remember when I was fourteen and ditched school. I climbed to the very top and sat all day just to avoid a test in faction history. This tattoo is me.

This is more of a fluffy chapter, but come on. They are dauntless. They needed tattoos:]