My head is full of a million thoughts, but the only one I can focus on is that I have to read this letter right now. I can't go back home; I told Caleb I was going to be volunteering. And I can't go find mom knowing that I have this. I rip the envelope open and read as fast as I can.

Six,

Don't ask me why I'm doing this, because I'm not sure I have an answer. All I know is that this program, and you, mean something to me. I owe it to myself, and to you, to keep this going. You are my friend.

While I can leave the Dauntless compound whenever I choose, I can only come here once a week regularly without drawing too much suspicion. And I know you have duties to fulfill as well, so I will check back here as often as I can, and I hope you are able to do the same. I understand if you don't want to continue this. It is risky after all.

I'm glad that you were able to gain something from the program though. It's the whole reason I volunteered. I needed something like this, badly, when I was growing up. My childhood wasn't exactly the greatest. It was always my intention to help whoever I got assigned to, and I'm so glad that it was you, Six. That it was someone like me. Someone who willing to take risks, and someone who is willing to be themselves, consequences be damned.

Six, I know it's scary feeling like you're different than you're supposed to be, but it does't have to be. All you need is someone who accepts you for who you are. I accept you. You make me want to be who I truly am, and I thank you for that. I didn't just help you, you helped me too.

Until next time,

Four

My heartbeat and my breathing are so erratic, I have to lie down for a moment, so I don't pass out. I take a few deep breaths to keep my grip on reality, and hold the letter up so I can read it. And I do; again, and again and again. A grin breaks out over my face as the words slowly sink in. He accepts me for who I am.

I fold the letter as small as I can, and give it a kiss before placing it in my pocket. I stand and brush myself off, regaining my composure before I head out to find my mother.

"Beatrice. What are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to come help you. Is that okay?"
"Of course it is." My mother puts a hand on my cheek, and smiles. "You look so happy today. What's the occasion?" I shake my head and shrug. "Okay," she says, not pressing for any more information. "Here, you want to work with the clothes today?"
"Sure." My mother is so loving and accepting. We sit down together and place the clothing into small piles, while other Abnegation bag them up. This Friday we will be handing them out along with the food deliveries.

As I look at the people working around me, I think about Four's last letter. Well, his last letter that was still under the program. What do you think you would do if you stay in Abnegation?

I love helping the Factionless, I do. I think everyone should be afforded the very basics of living; housing, food, clothing; and who am I to deny them that?

But do I want to do it forever?

I don't know.

What I do want to know is how Four knew about the overflow building.

Four

It was a bold move, but I couldn't stop myself, and I've done nothing but pore over it night and day. It's been a week; what feels like the longest week of my life. I realized too late that she would have no way to write back to me. The Abnegation don't have anything extra lying around, including pens and paper. I just hope she was able to figure something out. I grab the supplies I had set aside and toss them into my backpack before catching the train.

It's late, so I know I don't have to worry about running into any actual people. What I do have to worry about is the surveillance cameras placed around the city, not that anyone will be specifically watching at this exact moment.

I make my way through the shadows, careful to avoid the areas where I know I'll be picked up as a precaution anyways. When I close the thin closet door I turn on the flashlight I brought. On the shelf is an opened envelope. I suddenly second guess everything, but I check it anyways. Inside is my letter.

I sigh, feeling defeated. I knew I was asking too much of her. As I stare at the folded piece of paper, it occurs to me that my words are on the outside. It's folded differently. Of course. I curse myself and unfold the paper.

Four,

I don't know what to say, other than I'm glad you decided to do this.

I'm going to be bold and ask you something, even if it turns you away from me. It's something I need to know. I think I already know the answer, and if we're going to be sneaking around like this, I want to know the complete truth about you.

What was your original faction? Your secret is safe with me.

As much as I like being called Six, I want to tell you my real name too. I want to tell you everything. But I need to know the answer to my question first. I need to know that you're willing to give as much as I am, Four.

I'm so glad to have found a friend like you.

Six

Mild panic races through me. Of course she's suspicious; she's not an idiot. Who else knows about this building, other than the Abnegation? I curse and grab the supplies from my backpack. As much as I don't want to do this, I want to do it too. I'm tired of the secrets; of being something I'm not.

Six-

You are asking a lot from me. Things I'm not comfortable telling just anyone. I have no doubts at all that you will keep my secrets. I feel like you're keeping some of them now. But I need some time to think it over. More time than I have writing you in this room, okay? There are many, many reasons for them, and over time, I hope you will understand why. I hope you also know that because of you, I don't want to keep them anymore. I'm just not sure how to let go.

You don't have to share anything now. You can wait until I go first. Just trust me. Things will make sense soon.

I am willing, Six. I'm just not sure you realize how complicated things are.

Four-

Everything was left up to me, and I still couldn't go through with it. I hope she understands, but I mostly hope that I didn't screw everything up. She gave me a choice, and on the train ride home last week, I couldn't help but feel I made the wrong one.

"Hello. Are you in there Four?" Zeke snaps his fingers in front of me; I shove him off the the stool. "Christ, what is with you? You've been acting like a jerk all week," he says as he picks himself up off the floor.
"Sorry. I just have a lot on my mind."
"Well lay it on me. Get it all out."

I lean forward and look at Shauna. She just rolls her eyes and takes a sip of her beer. "Thanks, but I'll pass."
"Whatever, man. If you want to keep it all bottled up, be my guest. But if you think for two seconds I'm going to let you take it out on me, you've got another thing coming."
I smile. "You're right Zeke. You want to go down to the training room?"
Shauna is already off her stool. "I do. I need to blow off some steam."
"Yes, please," Zeke says. "Then I don't have to worry about you taking off my head when you finally blow."
"Good. Let's go," I say.

I set up the targets and hand each of them knives.
"Knives?" Zeke pouts. "I wanted to shoot guns."
I raise one eyebrow at him. "And I need to throw something."

Shauna lets a knife fly, and it misses the target.
"Good god woman. And you call yourself Dauntless!" Zeke says as he points and laughs.
Shauna's nostrils flare and she lets another knife fly, this time hitting the target dead center. She calmly places her remaining knives on the table without looking at either one of us, and walks out of the training room.

"What the hell was that all about?" Zeke asks as he throws a knife, hitting the outside of the middle ring.
"I don't know, Zeke. But whatever it is, you aren't helping."
"She has been a little distant lately."
I let a knife go and hit the target, dead center. "Have you, you know, talked to her at all about it?"
"No. We haven't done much of anything since, you know, the scare."
I nod. "Well, if you're asking me what I think, I think you need to go and talk about it. All of it, but mostly 'the scare'."
"I know. I was just hoping it would sort itself out."
"I don't think that's how it works."

We both let our knives fly at the same time. He misses completely, while I hit the center again, directly next to my first knife.
"Why are you always right? And why are you still single?"
"It's a mystery, Zeke."
"Yeah well, it would be less of a mystery if you actually talked to a girl once in a while. Thanks man. And you better let all your shit out in here. I want to see that half smile of yours the next time I see you."
I grin as Zeke hands me the rest of his knives and runs to find Shauna.

I throw knives for a while, feeling the slight burn in my arms more and more with each follow through. When this doesn't do it for me anymore, I put them away, and walk over the the punching bags. I grab the roll of tape sitting on the floor and toss it in the air a few times; I watch it become weightless over and over, each time falling hard and colliding with my hand. I squeeze it tightly after the last toss, and a moments thought has me throwing the tape aside; it's a comfort I no longer deserve. Each hit I press into the bag is harder than the last, and each hit burns itself into my memory as a reminder.

My hands ache, and it makes it difficult to grab onto the train as it rolls by, but I manage. I slump down next to the door and look at their scraped and swollen exterior and wonder if I'll ever see my hands as they used to be; smooth and unpunished. It's been so long, sometimes I wonder if they ever truly looked that way, or if I just imagined it. When it's time for me to jump again, the walk towards Abnegation is like cell memory to them; they know the damage they're capable of inflicting, and I rub them gently to try and ease the pain, and stifle the urges the feel when they're here.

I carefully make my way through Abnegation, pausing only at the door to the janitor's room. I run a finger over the 6 I painted when I feel it; a deep, familiar ache in my chest. I take a deep breath to steady myself, and open the door.

When I first see her letter, it's so short that I am sure she is telling me we have taken this to far and it's over. But in three short words, my life changes forever.

Four-

Friday. 11 pm.

Six-