Tobias
Instead of going back to the apartment and risking running into Tris, after I left the control room I decided to just go straight to Zeke's apartment. I still can't figure out why there are files in Dauntless computers with information and photographs of the Prior family. I know Andrew Prior was an Abnegation leader, but that doesn't explain why they have all of this information in Dauntless. They even have Caleb and Tris's dates of birth; at least now I know when her birthday is. Were they investigating the Prior family because Caleb and Tris both transferred factions? Did they suspect them both of being Divergent? Is Caleb Divergent? Natalie was and Tris is, was Andrew secretly Divergent? That could be why he transferred to Abnegation from Erudite. Was there an entire Divergent family hidden amongst the Abnegation?
I shake these thoughts from my head as I arrive at Zeke's place. I can hear the music from outside and I hesitate before opening the door. Tris would never come to one of these parties, there's still too much Abnegation in here. She insists that she's Dauntless, but what she really is is Divergent and that's not going to change. I'm not sure why I'm afraid to go I to his apartment, but I am. Not afraid in the same way that I am afraid of the things in my fear landscape, but anxious. I just feel like something isn't right. I turn the handle anyway and step into the dimly lit room. I see Cara, Zeke, Shauna, Matthew, Amar, Peter, Caleb, and Nita. Something about seeing her suddenly makes me feel very uneasy. I grab a beer from the drinks table and head over to Zeke.
"Hey man, where's your lady?" He asks.
"Tris?" I ask.
"Well, yeah. Unless you have another lady," he jokes.
"Funny," I rolled my eyes. "Why did you think Tris would be here?"
"Christina said they were coming. I assumed they would be coming with you," he answered.
I took a long drink and sat down on the couch between Peter and Caleb. That wasn't my first choice, but it was the only one available: all the other seats were taken either by one of my friends or by someone I don't know. Everyone around us was talking and laughing, but the three of us just sat there completely quiet. I thought about starting up a conversation with Peter, but then I would probably have to explain to him where he is...again. Sometimes I wish I hadn't reset him. Sometimes I wish he was actually a somewhat intelligent person to start a conversation with. It was either him or Caleb, and while both have done awful things to Tris, at least peter isn't her blood relative. I was about to get up to find someone else to talk to, but just then Peter was told to move and Nita was taking his place.
"Hey Four," she says casually.
"Why have you been calling me Four?"
"That's your name here. I didn't think that had changed," she said.
"Right," I said, casually glancing around the room.
"So have you been to a lot of Dauntless parties?" she asks.
"Yeah, I have. Shouldn't you know what since you're from the outside?"
I immediately regret saying that. I've been trying to forget about the outside world.
"Are they all like this one?" She asks, ignoring my comment.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"So you always sit on a couch not talking to anyone?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Well why don't we change it up a little?" She asks suggestively, putting her hand on my leg.
"No, thank you," I say getting up and walking to the drink table.
"She's not here," Nita says following me.
"Doesn't matter," I glare at her. "I'm not interested, Nita."
"Then how do you explain what happened before Tris came back?"
"I.." I hesitate.
If I admit that my actions were a result of devastation, I admit to being a coward. But if I don't explain myself, Nita might take it the wrong way.
"I was drunk," I say, telling the half-truth.
"Any chance you're going to get drunk tonight?" She smiles, tryin to hand me another beer.
"Four! My main man!" Zeke interrupts.
"I'll see you later," Nita smiles and walks away.
"You looked like you needed some backup," Zeke slaps a hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah," I sigh.
"What was that all about?" He asks.
"Remember what I told you about...the first night that we all came back here?"
"She thinks you're into her," he says.
"Or she thinks if she keeps pushing that I will be."
"Have you told Tris yet?"
"No," I frown.
"Dude, you better tell her. You know how she's always felt about Nita."
"I know, I know. I'm going to tell her," I say. "Just not yet."
"She's going to find out," he reasons. "It'll be better if it comes from you."
"I don't know if she'll understand."
"What's the worst that could happen? She breaks up with you. But what do you think will happen if she hears about it from someone else?" he crosses his arms.
"I guess you're right," I sigh.
"But let me give you a word of advice: don't pick Candor tonight," he warns.
Of course. Of course we're going to play Candor or Dauntless. Of course Tris is supposed to be here tonight. Of course he would ask me about it in front of her. Of course Nita's going to be here when we play. I better not get dared to do something that involves her. But then again, knowing Zeke, I probably will. There's no way I'm going to survive this.
"You look like you could use a drink," Cara says.
"Thanks," I say, taking the beer from her.
"Don't let them get to you. Everything with Tris will work out. She's crazy about you."
"Are you staying for the game?" I ask hopefully.
"Yeah, I guess. I'm interested in seeing what it is that you crazy people do when you're not working. Erudite, we're always studying. Even when we're working. But you people, there's no telling what it is you're doing from one moment to the next."
"I don't mean to bring up old wounds," I say cautiously, "but you remind me a lot of Will. He was always spitting out statistics and different facts about all of the factions. It always amazed me how he knew so much about all of the factions. I guess that's why."
"Thank you," she says quietly.
"For what?" I ask.
"For telling me a bit of what Will was like when he was here."