Hey, I don't know if anyone was waiting for this, but if you were, here it is!
Disclaimer: Ya... Still not me.
The next day is time for fighting, this is the stage I'm truly terrified for because of my small frame. I have always felt small, but before it helped me become more selfless and more unnoticeable, but now I wish I was bulkier and taller… Everyone is going to kill me, maybe even literally.
Today, Christina insists on dressing me again. Because we have fighting I wear black leggings and a loose black shirt that shows my new tattoos. Again I don't feel like myself, but I don't think I ever truly will in this faction, or any other for that matter. I guess I will just become I good actress.
We make our way to breakfast and after to the training room. Hanging from the ceiling are black faded punching bags, I'm dreading this so much that I feel like I have one of them inside my stomach.
Amar stands by one of the bags in the center with his arms crossed, he looks very forbidding today. "Ok, today, obviously, we are working on learning how to fight hand to hand combat. I will execute some punches and kicks for you and then you will go to your own to practice for the day, tomorrow you will fight each other." Amar goes on to preform the different kicks and punches and then he dismisses us to practice.
We split off into our two traditional groups and I'm again between Christina and Four, at least I won't embarrass myself in front of our enemies.
All of us start practicing, but I soon figure out that it's hopeless, I'm going to fail the Dauntless initiation, I'm going to be Factionless. I almost break down right then and there, but I'm determined to stay strong while I still can.
Whenever I hit the punching bag it barely moves and it stings my hands, I look down and they're all red, I sigh. Amar comes over while I hit and observes me for a while and then turns away. Apparently there is no fixing my fighting skills, there's none to fix, they are non-existent.
I look around and see other punching bags swinging wildly will still mine moves only inches and at most a foot.
Christina sees me, "Cheer-up Tris! You're doing fine!" she says through her panting.
"Thanks Christina… You're right"
She just laughs, but not in a way that makes me feel bad, but rather reassured. Later, after more punches and kicks to the punching bag, Four comes over. Thank God, I could really use his help, his bag has been swinging in wide arcs, but in a controlled way.
He comes over and studies my movements, "What?" I ask, slightly self-conscious.
He comes up to me, "I think you would do better using your elbows and knees, they'll give you more power."
"Thank you…" I look down and then look back to Four.
He then leans down next to me and sets his hand on my lower stomach, "Don't forget to keep tension here." He leaves his hand there a little longer and then picks it up to resume practicing.
I let out the breath I realized I was holding in. His hand went from one side of my body to the other, reminding me of how small I am. I also wasn't used to anyone touching me and coming from the same roots I came from, I was surprised he was comfortable with it as well. But when I think back, I realized he hesitated before touching me, I realize though, I'm not afraid of Four at all or anything he does around me. I feel safe around him.
I turn my attention back to training using the technics Four suggested and I notice a big difference, I look over at him and nod my thanks again. That's when Christina walks over, "So what was that about?"
"What?" I ask genuinely confused.
"What did Four say to you? Does he like you?" she whispers these last words.
I look at her, completely shocked, "He was just giving me tips on training, why would you think the last part?" I feel my face heating up and I can imagine my face turning red.
"Aww, Stiff love." Christina grins at me.
"What? No!" I try to come up with a good reason and then think about it, what would give her that impression? I mean we hang-out but so does Al and Will and Christina.
"I think you just don't realize it yet."
"Christina, you have got to be kidding me, I'm not concerned with who I like at the moment, I'm more concerned about passing initiation."
"Ya, whatever, we seriously have to talk and later I NEED you to act like a girl, okay?"
"Sure."
After training, I've really improved but so has everyone else… We all go and eat dinner and do our normal stuff until bed, which we are all more than ready for with all of the physical training we have done today. My entire body aches from that stupid punching bag.
Sometime after dinner Christina corners me. "Okay, now I SERIOUSLY need you to be a girl."
"Christina, I'm always a girl."
"I mean a girly girl, Tris." Christina says exasperated.
I take some hair in my fingers and twirl it around, I put my hip out and put my free hand on it, " 'kay, what can I do for you, Tris the girly girl at your service."
"Oh my gosh, you CAN be a girl! Guess what, Will just kissed me!" Christina practically screams this.
"What? Where, when, how!"
"I never thought you could be like this, okay, well after dinner, we went for a walk and he just kissed me, and then I kissed him back! And it was so natural, we just kept on talking until he asked me if I wanted to go out some time! Can you believe it!"
"Christina, I'm so happy for you!" And I truly am.
"Ok, now what about Four?"
"There is nothing with Four, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh come on, you guys would be perfect for each other, I mean you came from the same faction and you're the only one he's like a real person around. Around the rest of us, he seems so detached sometimes. And a plus, he's super cute."
I think over all her points and just shake my head, "Be real Christina, even if I did like him, which I'm not saying I do, he would never go out with someone like me. I mean, just look at me, I look like I'm twelve, maybe."
"Looks aren't everything Tris, I'm just saying to keep your eyes open around him…"
After our girl conversation we go back to the dorms to get ready and go to bed. Before I go to bed I look over at Four and think about Christina's comments. I try to convince myself that I should be more focused on training, but as I drift off to sleep, all I can think of is Four.
I wake in the middle of the night, but not to Four's nightly sounds, but instead to the muffled sounds of voices and the stamps of feet. What the heck? I try to stay quiet so I can observe the situation before acting. When my eyes adjust to the darkness, I'm glad I've become a light sleeper. Eric and Peter stand over Four's bed holding a hand to his mouth while the other holds him down. I don't know what to do.
What should Tris do?! Another thing, should Al die?