You guys have no idea how sorry I am that I haven't updated in practically a year (a couple months shy). I feel really horrible about it, but I just didn't have any inspiration for the story and I didn't want to post a chapter with just an author's note. So please forgive me for my huge absence. I will finish this story, I won't give up. I'm just not sure how long that's going to take at the moment. Please forgive me though!

I'm going to be super busy with school and stuff again (Sports, homework, ACT/college stuff, life, etc.) but hopefully I will get this story back on track. I'm sorry again, please enjoy this lighthearted chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Divergent otherwise I never would have been able to meet Veronica Roth! (Amazing experience!)

"Let's…" I try to come up with something fun to do on the spot. I hadn't really thought this out, but I don't want to embarrass myself by not having an idea. "Let's do something messy. Any ideas or suggestions?"

"I have some leftover paint from Twister that we could use." Zeke suggests.

"Let's go paint a wall!"

"Uriah, why on earth would we want to do that?" Zeke asks.

"Not like a solid color, but with patterns and symbols and stuff."

Marlene pipes up, "Sounds fun to me."

"Ok, it's a plan then. Meet up outside the compound in 10 minutes." I say.

Everyone disperses to get ready, myself included. I know that this painting project will turn into painting each other versus a wall and I want to be prepared with bad clothing. After I'm done changing I head to our proposed meet up on the roof. The fresh air feels so nice after being underground.

Once everyone is gathered, we jump onto the train that comes speeding our way, planning to head out into an unused neighborhood. I want to lean out the train and feel the wind through my hair but I don't think that I have long enough arms to reach across the opening. I go anyways and hold onto just one side. After standing there for a few minutes I feel a presence behind me, one that I know well now. Tobias comes up beside me holding onto both handles like I wish I could.

I sigh, apparently loudly enough for him to hear. "What's wrong Tris?"

"Nothing serious, I promise. I envy your ability to hold both handles. It's silly really."

"It's not silly Tris. Here, hold onto my arms." Tobias gently places my hand on one of his arms and motions to do the same with the other.

We lean out the car then, pressed together, relying on each other to support ourselves, keep us safe. We are safe together, we are both brave and selfless enough to look out for one another. I don't know what the others are thinking, but in that moment, we both shed our Abnegation upbringing and focused instead on ourselves and what we wanted to do in that moment.

We reach our destination soon and jump off the train to choose a random wall to deface, hopefully no one will mind.

Once we choose a plain brick wall, Zeke and Uriah get the paint out.

"So is any planning going to be done here?" Lynn asks.

Uriah replies, "Who do you think we are? Of course not!" And he then takes a paintbrush full of black paint and flings it at the wall. Zeke quickly follows by adding a splash of red.

"What are you waiting for? Come on! Don't let us have all the fun."

I see Christina and Will going to grab buckets of paint and paintbrushes and I follow their example choosing a purple paint bucket with a fat wide brush.

I start by dipping my paintbrush in and flinging a strip of paint at the wall. It's a wonderful feeling: fun and free. I see Tobias next to me, green paint in hand, trying to decide what to do.

"You look deep in thought over there," I say.

"I'm trying to decide what to do." He says while still staring at the wall.

I reach out and pull him over. "Sometimes you don't have to plan everything out. Just let your hand do whatever is wants with the paint…"

He grins at me suddenly and before I can decipher its meaning, he reaches out with the paintbrush and paints a big strip down the middle of my face.

Christina happens to look over at that moment; "I knew we would get paint on each other, but really? This soon?"

Four just shrugs like he couldn't help himself. I know he is expecting me to get him back, but I won't give him the satisfaction of immediate retaliation.

I simply turn and start to paint the wall with geometric shapes. A triangle here, a line there, a square, some circles. Basically any shape that I can think of goes on the wall- all adding onto my pattern. I don't realize it but the shapes are all combining together into a flame inside a circle.

The Dauntless symbol.

"Wow Tris, I didn't know you were an artist." Will said.

"I'm not at all!"

Christina walked over then, "Will's right, that's awesome looking. I would totally get that as a tattoo."

"Thanks. It means a lot that you want my drawing inked into your skin forever." I say, half laughing.

"I think she's serious Tris, it looks really awesome." Tobias says, joining the conversation.

"Well thanks guys! I guess I found my new profession." I receive some strange looks. "Totally kidding, I don't have it in me to become a tattoo artist."

I hadn't realized how much time had passed since I had started my painting. Surprisingly no one had bothered me while I completed it. I scrunched up my nose and felt flakes fall off my checks. I had completely forgotten about the paint Tobias put on my face. It had been long enough that he thought I probably forgot about the incident.

I looked down trying to think of possible payback, right into the rippling surface of my leftover paint.

Before Tobias could do anything to stop me, I took the paint can and flipped it right on top of his head. The paint flowed off his head and onto his shoulders. Oops.

"Tris! Why'd you do that?" He says half laughing half shocked.

"Payback for the face paint that you gave me." He came after me then, paintbrush in hand. I ran off and right into Uriah who had been standing only a few feet in front of me. I ducked around him, but Four didn't have enough time to stop and instead of getting the paint on my face, it ended up on Uriah's

Uriah's only response was, "Oh it's on." And he ran after Four. This prompted a full on paint war, but what were we expecting? Combining Dauntless and paint would never not result in a war of some type.

After the paint war tapered off, we decided it would be a good idea to head back to the Dauntless compound. It was an uneventful trip back, the paint all used up. Now all that was left were memories of the day and the conversations of the train ride home.

We go our separate ways, Dauntless born and transfers. Although we would have liked to stay together longer, it wasn't realistic considering we have one of the last days of Initiation tomorrow. I am both excited and filled with dread about what comes next. For now, all I can do is try and stay at the top, stay true to myself and loyal to my friends.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you ever have any ideas feel free to review/PM! (Or if you want to talk about the Divergent trilogy or other books in general!) I know I'm a little late on this one, but Insurgent trailer anyone!?