"Is it time to get back to the real world?" I ask Tobias with a heavy sigh. We've been cuddled up on the couch for most of our lunch hour, kissing and talking … well, mostly kissing.

"I'm afraid so," he says as he kisses the top of my head. "I would love nothing more than to lie around with you for the rest of the day but we have preparations to make for the announcement this evening, some decisions to make, and I have the meeting with Max at 3 p.m." We reluctantly get up and walk back to Tobias' office side-by-side. The first thing he does is summon Purple-Hair and Snake-Tattoo. I realize I should probably try to learn their actual names.

"I need you two to notify maintenance to set up the auditorium for tonight's announcement and supervise their work," he says.

"Right away, sir," Purple-Hair says as they turn to leave.

"Please call me Four, not sir," Tobias says.

"Okay, Four," they both say at the same time then leave to take care of the assigned task. Tobias sits down at his desk, and I sit in a luxurious leather office chair across from him.

"I want to run something by you," he says in a serious tone.

"Okay. What is it?" I ask, curious by his tone.

"I think we need to add at least one more person to leadership so we have a tiebreaker of sorts," he says.

"Actually, I've had the same thought." It's unnerving just how in tune we are with each other. "Do you have any suggestions on who it should be?"

"Yes, Tori Wu," he says.

"Tori? Works in the tattoo parlor, Tori?" I didn't see that coming.

"Yes. There's a lot more to Tori than you know. She would be an asset to our team plus with her working in the tattoo parlor, she knows almost everyone in Dauntless. How about we ask her tonight?"

"I trust your judgment," I tell him.

"Do you have any reservations about asking her? I don't want this to be just my decision." I don't have to think long about my answer.

"No, I don't. She's helped me a lot in the short amount of time I've been here. I believe she's the right person to help us with this transition." He smiles at me.

"Our first decision, Tris! How does it feel?" he asks, a huge grin plastered across his face. I can't help but smile back at him when his eyes are sparkling like they are now.

"It feels great. I hope they all go this smoothly," I say with a chuckle then something comes to mind. "Tobias, the initiates are supposed to pick jobs and get apartment assignments tonight."

"We'll have to postpone that for a while. I have no idea what jobs or apartments are available." He gives me an apologetic look. He knows initiates live for this day.

"How long can we wait?" I ask. I have to rely on his judgment in this area.

"I think we should do it the night after the executions. This will give Dauntless something to celebrate after the hell they'll go through the next few days." That sounds reasonable.

"I've been thinking," I say. "Instead of just having a ceremony that night why don't we throw a big party ... a Welcome to Dauntless party?"

"Actually, that's a great idea, although most initiates can't wait to get into their apartments after they've been assigned. Why don't we do it a few days later, once everyone gets settled? Do you want to organize it?"

"Sure but I think I'll get Christina to help me. That seems like something she'd love." I look at the calendar on his desk and say, "The executions are Monday and the initiate ceremony will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. How about we have the party next Saturday at 8 p.m. in the auditorium?" I look at the clock on the wall and note it's time for Tobias to get to the Hub for his meeting. "You better get going or you'll be late for your meeting with Max."

"Thanks," he says as he looks up at the clock. He gets up from his desk and gives me a quick kiss then heads toward the door but stops and turns back to me. "I love you. I'll be back soon." My heart stutters then starts racing at his words.

"I love you, too. I'll be here familiarizing myself with some of the files. Please be careful."

"I will."

After he closes the door behind him, I turn back toward the desk. I decide Tobias is much better with computers than I am so he should go through the digital files. I focus my attention on the row of file cabinets behind the desk. I test a few drawers and find them to be unlocked. The task of looking through the numerous paper files is daunting. The first cabinet has the apartment assignment lists. I didn't realize there were so many apartments: Singles, doubles, families, leaders. I also notice family apartments are located in a different part of the dauntless compound away from the single and double apartments.

The next two cabinets are full of thousands of personnel files of sorts. There's not only a file on every active member of Dauntless but one on every member who transferred out of Dauntless or became factionless. I thumb through mine fleetingly, half expecting it to be stamped Divergent, but all the information looks very basic including a photo I didn't even know was taken.

The next cabinet holds past and present initiation training plans, fear landscape data, and miscellaneous files pertaining to past instructors. I doubt Tobias would find this information useful since he's already an instructor but I make a note to familiarize myself with the training plans. Maybe Tobias and I can come up with a better training plan that will focus on teamwork and not entirely on the individual.

The last file cabinet is full of miscellaneous files that'll take some time to go through so I take out the five previous year's training plans and settle into the desk chair to read. I already knew Max made training more brutal last year by taking the option to concede away but I forgot Tobias told me it was the first year not all initiates were welcomed into Dauntless. Other than these two changes not much else has changed recently. I have my nose buried in files when Tobias walks in the door. I glance at the clock and am surprised to see that it's almost 5 p.m.

"How did it go with Max?" I ask.

"Better than I expected. He really isn't a bad person. He just got caught up in the greed and power. He told me he got in over his head, and that's why he wanted me to be a leader. He knew I'd be an ally. He knew I wouldn't have went along with Erudite's plans. I think he wanted out but didn't know how to do it. Now he's going to pay the ultimate price," he says dropping into the chair across from me.

"He also told me he suspected my feelings for you during training but let it slide because he saw a positive change in me and knew my Abnegation background would never let me show you any favoritism. He was watching you, too, and saw what I saw, strength and determination. That's why he told the council he wanted us to take Dauntless over.

"When I asked about how to implement the changes, he couldn't really help me. Erudite has basically been running Dauntless for years now. All the direction has been coming directly from Jeanine Matthews for as long as Max has been a leader. She would give an order, and he would follow it. To him, it was simple. They were trying to weed out the weak members and those who went against the grain. I found out a lot of good people were made factionless for very minor infractions." He leans forward a little in his seat and becomes very serious.

"He told us to watch our backs, Tris. There are still some members of Dauntless who are Erudite loyalists, although he doesn't know who they are. He wasn't privy to all the information. Since he wasn't planted here, he wasn't fully trusted. He doesn't know how many there are or how deep the conspiracy goes. He also requested we not attend the executions. He wants Dauntless as a whole to move on. I agreed we wouldn't be there but I couldn't guarantee that some Dauntless members wouldn't want to witness their punishment. I see you've been busy," he says nodding toward the open files on the desk.

"Just going over some of the previous initiation training plans. The first cabinet has all the apartment data so we can start working on the initiates' apartment assignments. The next two cabinets have a file on every member of Dauntless, past and present. The fourth cabinet has all the training manuals and information. The last cabinet has numerous miscellaneous files that will take a while to go through. I left the computer for you. I'm okay with computers but I figured since you worked with them in the control room that you would be more efficient."

We note the time and exit the office, locking it behind us, and head to our table in the cafeteria. Everyone is already there. All eyes fall on us, and I can tell supper will be full of questions. I sit next to Christina, and Tobias slides in next to me. While we're eating our hamburgers, lettuce salad, fruit salad, and Dauntless cake, we answer one question after another. Just as Shauna is about to ask another, I see Tori come into the cafeteria so I nudge Tobias and nod in her direction.

"Sorry, Shauna, but Tris and I have to go talk to someone," Tobias says in his Four voice. He's getting irritated with all the questions. I rub my hand across his Amity tattoo to tell him to be nice. He looks down at me and groans a little then he adds, "We'll be back and answer any other questions you have." We walk to Tori side-by-side. She notices us approaching and smiles.

"Hey Four, Tris. Are all the rumors I've been hearing today true?" she asks.

"I can't say because I don't know what you've heard," Tobias says, irritation seeping into his voice. Once again I touch his Amity tattoo. She doesn't know we've been answering the same questions for the past half hour.

"I heard all our leaders got mixed up in something really bad and have been arrested and you two were appointed new leaders."

"Yeah, that's pretty much what happened, although there's more to it than that." I quickly tell her the whole story. When I finish, most of the color has left her face.

"We have a proposition for you," Tobias says. "Tris and I want you to join us in leadership. We decided three would be better than two. We'll give you 24 hours to make your decision."

"I don't need any time, Four," she says. "My answer's yes. I've always wanted an opportunity like this since my brother died. I know I can make a difference. Thank you for giving me the chance."

"We have a meeting at 7 p.m. in the auditorium to address all the rumors. I'll introduce you and Tris then."

"We better get back to our supper so we can make the announcement on time," I say. Tobias and I head back to our table, and the questions start back up right where they left off as soon as we sit down.

A little before 7 p.m., we make our way to the auditorium. This is a place in Dauntless I've never been before. It's larger than the cafeteria. The walls are lined with floor to ceiling heavy black drapery. The floor is a polished concrete with a giant Dauntless seal painted in the center. At one end of the room is a permanent stage, and in front of the stage sits row after row of black metal folding chairs with black vinyl padded seats Tobias had maintenance set up today. Tori meets us shortly before 7 p.m., and we go up on stage and watch hundreds of Dauntless members file in. At a couple of minutes after 7 p.m., with his Four mask firmly in place, Tobias approaches the microphone and asks the crowd to quiet down. After another minute the auditorium is silent.

"For those of you who don't know, my name is Four. This is Tori and Tris," he says motioning to Tori and me with his hands. "We're here today to address the rumors spreading through the compound. Yesterday morning it was brought to my attention by Abnegation council members that our leaders, along with various members of Erudite including Jeanine Matthews, were arrested for conspiring to overthrow Abnegation. All five of our leaders are scheduled to be executed Monday." A hushed gasp spreads through the crowd.

"At Max's recommendation, Tris and I were named the new leaders of Dauntless. After much thought and consideration, we decided it was necessary to add a third leader, Tori. We pledge to you to do the best job we can for Dauntless and restore its good name." The crowd erupts in cheer, pumping their fists and stomping their feet. After they quiet down, Tobias continues. "I talked with Max today, and he requests no members attend the executions, that we try to get back to normal. I'll leave it up to each one of you whether or not you want to honor his request."

"We're aware our hardworking initiates were to choose jobs and get apartment assignments tonight but regrettably the ceremony is going to be postponed until Tuesday at 7 p.m. Next Saturday there'll be a Welcome to Dauntless party right here in the auditorium starting at 8 p.m. When the meeting is dismissed, we need all initiates to stay for a quick briefing," I say.

"Four, Tris, and I all want to let you know that we're here for you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to contact one of us," Tori says. "In addition to my leadership position, I will still be working part time in the tattoo parlor so I can be reached there or in my office, which was Bull's. Four's office was Max's and Tris's office was Eric's."

"We'll open up the floor now and answer any questions you have," Tobias says. We answer the same questions we've been asked so many times since this all started to come out but Tobias never lets his agitation show. He's going to be a great leader. After about 10 questions each, we let everyone go but the initiates. Once we're all gathered together, Tobias addresses us.

"I know this delay is unwelcome, especially since you'll have to spend a few more nights in the dorms. You'll each receive 100 points for compensation but don't expect them to be there until tomorrow. Once the list of available jobs is created, we'll let you know."

"Is there going to be a leader position available" Peter asks.

"Tori, Tris, and I will discuss a leader-in-training position when we discuss job openings. Any other questions?" Everyone shakes their heads then start to walk away once he dismisses them.

"Christina!" I call out. She turns back toward me with a smile. "I almost forgot. How would you feel about helping me plan the party?" She squeals in delight and grabs me in a bear hug. "I'll take that as a yes!" I hug her back.

"Oh, Tris, thank you-thank you-thank you!"

"You're welcome." She hugs me tighter. "Let's start planning tomorrow afternoon. I have meetings with Four and Tori all morning."

"Okay, I'll see you at breakfast." She waves and runs to catch up with Will.

"Ready to go?" Tobias asks, his mouth against my ear. I notice we're all alone so I take advantage and wrap my arms around his waist and lean into him. He pulls me closer and wraps his arms around me. I feel him kiss my hair.

"Yeah," I say. "I need some time alone with you." We walk hand-in-hand back to his place. We collapse on the couch the moment we enter the apartment.

"Christina and I are going to start planning the party tomorrow afternoon. She's so excited." He puts his arm around me and pulls me close to his side.

"I need to talk to you about something. What would you say if I asked you to move in with me? Before you answer let me explain something. As leaders we're entitled to new apartments. They all have multiple bedrooms. I'd be in one room and you'd have your own room … until we're ready to share one." Live with Tobias. Am I ready for that?

"Separate bedrooms?" I ask. I pull away and look up into his eyes. I need to see his face. He's looking me in the eye but his expression is carefully guarded. Equal parts trepidation and excitement bubble up inside me. "I need to think about it, Tobias," I say hugging him close. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for that."

"Take as much time as you want," he says. "How about after your meeting with Christina tomorrow we look at the apartments. No pressure. You'll get one either way."

"I'd love to," I say.