Chapter 11
To say Jamie wasn't nervous about showering with Eric was a lie, he had never showered with anyone in his life and now he would be able to see Eric in all his naked glory. He followed Eric in the bathroom that slowly began to steam up. Eric raised an eyebrow at the younger man before stripping off and he smirked when he saw Jamie checking him out. "Like what you see initiate?" He teased, watching the other man blush. Eric walked into his shower and Jamie quickly followed suit, unsure on what to do, while showering with someone else.
Eric stepped to the side for Jamie to go under the water. Eric took that opportunity to look at Jamie had he couldn't help but run his fingers gently over the scars on his back. Jamie froze and took a deep breath, not wanting to startle Eric. "How old were you when it started?" He asked. "Six." Jamie replied. Eric sighed and put shampoo in his hair and passed the bottle to Jamie. They didn't say anymore and showered in silence. When both men were done, they got out the shower and dried themselves off.
"So, what have you got planned?" Eric asked while drying his hair. "Probably find Alex and see what he is up to. It's been a while since I've seen him. What about you?" Jamie had his towel wrapped around his lower half, slightly embarrassed to be seen naked by Eric, which didn't go unnoticed by the leader. "Catch up on the fights." "Fair enough." Jamie replied and left the bathroom to get ready. Eric had given Jamie five minutes, to not further humiliate him and came into the bedroom. He saw Jamie wearing his black combat trousers and a simple black vest which he used for training. "Have you not got any other clothes?" Eric asked. Jamie blushed again and shook his head. "I didn't have time to go shopping with all the training and stuff. Didn't see the point." He admitted. Eric laughed. "I'm sure I have something your size." With that Eric went into his wardrobe and pulled out a pair of black ripped jeans, black v neck top and a black hoodie. "Have those, they should fit, and I suggest buying some clothes tonight." Eric smiled. "Thanks." Jamie replied and quickly got changed.
Eric checked Jamie out when he was dressed and those jeans fit him nicely, the hoodie was slightly too big, but he might grow into it. "Now go have fun." Eric told Jamie, playfully shoving him out the door. Jamie laughed and left, going to the pit to find his friends.7
It didn't take long to find the red-haired man and the rest of the group. "Oh my god, do I see a ghost?" Alex gasped jokingly. Cameron, Lewis and Alice looked up and Alice ran to hug him. Jamie hugged her back trying to keep his balance. She slapped him on his arm. "Where have you been? We've been worried." She scolded. He felt all eyes on him. "Kinda got stabbed in the dorms, so have been recovering." He admitted. He saw Lewis shake his head. "I heard something went down in those dorms; I wondered if it was you." Jamie nodded. "Where are you staying now?" Cameron spoke up. "I'm not allowed to say, but I'm safe." He hoped his friends would accept that and not try and dig. "Fair enough." Cameron replied. "What are our plans this fine evening as young Jamie has decided to join us." Alex asked. Alice scoffed. "He's the same age as us dick." She laughed at Alex, who grinned back at her. He had missed his friends. "Well, I need clothes." Jamie admitted. He could see Alice's green eyes glisten. "You could do with a tattoo too and maybe a new hair colour. No offence but you still scream stiff." "That's rude." Lewis replied. Jamie smiled sadly. "It's true!" Alice defended herself. "Are you sure you're not Candor?" Cameron added. "Fuck you, I can still kick your ass!" She laughed. "Come on then, clothes, tattoo, haircut and drink!" She punched the air. "Fine." Alex groaned.
A couple of hours later, Jamie had new clothes, his hair shaved bald at the sides and a phoenix tattoo on his arm they were sat at the bar with their first beers. Jamie looked at it and took a small sip. "Have you never had beer before?" Alex asked. Jamie shook his head. "Wow." He replied. "Whatcha think?" "It's alright." He replied and took a bigger sip this time. He saw Cameron down his beer, with Alice following suit, then Lewis and Alex, they all turned to look at Jamie and he did the same. They all cheered, and Alice went off to get them all a refill. Jamie took out a cigarette from a packet he bought during his shopping trip and offered the group. Alex took one and lit his and passed Jamie the lighter. Both men taking a puff before speaking again.
"How are things with you?" He asked Jamie. "Fine, I got to shoot a gun this morning and I have a really good aim." "What the fuck? I'm jealous man." "I can't fight for a couple of weeks while the wounds heal so Max and Eric said to do something else and go back to my fights later on." "That's fair enough, I think we start that bit of training next week. It's the last fights this week." "Thank god for that." Lewis muttered. "Why's that?" Jamie asked. "Because I hate fighting my friends." Alex grinned. "You got me good in the jaw." "You deserved it though." "That was a nasty kick to the nuts." Cameron added. Jamie flinched at that. Alice came back with everyone's drinks. They chatted about random stuff while finishing their drinks and Alice stood up. "Let's dance." She yelled at the group.
"Why?" Alex asked. "Because I want to." She laughed. Jamie shook his head. "No, you are coming with us! And I don't care if you've never danced before, you are going to learn!" "I'll be back with some more drinks." Cameron added, while checking out a girl on the dance floor.
They all stood up and Alice began swaying her hips, while Jamie stood awkwardly. He looked at Alex and Lewis began to dance, Alex showing Jamie how to do it. Cameron came back to the rescue carrying the beers on the tray and each of the group grabbed them. By now Jamie was feeling light headed, the beer having an effect and began to relax a little. "Sorry to ditch you guys but there's a hot girl that been eyeing me up." With that he left. Alex smirked, raising an eyebrow.
Eric hadn't planned on going out however Ryan was persistent. They had gotten to the bar and sat at one of the tables, Eric was on his third beer, and Ryan on god knows how many. Eric was keeping an eye out to see if he could spot Jamie. "Looking for lover boy?" Ryan laughed. "Shut up." Eric replied. "Dunno why you just don't ask him out and be his boyfriend." "Because I don't want a relationship." "Ugh huh." Ryan teased. "Who's that fit girl with pink hair?" Ryan asked and then grinned when he spotted Jamie. "Where?" Ryan smirked, next to your boyfriend. Eric looked where Ryan was looking and raised his brows. "He's had a haircut." "And a tattoo by the looks of it." Ryan added. He could see Eric grin. "Like what you see?" Ryan teased, Eric shook his head and took out a cigarette and lit it not offering Ryan one. "Rude." He replied. They both finished their beers while Eric was watching the dance floor. "Dare you to dance with him." Eric scoffed. "Not a chance. A barmaid came over and gave the two men fresh beers. "Thanks." Ryan said to the woman smiling. She blushed and walked away quickly. "Guess that it a perk of being leader, not having to queue at the bar." "It is." He said taking a drag of his cigarette and a sip of beer.
A blonde man on the dance floor approached Jamie and began whispering something in Jamie's ear. Eric looked on; jealousy started to consume him. The man had his hand on Jamie's shoulder, and it was clear the man was flirting with him. There was no rule in Dauntless that stopped initiates from interacting or sleeping with members, it happened all the time and as no one was kicked out for staying at the bottom of the board, it didn't matter if there were consequences from their actions e.g. pregnancy. He could see Jamie's friends grin to one another, and Jamie didn't shrug the man off.
Ryan looked at Eric and saw the look of jealousy on the man's face. "Dude, just go up to him. You know Jamie likes you and probably only has eyes for you." "No." "You know he will find someone else, get tired of your games and he'll be warming someone else's bed at night and not yours." Eric ignored him taking a huge sip. "Oh look, looks like blondie is going to kiss him." Eric finished his drink, stumped out his cigarette and stood up. "You wanna dance Ryan then let's fucking do it." Ryan grinned knowing he had riled Eric up. He saw Eric walk on the dance floor and people moved out of his way. Good, Eric though to himself. He approached Jamie and blondie looked up at Eric.
"Hey, didn't think you'd be out tonight." Jamie beamed and slightly slurred. Eric couldn't help but smile. Ryan walked over to pinkie and her friends. Blondie stood closer to Jamie. "Eric find yourself someone else, this one is mine." Jamie looked at the blonde man and back at Eric. "Who are you?" He asked. Eric scoffed. Blondie looked at him. "Are you gonna come with me or what? I'll show you a good time." Eric clenched his fist. "No." Jamie replied, "I wanna go home with him." He pointed at Eric. "Fucking typical." Blondie said and walked off. Eric grinned to himself, fucking Ryan trying to say Jamie would go with someone else. He looked up and saw Ryan speaking to Jamie's friends. "You alright?" Eric asked. "Fucking fantastic." He grinned. "I think I'm drunk." He laughed. Eric shook his head. "Want to go?" "Nope." Jamie said popping the p. "I'm having fun, fuck I've totally ignored my friends." Eric shook his head.
He noticed the crowd looking at him. "What?" He asked them and they looked away and continued to dance ignoring the group. He looked back at Jamie and saw him talking to his friends. "Are you screwing Eric?" Alex asked. Ryan laughed so loud, and Eric glared at the two men. "No, he doesn't wanna fuck a virgin." Jamie admitted, the alcohol making him talk. "Boo." Alice added laughing looking at Eric. He forgot what drunk initiates could be like. "I've got an idea." Ryan smirked. Oh fuck, Eric thought to himself, Ryan's ideas were never good. "It's too loud to have a conversation out here and I have booze at Eric's. Why don't we go there and play Candor or Dauntless." Eric was about to protest when Jamie spoke up. "Sounds like fun." Eric shook his head. "Come on then." He groaned. He couldn't say no to him. My fucking weakness he muttered to himself. Alex grabbed Cameron and spoke to him. Cameron nodded, grabbing the girl who he was dancing with hand, and they followed Eric to his apartment.