Rowan

"Rowan! You're late!"

I hopped over the lowest drum in the circle and pulled the beaming drummer into a bear hug. "Good to see you, Clif. It's been a long time."

"Too long. We missed you up here." The other drummers crowded around us momentarily, patting my head and shoulders, whatever they could reach, until Clif laughingly herded them back to their drums. "People are getting antsy. You ready?"

I took a moment to appreciate the cool, smooth mallet in my hand. I had forgotten how much I loved this, how much I had missed these people. It was our one chance to socialize and catch up with each other, free from the burden of work; because of this, people closely guarded and preserved the Cave as a haven from reality.

Clif started the beat, and we added our own rhythm to his. I closed my eyes and savored the subtle, rippling patterns melding effortlessly with one another. Clif roared a note of appreciation, and I laughed, truly enjoying myself for the first time in years.

I scanned the perimeter of the room, searching, but to my surprise found her already dancing in one of the circles, skirts hiked up almost to her knees as she hopped in line behind Jade. Her curls bounced against her shoulders, raining tiny blue flowers. She must have just picked them hours ago.

As she danced, her eyes tracked the movements of another circle; after a few beats, she seamlessly moved to that one, now following a series of complicated kicks. She had an energy and grace not usually seen in our faction, let alone from Abnegation. I almost skipped a beat on my drum.

I suddenly felt a sharp elbow from Clif, and looked around. I saw Raven pushing her way towards me and felt a jolt. This time, I actually did skip a beat on my drum.

"What the hell, Rowan. You were supposed to meet me here, remember? I waited for you for a half hour."

Shit. "I'm really sorry, Raven. I didn't realize." Clif thankfully took over my rhythm, combining it with his own. I fumbled through an explanation under Raven's steadily darkening glare.

"Sod off," she finally spat, shoving her way back through the rings of dancers.

I saw Wade across the room, trying to catch my attention. He mouthed an apology. This is what he must've been trying to tell me earlier. I shook my head and shrugged, pointedly keeping my eyes on my drum.

A few moments later, however, and I was once again scanning the room.

I found myself grinning involuntarily at her unbridled glee. I called to Clif, and the drummers increased the tempo of the rhythm.

I heard a high, clear whoop amid the frenzy. I tilted back my head and laughed at the ceiling.