"Tris, stand still for two seconds," says a rather impatient Christina as she finishes applying my makeup. No matter how many times I tried to explain to her that a party was the last thing I wanted to do today. She kept insisting on the fact that I had to take advantage of my time in this faction to do all the things I couldn't do at home. Of course a party with booze, loud music and uninhibited people is the last thing one would imagine in Abnegation as the idea of anything fun. Part of me couldn't help but get excited when Lynn invited me to celebrate her birthday along with all the friends I've made in the time I've been here, but after the day and a half I've had I find it amazing that I was more excited about lying on the horrible mattress on my bed in the dorms.
It's not just the stress and terror of the morning workout simulation, it's Four's words and the fear in his voice, watching Eric take one of my classmates away and not see him return for the afternoon workout; a workout by the way more brutal than usual. Four did not hesitate to make us run, jump and carry weights until one of us ended up on the floor unconscious. Needless to say, my body is more sore than ever before, including my visit to the infirmary after Peter injected me with the fear serum, my private training with Four and the training with the rest of the initiates. In addition the disappointment I have felt in the last few hours for not finding a single minute to speak privately with him, the questions I have to ask him haunt me endlessly.
It didn't go unnoticed that Four sharply avoided me all afternoon, always dealing with the training and pointing out everyone's faults and successes, I should be thankful that for the first time it seemed he decided to stop ignoring me in front of the rest of the group but still I couldn't shake the feeling that on intent, he decided that all the training today would be as a team so he wouldn't have to approach me being alone, knowing that way I couldn't question him about the simulation. If he thinks a few hours of alluding me can stop me he will have to think again, he doesn't know who he is dealing with. My mother says I'm the most stubborn person she's ever met and for the first time, I'm grateful to be that way.
"Heels 10's or higher Tris?" Christina asks me holding in each hand the tallest shoes I have ever seen in my life. "You do know we have the first day of street patrol tomorrow right?" I reply trying to make my voice carry as much sarcasm as I am capable of. "Ugh, boots it is, although they don't look good with the dress I want you to wear" she tells me deeply analyzing the clothes she has spread out on her bed. dress? No way, if what she plans to have me wear today looks in the slightest like what she is wearing, she is in for a bitter disappointment, really, her dress is almost like a napkin, how can she even think of wearing something like that? A small draft could blow it away completely.
"Really Tris? Trust me, they all look spectacular on you, just pick one" I think Christina is on the verge of tears watching me discard the fourth dress I try on. "I don't know Chris, they're all too mmm small" seriously, what is it with this faction's clothes, is it illegal to cover up a bit? "Wait!, I think I have something just right for you" she tells me as she walks into her walk-in closet "I bought this pants a long time ago but I never realized the size and length was wrong, I never went back to change it" she says as she comes out with a plain black pant "Try it on, if it's long we can hem it a bit or tuck the excess fabric inside your boots and for the top this will look fabulous" she hands me the pants and a shiny black fabric with some silver chains on it. Not wanting to exasperate her any further, I go into the bathroom to change.
The pants to my surprise are perfect, the muscles I have gained thanks to the exercise make the fabric fit my legs like a glove, the top is what I don't understand. Tops should have fabric with holes for the head and arms but this just has fabric and chains I can't figure it out. "Mmmm Chris, this is just a piece of fabric" I say peeking my head out the door. ""Move over, I'll help you put it on" Christina must see the distress on my face because she quickly tells me in a scolding tone 'Really Tris, they're just boobs, nothing I don't see every day when I take a bath".
You might think that after spending several days in the dorms with men and women with no privacy, I would be less insecure about showing my body but the reality is that I wake up before everyone else to get even a few seconds head start, showering and getting dressed in a hurry before the others can see me. Christina takes my blouse out of my hands and starts to twist it around to help me put it on. My arms automatically go to cross over my chest to hide the small bra I wear. "Here, put it on like this" she says tucking my head and torso between the fabric and chains. Jumm, I would never have been able to figure it out on my own, Christina takes two small chains and buckles them on the back of my neck, then arranges the fabric around me.
"Come, let's see you in the mirror" my reflection brings back the surprised face I can't help but look at myself. The shiny fabric has a cleavage that ends right where my breasts begin, the blouse falls loosely over my abdomen and is held in place only by the chains at my neck. The back, on the other hand, causes me to panic. Three silver chains hold and tighten the fabric passing down my lower back to prevent the movement from uncovering my breasts, the only thing you can see of my back is my bra and suspenders. "The bra has to go tris" says Christina laughing "Don't worry, nothing will move out of place, this blouse is approves of everything. God I envy your boobs so much, I've never been able to wear these blouses without worrying but your size is ideal."
I know she means it as a compliment but I can't help but feel bad for her words, even in Abnegation where the clothes are baggy and don't allow any part of the body to show, I can't help but compare myself to the bodies of the rest of the women. They all have curves that rebel against the clothes, all except me of course. Against my will, I start to remove my bra carefully so as not to show Christina too much, to my relief I see that she was right and even without the protection of my underwear, the blouse stays in place. I move from side to side to test that everything is in order. "Wow, you look gorgeous Tris, you really are very beautiful. Come, I'm going to change your hairstyle a bit to show off the blouse" Chris gathers all my hair and ties it into a high ponytail leaving a few small loose strands falling down my temples. The waves she did in my hair before now fall like waves caught in the ponytail. For the first time in my life I look and feel beautiful.
I feel in my stomach the music of the bar where Lynn's birthday will be from the hallways of the complex. As we get closer I start to get a little anxious, not only because of the outfit but because I don't know how to act once we arrive. The bar is crowded and the music is even louder than I thought it would be. Christina leads us to the side of the place where there are some chairs and tables near the bar with 'reserved' signs. The first thing I see is Lynn drinking directly from a hose connected to some kind of funnel into which Uriah pours a liquid from a pitcher. Everyone yells and cheers for Lynn to finish it, I guess it took us longer than I thought to get ourselves fixed up because everyone acts like they've been at this party for a long time.
"Ladies good night" Will says to us as he wraps his arms around Chris' waist and kisses her passionately, seeing them makes me uncomfortable so I turn to look at who else is here. Marlenne is bouncing on one of the couches as she sways her hips to the music and claps for Lynn. Other people I've only seen in the dining room are sipping from small glasses. On the back of one of the armchairs Shauna and Zeke drink some beers, I know what they are because apparently in this faction beer has the same properties as water because many members drink them no matter the time of day or if they are in the hallway on their way to work or in the dining room having breakfast. I continue to carefully observe everything around me when suddenly a shiver runs down my back, I feel a penetrating gaze on me. I turn slowly towards the bar and my gaze finds the culprit. On the bar stands a carefree Four, he has one arm crossed over his chest while with the other he holds the bottle of beer from which he takes short but steady gulps. As always, he has a frown and a tense jaw but this time his eyes shine differently, I think it may be an effect of the alcohol he is consuming.
His gaze is so intense that it forces me to turn mine away, just in time to greet an extremely cheerful Uriah who approaches me.
"Triiiiiiiiiiissssssssss!" he says as he hugs me tightly, my face is right in front of his ear and I can smell the combination of his cologne and the alcohol from the bar. He releases me only to take my face in his hands and watches me carefully bringing his face close to mine "Are you ok?, God, I swear I wanted to come see you first thing today but all day I had ambassador meetings, Marlenne told us what happened, how are you?, not that I'm happy but thanks to what happened to you I didn't have to put up with Peter today, but starting tomorrow I swear I'll kill him with my own thumbs the second I see him."
Uriah's statement makes me let out a laugh, even making threats he's still the sweetest guy in the world. "Uriah, I'm fine. I guess now I know what you meant when you told me your faction was brutal. Seriously, don't worry, Four and Marlenne helped me and it's all just a bad memory" Maybe I'm downplaying what I went through last night, but I don't want to burden him with my problems, it was bad enough that Four had to stay with me all night. No matter what, I don't need more people here seeing me as weak. Out of the corner of my eye I see Zeke cracking up as he doubles over with laughter and a more tense Four than ever grabbing without waiting for the bartender, a beer from under the bar.
"Tris, you need to be more careful. I know how important this thing you're doing is to you but nothing is worth more than your safety and your life" Ha, it was exactly the same thing Four said last night, only Uriah seems genuinely distressed for me and Four just seemed fed up with having to babysit me. He lets go of my face but keeps an arm over my shoulder as he looks at me like he's a father explaining to his daughter how dangerous a situation is, of course this is Uriah we're talking about and the moment doesn't last long, the smile quickly creeps across his face until it reaches his eyes.
"Ok, enough bitterness, tell me how do you like your first party in Dauntless?"
" Loud" Uriah bursts out laughing and I burst out laughing with him. Lynn yells my name and calls out for us to join her and the others. Marlenne takes my hands and tells me to imitate her feeling the beat of the music, I have to admit I'm a little nervous at first, I've never danced and I'm embarrassed to make a fool of myself, it's until we see Uriah sticking his elbows to his body and moving like he's a chicken that I loosen up a little, it doesn't matter that I can't dance, I can't do any worse than him. Christina, Will, Shauna and Lynn form a circle with us as we dance. After one song Uriah says to me "Would you like a drink Tris?" I've never tried any drink with alcohol in it, and judging by the people at the bar, I don't think it's the best idea to do it the night before I have to go out patrolling the city streets. "I think I'd prefer some water" I reply smiling "Sure, I'll get you one" he smiles back and walks away towards where Zeke and Four are; I catch a glimpse of Marlenne looking sadly as he walks away from the circle, I guess she must still have feelings for him. We continue dancing all in a circle and I take the opportunity to be mentally grateful for the opportunity I have to have fun with a group I can call friends without having to worry about what people will say...
Tobias POV
As I walk into the bar I automatically regret accepting the invitation, it's tiring enough dealing with the weeks of initiation without adding a night out to the equation, but I promised Lynn if she won her last fight and I know that if Zeke didn't come he wouldn't leave me alone, shit, I even think he would have gone to break down my apartment door to drag me here. The bar is already full of loud drunks, I never said I'd stay all night, so I make a promise to myself to grab a beer and sneak out as fast as I can, it's been a pretty interesting 24 hours to say the least.
Between my express visit to Evelyn's headquarters which to say didn't work at all would be an understatement, to then find Tris being attacked by the scum of Peter and his minions, only to top it all off with confirmation of my suspicions about Tris and her divergence. God my palms are still sweating from remembering how she was about to say out loud that she was conscious during the simulation. The memory of what happened today after the training comes back to me with a kick.
Flashback
"Eric, where's George?" I don't even bother knocking on his office door, it was partially open anyway, next to Eric is Max leaning on the desk. Eric looks up at me from his desk chair with a murderous look on his face. I don't need to be answered to know what happened, George was conscious inside the simulation, Eric found out and now they will make up an excuse to justify the fact that we will never see him again. Hell, we haven't even finished phase one and I'm already losing the battle.
"Come in Four, you're in your office" he mockingly replies to me"'have a seat, would you like a coffee, some tea?" I just stand there looking at him defiantly, if they're going to lie to me I want them to try harder to come up with something better than 'the pressure was too much for him, he decided to retire' like they have done a few other times.
"Four, George nearly had a seizure inside the simulation, his blood pressure got too high and Eric alerted me to have a stretcher ready in case we needed to move him to the infirmary to attend to him" Max tells me seriously, they can't believe me that much of a jerk can they?
"Is he in the infirmary then?" I ask them playing along even though I already know the answer, he's not there, I made sure of that before I came.
"Unfortunately, when Eric took him to the infirmary we learned from him that he has suffered from a considerable heart condition since childhood." Continues Max
"A heart condition? We have the records of all the transferees, none had any problems that would prevent him from going through initiation" I have to hand it to them, a serious illness is something new they hadn't used before.
"Unfortunately we found out thanks to a call to Erudite that George managed to manipulate the records to hide his illness" Max says feigning disappointment, these sons of bitches.
"So?" I tell them, losing my patience a little. Eric looks completely amused at what is going on in his office, not even bothering to hide his smile.
"Well after talking to his doctor in Erudite and having him explain to us the severity of the situation, we took the action to send him back for an evaluation and emergency intervention to restore his pressure to normal" and that's it, the ever concerned leaders sent an initiate back to his home faction because they care too much about the welfare of the newbies here?
"And then what, what will happen to him?"
"Well Four, you know better than anyone that once they move on to the second phase of training where they will have to be under the influence of serums every day, someone who has a tendency to get sick like this is definitely not Dauntless material, we don't want to risk him losing his life in the middle of a simulation of his fears" I can't believe it, these assholes get more cunning every year.
"factionless" I don't mean that as a question, it's more of a statement.
"When he gets out of the hospital in Erudite yes, he will have to live on the streets. You know they can't take him back and we definitely can't have a member in our ranks like that..." holy crap.
The sound of a cell phone cuts our conversation short, Max pulls the phone out of his pocket and exchanges a quick glance with Eric. He gets up from the desk and walks towards the exit excusing himself. I feel my blood starting to boil, I can't believe it, less than a month and I wasn't able to save someone from these assassins. I turn around and get ready to leave the room, as I reach the door Eric's voice stops me.
"Four, care to explain what the fuck happened today in the simulation with the stiff?" My blood freezes at this second, think fast.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you know... or what is it?, is it one of your fantasies to hug stiffs in the middle of the woods, are you that desperate or do you just miss your old faction?" I have to take a deep breath, don't let him figure you out, don't let him suspect she was conscious.
"She was freaked out, switching from factionless to abnegates with weapons wasn't in the training plan. She was doing fine, the change was just unexpected for her" I tell him as calmly as possible.
"I thought it would be funny" he tells me teasingly.
"Yes, very funny" I reply dryly.
"You know, when Max proposed that we inoculate you for this simulation I thought it was bullshit. I would have loved to see what you would have done had you not been conscious, maybe your fantasy would have been fulfilled and you could have gotten some abnegated action in the woods" Eric says raising his eyebrows nastily.
I force my face to show repulsion at the thought of being around Tris like that, everything around her is dangerous but letting Eric know that I'm interested in her more than an initiate, would be signing her death warrant, shit, it would be like pulling the trigger myself. "Well, she did well. In the end she ended the simulation by killing the last enemy" with that I turn around and walk out without looking back. I know I have to talk to her about this and instruct her on how she should act from now on. Shit, my life is already complicated enough without adding this to it.
End of flashback
"Four, my man. It's about time you got here, I've got an ice cold beer with your name on it over there in the back" Zeke tells me patting me on the back. We walk over to Lynn's tables, I give her a nod and she nods back at me. Fortunately everyone here knows how much I detest physical contact except for Zeke, Shauna and Hana, Zeke's mom. I uncap my beer and take a sip that calms me inside, maybe a couple of beers is what I need to calm me down today.
"Is there any news?" Zeke quietly asks me but there's no way we're talking in this crowded place, it's not safe and I'm not in the mood to remember the shitty day I had.
"Zeke no" I warn him, he just nods and continues drinking next to me as we watch Uriah pick up from the bar two pitchers with a concoction I don't want to imagine what's in it and a funnel with a hose. I guess they really plan to drink until they pass out today. On the couches are some of our friends but I don't see Christina anywhere, shit, maybe tonight will be a good night after all, god knows I love her but I can't stand another moment of listening to her talk about how much she loves Tris being here and the friendship they are forging.
Zeke and I crack open our second beer chatting about unimportant things, as I give my Four look to all the girls that try to approach me to ask me to dance, today will not be that kind of night, sorry girls I need more than two beers to make me forget that none of them fancy me in the least. It's larger quantities that I require to give them what they all expect from me, a part of what they expect of course.
I uncap my third beer and watch as Lynn takes the second pitcher of alcohol from the funnel, I laugh internally, she's going to have the worst hangover in the world tomorrow. A golden glow catches my attention and when I fix my gaze I feel my mouth go dry and my heart beat so fast, Christina approaches the couches holding Tris' hand and wow, I can't even fuckin' process it.
I take advantage of the fact that they haven't seen that I'm here to carefully admire a stunning Tris. She's wearing black pants that hug her ass deliciously, and if you think that's all, you're completely wrong, on her back there are only three metal chains and nothing else. There completely in my view is her bare back showing off the muscles she has gained, not even her hair covers anything because she wears it up in a cascade of gold, WOW what I wouldn't give to be able to kiss every inch of her spine and run my fingers all over her back WHAT? Four get a grip. But she turns away as Will and Christina kiss. The front is even more tempting, can you call that a blouse?, shit is that just fabric? And my god, I've never been so jealous of fabric before. The cleavage isn't revealing but it has my imagination running a mile a minute trying to figure out what it would be like to see what it's covering up.
Shit Four calm down, I'm getting more and more uncomfortable in my pants. I quickly do a count of what I've had, one two, fuck this is my third beer, this has never happened before, I usually need at least five to start putting up with some of the girls here. I adjust myself in my pants that are getting tighter and tighter and try to relax without taking my eyes off her, it's impossible I'm completely mesmerized. Suddenly I notice how her back tenses, mmm, shit what? was that a moan? And without expecting it her eyes settle on mine, her face is even more beautiful under the lights of the bar, I see she's wearing makeup but not over the top like they like to use it here, no, she's wearing just enough to highlight the beauty she already possesses without it. I feel my body start to tremble with anticipation, I know that if no one stops me it will betray me and make me go straight to her, I swear the only thing I want is to be able to touch her. Just like that Tris turns around, I want to beg her to please look at me again, I miss her eyes on me.
I'm debating whether to go to her or not when I see Uriah yell her name and hug her, my heart stops and my stomach knots, I wonder if Zeke will be really upset with me if I slam his brother against the wall? Calm down Four, Uriah is drunk, I've seen him in the last hour hug at least 10 other girls the same way, yes that's it, that seems to reassure me. I didn't even notice when Zeke came up to me but he just like me is watching his brother and my girl, Wow, WHAT? My girl? That's a new one...
"So... are you planning to tell me or what?" Zeke mockingly says to me, my heart starts beating too fast, shit, did he just see me eating her up with my eyes. Without taking my eyes off Tris, I feel my heart break into a thousand pieces when Uriah takes her face in his hands and brings his face close to hers, I don't know if I can stand to watch him kiss her, please no. she lets out a laugh and I swear it touches every inch of my body, I hate that Uriah is so close to her but at the same time I beg for him to make her laugh again just to listen to her. Luckily for me, he lets go of her face and touches her on the shoulder with a serious look on his face.
"Shit, you think you're too smart don't you? You really are cocky, you think no one notices don't you? Since when did you get the hots for Tris huh?" Zeke says in a low voice, my face must indicate absolute terror when I turn to look at him because the motherfucker is cracking up laughing, the asshole can't even stand up straight. Fuck I need another beer, I don't have time to wait for the bartender to give it to me, oh shit who cares I grab it myself.
"What are you talking about?" I ask him trying to sound annoyed even though I'm actually terrified as I uncap my bottle.
"Oh come on, you don't think you can lie to me do you?" fuck, I knew coming in today was a bad idea. I don't even plan on answering him, let him settle for a grunt. I try not to let my face show anything as I watch Tris dancing with the rest of my friends, fuck could she stop moving her hips like that?
"Dude, you're drooling" Zeke says between laughs.
"Fuck off."
"Hahahahaha I'm just saying...since when Four?"
I don't know if it's the alcohol or all the emotions of the day but I suddenly feel an uncontrollable urge to tell him everything.
"Since the net" I tell him lamely.
"Shit."
"Yep."
"What do you plan on doing about it?" Zeke falls silent as Uriah walks up to us and pats us on the shoulders.
"Gentlemen" he greets us '"I think I'm fucking in love" shit, shit, shit.
"Marlenne?" Zeke asks him trying to save me from hearing whatever his brother has to say.
"What?, Marlenne, no man, Tris. I mean look at her, doesn't she look fucking stupid sexy tonight?" Please someone kill me, shit, maybe if I go right now to Eric and confess my divergence he'll kill me quickly.
"Yeah? I don't know, what do you think Four?" Fucker, maybe I'll lie to Eric and tell him Zeke is one too.
"Well boy oh boy, this is what you do after bossing us around all day?" says an annoying voice next to me, the three of us turn to see a redheaded girl wearing a dress insulting for its bad taste. Maria, just what I was missing, having to deal with this horny initiate. I don't even bother to answer her.
"Well gentlemen, I'm going to take this drink to my girl. She's on fire and I need to do something about it" Uriah says raising his eyebrows, Zeke nearly chokes on his beer and the knot in my stomach tightens even more.
Maria takes advantage of my confusion and puts a hand on my chest "Are you bossy at night too?" Ugh, I decide at this point that no matter how many beers I drink, there is not enough to give this girl an answer, her eyes are full of lust that makes me uncomfortable and her voice tries, without much success, to sound seductive.
"Watch out Four, there's someone watching" Zeke tells me leaning in next to me. Maria is too amused fucking me with her eyes to hear or catch on to anything. My eyes follow Zeke's which are locked on Tris who looks directly at Maria's hand on my chest and is...jealous? For a minute I allow myself to fantasize about the idea that this isn't just happening to me, I allow myself to imagine that she feels the same way I do.
The moment passes quickly when I see Uriah pull her hand to dance, shit I don't need this right now. Controlling my strength I remove Maria's hand "Careful initiate" I give her one of my coldest looks and say goodbye to Zeke without waiting for him to answer me. I allow myself to glance one last time at Tris, only to see her gaze jump from Maria who is pouting, to me with a glint in her eye that I can't identify. Before I lose sight of her she gives me a small smile that leaves me no choice but to give it back to her. I leave the bar without wasting any time, no matter how tired I am I know I won't be able to sleep today. Shit, admitting to Zeke my feelings for Tris only made them more real but remembering that Uriah also confessed them will keep me tossing and turning all night because I know it's a losing battle, who the hell would choose me with all my problems and traumas when they have someone cheerful, funny and carefree like Uriah at their disposal?
Tris POV
I honestly thought this party would be a disaster for me and that I would have to fight my way out of it with Christina but I'm surprised at how much fun I had. My body relaxed with all the dancing and I don't even remember anymore that a few hours ago I was aching to the point where I couldn't move. Not even feeling Four's stare on me ruined my night, I don't know what his problem is but it's obvious that, as he has made it clear to me before, he doesn't think I should be here, not only in his faction but in a party with all his friends. If that's not the reason he kept looking at me, then I don't understand why.
Will and Christina offered to walk with me back to the dorms, after what happened with Peter they don't want to risk someone hurting me again, part of me is grateful to be able to call someone who cares about me friends and another part wants to fight with them, tell them I can defend myself alone and don't need bodyguards, but today has been a great night and I didn't want to ruin it with an absurd fight.
"So... Uriah?" asks Christina sheepishly. That's weird, Chris is anything but shy let alone with her comments or questions.
"What about him?" I reply with no idea where this conversation is headed.
"You know, he's cute, caring and didn't take his eyes off of you all night" Christina raises an eyebrow with a wicked grin. what?
"Yeah well, we were chatting most of the night" I start to feel a little anxious at the idea Christina hints at.
"Well, Uriah also talked to Christina but fortunately he didn't seem like he wanted to carry her on his shoulders and take her away to have her all to himself" Will says laughing. I honestly don't know what to answer them.
"Come on Tris, say something, do you think he's cute?" says Christina.
"Mmm, yeah I guess so" the truth is I've always thought Uriah has a very beautiful face and mixed with his personality make him a very attractive person, hell even once Susan said so.
"Do you like him?" asks Will now. do I like him? No, I have fun with him and I like that he is funny but serious when the situation calls for it, but like him in the romantic sense no. I shake my head to answer them.
"Maybe you don't know if you like him, let's see for example do you feel butterflies in your stomach when you are together or when he held your hand to dance?" Christina's question distracts me a little, I've never felt that with Uriah, I've never felt butterflies in my stomach with anyone but I have felt electricity and a tingling that spreads throughout my body just not with Uriah like Will and Christina would want. I feel the ghost of Four's lips on my ear as I remember this morning's simulation, as dangerous as the whole exercise was my biggest surprise was my body's reaction to being in contact with Four's, instantly I felt relaxed and fear gave way to nerves and the tingling of his skin touching mine.
I shake my head again but I can feel my face flushing and I know they can see it. "Sure" Christina says laughing '"Oh boy, that fiancé of yours is in big trouble" she finishes with a laugh. Robert, I haven't thought about him for days and to be honest I only thought about him when Christina forced me to tell him about my engagement. I have never been in love with him, of that I am very sure but I thought that getting the idea that our marriage was imminent would at least help me grow fond of him, if anything is clear to me right now, it is that not all the distance in the world would make me miss him even a little bit. My thoughts go too fast and I find myself thinking about the day I have to leave here, the day Four will no longer be my instructor and I feel an emptiness in my stomach. The same emptiness I felt when Uriah came back from the bar with my water bottle only to joke that today would be one of those nights when Four grants a wish to some girl in this faction.
Everyone recounted some of Four's drunken adventures, adventures involving kissing and touching on both of them everywhere and in public places. Four always looks too serious but I understand what they told me, of course he could have any girl he wanted, shit, he's got practically half the complex at his feet. I still can't pinpoint what I felt when I saw Maria's hand exploring his chest as she watched him with lustful eyes. Uriah was sure that with such a willing girl, Four would finally end up taking her to his apartment, something told him that tonight was the night that would happen. I can't express the relief I felt when I saw Four put Maria in her place, leaving her at the bar alone, her and the rest of the women undressing him with their eyes.
"Well Tris, you should get some rest" Will says holding the door to the bedrooms.
"Thanks guys, for everything. I really had a great time today. Oh Christina I'll wash your clothes and bring them back to you tomorrow."
"Nonsense Tris, those clothes fit you a thousand times better than me. They are yours from now on" she replies winking at me. I go into the bedroom and make sure Layla is in her bed, the stress of the simulation and the afternoon training earned her a visit to the infirmary for dehydration. Once I make sure she is okay I head to my bed, quietly get dressed in my sleep clothes and carefully fold my new outfit. As I'm about to lie down, I feel under my pillow something rustling. A folded piece of paper with a message. I creep up to the bathroom to take advantage of the light and read the message.
Tomorrow on your patrol, follow the Xs.
Don't let anyone see, especially the instructor.
E. J.
There is only one person who could ask to see me undercover, after weeks of not seeing her, I must confess that I am not at all thrilled to meet with her. Evelyn has always inspired distrust in me, but if Four refused to explain the simulation to me today, I know she may be able to help me.