Tris POV
Today, I wake up and trudge to the training room. Targets are hung up with a stack of knives on the side.
Four is the only one in the room at the moment.
"Hey" I yawn.
"Hey," He says, "nice job yesterday."
I smile and pop my knuckles, "So we're throwing these today."
"Yeah." he says. "Do me a favor and don't budge with Jacob today. He strongly dislikes you." He looks at me.
"Okay" I say.
The initiates slowly pile in. Maddie glares at me and I suppress a laugh. There is still pink paint in her eyebrows and hair.
Jacob doesn't come, so Four starts, "Today is the last day of stage one. Rankings will be up tonight. Meanwhile you will learn how to aim. Everybody pick up 3 knives."
We do and I stand by Uriah. Four throws the knives and then we start.
"I heard about your plan yesterday." Uriah says. "Smart Stiff."
"Uh thanks?" I reply and throw. My knife is a little right of the target.
I throw again. This time it hits the center.
Jacob walks in and I stiffen.
"Hey Stiff, I heard of your plan yesterday." Jacob steps next to me. When did he hear of it? "Let's see if you're as Dauntless as you are smart. Com'on, lets see your throw at the target."
I exhale, and focus. I check my stance and form. Everybody turns to watch me.
I raise my hand and throw. The knife sails straight into the center with my other knife. I look at him smugly.
"Not bad Stiff." He mutters and moves on.
Jacob checks everybody, asking them to throw.
Most of the initiates hit the target within 3 tries as Jacob watches them. All of them do except Arianna. Her knife bounces off the wood and floor.
Jacob sighs disapprovingly and moves on.
LINEBREAK
I sit with Uriah at lunch.
"You should've seen Jacob's face when you hit the bullseye!" Uriah laughed, "He looked beyond pissed haha!"
I smile. Across the room Maddie sits with Four. Again. I feel a pang of sympathy for him. And a pang of hopelessness for her.
I look back down at my food, and meet awkward eye contact with Carlos.
"Nice job Tris." He says while staring intently at me.
"Thanks?" I say. That's funny. No initiate ever calls me Tris. It's always Stiff.
I look back down awkwardly and stare at my food. I can feel Carlos's eyes boring into my head.
We finish lunch and I head back to my room. A few moments later, someone knocks.
"Tris it's me." A quiet voice says.
I open the door and see Tobias.
"Hey." I say.
"You did well yesterday and today." We sit down on my bed. "I'm guessing your test results were Erudite, Dauntless, and Abnegation huh?"
"Er yea." I recall, "Looks like you got some initiate love huh?" I switch the subject. Talking about my results and being Divergent just seems odd. Even with Tobias
He frowns, "Yea, you've seen Maddie."
"She's got quite the intentions. You should have seen her reactions last night." I smile thinking of her face splattered with paint.
"Yeah." He chuckles. "I got her pretty spot on."
"Givin' her the cold shoulder." I laugh.
He asks me a question, "Are you jealous?"
"What, that you shot her in the face with paintballs. Psh no, I'm planning on not doing that anytime soon. I just find it humorous that she never gives up." I look at him.
He chuckles, "Dauntless never give up, remember?"
I smile.
He checks his watch. "I gotta go. Time to write the rankings up." He says.
I nod stand with him. He leans in for a quick kiss. His arms encase me tightly, reassuringly.
"See you soon Tris." He walks out the door
LINEBREAK
The initiates pile into the training room. Four stands there, writing names.
When he steps away I have to stand on my tiptoes to see the ranks.
1. Uriah
2. Tris
3. Alec
4. Wilson
5. Jack
6. Carlos
7. Maddie
8. Andrew
9. Arianna- out
I look around, scouting for her. She isn't there. Everybody starts to leave and heads toward the Pit for dinner.
Alec and Maddie glare at me, and Jack glares at Uriah on his way out.
"Stiff you are so going down." Alec taunts and backs me into the wall when I walk towards the door. His hand grips my shoulder and his other arm is balled
"Yeah, and by the way... Stay away from Four." Maddie hisses.
I try hard to not fight back. Maddie holds me against the wall and Alec throws a punch. I thrash, and dodge. A faint sting burns and I turn towards them, my fists balled too. They chase, but Four grips Alec's arm, and pushes him back a little.
"Lets not start a fight here okay?" He says to Maddie suspiciously.
"No Four!" Maddie smiles, "we were just talking to Stiff here."
"Her name's Tris." Tobias says, " You cowards should be thankful you're still in Dauntless." He spits.
I walk out towards the Pit, and find a seat by Uriah. Four comes in a few minutes later, but Maddie and Alec don't show up.
I eat little bites and focus on my hamburger. I suddenly feel nauseous.
Uriah looks at me weirdly, "Whats wrong?" He asks.
"Nothing." I brush it off and continue chewing my hamburger.
Across from me, Carlos stares at me intently.
"You alright Tris?" He asks.
"Yea I'm fine." I reply looking up for a sec. And I can tell by his face he's unconvinced.
"No you're lying. Whats wrong." He asks again.
Thats odd, I thought Carlos was from Erudite, not Candor.
"Nothing! I'm fine! Why does everybody keep asking that?" I say loudly, irritated. Sitting behind me, Four turns around from eating too.
I stand up, "I'm going back to my dorm." I say quietly and turn, leaving an almost full hamburger on my plate. Behind me, I feel Carlos and Four's eyes staring at me, and as soon as I turn into the hall I start jogging.
I hear whispering in a room, specific voices of Alec and Maddie.
"You sure that's a good idea? She's strong." Maddie says.
"Shh quiet down, and yea, she's not as tough to get in her sleep." Alec replies.
"Whattabout Four?"
"He sleeps too does he not? We can steal the keys and make sure she doesn't get past initiation If her time is good for stage two." He replies.
I gasp, then tiptoe away silently. I need to think straight, but I can't. I shouldn't go back to my dorm. Instead, I head down to the tattoo parlor.
LINEBREAK.
"So you think they're gonna kill you." Christina says.
"If I do good in stage 2" I say.
"Well you'll do amazing, you're divergent." She says.
I glare at her, "Okay, okay" she puts her hands up, "they're just jealous. I doubt they would."
"Remember what Peter did to Edward while he was asleep?!" I hiss.
She flinches a little, "Yeah, why?"
"He was jealous too. If I do good, Alec will steal the keys to the dorm at night while I'm asleep. But if I do bad, then Ill get cut and have to go back to Abnegation"
Her eyes widen,"Dang that's hardcore."
"You're old faction remember?" I roll my eyes.
"Be careful Tris. You'd probably do better than me in the situation. But if you ever need anything I'm here." She hugs me.
