Her Secret

Concern

     Over the next few days, Jeanine had seemed off to everyone she worked with. Even Marcus seemed concerned, which was a first. Her and Tris had been purposely ignoring each other since the day in her office. And Tris had just buried herself in studies again, figuring if she didn't give herself time to think about it, she wouldn't have to deal with the situation.

     "Tris. We need to talk," Audrey says, sitting down across from her at lunch.
     "About what?" Tris asks, clearly confused.
     "You've been ignoring everyone since that night. And you've been wearing her sweater when I'm the only one around. That's not normal, Tris. Not unless you like her. You've also been staring at her during meals." As if proving her point, Tris looks over at the girl from staring at Jeanine's vacant spot.
     "Where do you think she's at?" Tris asks, ignoring Audrey. The girl forces Tris to look at her.
     "I know you heard what I said," Audrey says with an eye roll. "You can call me a hopeless romantic, Beatrice Prior,  but honestly, you can't deny it any more than you already have. You're quite obviously crushing on the woman."
     "Yeah. Well, that's what kissing a drunk faction leader tends to do to you," Tris mutters sarcastically. She gets up and empties her tray before exiting the Dining Hall.
     "What's wrong with her? Wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?" Elise asks quietly, moving over next to the girl.
     "I'm honestly not sure," she whispers.

     "Jeanine? Earth to Jeanine? Did you hear what I said?" A voice asks, drawing Jeanine back to the task at hand.
     She seems slightly startled. "No, I didn't, Jack," she says, looking up at the six other faction leaders sitting in front of her. "Could you please repeat the question?" She asks.
     "No," Johanna says, cutting the Candor leader off. "We need to talk about what's going on with you first, Jeanine. Clearly, you're not going to function properly until your mind is focused. Which it quite obviously isn't. What's wrong?" She asks.
     Jeanine shifts uncomfortably. She had been trying to cover up her worry, but clearly, that skill had gone to hell. She looks up at Johanna. Johanna had always been the nicest leader towards her. She had always seemed concerned about Jeanine's well-being, and Jeanine might almost go as far as to consider Johanna a 'sort of a friend'.
     "I'm fine, really. Continue on with the meeting," Jeanine says almost convincingly.
     "I might buy that if this wasn't the third time we had to get your attention," Eric says with a snort. Max, who was sitting beside him nods.
     "I may not be an Erudite, but I do know those are not good odds," he says quietly.
     Marcus, who hadn't spoken at all chuckles. "She's acting like a love-sick teenager. This is worse than the Andrew thing." Andrew stares between Jeanine and Marcus as the blonde rolls her eyes.
     "First of all, I am not acting like that. And second of all, I did not have a thing for Andrew!" She says, growling slightly.
Andrew flinches. "Can we not talk about this?" He asks quietly. Everyone ignores him.
     What one would not have expected looking at the faction leaders, was that Marcus was the only one not scared of her.
      "You're acting like a Jeanine Matthews lovesick teenager," Marcus says smugly.
     "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Jeanine snarls.
     Marcus smirks. "What I've observed; is that you get all distant and thoughtful. Not to mention quieter than usual. Not saying you aren't like that normally. It just worsens when you're trying to decide whether to kiss someone or punch them," he says.
     Jeanine crosses her arms and glares at him. "With all due respect, Miss," Jack starts. "He isn't entirely wrong." The quiver in his voice made it blatantly obvious that he was nervous from her.
     Jeanine sighs as Johanna smirks at her. "So who's the lucky guy?"
     "Nobody! Okay? Nobody is the lucky guy!" She says, slamming her hand on the table.

"Is it a girl?" Johanna asks.

"I always thought she was a lesbian," Marcus whispers.

"No! And if I remember correctly, I didn't sign up to be a leader to ensure your torture of my life. Now are we done here or are you going to interrogate me more? Cause either way I'm leaving," she says sharply. All of the leaders look to Marcus.

     "Meeting dismissed," he says quietly. Andrew runs out quickly after Jeanine. He catches her arm.
     "Is it true? Did you really like me?" He asks curiously.
     Jeanine shoots him a dirty look. "I don't associate with Abnegation," she says icily. Deep down, Jeanine was just mad that her best friend had left her for that faction. 
     Andrew sighs. "Fine. At least tell me how Beatrice is doing in initiation."
     Jeanine eyes him for a few seconds, and almost starts laughing when she realizes that she is taller than him. She quickly covers it up with a small cough before answering Andrew's question. "She'd be doing better if she didn't keep interfering in my life," she mutters. Jeanine then quickly walks down the hallway, leaving Andrew standing there. Jeanine looks back over her shoulder at him. "Oh. And watch your tone, Prior. You almost sounded hopeful," she says with a smirk before rounding the corner.   
     Jeanine looks forward and bumps into a girl. She immediately bends down to pick up the papers for her and hands them to Jeanine. "Are you stalking me?" Jeanine asks, clearly not joking. "I swear if you fu-"
     "Stop. I'm not. I just have an unhealthy obsession with running into you," Tris mutters, a harsh tone embedded in her voice. She practically shoves the papers at Jeanine and walks off in the direction she came.
     "By the way, I'm still waiting for my sweater back!" Jeanine calls after her with a smirk.
     "I don't have it!" Tris calls back before disappearing. Jeanine sighs to herself as she walks back to her office. Beatrice Prior was certainly starting to get on her last nerve.