Her Secret

Amity

Jeanine smiles to herself as she spots Tris. The girl had given up looking for her and had resumed a spot on the Dauntless rooftop. "What are you doing up here. It could be dangerous. We don't know if everyone has left yet."
Tris sighs. "I find it cute how concerned and protective you are of me," she says, turning around.
    Jeanine stares at her. "Yeah, sorry. I know. I shouldn't be. I can stop-" she blurts.
    Tris chuckles. "Don't do that. I like it." Her face then falls. "I'm sorry. I know you didn't cause this. I had no right to blame you."
    "And yet here we are," Jeanine jokes.
    Tris rolls her eyes. "Not funny, Jean."
    Jeanine sighs and walks over to her, sitting down next to her. "Your father has had a change of heart," she says quietly.
    "What do you think would freak dad out most?" she asks, changing the subject slightly.
    ". . . Why?" Jeanine asks hesitantly.
    "No reason," Tris says with a shrug.
    "What are you up to?"
    The girl shrugs and her body language makes Jeanine actually think she's innocent.
    "Jean, I have a question for you," Tris whispers.
    Jeanine nods and sits down next to her. The Dauntless rooftop didn't have much of a railing. The building was high up, and Jeanine seemed slightly nervous about how close they were to the edge. To put her at ease, Tris scoots about a foot away from it and Jeanine follows her.
    "What would happen if someone were to . . . I don't know. Out us?"
    "As in like a couple or . . .?" Jeanine asks. Tris nods, and Jeanine seems in thought for a moment."Who could possibly do that?"
    "Marcus," Tris says quietly.
    "He does know," Jeanine mutters under her breath. "Aw fuck me," she mutters, standing up.

"Gladly," Tris jokes.

Jeaninne doesn't seem to hear her and starts to pace. "Then everyone would think that I'm the reason you would become the faction leader."

    Tris takes a deep breath. "Jeanine, I hate to tell you this, but I don't think society is going to be normal anymore. People already blame you. They could start a war over this attack that happened tonight."
    Jeanine freezes for the first time as if realizing. Tris places a hand on her shoulder as the older woman mutters a strand of profanities under her breath.
    "I'm sure you can talk to Jack and Johanna to figure something out. Plus then maybe you could . . . I don't know. Maybe explain to the whole city or something about what happened tonight?" Tris suggests.
    Jeanine nods, seeming slightly dazed. "What's wrong?" Tris asks her, worriedly.
    Jeanine turns to look at her "You're right. I don't think the faction system will ever be the same again," she whispers. Jeanine moves her hands behind her back as she realizes that they are shaking slightly.
    "Something I've worked so hard for was the upkeep of the faction system. Now it's all crumbling right in front of me," she says softly.
    Tris walks over to her, giving Jeanine a hug. "I could be wrong," she whispers. Jeanine sighs, slumping over slightly as she relaxes in Tris' arms. "I think we should go back to Erudite,"  Jeanine whispers. "I don't know what else to do other than trying to pretend my life is normal."
    Tris nods and they slowly leave the rooftop, making it back down to the ground. "You don't always have to pretend that everything is okay, Jean," Tris whispers. Jeanine looks over at Tris and takes her hand.
    "What would I do without you?" she asks, kissing Tris' fingers.
The girl blushes slightly. "What you have been doing your entire life?" she suggests.
Jeanine grins. "Suffering in silence?" she jokes. Tris smiles and leans her head on Jeanine's shoulder for the rest of the way home.

That night, the two were peacefully reading a book, curled up on the couch when Tris abruptly places the book down.
    "What's wrong?" Jeanine asks.
    Tris looks up at her. "What if I went to Amity to try and make peace with them. Or at least convince them to help us make peace with the other factions?" Jeanine stares at her. "Is it a terrible idea?" Tris asks.
    "No," Jeanine says, after a long moment of silence. "I would just greatly miss you and would worry about you getting hurt. I don't know what Eric is planning to also do under my name," she says with a sigh.
    "I'll be careful. I promise," she whispers. "Please, I want to help you."
Jeanine sets her book down. "Let me think about it. I just. . . I'm scared after what happened today. That's all. I'm scared for the first time in a long time. I don't want to lose you, Tris."
Tris takes a deep breath before nodding with a small smile. "Yeah, I get that," she whispered.
Jeanine stares at her. "Go. I can see the pain in your face. You're going to do it anyway, aren't you?"
    Tris sighs and bites her lip before nodding. "I'm going to go in the morning. If that's alright with you." Jeanine sighs before nodding.
    The two get ready for bed, and Tris lays down next to Jeanine, snuggling up to her. Jeanine rolls over, placing an arm around her and placing her head next to Tris'. "How long will you be gone for?" She asks quietly, running a hand through the younger girl's hair.
    "A couple of days at most."
    Jeanine seems to let out a breath. "I thought that you'd disappear for much longer." Tris doesn't say anything else. Jeanine nuzzles her face into Tris' neck before they peacefully fall asleep.
    Jeanine silently helped Tris gather her things to leave for Amity the next morning. Tris smiles at her. "Don't worry. I'll be perfectly safe, Jean," she whispers.
    "I know you will," Jeanine whispers. "I know."
The two say their goodbyes before Tris hops on a train, on her way to the Amity compound.