A Different Divergent: Everyday Love

59

I can't believe it's that time of year again. The last day of initiation; the day another batch of initiates become full-fledged members of Dauntless. Since I can't be hooked into the fear landscapes because of the pregnancy, I've been ushering Dauntless-born and transfers into the fear landscape room for their final simulations all morning, and my feet and back are absolutely killing me. I pause next to Tobias, Will, James, and Shauna, absent-mindedly rubbing my lower back, after bringing Rose and Maeve into the room. We're about half-way through the initiates and will break for lunch after Maeve's simulation.

I glance at the leaderboard and still can't believe my eyes; Hector and Oliver are tied for first place. Hector's ranking is no surprise but Oliver made it not only through phase one meeting the challenge of getting 100% on every remaining practice fight, practically demolishing his opponent on his final fight, and obtaining near perfect marks on his final weapon's test, but he exceeded everyone's expectations during phase two. We all thought he would crumble under the weight of the fear simulations but in reality, he has flourished. At first I thought maybe he was Divergent with the times he was getting but after Tobias reviewed the simulations, he found no evidence of that. Oliver may share Al's face but he no longer share's Al's lazy work ethic or the crippling fear that led him to take his own life. It's like he's a totally different person from the one who jumped into Dauntless nine weeks ago. I still can't figure him out. He obviously was holding back in the beginning and none of us understands why. I've had Ana and Brody try to question him – Tobias doesn't want me anywhere near him – but they've been unable to get answers out of him. He's remaining mum on the issue. If he came from Erudite instead of Candor I would think he was some kind of plant.

"You need to sit down," Tobias says, interrupting my reverie. It's like he knows my feet are throbbing. I'd argue but I really need to take a break even if it's only for a few minutes. He stands and lets me take his seat.

"Thank you," I quietly say. I sit down on the uncomfortable stool and lean against the console in front of me. Tobias steps up behind me and places his hands on my lower back. I close my eyes and swallow a moan as he gently kneads the tight muscles beneath his callused fingertips.

"You know you don't have to be here today," he says. His heated breath against the shell of my ear gives me goosebumps, and I visibly shiver.

"I need to be here," I say. "I want to be here." I worked from home for nearly two weeks when the kids were sick and just came back two days ago. Unfortunately, the kids and I all got used to me being home. I'm even more torn between my job and home responsibilities.

"Okay," he says. He drops a quick kiss on the top of my head then goes back to massaging my back. It feels so good, I slump into him. When I notice Brody giving Rose her final injection, I start to get up but Tobias' hands on my shoulders stop me. "Stay. I can monitor from right here." I want to argue but his hands feel so damn good, and I really don't want to move.

I watch Rose's vitals on the monitor in front of me rapidly increase wondering what she's seeing then I look over at Christina. She's nervously pacing by the door, one hand near her mouth. Knowing her like I do, the anxiety has her incessantly chewing on her right thumbnail. Her worry for her sister amped up once phase two started. She can't keep her eyes off her. Rose did well during phase one, ranking near the top of the 11 transfers, but she desperately struggled with the simulations when phase two started. She's steadily improved throughout the stage, which is what we as leaders want, but she's still lost rank. It more than likely won't allow her prime job preference unless someone who scores above her wants the mundane life of guarding the fence. But who knows, she might do remarkably well today and gain a few spots. I've seen it before. I'll see it again.

I move my eyes from Christina back to Rose. I frown when I see her crawling around on the floor, her movements spastic and erratic. Her chest is seesawing back and forth so fast I half expect to witness her heart leap out of her chest. I once again can't help but wonder what in the world she's seeing when she lets out a blood-curdling scream that makes me jump. Christina stops in her tracks, and I see it take everything she has not to run across the room to her little sister. Then it gets eerily silent except for the sound of Rose's labored panting, and I see the monitor before me indicate the end of the simulation. I glance at the clock and note that she improved her best time by more than two minutes. Maybe there's hope for a decent job for her after all. Christina unfreezes and, breaking protocol, immediately goes to her sister, hugging her tightly.