Love of a Tree Hugger

Chapter 11

Blaze POV

"Lunch is over. Time to head back to the training room." four says ino his best mean voice.

Four is so funny when he is trying to be a hard ass. He is really a sweet gentle guy but when it comes to training he is very serious.

"Ok we are going to practice our hits and kicks with the punching bags. I will demostrate how to do it." we all stare as he demostrates how to properly kick and punch. Its amazing to watch him. He does it with such perfection almost like he is dancing.

"Ok everybody find a punching bag and get to it."

I pick one in the corner next to Sophie hoping to not draw attention to myself.

I punch ten times with my right hand then switch to my left for ten more and I do the same with my kicks. Its very important to train equally with your left and right side because you never know when you might injury one and you want to be able to defend yourself with your other side.

I am concentrating so hard I didn't even realize Eric had come in till I hear him whisper in my ear "great form and strength sunshine" I am so glad I am facing away from him so he can't see me blush.

Maybe I should try not to do so well so no one notices me. I don't know if it was against the rules and I will only tell if I am directly asked but my dad was dauntless born. When I was twelve years old and boys started noticing me my dad told me he was dauntless born. It really explained why he wore long sleeve shirts and long pants even during the summer. He was worried about me defending myself and my mom because he worked long hours in the fields so we were alone a lot.

I can't help but smile when I remember how he had used a bag of grain as a punching bag for me to use. He taught me everything about fighting. Then I learned to throw knives. I never understood how that was a good defense because once you threw it at your attacker you no longer had it to defend yourself with. He also managed to sneak a gun out for us to pratice with. I didn't even realize we had guns in amity but he explained we had 4. Turns out that sometimes wild animals who sometimes have rabies have come to close for comfort and someone had to shoot them. I guess it makes sense that sometimes we can't get a dauntless guard to us immediately.

After about a hour of punching bags Eric speaks "four and I are going to demonstrate how to block punches. Then you will find a partner and take turns punching and blocking. Do not hit hard this is just to practice blocking. Now watch us."

Its so wild watching four and Eric punching and blocking. Neither one of them lands a punch because it seems they are in each other's head. They know exactly when the other one is going to punch.

"Ok now grab your partner and start practicing."

I guess Eric didn't realize there were nine of us so I had no partner.

"Hey amity. Don't worry we can practice together."

Oh freaking great. The last thing I want to do today is fight Eric. I would rather dance naked in the pit then fight Eric. I would rather give max a lap dance then fight Eric. I would rather cover myself in dauntless cake and stand on an ant hill then fight Eric. I would rather streak naked through one of the eurdites libraries then fight Eric. I would rather take a butter knife to my own eyes then fight Eric. I must have laughed out loud thinking about what I rather be doing then fighting Eric because he looks pissed.

"Are you still high from the peace surrum amity? Are we going to fight or are you going to continue to laugh."

"You know Eric it is okay to smile or laugh sometimes. You should try it maybe it would help your disposition. And if you laugh or smile it might scare people more then your A.r.f."

He looks at me like I have lost my mind "what is a.r.f.?"

"Asshole resting face. Means when you aren't talking and you just sit there with no expression on your face you look like an asshole."

"You are lucky I am in a good mood today, Sunshine. Now get your ass over here and get to fighting."

I as I go to stand in front Eric I am nervous as hell. I am sure Eric won't be as gentle as my dad was when He was training me.

We get into our fighting postions. "Do you want me to puch or dodge?"

"You should work on dodging because you won't be able to throw but so many punches as small as you are."

As Eric punches at me I keep dodging. You can see the look of frustration growing on his face as he is unable to hit me. As we are reaching the one hour mark of this he has only got me three times.

"Good job blaze. Now let's switch."

He called me by my name! I didn't even know he knew my name.

After a hour of trying to hit Eric, Four decides we get two hours of exercising and weights before we are finally released.

Time to get a shower have dinner and go shopping. I am looking forward to seeing Andrew tonight too.