Closer

Chapter 18

1. Jake

2. Alex

3. Aidan

4. Seth

5. Adam

6. Luke

7. Dean

8. Olivia

9. Paul

10. Kristen 

After I spotted Kristen's name, my eyes dropped away from the board. I was second. But how?

I didn't have time to process my ranking as I was tapped on the shoulder. I turned to find Four standing behind me. "Congrats, Kiddo."

I stood and smiled at him. "I'm I allowed to hug you?" 

I received my answer as he pulled me in for a bear hug. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, I couldn't have done it without you," I pulled away to see Aidan, Kristen, and Olivia sending us confused looks. Jake on the other, had a smile planted on his.

"You didn't need me," he smiled. It was nice to feel like we were getting back on the same page, starting to put the Eric thing behind us. "Go celebrate with your friends."

With that he said a farewell and made his way back over to Zeke and Shauna. As my eyes followed Four, they found a young leader that was still standing patiently next to Max. Just like always, his expression was unreadable. I pulled my eyes away from him and turned back to my friends.

"Who wants a drink?"

________

The next morning we all sat around a table in the dinning hall. Today was the day that we picked our jobs and started our lives in Dauntless. We would be called in order from which we were ranked. Jake was called first and sat across from the Dauntless leaders as they discussed his job options.

I never asked Jake what he wanted to do. I didn't even know myself what I wanted to do. Being second I had a lot of options, but would I like any of those options? What jobs could I see myself do for years to come? I'd never really thought that far. My first goal in life was to escape my father. Check. Next, pass initiation. Check. Now what?

Jake must have known exactly what he wanted to do because it didn't take him long to rejoin us at the table. "So," Aidan started. "What'd you pick?"

"Tattoo artist," Jake stated proudly. 

"Are you serious? You rank first and you choose to be a tattoo artist?" Kristen exclaimed.

"It's all I've ever wanted to do," Jake shrugged. He answer wasn't a surprise to me. Ever since I'd met Jake he had an obsession with tattoos. He was covered in them. He had two full sleeves and a few on his legs and he was only 16.

"Alex!" My head whipped around as I heard Max call my name. I gave my friends one last glance before taking my place across from our five leaders. But I was only worried about one. The youngest. The coldest. The most misunderstood.

"Congratulation on passing and ranking second, Alex," One of the unknown male leaders said. "I'm Leo," he said introducing himself. He looked to be the oldest among the group of leaders. There were specks of grey showing through his black hair. His green eyes were filled with experience and compassion. He must have been the kindest, that's why I'd never heard of him. "This is Jason," he said motioning to the young man beside him.