Tris the trainer

"Dont hit me, stiff"

Recap: she walks over to the target, pushing Al out of the way. He stumbles, but catches him self before falling.

She turns to us, the same way Al did. Except she doesn't show a hint of emotion on her face. Then she answers, "Four."

Tobias pov

"Four, you deff stiff? Get up here" Eric snaps at me.

I realize I totally zoned out. Six just told me that I will be throwing knives at her. I am terrified. Why dose she trust me this much? I've only hit the centre about 6 times. That's the best out of everyone so far, but that doesn't mean I'm good enough for me to throw a knife at someone.

I think about all of this as I walk over to the table of knives. I pick three up, hoping that's all I need.

I walk over in front of the target that Six is standing in front of.

Her face is calm, but her eyes are a different story. The are wild, like a dogs. They also have a hint of pure fear in them. I am terrified for her, and I am terrified of the power I have. I am certain this is one of my fears.

I look at her straight in the eyes. She says nothing at first, so Eric takes the opportunity to speak first, "if you flinch, you prove you are a coward. The Candor takes your place, and I will have you removed from your current position. That includes training, and your job in the control room. Maybe even as a Dauntless.

I shiver at his words. Six still doesn't show emotion, but I can literally feel the fear coming off of her.

Now I have to make sure I don't hit her. I can't let her get kicked out of Dauntless. I have to shot strait.

I look back at Six. All she says is, "don't hit me, stiff,"

I just nod.

I don't take my eyes off of her as I lift the knife. Breath in. Pull the knife back. breath out. Bring the knife forwards and release.

I close my eyes. I can't look.

When I have enough confidence to look up, I see that my knife when exactly where I wanted. About a foot from her check. I close my eyes again. thank God.

I decide to try to get her to move, so she can be safe. So I ask, "you about done, Six?" I say in my most sarcastic, menacing voice I have.

She looks at me with a hint of disbelief. I look her in the eyes again, trying to get her to understand. I need her to understand. I can't let her hate me. I couldn't handle it.

"No."she says with a hint of finality to her voice, like if I test her again, she will kill me personally.

"Then eyes open." I tap the spot between my eyebrows So she looks me in the eyes.

I throw the knife, in one swift motion. Taking my steps fast, so she doesn't see- so she won't be scared.

She hears the knife hit the target above her scull. I know she didn't see it coming. I think I made it worse than it was before. I notice how scared she is, it breaks my heart a little bit.

She just tilts her shin up. I love how brave she is. Did I just say that? Love?

I snap out of it. I need to focus.

"Come on, Six," I say, trying out my sarcastic, menacing voice again. I'll call it my instructor voice, like Six's instructor voice. "Let someone else stand up there. Let them prove how stupid this is."

I hear Eric scoff behind me.

"Shut up, four!" She says, sounding like she might be tearing up. I feel horrible, like another part of my heart is breaking off.

Then she regains her composer, looking at me flatly again.

I know that if I don't hit her, Eric will make me keep throwing until something awful happens. I need to stop this now.

I decide to take a risk, aim for her ear, and hope that everything goes right. I also hope that this won't make her hate me.

I throw the knife again, not even thinking about it.

I hit my mark. I see blood trickle down her ear. I know I just met her, but I hate seeing her in pain, even though i know she is tough and strong, and this probably barely hurts her.

I see her body go ridged. She stifles a gasp and looks at me with pain in her eyes, which is quickly taken over by anger.

Before she has time to speak, Eric starts "I would love to see the rest of you prove your courage, but I think you've had enough for today. The rest of the day off." We all stare at him, until he snaps at us, "get out, now!"

The rest of the initiates scramble out of the room, Eric walking out behind them, but before he leaves, he says to me, "I'm going to have to keep my eye on you, stiff," then leaves.

I start to walk over to Six, about to apologize, but then she storms over to me and slaps me. I feel my face red, with anger , embarrassment, and I still feel her hand still on my face.

"Is your ear-" I try to ask, with as much concern in my voice as I can. But then she cuts me off, "why did you do that, huh? Trying to show off to your buddies? Trying to show off to Eric, to get a better rank? Well I help with these ranks, too." I feel awful with these words, but I'm not going to let that take over me.

"No that is not at all what I was doing," I say with as much calmness and empathy as I can in my voice. I also reached out and touch Six's check with a new wave of confidence. "I knew that Eric was going to make me keep throwing until I hit you. I didn't want to keep throwing at you, risking I could hurt you more than I did." I say that as I touch her ear that's hit. I see some heat rush to her face.

"I'm sorry I didn't know about 'your plan' but did you have to be cat calling me and embarrassing me in front on my superior?" She asks me, moving so my hand no longer touches her, falling to my side.

"I thought I could get you to move. I hated throwing at you, I never wanted to cause you pain." I retort, a little to coolly for what i am trying to do.

"Ok I understand now," she snaps, but then her face softens and says, "thank you, for throwing. You were the only one who I would trust to do that." I am surprised by her words, but I am even more surprised by what she dose next: She grabs my hand, and squeezes. Then she dose something more surprising: she stands up on her tip toes, and kisses my cheek.

I am so stunned, that when I come to my senses, Six is already gone.