Soulmates

Chapter 16: Membership

Eric stands on the raised platform of the cafeteria, his eyes glued to the entrance. The door opens over and over, but the one person he wants to see doesn't appear.

Christina and Will enter the cafeteria hand-in-hand and sit at the long table reserved for initiates. Several Dauntless-born initiates join them. Molly slinks in and takes a seat on the end, like she isn't quite sure if she belongs. Most of the initiates look relieved and have an air of celebration about them. A few of the lower-ranked initiates look worried.

At six o'clock on the dot, the double doors to the cafeteria burst open, causing everyone to go silent as they turn to look. In walks Uriah Pedrad, sporting new tattoos on his forearms. Beside him is Lynn, her head freshly shaved and her septum pierced. They are followed by Marlene, who now has bright red streaks in her hair and an industrial piercing in her ear. She's wearing sky-high red heels with her black jeans and sleeveless black top. Beside her is Tris.

Eric's heart squeezes at the sight of his soulmate. Outwardly she looks fierce, Dauntless, even angry. Someone, probably Marlene, has dressed her in ripped leather leggings and a fitted shirt that's low enough to show her raven tattoo. Her hair has been cut to her shoulders - still long, but not Abnegation long - and several hot pink stripes have been added. But Eric can tell by the set of her mouth and the way her slightly red eyes avoid him that she's also feeling hurt.

The four initiates walk to the designated table and sit down. Eric and Max step forward and make the typical initiate graduation speech. When the rankings are revealed, Tris is number one.

The cafeteria erupts in cheers, but four faces aren't smiling - Molly, who just found out she's becoming factionless, Tris, who finished first but was rejected by both of her soulmates, Eric, who's watching Tris from the stage, and Four, who is standing just inside the doors, and who happens to be sporting a fresh black eye and a busted lip.

When the hugs and congratulations die down, the Dauntless members get in line for food. Dinner is served to the initiates' and leaders' tables by waiters. They're given steaks, potatoes, peas, green salad, and bread, as well as champagne. Eric picks at his food and watches Tris do the same. By the time Dauntless cake is served, Eric has managed only half of his dinner. Tris' plate is clean, but that's thanks to Uriah.

After dinner it seems like the entire faction moves to the Pit. Music is blasting through the space, and moving lights illuminate the otherwise dark room. Eric stands on a balcony in the VIP section and looks for Tris, but she is nowhere to be found. He leaves the party and checks the dorm, the tattoo parlor, and even the halls leading to his apartment, but there is no trace of her.

He returns to the Pit, and his perch in the balcony, nursing drinks and worrying about where Tris could be. He thinks about calling Four, whom he knows to be hiding out in the Control Room, but he really doesn't want to talk to him. 

After Tris ran away from Eric's apartment, the two men had fought. Technically the physical fight had been one-sided, with Eric throwing a punch before the two started yelling. By the time either of them thought to go after Tris, she was nowhere to be seen.

Eric is still furious with Four. They had agreed to present their three-person soulmate situation calmly and logically, but Four had freaked out. The things he said must have been painful for Tris. Girls especially tended to have romantic notions about finding their soulmate. Tris had to listen to Eric ramble about his theory that 'soulmate' could mean 'friend,' then listen to Tobias freaking out about how neither man had wanted to find their soulmate. Undoubtedly those words had hurt Tris. But where is she?

Eventually Eric can't take it anymore. He makes another lap through the dorm and around the halls before throwing open the door to the Control Room. 

"Have you seen her?" Eric asks.