A Divergent Tale

Chapter Four

A few days later Four and I decided the initiates should start hand to hand combat. We made the groupings yesterday and made sure to explain that they could back down if they could no longer fight. Although they looked nervous to fight each other, we assured them they would do great. I had to quiet them down so Tobias could read the fighting partners.

"Jasmine and Ava. Luke and William. Frank and Robert. Layla and Sophie. And Finally; Liam and Cole."

Because we had eleven initiates, one person had to sit out today. I tried to tell Four that it should be Sophie instead of Michayla. But he just said Sophie was underestimated already, and if we let her sit out today, everyone would think we're going easy on her. I just have a bad feeling about her being paired with Layla. We tried to make the pairs evenly but Layla still has a few inches on Sophie, and is very clearly, quite stronger. I have a bad feeling about Lay, and I still don't like her. Everything she says is in a matter-of-fact way. And she still stares at Tobias all the time, though I haven't mentioned it.

"I can't fight Jasmine!," Ava says, crossing her arms.

"Why not?" Tobias asks.

"She's my friend!"

I looked over at Jasmine and Ava. The two have become closer over the past few days. Yet, they were the closest in size and skill, so therefore Four and I paired them up.

"I'm sorry. But you guys need to realize that this isn't about hating or liking each other. You are learning to fight because I assure you 100% that you will use combat at some point in the future. I need you to understand we aren't doing this to be cruel. And I suggest that you take note and learn from yours, and others, fights today. So that when you fight other people you will have their moves memorized. So observe the best you can, and try to become the best in hand to hand combat as you can," I told them.

"Was that supposed to be an inspirational speech?" William says sarcastically.

I ignored him, "What? Too scared? Damn, you must have been a Stiff" William taunts.

I stalk up to William and punch him in the jaw, "There you go Luke. Now you have an advantage."

"Was that supposed to do anything?" William says and begins to throw a punch to my head.

I catch his arm and keep hold of it, "Careful William. Or you might end up in the infirmary," I say in a cold voice. I push his arm back and he stumbles backwards as I walk away. I catch Tobias watching me. I can't describe the look on his face, but it obviously isn't meant as a bad look.

"Let's just do it," Jasmine says, putting her hair up, and getting back on topic. She walks towards the ring.

Ava walks into the ring as well. They shake hands and put up their fists. I walk over to Four and give his hand a quick squeeze. Out of my peripheral vision I see him smile. Ava threw the first punch, hitting Jasmine square in the jaw. Ava looked upset about hitting Jasmine, but Jasmine rebounded quickly and punched Ava in the eye then kneed her in the stomach. She winced as if Ava's pain was her own.

"You got this, girls! Just forget you know each other!" I called.

Ava looks slightly angry and lunges forward. Jasmine stepped to the side and once Ava caught her balance, she threw two more hard punches to her jaw. Ava kicked Jasmine's shins, making her collapse. Ava gave Jasmine a few more hard kicks to the side.

Jasmine swung herself up to a standing position and kicked Ava in the side. Ava went to punch Jasmine, but Jasmine caught her arm and shoved Ava to the ground. She climbed on top of Ava and threw three more punches to her face.

"Okay, Okay!" Ava said, covering her head with her arms.

Jasmine stopped immediately, breathing heavily, "I'm sorry," she said, giving Ava her hand. Ava had a slightly bruised eye, a bloody nose and a swollen jaw. Not bad injuries, lucky enough.

"Are you mad at me?" Jasmine asked worriedly.

Ava glared at her, cupping the blood falling from her nose, "No. I guess not," She said, sighing, "Good job."

Jasmine smiled, "Thanks. You too. You know... I might have enjoyed the strategic and endurance part of that fight, if i weren't versing you," She laughed, then winced, then clutched her side where Ava had kicked her.

"Good job girls. That was really good," Four said.

"You can go down to the hospital and get some ice. Ask for Christina. Tell her Tris sent you," I said smiling.

They talked and wandered off towards the hospital.

"Ok, Luke, William, you're next"

The fight was pretty even, but Luke had the upper hand in strategy, and with one bruised eye, from where I punched William, that helped to Luke's advantage too. William was vicious in fighting though. He even kneed Luke in the crotch, which is a very low thing to do. Luke won, but overall, both boys could improve in a couple areas.

I can't believe William kneed Luke in the balls," Four whispered to me when Layla and Sophie were preparing for their fight.

"I know. He is cruel. I see him acting snide all the time. And he's so mean to Sophie."

"Maybe he has a crush on her," He joked, "I was hard on you when we first met."

I smile at him, "Not in that way," I say shaking my head.

"Poor Stiffs. We always get the hard end of things," I smile at him.

I cough casually, looking away from his gorgeous brown eyes. If I looked any longer I might forget the other initiates are around us...

I began to walk away, but then I noticed Layla glaring at me and Tobias. I didn't do anything or say anything, trying to remind myself to be a bigger person.

Layla unfortunately beat Sophie to pulp. I, myself, was wincing the whole time. I was going to step in multiple times, but before I could even move, I'd feel Tobias's hands stopped me. Dang it, he knows me too well. I am mad at Sophie though; she never forfeited, like she was supposed to, when she couldn't keep going anymore. Layla kept beating her up, even though Sophie had passed out. Part of me wonders if Layla is mad at me. All I did was talk to Four... I ran in once Sophie was down and shoved Jessica away, yelling at her. Seeing her beat Sophie up until she was out, made me feel like Eric. And we specifically didn't want things getting there.

When Tobias left to carry Sophie to the hospital, I made Lay run around the large room until I told her to stop, which, I'm going to be honest, probably won't be for a while. Robert and Frank had a clean fight. Liam beat Cole, as well. They shook hands afterwards. I told them that they are all free to go and eat and rest up. Tomorrow Four and I will help the initiates on every flaw we saw today. I had Jessica keep running and pretended to forget about her while I filled Four in on what he missed. He was smirking the whole time, so I know he didn't forget either.

"Holy Crap!" Layla exclaims.

Tobias and I look at her.

"Can I stop yet?!" She asks.

"I guess. Sorry," I say non-apologetically.

She puts her arms on her knees.

"Next time you beat someone, after they are unconscious, there will be consequences," Four says in his scary instructor voice. Which makes me smile, which I cover with my hand.

She blushed and stared at him before walking out.

"Let's go home," I say, kissing him, "I'm tired."