Tris Prior's Selection

Chapter Sixteen- I am Abnegation

Tris' POV

My first instinct to run-I ignore. Instead I keep my gaze fixated on the happy couple until they dissipate from view.

"She's not fair!! Myra never shares!!!" Patricia tantrums more-but I hardly register. Still frozen from the previous sight.

Molly and Patricia complaining in the background, I leave the room with the image of being quiet but instead it's more of a wild storm. Laughs ensue me...they are both mocking me, harshly.

The pumps on my feet slap my soles violently as I take off running, my aim to get up to the roof gardens I have seen on a framed map of the castle in the Ladies Room.
I need to get away from the noise invading my mind, even I'm laughing at myself, my trusting idiocy that anyone in this damned palace would pay any long term attention towards me.

"Lady Beatrice?" I spin around to see a familiar face, Robert, the guard who let me speak to Al on the pretentious red carpet leading up to the palace at the beginning of this royal hell.

"Can you take me up to the roof?" I demand, desperation controlling me.

"Um, yeah, this way." He says, walking off briskly-glancing back to check I'm close behind him.
He's more handsome than I remember from those single moments outside the gates, his uniform creased slightly around where he has a heavy looking belt of equipment on. A radio constantly buzzing with updates about something he doesn't seem interested in.

"Just go up there." He says, pointing up some narrow stone steps that curve around into darkness.

"Thanks." I mutter as he jogs off down the corridor without another word.

I feel like sleeping beauty, like from the fairy tale books in first school, and half expect to find a crooked witched and a spinning needle behind the wooden door I find at the top.
Instead, there's a garden. Neat trimmed grass with circle stepping stones embedded created a path all along the small rectangle garden. I know, from my map investigations, that this is the smallest roof garden. Set atop of one of the back sections of the palace. Pushing through the assorted bushes that frame every side, I'm met with a knee height wall and the view of the other roof garden. The other one has no bushes so is in full view, beautiful colourful flowers are spread across that one whereas my current garden seems more mysterious.

The bushes rustle as I back out, dumping my irritating pumps by the wall since I can't be bothered to deal with them anymore. I want my boots back.

Sitting down crossed legged on the soft grass, I slump back and watch the clouds painting the sky above me.
My tears fall out the corners of my eyes to meet my ears and water the grass below me.

'You're going with Eric, Tris.' I don't want to, though I could to spite Tobias. I don't need a prince to be happy, but my family needs the money.
More than I need the happiness.

I know what Susan would say, that I don't know him. I need to give Eric a chance, one he wasn't going to get with Tobias on the scene.
Maybe, it wouldn't be so bad in England. With a man who would treat me right.

I am Abnegation.
This is the selfless thing to do.