But Then I Met Her | ✓

Chapter 5

Eric drops into the seat next to me, and I immediately tense up. It's not that he intimidates me- trust me, he doesn't- but he's a Dauntless leader and is probably still out for my blood after I kicked his ass in initiation two years ago.

"Well, aren't you going to introduce me?" He asks. We aren't friends, Eric and I. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's obvious that I hate him as much as he hates me. Like I said, it's because he came in second in initiation. Not that he'd let you think that.

"This is Tris and Christina." I say stiffly.

"Ooh, a Stiff." He smirks at Tris, and I feel somewhat protective of her. Because we're from the same faction. "We'll see how long you last." Something lights up in Tris's eyes, almost as if she wants to tell him that she will last, but knows to keep her mouth shut.

"What have you been doing lately, Four?" Eric turns his attention back to me.

I shrug. "Nothing, really." Tris's eyes flick back and forth between us, trying to figure something out. This is something an Erudite would do. Was Erudite her aptitude result?

"Max tells me he keeps trying to meet with you, and you don't show up," Eric says. "He requested that I find out what's going on with you." He makes me seem like an idiot, but for an Erudite transfer, he isn't very bright.

I watch him for a few seconds, figuring out how to say this.. "Tell him that I am satisfied with the position I currently hold."

"So he wants to give you a job." Yeah, yours. I consider saying this, but then decide against it. Better to not pick a fight with Eric in front of the transfers. 

"So it would seem." I say instead.

"And you aren't interested."

"I haven't been interested for two years."

"Well," Eric says then. "Let's hope he gets the point, then." He claps me on the shoulder, a little too hard to be considered friendly, and gets up, leaving our table. I relax some, and I notice that Tris releases a breath once he's gone.

"Are you two...friends?" Tris asks.

"We were in the same initiate class." I inform her. "He transferred from Erudite."

"Were you a transfer too?"

"I thought I would only have trouble with the Candor asking too many questions," I reply coldly. "Now I've got Stiffs, too?" I start to regret what I said-especially calling her a Stiff- but she has a quick tongue, yet another thing that is not natural to the Abnegation.

"Maybe it's because you're so approachable," she says flatly. "You know. Like a bed of nails."

I stare at her, and she doesn't look away. Another Dauntless trait. Her face flushes, but her eyes don't give away any of her thoughts.

I just keep watching her for a minute and say, "Careful, Tris."

We both look away, and then I hear Zeke call my name from another table. I look up and see him, Uriah, Lynn, Shauna, Lauren, and Marlene waving me over. I stand up to go over and join my friends without another word.

Tris is definitely unlike anyone I've ever met before, Abnegation or not.