Bare Hands (Sequel To No Sympathy)

Verdict: Part Two

After leaving the room, I still feel a bit uneasy about leaving Tris. It's okay. I tell myself. Give her some time. She has to have time to herself to cope with the loss of her parents and whatever else is going on in her head.

But I can't help but feel a bit unwanted. I know it's selfish, but even though she doesn't seem to need me all of the time, I definitely need her.

I go back to my room and simply stand there, glaring at the door. I wish Tris was here with me. I wish I had the courage to go see her, even though I just left. Just...the idea of leaving he alone unnerves me.

After about fifteen minutes, I go back to her room but settle for standing outside her door trying my best not to look like a stalker, pacing back and forth, waiting for her to come out.

After a few more minutes of pacing, I hear a door knob rattling, and I quickly stand against the wall, not wanting to show Tris my paranoia. She opens the door and gives me a smile.

I notice her hair right away.

It's shorter than I've ever seen it: it comes down to only he chin now.

I can't say I don't like it, but it is a bit different.

Shooting a small smile her way, I loop my am through hers and turn around to approach the meeting place - just to see that Caleb is right in front of us.

He looks better than he did earlier , but still not the best. There are dark half circles under his eyes indicating that whatever the Amity gave him to help him take a nap probably didn't help him much.

He wrinkles his nose when he sees Tris's hair.

"You cut your hair." He says, stating the obvious.

Tris shifts uneasily. "Yeah it's.. Too hot for long hair." She takes him.

"Fair enough."

I'm itching to ask her the real reason why she cut her hair, but I think I already know. It's the same reason I got my tattoos: The old reminds us of the pains of the past too much, so we do something new, change our hair or add things to our bodies, to help us forget.

And with that, we begin our walk to the greenhouse, where the voting will take place.

"Does anyone know you're Marcus's son?" Caleb asks. "From Abnegation, I mean."

I look at him. "Not to my knowledge. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention it."

"I don't need to mention it, it's practically obvious." He pauses, eyeing Tris and I's looped arms. "How old are you anyway?"

"Eighteen."

"And you don't think you're a little too old to be dating my little sister?"

I'm shocked that he still thinks of her as his little sister. She's most likely seen and been through more than he has even dreamed about.

"She's not your little anything." I say with a small chuckle.

"Stop it. Both of you." Tris says firmly, unlocking our entwined arms and walking purposefully ahead.

I watch her leave the Amity compound and enter into the warm temperatures of the outside.

+++

Amity's greenhouse is larger than I expected it to be.

In the middle of the whole thing is a gigantic tree with roots sprouting from the ground.

I take a guess that the entire faction of Amity is outside sitting or standing around Johanna, who is standing on one of the larger roots. The other factions that are taking refuge here are with us also, but they are sitting on the floor or the benches, like Tris and I are.

Tris is leaning against me, her head resting on my shoulder. My head is resting on hers.

"Lets hope for the best." She says calmly.

I just nod, knowing that she can feel it.

Before Johanna can start talking, I bring my lips to Tris's ear.

"I like your hair that way."

I feel her smile.

Johanna silences the crowd with a quick wave of the hand and our "trial" begins.

"Today, Amity will decide whether to let our fellow Dauntless and Erudite refuges stay or leave. I have taken this to my people, in the hopes that we can come to an agreement."

Mumbling and whispers start sounding from the ring formed around Johanna. It is clear that they are uneasy about Dauntless and Erudite staying among them. But I do believe that they will come to a sensible and just decision, whether it benefits us or not.

"They're not going to let us argue with them, are they?"Tris asks.

"I doubt it. They weren't made to argue, they were meant to fix and agree."

Just then, Johanna bows her head and the noise quiets down.

"We have come to the conclusion that Amity will be used as a refuge camp for anyone in need of one,so therefore, we will allow our Dauntless and Erudite brothers and sisters to stay with us under three conditions." Of course, I think.

"The first is that there is not to be any weaponry anywhere near this compound, the second is that if any conflict arises, whether verbal or physical, both parties will be asked to leave. And the third is that the situation regarding Erudite's rain of terror or any other rash acts will not be discussed inside of the compound." She pauses and locks eyes with me and then with Tris. "You and your friends are welcome to stay as long as you abide by the rules."

We nod at her firmly praying that she can't see through our lies.