Four and Tris - If things were different (no war)

7

I've been here for five days now and soon it will be time to fight each other for the final rankings in stage one, I've already had some practice fights and lost in complete embarrassment, but I'm only more determined to do better now. I wake up at 6:00 AM, this gives me two hours before everyone else has to be in the training room. I get ready as quietly as I can and sneak out of the dorm. 

When I reach the training room I see Four already in there. I debate going in for a little while but I remember this is about surviving, and if he thinks I'm dedicated he may even rank me higher. I walk in and begin to punch the punchbag and he looks up, startled by the noise. I don't even look in his direction and focus myself completely on my punches. I know he said to use my elbows but I want to improve my punch, I can't always be predictable. 

He stops his work out and sits on the bench opposite me, watching me as if were any other day. I feel judged and I know I'm not a good fighter, so I know I'll have to swallow my pride and just ask for help. I step aside and face him, realising we haven't actually said anything to each other since I walked in. I'll never know why he seems so comfortable in awkward situations. I look down to my fingers and realise they're knotting together, why am I so nervous? 

"Hey, Four." I watch him very slightly raise his eyebrow and look at me, "I think I need help." I say timidly. 

"I think you do too," he gets up swiftly stands next to me, "to be honest, your technique is fine, but a punchbag isn't going to hit you back. Fight me." I turn to look at him thinking about how absurd his idea is but he's already walking to the ring. There's no way on earth I'm going to be able to beat him but I follow anyway. 

When I step in the ring, he gives me a few seconds to get in position and he moves. Before I even know what happens he has me in a position and freezes. 

"How are you going to get out of this?" He whispers and I understand what we're doing. If I was fighting anyone else they would not have kept me in this position, I would have been flipped onto my back from here, but he's going to teach me how to escape. I use all my strength to try and wiggle out of his grip as it's the only thing I can think of doing, but he doesn't budge. 

He talks me through step by step how to get out and turn the attack onto him. He teaches me wear to punch, how to go on offence, how to defend different attacks and it feels like we've been working all day. He places his hand on my upper arm and smiles. The gentle touch makes me shiver, but it's not even cold. He smiles a little and removes his hand. 

"I'm going to wake them up now." He says and I'm left standing alone, still feeling the ghost of his hand where he touched me. I don't understand the feeling, we've been in contact for the past two hours but this felt different. I walk over to the benches and finally allow myself to smile, even laugh a little. What is it about him when we're alone that makes me so weak? I just can't help it.