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

9

The ranking meeting just finished and everybody is loud with celebration. Christina and I made a promise that if we both got this far we would get tattoos. Of course, I'm overwhelmed with happiness that I've done it, but it's a bittersweet feeling. The more accepted in Dauntless I am, the less Abnegation I become, and the less connected I am with my family. Faction Before Blood. We're supposed to live by that, but deep down I know if it comes to it, I will always chose blood before my faction. Even getting this tattoo is differentiating me even more from Abnegation. I have to do it though, otherwise things will look suspicious. 

I look around the tattoo parlour at all of the incredible art on the walls, until Tori catches my eye. I walk towards her and she just looks at me. I could be mistaken but it looks like fear is in her eyes. She walks into the tattoo room, I can only presume to avoid me, but as my eyes follow her in I see the perfect tattoo. Three black crows, to represent each member of my family I've left behind. Nobody will know what it means apart from me, and I think that's amazing. I take it from the wall and knock on the room Tori had walked into, holding it up for her to see. 

"Take a seat Beatrice." She says hardly looking up from her chair. 

"Actually, it's Tris." I say as casually as I can. 

"Tris, as in, First Jumper Tris?" She says with genuine shock in her voice. I nod and laugh a little. That's not the worst thing to be known as I guess. She sets up the equipment for the tattoo and I debate talking to her about my test results. Anyone could be listening but I have so many questions to ask her. 

"Can I ask you something?" I say knowing she'll know. 

"You made a mistake Tris, but you're stronger than I thought, the last stage of training you will have to be stronger though, you'll have to think and act like Dauntless. Not one mistake." She says sternly, looking straight in my eyes. I don't even know what that stage of training is yet but I'm already terrified. I know she said not to trust anyone but I want to talk to someone about this, someone who can help me. Like Four. I know I can't tell him but how I wish I could. 

Christina and I meet and show each other our new tattoos, she jokes about how Dauntless we are and I laugh along. I really think I can learn to enjoy it here. We walk back to the dorms laughing and shoving each other when I catch eye contact with Four across The Pit. He's obviously drinking with his friends but takes the opportunity to wink at me without anyone seeing. I feel my cheeks go hot and red and I have to look away from Christina. I bite my lip to stop myself smiling, but something inside me's telling me I liked it more than I should have. Maybe I do like Four more than I should. I just don't know.