A New Life

Chapter 27: Discoveries

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DIVERGENT, THAT BELONGS TO THE VERY TALENTED VERONICA ROTH.

"Hey Tris, you coming to get food?" Uriah asks as everyone begins to stand and exit the hall.

"I'll meet you guys down there, I'm gonna wait for Eric and see if he wants to join." I say, pushing myself up from the chair I was in, and leaning outside the door.

"Of course, ditching the fam for your little boyfriend, I see how it is." Uri pretends to wipe a tear away and I roll my eyes at him.

"Don't give me that bullshit Uriah. How about you ditch Mar to hang we me then." I say raising an eyebrow.

"Anytime sis, Anytime." He says with a wink then starts to walk away.

"Mm hmm sure." I call after him and chuckle to myself. I can't believe how much has changed since I've come here. I have everything I've asked for and more. The door opens and Veronica walks out, without even sparing me a glance, Max and Harrison behind her. Max quickly catches my eye and smiles at me as they make their way down the hall. I walk back into the room and see Eric picking up some paper he had dropped on the ground. I stand back and watch him, the way his muscles bulge against his tight t-shirt and perfectly fitted jeans. He stands and taps the papers against the tabletop to better organize the stack before noticing my presence.

A smile grows on his face and he takes two large strides to reach me before enveloping me in his arms.
"I'm proud of you, you know." He whispers into my hair before pressing his lips gently to my neck and I find a smile creeping up to match his.
"Thank you." I whisper back with a small blush coating my cheeks.
"That was one hell of a speech by the way." He chuckles and I find myself joining in. "I don't think I've seen Max that floored in my time here. You shocked us all, including me honestly. When did you have the time to memorize the manifesto?" He asks and my chuckle grows.
"I didn't know I had honestly, it all kinda just came out, my filter evaporated into thin air." I laugh and he smiles down at me looping his arms around my waist.
"Well it was well worded, that's for sure, and everything you said was true, she had no right to deny you of your act of courage." He leans in to brush his lips against mine as he speaks.
"I don't think I was courageous." I find my gaze avoiding his as the words leave my lips. "I was angry, furious even, not brave."
"Sometimes it's when our emotions are at their peak that we are the bravest. Weather that be anger, or hatred or love." He hooks his finger under my chin and pulls my eyes up to meet the steel gray storm brewing within his own orbs.
"Brave, or reckless?" I say and he smiles.
"Sometimes there is no difference, but with you, your bravery strives through your selflessness, not through acts of recklessness." He presses his lips to mine quickly before pulling away.
"That's what Dauntless is though, they're reckless, we're reckless." I say winding my arms up and around his neck.
"Dauntless may be reckless, but you are no ordinary Dauntless, you're different, you're special." I watch as his eyes lighten to a near silvery color for a flash before returning to their original grey. I see how much he cares for me through his eyes, eyes that leave out no emotion, no thought, and currently they are full of both. Full of care and compassion, and not an ounce of doubt. I have no clue how, but those eyes, as well as the person behind them, have come to consume me. They have become so much with in my life, my new life, and I don't want this comfort within me to go away.
"Would you like to join me and the others at lunch?" I ask softly, never tearing my gaze from his eyes.
"I would love to." He smiles and begins to pull away before I pull him back and press my lips to his in a soft kiss.

Eric packs away his papers before coming over and grasping my hand within his own as we make our way to The Dining Hall. Once we enter we begin to approach Uri and he stands and crosses his arms over his chest.
"Look who finally decided to join us." He glares playfully and I roll my eyes. "Are you sure you wish to be seen with us common folk, seeing as you are leadership now." He says and I smirk.
"You are right my dear Uriah," I say with a small grin. "I was going to pleasure you all with my company, however after witnessing such low statuses," I pretend to scrunch my nose in disgust and he rolls his eyes in turn. "I shall join those of my kind." I finish and turn on my heels to walk towards the leadership table only stopping to run back, hug each of them, beside Uri, and quickly run back, shouting 'love you!' behind me. I make way back to Eric and he wraps his arm over my shoulder as we take a seat, with me being sat between Tori and Eric. Tori leans over and wraps one arms around me and squeezes giving me a quick hug.
"How are you sweetheart?" She asks and I smile at her.
"I'm fine, thank you." I reply with a soft grin.
"You handling everything ok?" She rubs her hand along my arm and I lean slightly into her side.
"I'm dealing with it, that's for sure." I say and she nods.
"You'll be ok, you're a strong girl, sweetheart. It may be hard, but you'll pull through." She whispers and I turn to wrap my arms tightly around her.
"Thank you so much Tori." I say into her shoulder and she squeezes a little tighter.
"I'll always be here for you. You can always come to me, for anything." She pulls away and rests her hand on my shoulders and smiles softly at me. "I'm sure that one will be there for you too." She says pointing her thumb towards Eric. I turn to glance at him and he's already looking at me with a soft gaze, smiling once I catch his eye.
"I'm sure he will." I whisper softly, more to myself rather than to Tori. I honestly have no clue how I got so lucky. I shift to lean against him, rather than Tori, and turn so that my back is against his side. He wraps his arms around my stomach and waist and pulls me onto his lap, burying his face in my neck and hair before pressing a kiss to my shoulder.
"You're so perfect." He whispers to himself and my cheeks instantly burn.
"That's not true." I whisper back, turning to face him more.
"What's not true?" He asks quietly bringing his hand up to my neck and running his thumb over my jaw. He stares into my eyes before I lock my eyes down on our legs.
"I'm not perfect." I say softly tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
"Ok, you aren't." He says and I look up to meet his eyes and he brings his other hand up as well to cup my face. His eyes lighten a touch and he leans in to peck my lips before resting his forehead against mine. "You may not be perfect, or at least not in others eyes, but I know one thing is true. You are perfect to and for me" He says softly and presses his lips firmly to my own. I instantly kiss him back before I hear gagging behind us.
"Will you two stop being all cutesie, it's gross." I hear Bud say as I pull back with a small laugh.
"Oh god, are we gonna have to deal with this at work now? It's bad enough as we eat." Harrison groans and runs his hands over his face.
"Oh shush. Leave the poor kids alone." Hana says shoving his shoulder, causing him to fall into Bud.
"Those 'kids' are your leader and leader in training." Bud says and Hana rolls her eyes.
"And I'll still ground them if necessary." She says and I laugh alongside the others sat around the table. "Oh dear lord." Hana gasps looking over my shoulder towards the doors behind me. I turn my head only to see Peter walking through the room. He has a cast over his leg, causing him to need crutches, his arm is in a sling and his fingers are in splints. His knuckles are wrapped, his face is swollen, including a black eye and his nose is slightly crooked. I turn back to the table and take a sip of my water.
"Shame isn't it." I say and their eyes shift from him to me. "I hear he slipped in the shower." I say with a shrug and Eric stifles his laugh.
"Oh really, is that what you heard?" Max raises an eyebrow and I nod. "Well that's strange, the story I heard was he messed with the wrong girl." Max smirks.
"Hmmm, I don't know who's been telling you lies Max, but I think you've been fooled." I say calmly.
"Oh yes Tris, I bet you're right." He chuckles shaking his head.
"I bet I am." I say with an innocent smile.
"Well that 'shower' must have been pretty damn badass." He says and my smile shifts into a smirk.
"That it is Max, that it is." Eric laughs kissing my temple.

Diner flew by quickly and was filled with light conversations and laughs between everyone. Chris and I met up shortly after in attempt to find our new apartment, Eric and Will trailing behind us. We walk similar corridors that lead to Eric's apartment, Chris and my arms looped through each other's.
"You know," I hear Will say behind us, talking to Eric. "If we aren't careful, they may just leave us for each other." He says and I look to Chris, who shares the same evil glint in her eye as I do.
"Damn right you might." Chris says then taps her cheek lightly, I quickly lean up and kiss her cheek and smile as Will's jaw drops and Eric chuckles. "We all know I could be a better boyfriend than that one." Chris says pointing with her head to Eric. Eric glances at me and I simply shrug.
"Wow, that hurts. That really hurts." He says shaking his head lightly.
"Oops." I shrug again and he scuffs.
"You know what they say, bros before hoes." Chris says and I laugh.
"Isn't that saying for guys?" Will points out.
"Yeah, and?" Chris and I say and that same time before we erupt in laughter.
"I don't see how we deal with them." Eric says and I look back at him before stopping in front of the apartment, which happens to be three doors down from Eric's.
"You know it's worth it." I say and they both nod as I unlock the door. I step aside to let Chris push it open and I smile widely at the room once she does. The apartment is very open, similar to Eric's. The wall that faces the door is completely glass, with a sliding door that leads to a balcony. Next to the front door is the kitchen and on the other side is a small coat closet. You enter the apartment and are right in the living room, and there is a spiral staircase between the kitchen and living room, leading up to a loft. Under the stairs there is a small desk and a wall that opens up into storage and to the washer and dryer, and along the wall of glass, there's a small hallway that leads to a bedroom and bathroom. The loft is similar to the one in Eric's apartment, with a bedroom, a bathroom and a walk-in closet. The kitchen is completely black and grey, with grey tiles and black cabinets, as well as all stainless steal appliances. The countertops are a dark marble and there's an island with a breakfast bar that separates the kitchen from the living room. The living room has black furniture and a large tv mounted on the wall. I walk through the hall and into the bedroom, which has a large bed, a glass dresser and two glass nightstands on either side of the bed. The wall are a light grey, almost white, and Chris instantly hops on the bed, claiming it as her own. I pass by the bathroom, since it will most likely be Chris's, and make my way up the stairwell, into the second bedroom. The walls are a very dark grey, and the furniture is same as the downstairs bedroom, with dark stained wood, instead of glass. I walk into the bathroom and see a large shower next to a huge tub, and a double sink made of metal next to the toilet. The closet is a huge walk in, that will most likely have more of Chris's clothes in it, rather than my own. I walk back to the bed and run my hand over the midnight blue comforter and black sheets, the fabric soft under my touch. I feel arms drape around my waist and the smell of aftershave and sawdust consumes me as his warm breaths brushes against my neck. I lean back into his warm chest and his arms tighten around me.