You And Me Against The World | ✅

Chapter 26

"Faction before blood?" Tobias asks.

"Yeah."

"I need a little more," he says.

"It's a stupid concept. It might have worked a hundred years ago, but not anymore. How the hell can you have faction before blood?" I ask.

"Well, the principle behind it is that once a depended chooses a faction and it happens to be another faction than the one his parents belong too, then he shall put the faction before his blood," Jonah explains and I roll my eyes at him.

"I know that. But it is only applied to transfers. Why should I, as a transfer, suffer and never see my parents again just because I've chosen Dauntless. For me personally, Dauntless was the right choice and I don't regret it. But that doesn't mean I stopped loving my parents. It's easier for a person who chooses to stay in his or her faction of birth. For those people faction before blood means nothing, but for transfers it means you act against the law if you stay in contact with your family. Those visitation days once or twice a year are a joke. How can my relationship with my parents determine if I'm loyal or not to my chosen faction? It's bull. And not just that. We all depend on each other, all the factions. There isn't one that's more important than the other. My question is, why create problems instead of reinforcing existing bonds? If we can co-exist and work together on the council so could others," I say.

"How about you present this idea of yours during the next meeting," my dad says.

"Really?" I ask hopeful.

"Yes. It is your right to be heard on this matter and we will discuss and decide together if it's in the city's best interest or not," he says. I nod at him but I could literally jump up and down. Finally! I'll be able to voice my opinions and be heard, without hearing some misogynist remark from an asshole like Marcus.

"Thank you. I will prepare a presentation that will blow your minds," I say excited.

"I prefer mine intact, thank you very much," Jack says and we laugh.

"Alright. Let's go home," my dad says. We all walk out of the conference room and into the lobby. My dad grabs my hand and I turn to look at him. "I almost forgot. Your mother wanted me to invite you two for lunch on Sunday, if it's alright with you," he says smiling.

"Of course," I say.

"I'm looking forward to it. It's been too long," Tobias says. We offer to drive dad back home, but he refuses saying he wants to take a walk thinking of this new development in his professional life. We say good bye and head to our car.

"Is it a bad thing to say that I'm glad that my dad is the new council leader?" I ask.

"No. Andrew will make a fine leader. He is honest and selfless, just and he cares for people's opinions and doesn't impose his own point of view," Tobias says reassuringly.

"Yeah, but he's a leader now because your dad got shot," I say looking out the window.

"Tris, I think people had enough of Marcus Eaton. They would have elected Andrew regardless. Trust me."

"You're probably right," I say sighing.

"Is something else on your mind?" he asks glancing my way.

"Until now I had Marcus to worry about, but now I have to worry about everyone on the council," I say looking toward him.

"What do you mean?" he asks confused.

"What if they don't like my ideas? What if they too think it's stupid? I could have handled it from Marcus, but not the rest," I say defeated.