I AM TOBIAS AND I AM DIVERGENT

Chapter 2 (or 7, whatever)

   After every initiate makes the jump, though my eyes still strayed to her, Lauren and I lead the initiated through the dark compound halls that they will learn to call home.
   "This is where we divide," Lauren announces. "The Dauntless-born initiates are with me. I assume you don't need a tour of the place." Cue laughing.
   As the teenagers clad in black depart, I'm left with nine. Everyone is either Candor or Erudite, with one exception. Tris. Her chances of making it to membership are slim, being the smallest and only Abnegation recruit putting her at a disadvantage. But for some reason I also think she'll excell, maybe it's the determination in her eyes or how you know immediately that this girl is incredibly observant and a quick learner.
   "Most of the time I work in the control room, but for the next few weeks I am your instructor. My name is Four."
  A Candor girl in the back pipes up, "Four? Like the number?"
   I raise my eyebrows "Yes, is there a problem?"
Continuing my lecture, now on the Pit, the girl chooses to be an idiot and opens her mouth once more. I make a decision. Walking up to her, I lean close and narrow my eyes, staring at her for a moment.
   "What's your name?"
   "Christina," It's barely a squeak.
   "Well christina, if I wanted to put up with Candor smart mouths, I would have joined their faction." I'm not in the mood for impertinence. "The first lesson you will learn from me is too keep your mouth shut. Got that?"
  She nods and I can tell she's intimidated. Good. Turning, I leans the group silently through the tunnels. I hear Christina mumble something about me being a jerk, but I ignore it. Then someone replies.
   "I guess he doesn't like being laughed at." Tris. Smart girl. I stand aside from the doors to let the new initiates take in the wonder that is the Pit. I scan their reactions and find Tris raking in every detail, with a flight to of awesome in her eyes. After a moment, I lead them to the chasm, and give them a word of wisdom that will hopefully prevent Eric from turning all of them into cruel adrenaline junkies. And maybe to save their stupid lives.
   "The chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy! A daredevil jump off this ledge will end your life. It has happened before and it will happen again," My voice quiets, "You've been warned."
   They speak quietly to each other as we head to the cafeteria. Then the shouting and clapping and stomping break out in the raucous that is Dauntless, and I see Tris smile.
   Sitting down, I find myself next to Tris, with Christina on her other side. She picks up a burger between her thumb  and index finger and makes a face. I nudge her.
   "It's beef, put this on it" I hand her a bowl of ketchup.
   "You've never had a hamburger before!?" Christina asks, opened mouth.
   "No," she continues to scrutinize it, "Is that what they're called?"
   "Stiffs eat plain food." I contribute, using the slang for my former faction.
   "Why?" Christina questions, still incredulous.
Tris shrugs, "Extravagance is considered self-indulgent and unnecessary"
   "I can see why you left"
   "Yeah, it was just because of the food." She rolls her eyes and my lips twitch. Whether or not it's a good thing, this girl is slowly growing on  me.
   Silence follows the cafeteria doors being thrown open. Eric.
   "Who's that?" Christina hisses.
   "His name is Eric, he's a dauntless leader."
   "Seriously? But he's so young." I nod grimly, "Age doesn't matter here." I can guess her next question before she's asks it, but Eric stops scanning the room and plops down on my other side, and I wait for him to speak, as I know he will.
   "Well, aren't you going to introduce me?" He nods towards the girls on my left.
   "This is Tris and Christina." I reply, keeping my placid demeanor.
He turns to Tris, "Ooh, a Stiff" He pulls one occasion his cruel smiles and I see her wince, I don't blame her. "We'll see how long you last" I can tell she wants to speak, but her desire to avoid Eric is stronger.tgr  he turns to me. Crap.
   "What have you been doing lately Four?"
   "Nothing really" I say nonchalantly, though I can feel Tris' gaze burning through my skull, trying to glean as  Uchiha information as possible. I know curiosity is not an Abnegation trait, but an Erudite one. She clearly has an abundance of curiosity and intelligence, so why did she choose Dauntless?
   "Max tells me he keeps trying to meet with you and you don't show up," Eric says, "He requested that I find out what's going on with you."
   "Tell him that I am satisfied with the position I currently hold."
   "So he wants to give you a job"
   "So it would seem" I reply coolly.
   "And you aren't interested"
   "I haven't been interested in two years"
   "Well," he concludes, "let's hope he gets the point then" he claps me hard on the shoulder and and tension immediately releases from everyone in  vicinity of our conversation.
   "Are you two...friends?" Tris is the first to speak up.
   "We were in the same initiate class" after a moment I decide to add "He was a transfer from Erudite" this sparks her curiosity,
   "Were you a transfer too?"
   "I thought I would only have trouble with the Candor asking too many questions.  Now I've got Stiffs too?" I  coldly evade the question.
   "It must be because you're so approachable," her cheek comes out in a deadpan, "You know, like a bed of nails" I try not to smile, and stare at her. She stares back. As a blush creeps to her cheeks, I turn and say:
   "Careful, Tris"
   I hear Zeke call me over, but as I leave, I can tell Christina telling Tris about her death wish. And for the first time in a while, I smile.