Only Annie | Eric Coulter

5 - Nobody Like You*

Little Mix

* * *

"I only like myself

When I'm with you."

*  * *

|| T R I S

One week without our original instructors was, I admit, torture.

Since both Four and Eric were gone, Max sent in two other back-up instructors. I'm not sure whether or not it's right to call them that, since at first sight they don't look like Dauntless at all. They weren't muscular and strong-looking, and they weren't what you call menacing either. They were just... them.

"Jimmy," Dawson asks from beside me, eyebrows pulled together, "When are we gon' start some real training, man?"

Jimmy flips his middle finger up in the air, then proceeds to cover his face with a cowboy hat. My eyes are twitching just from the sight of him resting his head on a torn punching bag, not caring about what we do.

I hear Peter groan, "What the hell? Eric's better than him."

For once in my entire stay in Dauntless, I completely agree with him.

The rest of us are silent as we enviously gaze at the Dauntless-borns training with Lauren. They were across us, sounds of their punches echoing throughout the huge training room.

I purse my lip in worry. We're all going to get cut, aren't we?

"What the hell are you doing just standing there?"

All eyes went back to the doors, and in comes Eric and Four. A sigh escapes my lips. Thank goodness.

Eric swiftly kicks the punching bag away from Jimmy's head, and the latter pales upon seeing the scowling leader. He shakes as he stands, and when he fully recovers from his sleepy state, Eric pulls back his arm and in one strong swing, punches Jimmy right in the face.

I hear Dawson snicker. "Now that's a real wake up call."

...  

|| F O U R

"Why are you here?"

I'm not in my right state of mind, I'm letting too many thoughts swirl around my head. The trip to Erudite is messing with me more than I imagined it would, and now I'm fucked. I don't need any more shit on my plate.

The initiate pulls her hand back from the glass trinket that's resting on my desk, eyes wide at the sound of my voice.

I pinch my nose in frustration. Why did I even bring her here two days ago? People from Abnegation always got attached so easily, and from there they turn into a full-blown clingy girlfriend mode.

"I just wanted to thank you," She hides her face from me with her blonde hair, and I curse myself for thinking whether or not she blushed, "A-and I wanted to know if you're okay... since you uh-went to Erudite."

Damn it. This shit isn't happening.

"I'm sorry, initiate. But whatever you're thinking, it's wrong. They're all wrong. Whatever triggered you into thinking you can walk in my apartment and ask about my feelings can shove itself down Eric's ass. I don't need greetings. I don't need initiates poking their business in what's supposed to be only mine."

I can't say them--I won't  say them.

I really am fucked.

"Tris," I croak, "You're beautiful. Have you ever been told?"

...