Chasing Amy (Complete)

3

It may be 10 a.m. but it's still freezing. I'm only wearing my dress, and I regret not stopping by home to pick up a sweater or jacket. I'm running, though, so I'm not as cold as I would be if I weren't.
I'm near our favorite spot. That could be one of our childhood apartments, a certain laboratory, one of our current apartments, the millennium, et cetera. I run my temples, trying to think of where Amy could be.
     I decide to go to her childhood apartment first. The November air is chilling and I'm worried I'll catch hypothermia, but Amy is more important. I storm into Erudite headquarters, gasping for air, and press the button to go up rapidly.
     Amy lived on the 25th floor, and the elevator ride is long. People keep getting on to go up to the top floor laboratories, and the elevator makes at least ten stops. People are giving me strange looks, but I don't blame them. I haven't even looked in a mirror since leaving Erudite, so I must look like a mess.
     I finally reach Amy's apartment, and I barge in, hoping to see her. But instead, the entire room is empty, and there's a note on the floor. I run to the piece of paper, unfold it, and read it.
Dear Jeanine,
I'm no longer in one of our favorite places, but I'm with someone I love in a different way. If you find me, I'll come home.
     Amy
     "Fuck!" I shout. I can't decide if I want Amy to be happy or live her dream. What's the difference, anyway? I break down sobbing and sink to the floor.
     "Why can't I be a good friend?" I cry. Then it hits me. Someone who loves her differently, that can only be Jake!
     Amy always talked about her boyfriend Jake Peralta, she has to be with him. I quickly send her a text, hoping she'll respond.
     Jeanine: Are you with Jake???
     She answers really fast.
Amy: ;) come find out! Amity woods, 9pm, tonight.
     My face lights up with joy and I squeal. I'll finally see Amy again.
     I can't take a car to the forest. That would be too obvious. I lay out my blue jacket on my bed and go to the kitchen. I pour myself a cup of hot coffee and sit down at the table with a pile of paperwork.
     I try to work, but I can't. I can only focus on Amy. I decide that I deserve to relax a little bit, so I decide to run myself a bath. I've never seen the point of baths, but once I lower my body into the silky warm water, I understand why they're so popular. It's been years since I've last had a bath since I usually just shower. It's much more efficient and sustainable.
Amity woods, 9pm, tonight.
Amy's text echoes in my head. I wonder if she'll come back. But then my mind starts to drift into a darker direction. What if she is calling me there to tell me that she's leaving, becoming factionless? I let my head slip underwater as I try to drown out any negative thoughts.
     I hear the front door open quietly and I jump out of the tub, slipping on the wet floor and crashing to the floor.
     "Jeanine?" I hear Evelyn's voice call. I pull on a robe and walk out of the bathroom.
     "What do you want?" I ask. It sounds very hostile, but I don't want her help. I glance at the clock behind her. It's 7:30 pm already. I must've been in the bath for hours.
     "I want to help you find Amy!" Evelyn says. She sounds genuine.
     "I don't need you. You'll just hurt me again," I say. Evelyn's smile quickly turns into a frown and she slowly steps towards me.
     "You hurt me more than Marcus ever did. And he abused me, Jeanine!" Evelyn cries. Tears are rising in her eyes, threatening to spill over. "I will hurt you so bad you'll be begging on your knees for me to stop, wishing you never pushed me away!"
     Evelyn shoves me hard into the table, spins around and walks out the door, leaving it wide open. I growl as I stomp over to the door and slam it shut.
Do it. Go to Tris, a small voice in my head says, gradually getting louder. And I do. Dauntless is very close to Amity woods.
     "Jeanine? What are you doing here so late?" Tris asks, shocked. I took the time to get dressed and brush my hair, but it's still wet, dripping onto my shoulders.
"Are you busy right now?" I whisper. Tris shakes her head.
"No. Why?"
"Can you come to the Amity forest with me?"