A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~twenty-two~

Chapter 22

I listen to my friends compliment Christina and me on our hair as Tobias takes Tyler to get us each a plate of burgers with the works, bacon macaroni and cheese, seasoned green beans, glazed carrots, and applesauce. I didn't have a chance to get us any food when we first arrived in the cafeteria because Tessa decided to wake up and let me now that she was hungry. Hopefully she won't need me at 3 p.m. but I think she will. I'll tell whoever is in charge at the daycare to try a bottle first but to call me if necessary.

"These yummy," Tyler says as he eats his carrots and applesauce. He hasn't touched the rest of his food yet, which surprises me. He loves macaroni and cheese. He must be leery of the bacon in it.

"They sure are," I say. "Do you know what else is yummy?" He shakes his head excitedly. "The bacon mac and cheese." I take a bite to prove my point and spontaneously moan. Oh my, it's so good. I put a little more on my fork and let him try. He eats the mouthful then mimics my moan causing our friends to laugh.

"That yummy, too," he says. I watch as he digs into the rest of his food, and I can't help but feel a strong sense of accomplishment. I check on Tessa when I feel her stop nursing, and she smiles brightly when her eyes meet mine but she won't latch back on. I hand her to Tobias to burp while I straighten my clothes.

"Can I have cake with Wiah?" Tyler asks when he finishes his green beans. Uriah visibly panics when he asks that question, and a chorus of laughter rounds the table.

"I-I didn't ... uh ... he c-can but I didn't," he stammers. I think he's really worried about me carrying through with my threat from earlier this morning.

"Tyler, maybe you should ask Uriah if he wants to share his cake with you," I say. "If he does, you can have a little but not too much, okay?"

"Otay," he says. "Wiah, can I have bite of cake?" He puts on his puppy dog eyes and sulks like the champion pouter he is, and Uriah just can't resist.

"Okay, buddy," he says. "Come over here and you can help me eat the rest of my cake." Tyler gets down and runs to Uriah who happily puts him on his lap and shares his cake.

"What time do you except the first jumper?" Kirsten asks.

"Somewhere between 3:30 and 4:00, I think," Will says. "I should be heading to the Hub. I have to meet Tori. Harrison is holding down the fort while we're gone."

"Will you text me with updates?" I ask Will then I turn my attention back toward Tobias and ask, "That's not against some rule, is it?"

"Not that I'm aware of," he says.

"Are you looking for anything specific?" Will asks.

"I want to know what Avery's decision is," I say. "You can also let us know if anything else interesting happens."

"It's a Choosing Ceremony," Zeke says. "Nothing interesting ever happens." He looks at his watch and sighs. "I've got to get to the control room. We have extra patrols around the Hub, which is where Shauna is right now, and every monitor needs to be manned, watching for any signs of trouble. That includes me. It's going to be so boring. I'll feel better when today is over."

"It'll be over for you but it's just starting for us," Uriah says.

"That's the truth," I say. "Christina and I were looking over the schedule earlier. It's going to be a hectic nine weeks."

"It should make the last weeks of your pregnancy go by quickly," Marlene says.

"That's what I told her," Christina says. "I wish I had had something to make my time go quicker two of the last three months."