A Different Divergent: Everyday Love

44

"What time is it?" I ask, giving in to a wide yawn. I'm standing with Tobias, Ana, and Brody watching the transfers' practice fights, fighting a battle of my own to keep my eyes open. For as impressed as I was with the Dauntless-born's progress this morning, I'm equally disappointed with the transfers' lack of this afternoon. I don't blame Ana or Brody though. They're doing the best they can with the lot they were given. The action, or lack thereof, on the mat in front of us frustrates me to no end. We watch as Oliver takes a beating from a girl half his size.

"It's nearly quitting time," Ana says, looking at her watch.

"Okay," I yell out, having had enough. The transfers all look my way. "It's suppertime. You can go for the night. Don't forget to be at the train bright and early for our trip to the fence tomorrow." I watch as the battered transfers slowly make their way to the door, dragging their feet. It's a good thing Eric's no longer with us or each one of them would have found themselves hanging above the chasm this afternoon. "Not you," I say as Oliver starts to pass. He stops, confusion filling his flushed face. I hope he's embarrassed and didn't actually work up a sweat. Once the door closes behind the last stragglers, I make my way to the center of the mat. "Come here." He drops his eyes to the floor and shuffles his way to me. Definitely embarrassed. Tobias crosses his arms across his chest, his hands balled into tight fists. I can tell he doesn't like Oliver this close to me. Brody and Ana move to flank him, their stances matching. They stay a few feet away, giving me the privacy I need to talk to the troubled initiate.

"Tris?" Oliver murmurs, barely audible.

"Tell me, what was the result of your aptitude test?" I ask. I already know the answer to the question. When I told Ana I would talk to him, I carefully studied his file, looking for what I didn't know. I just want to know if he'll be honest with me.

"Why do you want to know that?" he timidly asks.

"Answer her question, initiate," Tobias growls. He really dislikes Al's doppelganger, and I don't blame him. There's something off about him.

"D-dauntless," he squeaks. I take a step forward and crowd his space. I know he's lying.

"Care to rethink your answer?" I ask. All color drains not only from his face but from his entire body too.

"A-amity," he whispers, lowering his eyes. I nearly fell off my desk chair when I read that his test revealed an aptitude for Amity. Amity. That explained his passiveness.

"What are you doing here? Why did you join Dauntless? You obviously have no real desire to be here. You don't work hard at anything. You throw your fights. You're apathetic to weapons training. If automatic cuts were made, you'd be first on our list. You are most definitely not Dauntless material. So tell me. What. Are. You. Doing. Here?" He shrugs his shoulders, not meeting my eyes, and it pisses me off. "You can't even tell me what made you step up and drip your blood on the hot coals?" Pathetic! "You do realize that if you don't put some effort into your training that you will be factionless at the end of phase one. There is no place in Dauntless for weakness." This seems to spark something in Oliver.

"I'll do better," he says, straightening his spine. "I'll prove it to you, Tris. Give me a chance to prove that I can do this, that I deserve a place here in Dauntless." I still wish I understood his motives for wanting to be here. I look over my shoulder at Tobias. He nods once.

"All right. Here's the deal, initiate," I say, purposely avoiding the use of his name. "You have to pass each weapon's test at 100% and you must also win each of your fights whether they're practice or scored. Brody and Ana will work with you one-on-one for one hour before regular training hours to ensure that you reach your goals. If you are one minute late, if you fail one test, or if you don't give your all you might as well pack your bags. You've been given more chances to straighten up than anyone in the history of this faction." Okay. That might be an exaggeration. "I hope you appreciate this chance we're giving you."