A Different Divergent: Everyday Love

55

"What the hell just happened?" I stare at the opaque glass and steel door, watching my father's silhouette disappear further into the dreary confines of the Abnegation headquarters feeling like someone just took a sledgehammer to my chest. My world tilts, and I have trouble breathing as my heart stutters then races.

My father's words echo in my head. Beatrice, call Four. You're going to need him. What the hell does that even mean? Why would I need Tobias here, now? And if he knew I was going to need my husband today, why in hell didn't he say something, anything when Tobias phoned him last night?

"He lied to Four," I mumble under my breath, trying to get my bearings. "Dad told Four he didn't know what this meeting was about, Caleb. He lied. Why in the hell would he do that?" I tear my eyes away from the forlorn expression reflecting back at me through the glass of the door and look at my brother who's wearing a befuddled as an expression as I am.

"I don't know what to tell you. I don't know why he hasn't been forthcoming with either of us," he says. I pull my phone out and dial Tobias but only get his voicemail. I immediately try again to no avail. "We need to get inside." Caleb glances at his watch, looking antsy. "Technically, we're late."

"Shit," I murmur, not giving a damn if we're late or not. "I can't get ahold of Four."

"You're going to have to leave him a message then," Caleb says. "But we've got to go. Now."

"You're right," I sigh and he gives me a smug look that screams, yeah I know. I roll my eyes at my big brother and he smirks until he remembers our situation, then he quickly sobers. I hit Tobias' number and once again get his voicemail. I leave a quick message.

"Baby, I don't know what's going on but Dad told me I was going to need you today. Get to Abnegation headquarters as soon as you possibly can. Please, Tobias! I feel like I should have listened to Tyler and just stayed home. I love you." I sigh as I silence my phone then stick it in my back pocket. I look up at Caleb feeling lost.

"I can't believe Dad lied to us," I say, feeling lost.

"He's been known to do that a time or two if you'll remember," he says, his expression hardening. He must be remembering finding out under truth serum about Dad's one night stand with Ellie Black just before he and Mom got married. Either that or my brother is privy to more of our father's secrets than I am. "Come on." I blindly follow behind Caleb, my mind lost in thought, and am surprised when we enter the large public meeting space.

"I thought this was a private meeting," I whisper to Caleb. He shrugs, looking around the room also. Obviously, I was wrong. The meeting hall is almost filled to capacity. We take our seats, the only two empty ones at the tables in the center of the room, and the crowd is called to order.

"Now that everyone has joined us," Dad booms loud enough for everyone to hear, his disapproving glare pinning Caleb and me in place, reminding us that we are indeed late, "we can get started. I would like to thank everyone for coming on such short notice. Ellie, will you please read the minutes from our last meeting?"

"Of course, Andrew," Ellie Black says as she gets to her feet. She then goes to the podium and adjusts the microphone to her height. While she recounts all that occurred at our last meeting, I look around the room, tuning her out. Right now I could care less about what happened at the meeting less than six weeks ago. I don't know why we're suffering the formalities. I want to know why we were summoned here today, and I want to know now.