The Unlucky Ones

[24] - Visiting Day

[Tobias]

Today is visiting day. My father never came on my Visiting day. He probably lied to the Abnegation members and said that he was too busy to go and see me. Or maybe he was blunt about it and admitted that he didn't want to go and see a selfish son who betrayed his home faction. He didn't want to take the time out of his day to go and see the only child he has who has betrayed him. That wouldn't be fair to him or the rest of his faction. I walk through the Pit, dodging tearful reunions and shrieks of laughter. Families can always come together on Visiting Day, even if they’re from different factions, but over time, they usually stop coming. 'Faction before blood,' after all. Most of the mixed clothing I see belongs to transfer families: Will’s Erudite sister is dressed in light blue, Peter’s Candor parents are in black and white. For a moment I watch his parents and wonder if they made him into the person he is. But most of the time, people aren’t that easy to explain, I guess. I’m supposed to be on a mission, but I pause next to the chasm, pressing into the railing. Bits of paper float in the water. Now that I know where the steps cut into the stone in the opposite wall are, I can see them right away, and the hidden doorway that leads to them. I smile a little, thinking of the nights I’ve spent on those rocks with Zeke or Shauna, sometimes talking and sometimes just sitting
and listening to the water move. I hear footsteps approaching, and look over my shoulder. Tris is walking toward me, tucked under the gray-clad arm of an Abnegation woman. Natalie Prior. I stiffen, suddenly desperate to escape-- what if Natalie knows who I am, where I came from? What if she lets it slip, here, surrounded by all these people? She can’t possibly recognize me. I don’t look anything like the boy she knew, lanky and slouched and buried in fabric. When she’s close enough, she extends her hand.

" Hello, my name is Natalie. I’m Beatrice’s mother. " She says.

Beatrice. That name is so wrong for her. I clasp Natalie’s hand and shake it. I’ve never been fond of Dauntless hand-shaking. It’s too unpredictable—you never know how tightly to squeeze, how many times to shake.

" Four, " I say. " It’s nice to meet you. "

She cocks an eyebrow.

" Four, " Natalie says, and she smiles. " Is that a nickname? "

" Yes, " I say.

I need to change the subject. I'm too close to losing everything I worked so hard to create for my cover-up. One slip of the tongue by Natalie and I'm no longer Four. Then, I'm Tobias Eaton, rumored abused son of Marcus Eaton.

" Your daughter is doing well here. I’ve been overseeing her training. " I say.

She smiles, nodding.

" That’s good to hear, " She says. " I know a few things about the Dauntless initiation, and I was worried about her. "

I glance at Tris. There’s color in her cheeks—she looks happy, like seeing her mother is doing her some good. For the first time, I fully appreciate how much she’s changed since I first saw her, tumbling onto the wooden platform, fragile-looking, like the impact with the net, should have shattered her. She doesn’t look fragile anymore, with the shadows of bruises on her face and a new stability in the way she stands, like she’s ready for anything.

" You shouldn’t worry, " I say to Natalie.

Tris looks away. I think she’s still angry with me for the way I nicked her ear with that knife. I guess I don’t really blame her.

" You look familiar for some reason, Four, " Natalie says.

I would think her comment was lighthearted if not for the way she’s looking at me like she’s pinning me down. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.

" I can’t imagine why, " I say, as coldly as I can manage. " I don’t make a habit of associating with the Abnegation. "

She doesn’t react the way I expect her to. No surprise or Fear or Anger. She just laughs.

" Only a few people do these days. I don’t take it personally. " She says.

If she does recognize me, she doesn’t seem eager to say so. I try to relax.

" Well, I’ll leave you to your reunion, " I say.

Tris looks up at me, an eyebrow cocked.

" It was lovely meeting you. " I say to Tris' mother.

My eyes land on Tris and I smile.

" I'll see you later, Tris. Stay out of trouble. " I say.

She nods. I walk away, letting Tris say goodbye to her Mother without an awkward imposture. I do keep an eye on her, however. I wait in a hidden corner of the out, watching for her mother to leave, or watching for Tris to emerge alone. Then I see her. Tris looks upset in a way, but also happy in another. They hug tightly and Tris nuzzles into her Mother's embrace. They talk for a while. I stand up straight, shaking her from my mind. I need to stop. Tris is an initiate I have to train. I can't afford to get attached to her. Her mother leaves, leaving Tris with a confused look on her face. I chuckle, squeezing my way through the crowd to her.

" What, your Mother say something shocking? " I ask.

She nods.

" Yeah actually. She did. What was with you earlier? I've never seen you so cold and unresponsive and you're Four. " She says.

I take that hit like a punch to the gut. I shake it off, shrugging.

" I'm not a huge fan of Abnegation. I don't really associate with them well. " I say.

She cocks an eyebrow, curling her lip down.

" What, is there something wrong with Abnegation? " She asks.

I shake my head, smiling.

" No. I just don't really get along with the leading authorities. But even if I said there was, you shouldn't really be offended. You're in Dauntless now. You don't need to worry about them. " I say.

She opens her mouth.

" Yes, I should. What about-- "

" Look, I get it. You're concerned about your parents. But really, you don't need to worry about them. Dauntless is gonna make sure nothing happens to Abnegation. It's how we work. " I say.

She nods. I may have lied to her to get her to calm down. What else was I supposed to do?