The Unlucky Ones

[32] - Morning

[Tobias]

I exit the shower, gasping for air from the heat. I dry off my body, pulling on my boxers, then my pants, then my shirt. I exit the bathroom, drying my hair with a towel in my hand. I'm shocked to see Tris standing on her tiptoes, staring at her face in the mirror. She examines the bruise on her cheek. I remove the towel from my head and lay it on a chair. Her eyes examine my face.

" Hi, " She says.

Her voice sounds tight--restricted. She sounds scared almost. I wish she wasn't. I reach forward, touching her cheek with my fingertips.

" Not bad, " I say. " How's your head? "

She shrugs.

" Fine, " She says.

She touches the back of her head, bdushing her fingers over the bump. A slight wince makes it's way onto her face. But it could be worse. She could be floating in the river basin. I drop my hand from her cheek down to her side, the ribs where she was kicked. I do it causally but she seems to be stuck.

" And your side? " I ask, my voice low.

She shrugs.

" Only hurts when I breathe. " She says.

I smile a lopsided smile.

" Not much you can do about that. " I say.

She shrugs.

" Peter would probably throw a party if I stopped breathing. " She says.

She's right. He'd have a celebration of the loss of a stiff. And I'd kill him during the party.

" Well, " I say, " I would only go if there was cake. "

She laughs, then winces, covering my hand to steady her rib cage. I slide my hand back slowly, my fingertips grazing her side. Once this moment ends, I have to remember what happened last night. And I want to stay here with her. I nod a little and lead the way out.

" I'll go in first. " I say when we stand outside the dining hall. " See you soon, Tris. "

I walk through the doors, spotting Eric. I approach Eric in the breakfast line, standing behind him with my tray as he uses a long-handled spoon to scoop scrambled eggs onto his plate.

" If I told you that one of the initiates was attacked last night by a few of the other initiates, " I say, " would you even care? "

He pushes the eggs to one side of his plate, and lifts a shoulder.

" I might care that their instructor doesn't seem to be able to control his initiates, " Eric says as I pick up a bowl of cereal for myself.

He eyes my split knuckles.

" I might care that this hypothetical attack would be the second under that instructor's watch... whereas the Dauntless-borns don't seem to have this problem. " He says.

I shrug.

" Tensions between the transfers are naturally higher--they don't know each other, or this faction, and their backgrounds are wildly different. " I say. " And you're their leader, shouldn't you be responsible for keeping them 'under control'? "

He sets a piece of toast next to his eggs with some tongs. Then he leans in close to my ear.

" You're on thin ice, Tobias, " He hisses. " Arguing with me in front of the others. 'Lost' simulation results. Your obvious bias toward the weaker initiates in the rankings. Even Max agrees now. If there was an attack, I don't think he would be too happy with you, and he might not object when I suggest that you be removed from your post. " He says.