Divergent Powers High

Chapter 34: Be Strong

I squeeze my eyes shut as the drops spread over them, and Natalie laughs at me. I have always hated eye drops, but it's not so bad, given the situation. 

I smile, handing her the bottle. The last few days haven't been so bad. David hasn't been in to see me at all, and I was quickly gaining back muscle mass. The healing serum used for my cracked head actually helped my weak muscles as well, adding enough strength so that I can walk around on my own, even run if I tried. 

Natalie sits down in a chair beside me, and I cross my legs, sitting up. "So, who is this boy I heard about?" She asks, winking. 

I laugh, entertained by her sweet demeanor. "His name is Four, kind of. He is like me, he has four abilities. Earth, super strength, super speed and healing. We have been dating since the second week of school. He seems pretty tough, but he is a cuddly, kind man on the inside." 

She smiles, "How sweet! High school sweethearts, I can't imagine." 

I let myself smile, because despite being two thousand miles away, he is still mine, and I am still his. He is safe, even if I'm not. That's all I care about. 

"Did you ever love somebody else?" I wonder aloud, making Natalie blush profusely. 

I wink, "Oh, so that's a yes?" 

She laughs, obviously embarrassed, "His name was Johnny, we met in grade school. He was just the sweetest thing. Actually..." She trails off shaking her head, "Never mind." 

I grab her hand, "No, now you have to tell me!" 

Natalie smiles once more, "He was divergent. He was a supernatural." 

I gasp, eager to figure out the juicy details, "What could he do?" 

"He had mind manipulation, like you, and super intelligence. You couldn't physically see his powers, so he went to a normal school. He was just the best man to me. Johnny never left me alone and always answered my calls. We got each other a new gift every week, even if it was just some snacks or a candle." 

I giggle, "He sounds so sweet. What happened?"  

Natalie looks at her shaking hands, "I don't know, honestly. He became cold and distant during our senior year. Then he just disappeared." 

"I'm sorry, I really am." I reassure her with a smile. 

We begin talking endlessly about my life back in Chicago, and her life before David. 

I miss everybody, I really do, but it's okay. I know someday, somehow I'll get back to them. 

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The next day I wake to a new kind of pain, it feels like a giant bruise on all of my muscles. I dare not let a tear shed, trying to build up my pain tolerance. David pushes a deep purple serum into my IV, and the more it goes in the more my muscles ache. 

Natalie stand on my other side, holding my hand under the blanket. David pushes some saline through the rest of it, forcing the rest of the purple liquid into my body. I grimace as it settles, and the pain dissipates after a few seconds. 

Natalie let's go of my hand and I sit up, "Why do you have to do that while I'm asleep?"

David laughs at my inquiry, writing down my vitals on a paper, "It's easier to see the genuine body reaction, because if you anticipate it, the data won't be accurate. Your heart rate and blood pressure would be more increased than it was supposed to." 

It makes sense, but that doesn't mean I want it to happen. "What was it this time?" I mutter, shaking the thoughts out of my head." 

"Super strength, do you want to try?"

My eyes widen and I reach up towards his neck, and for the first time, I see fear glint in his eyes. 

"Tris!" Natalie shouts, grabbing my arms. 

I look down, my hands shaking. What got into me? Would I really kill another human being? "I-I don't know w-why I did that." I stutter, shaking. Was I that desperate?

David steps back, returning to his stance. He throws his clipboard at me, and when I catch it, it breaks in my hands. 

"It worked." David mumbles, and walks out of the room. 

"Natalie get away!" I shout, pushing myself away from her. 

She shakes her head, "Tris, you won't hurt me. I know that. Your instincts just told you to hurt him." 

I let out a breath, at the same time David activates the power suppressants in the room. I feel like a normal person, not weak, not divergent. 

Natalie leans over an hugs me. I draw in a sharp breath, afraid I will hurt her, but hug back. She laughs, pulling back. "You're alright. You are just getting used to it." 

"I wish I didn't have to get used to anything else."