Survival (Fourtris)

Chapter 13

-TRIS-

the ride to the city goes quicker than expected. Most people are having there aptitude tests today, and then tomorrow the choosing ceremony will be held. Just another thing making me nervous.

Whilst I am certainly not looking forward to today, I want to get it over with. Amity has been better than last time we stayed here, naturally, as this time we are not hiding from Jeanine and her lackeys, nor was I put under peace serum, but it is certainly not my favourite place to be. I have only been to the dauntless compound once since the war. I think the last time I was there was before I left for Eurdite. Not counting the couple hours I spent with Amar and Cara of course. I'm exited to go back, I wonder if it's been cleaned up after put paintball fight.

"Nervous?" Tobias asks as we get out of the truck

"No" I reply "You?"

"No." he says with a boyish smirk as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer

He kisses from my cheak up to my ear and whispers "You are, I can tell."

"Fine, maybe I am. But you are to." I whisper back.

"Me? Never." he responds, his lips right next to my ear, teasing me.

I blush as I remember we are surrounded by our friends. It's not like there watching us or anything, but the thought still makes me nervous.

"Come on, we better go." Tobias says, taking my hand and walking back to join our friends.

+ + +

"The majority of you in this room have already received this test previously." A woman, who is clearly Eurdite, addresses the crowd. "This means you would know what to expect and run through possibilities and options in your head before hand. The purpose of the test, is to see how you act when under pressure, and that pressure would not be there if you know what to expect. This is why we have changed the test. "

"You will be given different options in different scenarios, this is to ensure you cannot prepare for the test, and your results will be more efficient." She says, "Now that is settled, we ask you to wait patiently for your name to be called, and then make your way to your assigned test room."

As soon as she stops talking, the room erupts into quiet conversion and splits itself into five groups. A bigger room is used today, as there are a lot more people here. It looks like we could be waiting a while.

I watch as a large group of Candor huddle around a table and start talking all at once. Amity girls group together and start dealing cards, chatting to each other. One almost falls over with laughter. A couple of Eurdite deep in descusion on a corner, both with glasses and blonde hair. I later notice that one of them is Cara, but I don't recognise the other. The Abnigation stand, hands clasped in front of them, speaking polite, brief words to those around them.

I walk over to join a group of dauntless, which includes the pedrad brothers, Chris and a few I vaguely remember from initiation.

"No I am not!" Christina practically yells, whilst shoving Uriah into a wall.

"Aww, look at that, Uriah's getting beaten up by a girl."

"Shut up Zeke! She's stronger than she looks." Says Uriah, trying to dodge the - parcialy friendly - punches from Chris.

"Or maybe your just weaker than you look." Christina says, with a satisfied smirk as Uriah flinches away.

"What the hell is going on here?" I say, coming and standing besides Zeke, away from the (friendly?) violence.

"Uri said I was weaker than him." Chris explains.

"That's because you are!" Uriah says, instantly stepping back to avoid the punch Christina threw at his chest.

"Fine!" Christina Yells. "Me, You, here. Right now." she sends Zeke a glare as he snickers. "I mean arm restle you idiot." trust a Pedrad brother to be immature.

I step back and observe as Chris and Uri, both struggling. The fight has been going on a couple minutes before I notice a guy who I think was in initiation the same time as me, Dauntless born though, staring at me. God he's making me uncomfortable.

Zeke sends me a look before following my gaze and laughing.

"Sorry Gabe, she's taken." Zeke says with a chuckle. "And trust me, you don't want to get on the wrong side of him." As soon as he finishes I notice Tobias and Shauna walking over to join us. "Honestly though, he will beat you to pulp for just looking at - Oi Tris!" he says as I elbow him to shut him up.

"What's going on?" Shauna asks, once she is close enough.

"Uuuuh nothing just watching these two pansycakes here." Zeke says, scratching the back of his neck. He was definitely cut from candor. He's a terrible lair. But luckily Shauna doesn't get time to question it.

"YES!" Uriah yells, whipping his head to Zeke and practically falling off his chair.

"Ha! Beat you!" Chris says, using the opportunity while he is unfocused to push his arm against the table.

"He said pansycake!" Uriah said, pointing his finger at Zeke and shaking out his other arm, totally ignoring his recent loss. "I told you it would catch on!"

"Whatever, baby brov, you got beaten by a girl."

"Hey! Shes strong!" Uri says

Tobias comes over and puts an arm around my waist and kisses my hair. I see the guy, Gabe, blush and look away. Zeke must have scared him a bit. Good.

"Give it up Uri, it's never gonna catch on." Chris says, obviously referring to the pansycake descussion.

"Just you wait." Uri responds with a grin.

We stop and stare as a large group of factionless enter the room.

The government decided to allow teenagers from age sixteen to eighteen to be re-tested and have a shot at initiation again. Any younger than sixteen would be allowed to ask permission to be put up for adoption. Some were adopted before, but it was rare and no one really payed much attention to it. Its not much, but it will lower the number of factionless a bit. I just didn't expect to see this many here.

"There's a lot of them isn't there." Tobias says.

"Yeah, there is." I reply.

Then I notice them. There at the back, almost hiding. I thought they would be dead. Just seeing them makes me shiver.

Molly and Drew.