Waiting Four You

Chapter Tobiasty-Two (Tobias)

Tris goes directly to taking a nap when we reach my apartment. I feel bad because of the fact that she woke up more than normal last night due to the morning sickness.

"How am I going to make it through the banquet?" I hear Tris ask about an hour later.

"The rankings aren't announced until the end," I say while trying to think of what to do. The day we told our friends about the baby, she had only taken a half dose. "Maybe we could sit outside until the rankings are announced, and you take the last half dose of the medicine just before entering."

"I guess," she says sadly walking toward me.

I feel terrible. This day is supposed to be the most important day of her life right now, and she can't even enter the banquet. "I can go ask the chefs what they're making for dinner. Maybe it won't be anything that will bother your stomach."

Her blue eyes shine with hope. "Can you go ask while I get ready?"

"Of course."

With that, I head out for the kitchens.

"Spaghetti, chicken Alfredo, and salad," Sean, one of the Candor transfers from my year responds when I ask what's being served. "My old friend Christina gave us ideas on what to make."

I make a mental note to thank Christina later for her foresight.

"That girl you were waiting for ever arrive?" Sean asks after a moment.

"Did all of our class know?" I ask a little exasperated and embarrassed.

Sean laughs. "Everyone except Eric. He was too obsessed with beating you to socialize."

Initiation is over, it's probably okay to tell him. "She's why I came to ask about the banquet." I stop to let him take in what I said before adding, "And the same reason Christina gave you suggestions on what to make."

Sean laughs. I don't understand why until I think about the reason that both Christina and I were worried about the food at the banquet, and the fact that Sean remembers where I came from.

"Not much of a Stiff anymore, are you, Four?" he asks with a quiet, amused tone. At least he remembers that I don't want all of Dauntless to remember my faction of birth.

I shake my head at him before heading back to Tris. She should be ready by the time I get back.

When I open the door to the apartment, I am greeted by the sound of Tris complaining. Christina probably came to attack her with makeup like she had warned me would probably happen.

I sit on the couch waiting for the pair to make their way out of the bathroom. It's another twenty minutes before Christina releases Tris from her torture, but the wait was definitely worth it.

The dress she had picked for this occasion was absolutely breathtaking on her. Christina had curled Tris's hair and braided the top until it ended in a ponytail of curls. There was minimal makeup that really made her eyes stand out more than usual.

Christina leaves to go find Will as I continue to just stare open-mouthed at my beautiful fiancée.

"Pick your jaw up, you don't want to catch flies," Tris says slyly walking toward the door.

"You look amazing," I tell her as soon as I regain composure.

I can tell how much she wants to hide at those words. Will Tris ever realize just how breathtaking she is?

I want nothing more than to take her hand and walk her to the dining hall, but we need to wait until at least after the rankings appear to let our relationship become public, so I let Tris leave before me to give the effect of not arriving together.

Thankfully, Tris is sitting in her normal seat that faces my table when I arrive.

Everyone eats and chats until time for the rankings to appear. I'm surprised to see that James is making the speech this year, Max was supposed to do it.

"I'm going to keep this short, eloquence is for the Erudite, " James announces making most of the room laugh a little. "I am proud to say that every initate in this room has earned the right to become a Dauntless member, but before I reveal the rankings, I'm going to read the Dauntless Manifesto to remind everyone who we are."

He pauses to pull out a piece of paper. "We believe that cowardice is to blame for the world’s injustices. We believe that peace is hard-won, that sometimes it is necessary to fight for peace.

"But more than that:

"We believe that justice is more important than peace.

"We believe in freedom from fear, in denying fear the power to influence our decisions.

"We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.

"We believe in acknowledging fear and the extent to which it rules us.

"We believe in facing that fear no matter what the cost to our comfort, our happiness, or even our sanity.

"We believe in shouting for those who can only whisper, in defending those who cannot defend themselves.

"We believe, not just in bold words but in bold deeds to match them.

"We believe that pain and death are better than cowardice and inaction because we believe in action.

"We do not believe in living comfortable lives.

"We do not believe that silence is useful.

"We do not believe in good manners.

"We do not believe in empty heads, empty mouths, or empty hands.

"We do not believe that learning to master violence encourages unnecessary violence.

"We do not believe that we should be allowed to stand idly by.

"We do not believe that any other virtue is more important than bravery."

A loud cheer begins at the front of the room and works it's way around until everyone's voices can be heard. In a way, it is beautiful to hear my entire faction excited by just our virtues.

"Now for the rankings!" James yells over everyone else.

The screen at the front illuminates to show the rankings of every initate, but I only care about one. I look to the top without even thinking about it and a huge grin spreads across my face. Tris is in first.

I'm so sorry for how long it has taken me to post, but again, this was a difficult scene to put forth with Tris's pregnancy and the fact that Eric wouldn't be making the speech. I'm sorry, but here it is in all its glory. Also, I couldn't help but bold and italicize my favorite lines from the manifesto.