Dauntless High School

Chapter 54

OMG... I thought I put this up way long ago.  I'm so sorry I haven't updated in so long... the chapter after this is almost done actually so at least you'll get a pretty quick update after this one!

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FOUR

We just won the state championship, and I know I played a great game. But I don't feel any pride in the win. Instead, I feel guilt and regret. This is one more thing that Marcus has stolen from me, and I hate that I allowed it.

But the regret I feel for the decision I made during the game is nothing to what I know I would feel if he went after Tris. I had been wavering in my decision when I saw Tris before the game, but when I pulled away from our kiss and saw that cop lurking in the shadows ― a cop whose face I recognized from our dinner on Wednesday night ― I knew what I had to do. My mother was right: Marcus was bound to find out about my girlfriend eventually, and now that I can no longer trust that he is unaware of our relationship, I worry that he can do far worse than to simply take a belt to my back.

I try to push my negative thoughts to the back of my mind and enjoy the moment. The other guys are all cheering and man-hugging and tackling each other, but I stand still, my eyes searching for the one person I want with me in this moment: Tris. God, I love her.

I find her and she is just like me ― standing there on the sidelines, just staring right back at me with a grin lighting up her whole face, completely ignoring the girls jumping up and down and hugging all around her. I know she is wondering why I screwed up that pass, knows I did it on purpose. Of course she does. But even so, I can see the pride shining from her gorgeous blue eyes. Suddenly she disappears into the crowd and I don't have time to wonder where she went, what happened, because Zeke has tackled me to the ground in what I can only call a hug. He's screaming something but it's unintelligible, and he's back on his feet almost immediately, finding someone else to harass. I grin as I climb back to my feet and brush the drying mud off my hands, but my smile falls when my eyes zone in on my father, standing on the sidelines with his arms crossed over his chest. The smug approval on his face does nothing to lift my spirits. He just has to ruin everything.

I feel heavy as I trudge through the crowd toward him. I want this over with as fast as I can.

Marcus, in a rare show of pride in my performance, smiles widely and claps me on the shoulder. I cringe at his friendly arm-squeeze. I wonder if he has ever realized how his very touch terrifies me. If he did, would he even care?

"Well done, son," Marcus booms. I see this side of my father so rarely, it almost unsettles me more than his usual ire. At least when he is angry and even abusive, it is familiar. This Marcus is unfamiliar and thus unpredictable. Every movement, word, sound... every twitch of my lips, feels like walking on a tightrope.

"Thanks," I nod.

"You should have scouts lining up to talk to you." His fingers tighten on my shoulder, like a vice grip. "Be personable. Don't burn any bridges. You bring those offers in, and you bring me to any meetings, not your mother. Understood?"

I nod stiffly as a balding, broad-shouldered man approaches with his hand outstretched. I take a deep breath and stand up straight, waiting for the schmoozing to begin.

The next twenty minutes are a parade of college scouts; I speak to representatives from five different colleges. Two of them also talk to Eric, my old rival from Erudite High's team, but that isn't enough to stop him from shooting daggers with his gaze. I am speaking with the last scout when Zeke tackles me again. The scout laughs it off, but I can see that Marcus is unamused by my friend's antics. His irritation grows as the scout turns his attention to learning about Zeke's college plans. I'm sure no one else can see it, but I know how to read the fury in my father's eyes. The scout says goodbye to us both as Marlene wheels Uriah over to join us, passing him off to Zeke.