Chapter 13

*** TRIS' POV ***

I rolled over and stretched out barely registering that I wasn't in my cot in the dorm room, but the other side of the bed was empty. I sat up and turned and saw a note and shining piece of metal call out to me. I read the note and sighed in happiness as I threw myself back down on the pillow. I raised my left hand up and smiled as I looked at the band adorning my finger.

"Selfish." My mother answered to a question a younger version of me asked when I questioned why they didn't wear wedding rings like in other factions. "We don't need rings to know the other person loves us." She said calmly willing me to understand. I didn't. And I still don't. I look at the ring and know he loves me enough to display it for the whole world to see.

I bite my lip in thought as I made my way to the bathroom with my clothes from last night to take a shower and then I'll head downstairs to the dorm to change and go get breakfast with Chris.

I enjoyed my first shower alone in weeks. It was the first time ever that I could sit in the shower with the hot water cascading me and nobody tell me to hurry up, or save hot water for the rest of them. It was truly selfish, and greedy, but boy did it make the soreness go away. Muscles I never knew I had felt tender. I smiled as I finished up thinking of the reason why I was so sore. I think I blushed all the way through the compound with MY key in my boot. I thought about taking my ring off, but I knew I was going to crush the 'scape and I was guaranteed a spot into Dauntless as long as I finished today better than all but two. I looked at the numbers. I didn't want Eric to think I was ashamed or getting cold feet. He would never doubt himself, and his woman wasn't going to either.

I changed while I heard Chris in the shower singing. When she got out she made her way to her trunk.

"Wake up early this morning?" She asked.

I blushed but nodded yes.

"Yep. Big big day today." She said nervously.

"You'll be fine Christina." I said trying to assure her. I saw Peter trying to glare at me from the other side. I just smiled in response. I was going to let Peter get me down today.

"You ready for breakfast?" She asked as she tied her boots up.

Once we were upstairs, platters in hand, we made our way to our normal table. "Do you think we'll still be doing this together this time next week?" Chris asked carefully.

"Yes. Even when we have our own apartments we'll pick a day we always meet up for breakfast together." I said firmly.

"Good. Make sure to tell Will." She said nervously.

"I won't have to. Everywhere you go he follows." I said bringing my breakfast sandwich to my mouth.

"What is that?" Chris questioned.

"What?" I said putting my sandwich down and reaching for my juice.

"Your ring?" She asked excitedly.

"A ring." I said knowingly as I resumed my sandwich.

"On your left hand." She said getting up and moving to my side of the bench.

"Quiet." I said as I saw Peter make his way through the line.

Her eyes reached mine wide as the satellite dishes mounted on Hancock building. Silently, she got up and made her way back to her side of the bench.

"Not one peep from me. He might throw me off the chasm this time." She said crabbily as she speared her eggs with gusto.

"Chris?" I asked quietly.

"No offense, but I thought Will and I would get rings before you did. I didn't even know anyone caught your eye." She said sadly.

"I'm sorry Chris. I thought you would have me committed if you knew." I said attempting a lame joke, but thankfully she saw where I was going with this.

"I know. You weren't raised Candor. How did it happen?" She asked as Peter got closer.

"Later." I said from behind my juice.

One by one the initiates left the cafeteria to start the track upstairs to their final landscapes where their fates in Dauntless would be decided. I sat in the back of the crowd with Chris and Will. I was hoping to see Uriah to wish him luck, but I ended up waving to Lynn and Marlene instead. "Good luck!" I mouthed to them.

Our names were called in order of our current rank. First. I went first. I didn't even budge the first time my name was called as I was lost in thought. Chris nudged me and I stood up mechanically and walked to the door with a face-less Dauntless waiting.

"Good luck Tris." He smiled once the door was closed. I turned and recognized Max.

"Thank you." I said raising my chin and straightening my back. I turned and walked to the same simulation chair as I used at my aptitude test and then again in the fear serums. But this time was different. There were screens all over on the different observation decks. I looked around and saw Max going into a room where the rest of the leaders were being hooked up to electrodes.

"The rest of us will be able to see on the monitors. Your leaders will be in the simulation watching you. You won't even know they are there." The Erudite prepping my skin informed me.

"Thank you." I said as he plugged the electrodes in.

"Don't thank me yet." He laughed as he injected me and my world went dark.

The crappy dry field was the first landscape to enter my mind, but this time was different. After twice the amount of the normal birds attacked I didn't get burned by others. I was immediately put into the water tank. From the water tank, I had to kill my family again. Then I was on a roof top. This was new. I was on top of Hancock half hanging over the side. In one hand was Eric, and the other, my mama. They were both slipping. I couldn't hang on to them both. I couldn't pull them both up. And, if I held on much longer then I'd go over the side with them.

"Shit!" I screamed.

"Dauntless don't surrender." Eric stated. I locked eyes with him. Focus. Look around. This may be new, but the idea is still the same. I didn't see what I could use. There was a pry bar. No good. A wooden palate. No good. One harness. Too far away to reach, and they were too far from the zip line. But I realized I wasn't meant to save both. This was my new fear. I was making a new life in Dauntless and soon, a new family that Eric and I will start and eventually add on to. I remembered Janine's words from the ending of the choosing ceremony. Faction before blood. I had to choose my new life. I was Dauntless. I looked down at my mama. If I didn't choose soon, then we'd all die and I failed. I couldn't grip them for much longer. My feet were pushed into the side of the building.

"Mama, I love you." I said as I looked at her. "I love you too Tris." She said before I let go. I swung my sore arm towards Eric and together we pulled him on top of the roof.

As soon as Eric kissed my forehead, the background dissolved and I was back in the sterile room.

I woke to applause. Eric was standing up in the leader's room and gave me a smile and a thumbs up. He unplugged the wiring, but left the electrodes attached and made his way over.

"Come, I want the leaders to meet my engaged." He said throwing his arm around my shoulder and leading me into their room.

"Tris, this is Lola, Bolts, Miles, and Max. Guys, this is Tris, my engaged." He said proudly. I smiled and stuck out my hands.

"Congratulations. That was incredible to watch." Lola said sticking out her hand first.

The rest shook my hand, smiled, said their praise and congratulations.

"I look forward to seeing you soon." Max said as Eric led me out of the room and back towards the first door. "I'll meet you in the apartment once this madness is over." Eric said as he kissed me lightly and then sent me through the now opened door.

I went over and sat back down next to Christina. I looked at my arms and realized I was covered in sweat, and my muscles ached like I really did pull Eric back onto the roof.

"Wow." Christina stated as the scoreboard lit up, with my new name.

"Tris Matthews : 11' 48"."

"That's it? I felt like I was in there for hours!" I said shocked.

"How many fears did you have?" Will asked in awe.

"Four." I stated still trying to catch my breath.

"Unheard of!" Christina exclaimed.

Lynn, Marlene, and Uriah made their way over. "No, that's how Four got his name. Way to go Tris." Uriah chuckled. "Wait to set the pressure on the rest of us."

"Uriah." The Dauntless stationed at the door stated.

"Good luck." We all said to him all a bit off timed from the others.

He stood and made his in.

After Uriah, Lynn, Marlene, Christina, Will, and Peter finished, and the testing was halfway about halfway through, they broke for lunch. I heard my name being whispered on more than one occasion. Some mixed in with Eric's name, some without, and some with Four. After we ate, I told them I would catch up. I wanted another shower, and a break from the whispering. I decided since I had time then I would grab some new clothes as I cut through the gallery and take one in our apartment. I made it back down while only missing a few Dauntless-borns that I didn't talk to.

Once we were all finished, I told them I would catch up later. I didn't tell them, but I was due to meet Eric back at home. "Home." I sighed as I made my way up the stairs.