Ambivalence [p.h.] - EDITING

chapter 11 || please, dear god, let four pick me

After my small victory I escaped from the masses at the gun table and sought refuge collecting the actual paintballs. I snatched four of the cartridges out of the boxes and, after loading one of them into my gun, stuck the rest anywhere they would fit. Mentally patting myself on the back, I scurried back to where Molly now kept Peter company. Which, by the way, just so happened to be within earshot of the two instructors.

"Time estimate?" Eric asked Four. The latter lolled his head away from the other to check his watch and roll his eyes, to my amusement.

"Any minute now. How long is it going to take you to memorize the train schedule?"

"Why should I, when I have you to remind me of it?" Eric shoved Four's right shoulder. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought they were friends.

"You only brought one cartridge? I knew it!"

"Hey!" I frowned, sticking my finger in his face. "First of all, I brought four, and second of all, what is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, where the heck are the other three?"

I pointed to their hiding places. "Right here."

"Wha— alright, I get the jacket pocket and the boot. But you put it in your shirt?"

"Sports bras. Support in whatever way you need it."

Peter shook his head. "Isn't that uncomfortable?"

"Hey," I shrugged, "if it fits, it fits."

"Now I hate to break this up," Molly yapped, "but I recommend you fit yourself onto the train unless you want to be Factionless in the morning."

How did I not notice the train coming? I even listened to Four telling Eric it would be here any second, and it's pretty damn loud! Peter will be the death of me.

Molly and Drew had already taken off, but Peter and I were only a few strides behind — but, we were at the back of the pack and if we didn't pick up the pace we'd be packing our bags. Maybe I should listen to Molly more often. Thanks to Four, who leant each of us a hand when we got close enough to the car, we stumbled in on time.

"We'll be dividing into two teams to play capture the flag," Four explained. Drew keeled over to catch his breath. "Each team will have an even mix of members, Dauntless-born initiates and transfers. One team will get off first and find a place to hide their flag. Then the second team will get off and do the same. This is a Dauntless tradition, so I suggest you take it seriously."

"What do we get if we win?"

Four raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like the kind of question someone not from Dauntless would ask. You get to win, of course."

"Four and I will be your team captains," Eric gleefully cut in. "Let's divide up transfers first, shall we?"

"You go first," Four offered.

Eric scoffed and said Eddie's name without a second though. All I could see over the crowd was his messy blond hair flopping over to the leader. Please, dear God, let Four pick me.

Four leaned against the door, gnawing on his lip as he always did, eyeing Christina, and then Will, and then Molly, and then me, and then—

"I want the Stiff."

Damn it, Tris.

"Got something to prove?" Eric smirked. "Or are you just picking the weak ones so that if you lose you'll have someone to blame it on?"

Four shrugged. "Something like that. Your turn."

Eric didn't take his time sifting through the crowd like Four had. Rather characteristic of him, if you ask me. Instead, his cold grey eyes settled on me.