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He shakes his head "Dad alanted me to come here I mean, they said they wanted me to stay in Candor, but that’s only because that’s what they’re supposed to say They’ve always admired the Dauntless, both of them They wouldn’t understand if I tried to explain it to theainst my knee Then I look at him "Is that why you chose Dauntless? Because of your parents?"

Al shakes his head "No I guess it was because…I think it’s important to protect people To stand up for people Like you did for me" He smiles at ht? That’s what courage is Not…hurting people for no reason"

I remember what Four told me, that teamwork used to be a Dauntless priority What were the Dauntless like when it was? What would I have learned if I had been here when my mother was Dauntless? Maybe I wouldn’t have broken Molly’s nose Or threatened Will’s sister

I feel a pang of guilt "Maybe it will be better once initiation is over"

"Too bad I ht"

We sit side-by-side for a while It’s better to be here, in silence, than in the Pit, watching everyone laugh with their families

My father used to say that sometimes, the best way to help so I knoould be proud of, like it s I’ve done that he wouldn’t be proud of

"I feel braver when I’m around you, you know," he says "Like I could actually fit in here, the same way you do"

I am about to respond when he slides his arm across my shoulders Suddenly I freeze, ht about Al’s feelings for me But I was

I do not lean into him Instead I sit forward so his arether in my lap

"Tris, I…," he says His voice sounds strained I glance at hi--he just looks e to…um Sorry"

I wish I could tell him not to take it personally I could tell him that my parents rarely held hands even in our own hoestures of affection, because they raised me to take them seriously Maybe if I told him that, there wouldn’t be a layer of hurt beneath his flush of embarrassment

But of course, it is personal He is my friend--and that is all What is more personal than that?

I breathe in, and when I breathe out, Ito sound casual I brush offon theo," I say

He nods and doesn’t look atto be okay?" I say "I mean…because of your parents Not because…" I let my voice trail off I don’t knohat I would say if I didn’t

"Oh Yeah" He nods again, a little too vigorously "I’ll see you later, Tris"

I try not to walk out of the room too fast When the dormitory door closes behind rin a little Aardness aside, it is nice to be liked

Discussing our fas for stage one are all anyone can talk about that night Every tis it up, I stare at sonore them

My rank can’t be as bad as it used to be, especially after I beat Molly, but it et me in the top ten at the end of initiation, especially when the Dauntless-born initiates are factored in

At dinner I sit with Christina, Will, and Al at a table in the corner We are uncomfortably close to Peter, Drew, and Molly, who are at the next table over When conversation at our table reaches a lull, I hear every word they say They are speculating about the ranks What a surprise

"You weren’t allowed to have pets?" Christina de the table with her palical," Will saysfood and shelter for an animal that just soils your furniture, makes your home smell bad, and ultimately dies?"

Al and I meet eyes, like we usually do when Will and Christina start to fight But this time, the second our eyes meet, we both look away I hope this aardness between us doesn’t last long I want my friend back

"The point is…" Christina’s voice trails off, and she tilts her head "Well, they’re fun to have I had a bulldog named Chunker One time we left a whole roasted chicken on the counter to cool, and while my mother went to the bathroom, he pulled it down off the counter and ate it, bones and skin and all We laughed so hard"

"Yes, that certainly changes my mind Of course I want to live with an animal that eats all my food and destroys et a dog after initiation if you’re feeling that nostalgic?"

"Because" Christina’s ss are sort of ruined for me After…you know, after the aptitude test"

We exchange looks We all know that we aren’t supposed to talk about the test, not even now that we have chosen, but for them that rule must not be as serious as it is for me My heart jumps unsteadily in my chest Forto lie to my friends about ent," I hear Tori’s warning--and now erous

"You ht?" asks Will

I alot Those with an aptitude for Dauntless picked up the knife in the si when it attacked No wonder Christina doesn’t want a pet dog anyether

"Yeah," she says "I ht?"

She looks first at Al, and then at me Her dark eyes narrow, and she says, "You didn’t"

"H," she says "You’re fidgeting"

"What?"

"In Candor," says Al, nudging me with his shoulder There That feels nore so we knohen so from us"

"Oh" I scratch the back of ain!" she says, pointing atmy heartbeat How can I lie about ? I’ll have to control e I drop my hand and clasp my hands in my lap Is that what an honest person does?

I don’t have to lie about the dog, at least "No, I didn’t kill the dog"

"How did you get Dauntless without using the knife?" says Will, narrowing his eyes at me

I look hiation"

It is half-true Tori reported ation, so that is what is in the system Anyone who has access to the scores would be able to see it I keep ht be suspicious Then I shrug and stab a piece of meat with my fork I hope they believe me They have to believe me