Eric directs the group over to a large board, it was numbered one through thirty-six and there were sections. There was a bottom red section and a top white section, majority being white. Names began to appear, "Listen up, you know what this board is?" Eric rhetorically asks, pointing at the board. "It's your life," he pauses, "we grade you every day, and if you're still in the red by the end of the first stage, you're out." Jade spotted her and her friends names, she was just barely out the red, as number twenty-one. Will as number eight, Christina as twelve and Tris unfortunately, as twenty-six in the red section along with Al as thirty-three. Later that day Tris, Jade, Chris, Miles, Will, and Al are gathered in the sleeping area all sitting and talking amongst one another.
"I'm never gonna make it." Tris says, she was sitting on her bed looking down at the floor. Jade and Miles sat on the bed beside hers, "yes you are," Christina replies, "Chris, I'm the weakest one here." Tris argues, and Chris sits down beside Tris while Will and Al stand next to Jades bed. "Well, then you'll be most improved." Chris gives Tris a sweet smile, "You're Candor you're not supposed to lie." - "I was Candor, and I'm not lying." Chris corrects. "If they cut me, I think my parents will take me back." Al says, Jade could hear the hopefulness in his voice. "No, it doesn't work like that. Even if they wanted to, their faction wouldn't allow it." Will explains, Tris remains her focus on the ground.
"Even if my parents would take me back, I wouldn't belong there anymore." Tris says, Christina shakes her head and so does Jade. "This is getting depressing," Chris comments, making everyone laugh. "Yeah Chris is right, we should go do something instead of sulking," Jade says, "we could get tattoos?" Chris excitedly suggests, everyone agrees and heads down to the the tattoo parlor. Everyone then splits up, Jade pulls Miles over to one of the orange hanging panels that displayed a beautiful tattoo of Amity's symbol. A black image of an encircled tree with it roots visibly flowing throughout the ground. They both decided to get that same tattoo, in honor of their original faction.
Christina and Will go off in search of a tattoo, and Tris and Al search separately as well. Jade spotted the same lady who administrated her aptitude test, she told Miles to make sure no one steals their panel and left him to go speak to who she assumed was Tori. Jade approaches her, "You.. remember me, right? I was wondering if you could," - "No," Tori paused, "I just do tattoos." Jade was taken aback but she nodded and left to go receive the panel and grab her older brother. She returned, and Tori looked at her and her twin annoyed. Jade lifted up the panel, "We'd both like this one please." Jade said with a smile.
Tori took the panel and the two followed her to a chair. She started on Jades first, her and Miles decided to get them on their backs, off to the side near the shoulder blade. But it was nothing too extreme, she placed the machine on her back and fired it up. A question popped into Jades mind. "Can I just ask you," - "You both made a mistake choosing Dauntless." Tori looks up at Miles and then at Jade.
"They'll find out about you two here." Tori adds, "who will?" Miles questions. "The people you're a threat to." - "What people, Dauntless?" - "No, society. You don't fit into a category, they can't control you." Tori explains, Jades relaxes back into the chair. "I don't get it," she pauses, and looks up at her brother. "We chose Dauntless, and we're going to be Dauntless." She says. "For you and you're brothers sake, I hope so." Tori says just before pulling off the machine to display the chosen Amity tattoo.
Her brother gets the same thing and the group of friends show eachother their tattoos and then hit the hay. Early that morning Jade is woken by the sound of shuffling coming from Tris's side. She watched as the pretty blond picks up her shoes and jacket and makes her way out the sleeping chambers. Jade figured she'd join her, and soon enough Jade caught up. "I see you're up early," Jade says as she gets Tris's attention, "oh I'm sorry did I wake you?" Tris asked.
"Nonsense, I was thinking on waking up early to train sometime this week anyway." Jade replies, And the two of them spent the morning time training with eachother and eventually on the dummies. Four happens to walk through and see the two of them fighting against eachother. Jade guided and directs her on how to properly fight an opponent. Jade even gives Tris her and Miles secret attack method that they made up when they were kids, of course with the addition of more force since as kids it was just for fun. Four slows his walking so he can observe Jade teaching Tris.
He passed by, and Jade continued to train with Tris, "I still think it's odd that he was first in his class but would always turn down leadership." Jade says looking back seeing Four turn a corner. "I think he'd be an amazing leader here at Dauntless." Jade countered Tris's punch and basically pinned her by bending her arm up and pushing her head down. "I agree, I wonder what kept him from being one." Tris countered that by repeatedly punching Jade in the gut causing her to release. Jade catches her breath, and so does Tris, "Nice job Tris," - "Thanks Mrs. Four," Tris teased, and Jade gasped. "Hey!" - "What? Oh come on, it's so obvious that you like him." Tris says in her defense, "Just because I give a guy a compliment doesn't mean I like him. I mean I like him, just not like that." Jade answers, even though deep down she knew that wasn't the whole truth.
Something about him definitely catches her attention, and it wasn't just his looks. Jade and Tris head to separate training dummies and the two continue to train until everyone finally wakes up. The day continues as usual, first shooting up on the roof and then more practicing in the training room. But most of the transfer initiates are now lined up in front of a metal wall with human shaped foam targets installed into it. Everyone was practicing on throwing knifes and the line went in the order of Will, Christina, Tris, Jade, Miles, Al and a couple other transfers.
Jade examined the sharp object in her hand, she felt every edge of the handle just before chucking it at the target. To her surprise it hit the target directly in the center of the head portion. She twirled another knife in her hand and studied the target once more just before throwing it, and this time, it hits inside the circle which was at the torso portion of the target. Eric had suddenly yelled stop but Jade felt it was necessary to throw just one more, and luckily for her it hit dead center again. Eric stared at her for a second just before looking back at Al. Apparently Al refused to go get a knife that had slipped from his hand when throwing.
Eric demanded for Al to stand in front of a target and asked Four to throw knifes at him. Eric had also said if Al flinches, he's out. Everyone was afraid for Al as Four grabbed exactly four knifes and got prepared to throw. Just before he threw one Tris suddenly spoke up, "Stop." She nearly shouted. "Anyone can stand in front of a target, that doesn't prove anything." Tris commented looking at Al, he was sweating, and nearly flinching already. It was obvious he was beyond petrified.
"So I guess it'll be easy for you to take his place?" Eric happily suggests. Tris takes Al's place as Eric makes his way closer, just as he about to say something he notices Jade was looking straight at him, with nothing but pure hatred in her eyes. He walks over to her and gestures for Four to wait on throwing the knifes at Tris. Eric examines her aggressive expression as everyone's attention clings to the two of them. "Got a problem sunshine?" Eric asks inches away from her face. She clenched her jaw hard in order to stop herself from wrongfully answering that.
"Oh don't bite your tongue now, let me hear what you got to say Hippy." He snarled now centimeters away from her face, Jade could feel his surprisingly minty breath blow across her lips, and soon she crossed her arms and lets out a huge sigh. "Alright, I apologize if this is too Candor of me," She spits, "since apparently I'm supposed to be all sunshine, rainbows and happiness but I'll be honest with you Eric. I happen to think you're an arrogant piece of shit. Not to mention, a pompous dickhead who abuses the authority he oh so questionably has." Jade says, and she looks down at her hand, "Oh and also, I cut my hand and held it over this faction's bowl for a reason so, if you don't mind, cut the shit with the sappy ass name calling. I know my faction of origin, and you Don't," Jade harshly poked Eric's chest, nudging him back a bit, "have to fucking remind me." She finishes boldly, everyone near them either choked, gasped or laughed at her words. Eric tried his best to look unfazed but you could see the vein on his forehead pop. Jade and Eric stared each other down as everyone else watched intently. Eric gestures for Tris to get back in line, "Stand in front of the target Jade." He demands looking down at her.
And even though a cold chill runs down her spine at the thought of having knifes being chucked at her, she bravely walks to the target and stands with her back against it. "Same rules apply." Eric says, and with a smile on her face she locked eyes with Four, considering he'd be the one throwing the sharp objects at her. The expression on her face showed bravery, but the look Four saw in her eyes showed him she wasn't all that macho, and oddly enough it felt as if he were the only person who could see it. He tossed the knife around a bit and then focused on Jade, just before forcefully throwing the first knife in her direction. It hits the wood frame to the right of her, about a foot away from her right thigh, no where near her but still close.
She didn't move an inch and kept her attention on Four. "Oh come on Four, " Eric mumbles, he throws the second one, it hits the wood again. This time it was just to the left of where her head was. Jade notices he was getting closer with each throw, she takes a deep breath and shakes off the urge to close her eyes, and scrunch up her face. "You can get closer then that." Eric comments, "you want me to give her a little trim?" Four asks teasingly, Eric smiles.
"Yeah, just a little off the top." Eric replies, Jade swallows hard and takes a quick look at her brother and friends. Miles looked worried out of his mind, Tris looked relieved but still worried for Jade as well, Chris, Al and Will just watched intently. Jade looks back at Four, he throws the next one and it hits just above her head into the foam targets head. And before her mind could even process the knife he just threw, he throws the next one and this time, it hits her. Taking a very small chuck out of her ear.
She hissed and touched her ear, blood. "Points for bravery Amity, but definitely not as many as you just lost for opening your mouth." Eric says, He looks at Jade intently. "Watch yourself." Eric pauses and looks around at the room. "Alright we're done for the day everyone get out." He adds as everyone then disbursed from throwing knifes, Four moves to the table and begins organizing the knifes on it. Jade begins to walk past, "You alright?" He asks hearing her footsteps come near. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little cut. No big deal." Jade says nonchalantly, as she continues to walk by. She couldn't deny she was hurt by his actions, but she put up a front just to avoid any confrontation. "Jade." He says her name, and even though it's not her first name it sends a shudder down her spine as she stops in her tracks.
She turns to look at him, and steps closer to the table. "I'm sorry." -Â "Apology accepted." She falsely says as she turns to leave. "Wait," Four nearly begs, she looks him dead in the eyes, "Do you really think he'd let you off without a scratch? You'd still be standing there if I didn't hit you." He answers, she gives him a confused look. "So am I supposed to thank you?" She asks slightly irritated, he looked at her a while and then back down at the knifes. "You're supposed to be smart. No matter how right you were back there." He looks back up at her, "Oh and by the way" he pauses," If I really wanted to hurt you. I would've." And then he walks away.