That night, Rency and I went shopping. We also managed to get an apprehensive Matius to tag along with us. Ryan would have been our first choice, since he had an affinity for fashion, but he was nursing a twisted ankle and wasn't up for all the walking.

After at least an hour of walking in and out of shops and trying on at least twelve different outfits, I settled on a simple black dress that fit tightly around my waist but flowed down to just above my knees

When I finally looked in the mirror, I found myself taking a double take.

I had been in Dauntless for only a little over three weeks but my body had undergone an obvious metamorphosis. The loose flab that once sat on both my legs and arms had become toned. My body as a whole was leaner and I'd certainly lost at least an inch or two around my waist. Even my stomach was slowly beginning to tone up.

I adored the dress and after gaining Rency's approval, I bought it with a cute obsidian choker to match.

Rency took longer to make her decision, much to Matius's chargrin, but eventually came out of the dressing room wearing a beautiful dark grey dress with lace detailing and a mesh sweat heart neckline. It was perfect.

I gave her a solid thumbs up. She really was stunning with her beautiful hair and the sexy dress.

"Ryan's going to like that one," Matius chimed with a smirk causing Rency's face to become just as red as her hair. But it sealed the deal and she paid for it excitedly.

The next day, after pushing through training once again and practicing some more on our shooting, we returned to the iniate's quarters. Eric didn't make any comments today, infact, he barely even looked at me. The lack of attention bothered me for some reason but I didn't let it distract me from tonight's events.

Normally, I didn't like going to big social events but since I now had a fun group of friends, it actually seemed enticing and excitement bubbled in my stomach.

Just about all of the initiates were attending. From what I knew, Ryan and Rency were going as a couple. Same went for the Frankfurt and Lily who were grossly perfect for each other in their own demented yucky way.

I went with Matius but as friends since he actually had his eyes on a Dauntless born girl but had been too nervous to ask her.

I delicatly slipped on the dress and had to ask three different girls if I could borrow a pair of their heels. Rency then finished my hair, which sat in a loose plait over my shoulder, before we admired ourselves one last time in the mirror and left for the party.

The Pit was wild. There were people dancing and drinking everywhere with music blaring so loudly from the speakers that the ground hummed. Rency immediately dragged us all out on the dance floor and, well, we weren't really dancing, more just jumping up with the beat of the music. Ryan did his best to jump with, his healing ankle, and Rency took the opportunity to support him from around the waist.

We paused to take shots, which burned going down but I managed to hold it in, unlike Matius who nearly choked. I think we took two more shots before going back to the dance floor that was even more crowded than earlier but no less fun.

I remember at some point Matius lifted Rency onto his shoulders and some one did a back flip in the middle of the dance floor. I couldn't recall the last time I had smiled and laughed so much amongst friends.

For a moment, I wished it wouldn't end.

After an hour or two, I ended up losing Ryan and Rency, who could have been off doing anything by nowbif you know what I mean. Morsov and Deitrich were either lost in the crowd or had left all together. I did spot Matius, who was busy chatting up a short girl with thin black hair and a round but pretty face. She must have been that Dauntless girl that he was talking about earlier.

I didn't want to interrupt them so I left for the bar to cool down a little. I ordered a gin and tonic, not because it sounded good but because I'd seen my parents make the same drink at home a thousand times. It tasted tart and sort of gross and ended up being a chore to finish. But that kind of made since my parents liked it.

I sat by myself at the bar for a while, enjoying the break from the dance floor. Yet I couldn't enjoy the peace for long as a male figure sat down right beside me. At first glance, the oncomer was handsome. He had thick brown hair and even darker brown eyes. His nose was perfectly straight and his lips were full.

He was also clearly a couple years older than me and ordered a drink as well. I watched him from the corner of my vision, subsequently spotting a couple tattoos peaking out from underneath his button up.

Suddenly he turned to me, flashing a players grin.

"Hi I'm Xanthus ( EX-an-thus), you're one of the transfers right?" He announced, extending a hand. I'd have normally been put off by his playboy act but the alcohol had worn away that edge. I gladly took his hand, not minding the physical contact at all.

"Yeah, my name's Ferris," I said kindly. Way kinder than I normally would have.

One of his thick brows quirked in surprise. As if discovering an interesting find to add to a collection.

"Oh? The Ferris huh? The one who gave Eric that little shiner and lived?" Xanthus asked, raising his glass to his lips.

An uncharacteristic giggle escaped my lips.

"Thats me," I said with a faint blush.

"That's so awesome, I remember watching him storm out of the training room that day and wondering what on earth had just happened," He said chuckling and staring deeply into my eyes. "He was ticked."

I blushed again. "I can only imagine," I replied. Little did he know that I'd been near unconscious and choking when Eric had left that training room.

"I used to hate having to fight him during training," Xanthus told me and even went so far as to lift my chin up with the edge of his fingers to see the still faint, but prominent, bruises left behind by Eric. I shouldn't have let him touch me but I made no move to stop him

We continued our conversation for a while, talking about training and tips on fighting. He would make random jokes here and there that weren't actually funny, but I found myself laughing anyway. I didn't even realize how flirty and devious said jokes were beginning to become until he his expression shifted to a more seductive lilt.

"Say, do you uh, want to maybe get out of here?" Xanthus asked which caused my brows to furrowed

"Wait, what?" I asked, stupidly tilting my head in confusion as the bartender came by with my second gin and tonic.

"You know, maybe we can head back to my place," Xanthus offered with a mischievous grin.

I felt a certain alarm going off in the back of my brain. "Are you serious" I asked with surprise.

"Yeah, it would be a lot of fun, just me and you," Xanthus said and in an instant I knew exactly what his intentions were. "I've been told I'm a good time."

I tried to be respectful even though the knot in my stomach told me to leave asap.

"Thats nice an all but I'd have to decline," I said, my words firm even through the alcohol.

A flash of sour disappointment ran across his handsome features.

"Come on baby, why so skittish?" He asked, casually putting a hand on my knee and slowly grazing the soft skin of my inner thigh. I fought against the urge to break his elbow. Even through the alcohol induced haze, Max's warning echoed in my mind. Maybe he would make an exception for this one too but that was a gamble.

"I think I've had too much to drink," I said through gritted teeth and stood up to leave.

A hand caught my wrist.

"Where do you think you're going," Xanthus asked, his tone half way between curious and agitated.

A flash of anger ran through my body. It sharpened my senses in seconds as I clenched my jaw in restraint.

Under normal circumstances, I would have smashed my drink against the side of his face for touching me further. But in this case, I had to be careful.

I swiped my untouched gin and tonic in one blurred move before emptying the entire contents into his face. He reacted in surprise, almost falling out of his seat. He immediately released me as he stumbled backwards.

"Don't ever touch," I said coldly before leaving a spellbound Xanthus drenched in alachol.

Several onlookers whooped in approval but I just focused on pushing out of the crowd. A part of me was still fuming and had to get away before I did anything else. Another part was desperate to find someone I knew so I could leave. I searched the mass of bodies, all dressed in black, for a familiar face. I found none.

Abandoning my search, I left the pit by myself, doing my best to keep calm. I'd handled myself well around that asshole but the interaction still left me rattled. I could still practically feel his warm hands trailing up my skin.

I kept walking until I found myself unintentionally approaching the Chasm. I paced back and forth for a second before finally coming to a stop.

I took a deep breath, calming my nerves while I slowly neared the edge of the massive fissure. The peaceful sound of churning water came from within it and I peered over the edge to see the river far below. The dark, powerful water looked anything but peaceful but I found the waves strangely hypnotic as they bubbled over each other in a fight against gravity

I absently rubbed my forearms as I starred down at the dark waters. The cold mist from the chasm chilled my burning skin and my heart beat gradually steadied as my irritation faded away.

"Not thinking about jumping are you Candor?"