Transparent: A Divergent FanFiction (Book One) ©

Chapter 26

                “Did you ever even stop to think about how crazy your whole idea was before putting your life in danger?” Randi demanded as she lurched to her feet.

               Stunned, I raised a hand to my stinging cheek, and answered frankly. “No.”

               Her eyes bulged, and I could’ve sworn if I hadn’t already been on the ground, she wouldn’t have hesitated to beat some sense into me. “Are you freaking mental?” She snapped.

               A small part of me was confused at her reaction, but I was too relieved to dwell on any other feeling that wasn’t my unabashed happiness. “Not that I know of.”

               She didn’t find the humor in my words, and seemed ready to slap me again before Finn intervened. “Randi, please, the man has just gone through a near death experience. Cut him some slack.”

               “Oh, I’ll definitely cut something-“ Randi began to threaten before a noise caught all of our attention.

               Behind me, a crash echoed through the air. Enthralled, we all turned to watch the old cars screech, fall, and explode in a shower of sparks and rusted metal. In momentary awe, I couldn’t help but gape; how close I’d been to death, calling its bluff.

               The flames didn’t last, and as I turned back to Randi, I saw that she had never taken her eryes off of me. I opened my mouth to try and explain, but she threw her hands up to silence me. Seemingly fed up with my casual answers, Randi let out an exasperated sigh and then stomped away. I stared after her, and tried to follow, only managing to fall back from my loss of balance.

               “Meathead!” Dan crowed as he stooped over me and rubbed his knuckles into my skull; a playful gesture I normally used on him. “You made it! I always knew you were crazy, but I never knew just how much!”

               I could hear relieved laughter around me, and as I managed to sit up with Biff and Dan’s help, I saw that everyone was there. Amar and Red were gaping, Grace was practically in tears, and I could hear shouts of congratulations all around me.

               “You sir, are a mad man.” Finn said; and even though the words might not seem it, I knew it was a real compliment.

               “A real nut job,” Biff agreed jovially.

               I chuckled and tried to shrug off their praises. Even Jude, who hadn’t exactly been a real fan of mine, clapped me on the back and laughed. “Can I just say, that was thee most dauntless thing I’ve seen since,” he paused and then shook his head, “well, since ever.”

               Even the other team, not including Banks and Marko, were completely ecstatic. Shouts of triumph and excitement swelled through our ranks, and I couldn’t help but let myself join in. It was an infectious feeling, to be surrounded by laughter and buoyancy.

               I felt various bodies cluster around me as I pulled the flag out of my pocket and waved it in the air. It was funny, but now more than ever, I felt like I belonged.

               Once I was able to stand on my own two feet, we all headed back to the train and boarded it to return to the compound. Banks, completely paint free, stood by one of the doorframes and didn’t speak a word to anyone around him, which was really no surprise.

               Billy, Howard, Samantha, Marko, and his two lackeys Cass and Jake, sat across from us; their chests, backs, and legs splattered with paint. They spoke amongst each other, and it was then that I remembered something.