Secrets

Chapter 7: Friends and More

{I do not own Divergent, Insurgent, or Allegiant. I am not Veronica Roth, nor am I pretending to be Veronica Roth.}

I don't know how long we sit in the hospital room crying our eyes out, but it must be long because my head throbs. Their Dauntless escorts arrive right on time.

"I'll walk out with you guys." I say shakily, approaching the doorway behind them.

The taller escort spins around, putting a hand in front of me.

"Sorry ma'am but you can't do that."

"Why not?"

"It's the rules."

"Well the rules are stupid." I mutter, walking toward Edward and Myra.

"Ma'am-"

"I'M SAYING GOODBYE." I snap at him, and it shuts him right up.

I hug Edward tight.

"I'll miss you. Take care of yourself and My, will you?"

He nods, his eyes filling with tears.

"Goodbye, Lily."

I let my sobs out when I approach Myra, hugging her tighter than I've ever hugged anyone before.

"I'm gonna miss you so much."

"Forever?" she asks, holding her pinkie out like the little Amity girls do.

"Forever." I say, linking it with hers.

"It's not about the people who knew you longest, it's about the ones who were there when you needed them most." -Unknown

-

I sit in my bunk crying.

I must've been there all afternoon.

I wail into my pillow until I hear a voice.

"Lily? Is that you?!"

I remove my head from my pillow, hairs sticking to my face.

"Are you okay?!"

It's Lynn.

I simply shake my head.

"Should I get Uriah?"

I shake my head again.

"Should I stay?"

"If you wanna look at THIS." I say, gesturing to my face with a disgusted expression.

-

We talk for hours.

"I've never had a friend like this."

I look at her, perplexed.

She clamps a hand over her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

"No, no, you are my friend. I just don't believe you've never had one."

She shrugs.

There's silence for a little while.

"Do you know why Marlene doesn't like me?" I blurt. I need to stop doing that.

"Well, yes. I think it's stupid."

"Can you tell me? I mean, if you feel comfortable."

She just shrugs.

"She thinks you like Uriah. And she's jealous, I guess."

I feel my cheeks get hot.

"I had no idea they were.. And Uriah and I.. I never did anything like tha-"

"I know. She's possessive like that."

-

Lynn and I walk to the dining hall together.

Uriah arrives, and Marlene soon after.

Marlene sits next to Lynn, across from Uriah and I as usual.

"I'm sorry about my little outburst yesterday."

Marlene just nods.

"Hey Lily, did your parents ever take you to see that one Candor play? I remember once we were visiting my cousin on Visiting Day and they took me to see it." Lynn says casually.

"The one with the princess who tells a lie?"

We burst into conversation, our subjects shifting every so often.

Marlene's face turns bright red.

"YOU'RE STEALING EVERYTHING FROM ME!" she yells, leaving her plate and walking away furiously.

I'm in shock for a moment. Then I see everyone in the dining hall staring at me.

I feel tears well up in my eyes and I get up and run as quickly as I can to the elevator. I don't know where I'm going.

I make my way to the roof. I figure no one will find me there.

After about ten minutes of just staring at the train tracks and crying off the building, Uriah finds me.

"Hey."

"Hi."

He's quiet for a few moments, and just comes up and stands next to me, looking over the building.

"She hates me."

"That's not true."

"She likes you or something, and she thinks I'm trying to get in the way."

"I know, she told me."

I feel myself fill with anger.

"So you all just have these Lily meetings where you talk about things that aren't even true like me stealing her life?!"

"Well, do you like me?"

I look at him. His eyes look curious, but trustworthy. I decide to avoid the question.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes."

"She's just going to-"

He takes my chin in his hands, forcing me to look him in the eye.

"Do you?"

I can't lie.

This is a curse.

I stutter words out more than speak them.

"W-well, I mean y-"

He cuts me off by pressing his lips to mine.

"I like you too, Lily."

He takes my hand in his and turns to leave, but Marlene is standing there in front of the elevator with tears streaming down her face.

He lets go of my hand.

"Mar, you can't-"

"You know what Uriah? Just stay out of my life."

I watch her enter the elevator, and so does Uriah. I don't know how he feels, and I don't think I should ask.

Once she is long out of sight, he puts his face in his hands. I can't tell if he's crying, or if he's just stressed.

"Um, I should go."

"Lily please."

"What?"

"Don't leave me."

"No, I just need to go clean up my plate. I'll get yours too."

We burst into laughter, and I step onto the elevator, making silly faces until he's out of sight.

-

I go to bed, thinking of nothing but Uriah's lips on mine.

-