Give you something good to celebrate. [Gathering; Pre-dated to 6/5/15]

[oddthatway]

Tris ought to know well enough by now that I never go back on my word, once given. Especially when it comes to something as important as celebrating her 19th birthday. (And I have no doubt her and Four will find their own ways to celebrate later, but I try not to think about that. For my own sake.) She also still doesn't know that this celebration is about far more than her almost not being a teenager anymore. I'm putting my all into this because, back home, Tris doesn't get the chance to live this long. Back in Chicago, the Tris I've left behind is resting in a morgue.

I have the living room all decked out because of the rabbit. While Tris still isn't here, I'll admit: the damn thing's cute. And at least Tris had the sense to get a pet with Dauntless colors. It makes the whole pet thing seem far less Amity.

I've worked hard, tying ribbons of various colors - vibrant, spring colors like sky blue and lavender - and balloons around every available edge and corner. Behind the couch, I've put a banner that I've painted myself, which is why the writing looks so sloppy. Again, I've used the colors of the ribbons and the balloons, to write a simple message of 'Happy birthday, old lady!'

Not that Tris is old at all. Far from it. But I can't resist a bit of teasing, even for my best friend's birthday.

On the table rests a cake I bought at one of the local bakeries, in the shape of a bird, with some berries on top. It's the kind of quaint that I think Tris will appreciate. Next to it, my gifts: a slinky, shimmery light blue dress, because one can never have too many sexy dresses, and the other, a beautifully designed knife with crows etched onto the handle of the blade. Both were hardly cheap, but for Tris, I would be willing to spend far more.

So now I'm waiting, pacing through the living room, adjusting the various decorations while keeping an eye out for Tris.

I've invited others, of course. It wouldn't do to just be the two of us. Slowly, I'm beginning to understand how much Tris' friends here mean to her. So I've invited as many people as I've been able to get a hold of. Now all I can do is wait.

Comments

[theresalwayshope]

The name sets off a spark of recognition in Allison's eyes, killing the initial flare of annoyance in her gaze at Christina's abrasive remarks.

"The Candor transfer." she realized aloud, managing a wan smile as she accepted Christina's hand. "Oh my God...hi! Tris has told me so much about you, it's great to see you here! When I got your message about the party, I didn't realize it was you. How are you settling into Darrow? I know the lack of factions is probably a little bit of a culture shock."

[oddthatway]

I raise my own eyebrow when she mentions Candor; clearly, she knows Tris well, if she knows my old faction. It's not the sort of fact Tris would just tell anyone. It makes me curious; I wonder how well she does know Tris.

"That would be me," I say, flashing her another smile as I shake her hand. "I hope she's told you all the good things," I try for a joke. She mentions factions and my expression sobers. "I'm doing okay. It helps, having Tris here. And Four, too, for that matter. As for the faction system, it was already dissolving, the last I was back home." I shrug. "I'm almost used to it, now."

[theresalwayshope]

The shadow that crosses Christina's features resonates with Allison, settling in the pit of her chest with a gnawing discomfort that would bother her more if she weren't already so low. Instead, it only makes her feel a deeper kinship with the other girl, which isn't all that hard: she's as brutally honest as advertised, but not unfriendly.

"Well, trust me, you have a lot yet to see." she assured her with that same ghost of a smile, a polite imitation of real pleasure. "When I first met Tris, it was on a cake run. There are a lot of fun little odd community events that crop up from time to time, stuff Tris tells me your world doesn't have."

[oddthatway]

I try not to think about the world I've left behind. An empty world, void of too many people I love, and just barely recovering from the Bureau of Genetic Welfare's mess. There is nothing I can do to fix or change anything about it from here; I have to hold my head up, and appreciate what coming to Darrow has given me. A new chance, a fresh start.

"I look forward to everything I have yet to see," I say, allowing a devilish grin at the prospect. I am especially looking forward to all of the danger I can uncover here, but that's not something I could admit to anyone who isn't Dauntless. At least, not yet. "A cake run? Well, if those are commonplace here, I'm already in heaven."