His footsteps stop outside a door labeled Conference Room, where the four other leaders are currently gathered. Despite Eric's promise that I am not in trouble, I am beyond nervous.

I mean, they could kick me out for being at the chasm when I should have been sleeping. Yeah, I did get attacked, but it would not have happened if I had stayed in the dormitory.

I should have known it wasn't Eric who wrote the note. If he wanted to meet me, he would have told me to meet him on the roof.

"Remember what we talked about," Eric says, his voice low.

I nod. His mouth morphs into a tight line and all emotion drains from his face. His posture is rigid as he turns the door handle and walks into the room. His cold exterior is back.

I push the door behind me and it shuts louder than I intended. All five sets of eyes are on me as I turn around and I gulp.

"Please have a seat, Rori," Magnus says, gesturing to the chair on the opposite side of them.

I sink into the chair, my heart pounding. I wipe my hands on my pants and meet their eyes.

"Hey, Rori," Brenna says. "How are you feeling?"

"Very nervous," I say.

She throws her head back laughing, and the others join in.

"No," she says. "Are you feeling better? Still in pain?"

"Oh, right." My cheeks tinge pink. "I am, uh, feeling better. My ribs still hurt, though."

"I'm glad to hear it," she says. "It could have been much worse. Just take it easy for the next few days and you'll be fine in no time."

"That's what the doctor told me," I say with a nod. "Take it easy."

"Okay, it's time to get down to business," Max says. "We would like to know why you were at the chasm in the first place."

"I found a note and a watch under my pillow," I say. "It said 'meet me at the chasm at twelve pm.' I shouldn't have gone but I was afraid somebody would get hurt if I didn't."

"I can understand that," Magnus chimes in. "You won't get punished this time, but you will next time if you are out after eleven. We don't really like for initiates to be out after ten, but eleven is curfew."

"Thank you," I say.

"You are aware of who your attackers were, correct?" Max says. I nod. "We need to discuss their punishment."

"You get to decide their punishment," Magnus says. "Make them Factionless if you want. Make them clean the training room. Anything."

"I want them at the bottom of the score board."

"That's it?" Eric says, his voice cold and his eyes narrowed. "They could have killed you. They deserve something much worse."

"I agree," Garrick says. "The three of them probably would have tossed you in the chasm. Don't have mercy."

"I want them at the bottom of the score board," I say, "and I want them out of the dormitory."

"The sleeping issue has already been dealt with," Magnus says. "Pick at least one more punishment."

"Five laps around the training room every morning," I say. "And they have to clean the dining hall every night."

"That's not as harsh as I would have done," Garrick says, "but they're not going to enjoy it, so it's fine."

"So, that's their punishment?" Max says. I nod. "Okay, it's settled."

"Am I free to go?"

"Yes." Brenna nods. "Just make sure to take it easy. We want you to heal so you continue training."

"Yes, ma'am."

***

Eric's apartment is neat. In the center of the living room is a black leather couch, a coffee table in front of it, and two black chairs. Along the left wall are a couple of bookshelves. And in the middle of the back wall is a dark blue sliding door, which must be to Eric's bedroom.

To the right is the kitchen with the island in the middle. Three black stools sit in front of it.

"You will sleep in my bed and I'll take the couch," Eric says, locking the front door behind him.

"I can take the couch," I say, making my way toward it. "I'll be fine."

His hand latches on my arm. "You're sleeping in my bed."

"I don't want to kick you out of your own bed."

"I'm sleeping on the couch," he says.

"You're a jerk." I elbow him in the stomach and he chuckles.

"I'm a jerk for insisting that I take the couch?" He raises a brow.

"Exactly," I say with a chuckle.

"Fine," he says with a smirk. "I am a jerk, but I'm a hot jerk."

"I'll admit, you are hot," I say, walking toward his bedroom door. "But you're not as hot as Four."

He growls and stomps after me. He grabs my arm, spins me around, and pins me against the wall.

"Four is not hotter than me," he says, his voice low and venomous. "Tell me I'm hotter than Four."

"Relax, Eric Mendel," I say with a smirk. "I was only teasing you. You're cute when you get jealous."

"I wasn't jealous." He steps back and crosses his arms across his chest. "I don't get jealous."

"Lies like that might make your pants catch fire," I say with a chuckle.

"I don't get jealous."

"Puh-lease," I say. "Remember when I talked to you about getting a tattoo?"

He nods.

"I told you my friend suggested a design and you got jealous and asked me which friend."

"That does not prove I was jealous," he says. "That shows I was curious as to which friend."

"Then I asked you if you were jealous and you glared at me and said that you don't get jealous," I say with a smirk, "when you clearly do."

"Shut up," he grumbles.

"Can I borrow some clothes?" I say. "I seriously need to shower."

"You definitely do," he says, pinching his nose. "Your stench is singeing my nose hairs."

"Ha ha ha," I say with a deadpan expression. "Very funny."

"The bathroom is in here." He slides his bedroom door open and leads me inside. "The shower is that door to the far right."

His room is as neat as the living room, which I did not expect. Dauntless are not usually clean freaks.

His bed, which has a black comforter to match the black pillow cases, sits in the far right corner. A table with a lamp stands next to it. On the far left is a black dresser. A dirty clothes basket sits next to it.

"Your clothes are in the bottom drawer," he says. He shuffles through the dresser and hands me a black t-shirt and sweatpants. "But these will be more comfortable than jeans."

"Thanks," I say. "I'll be out in a bit."

I lock the door behind me and set my clothes--well, Eric's clothes-- on the sink counter. I grab a towel from under the sink and my eyes catch my reflection in the mirror.

My jaw is a little discolored, but other than that, my face is clear. I lift up my shirt to look at my ribs. It looks fine, but I don't understand why it still hurts to breathe. She didn't even hit me that hard.

A knock sounds on the door. "Rori, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say. "I'm about to start the water."

I turn away from the mirror and undress. I step in the shower and start the water. I use his shampoo and wash my hair before using his body wash, which smells amazing.

I let the warm water run down my back for a few minutes before I shut the water off and step out. I grab the towel and step back in the shower to dry off. I step out and slip Eric's t-shirt on and then his sweatpants, which I have to roll up a little bit because they are a mile too long and a bit big.

I shut the light off and walk out of the bathroom. I stop in my tracks. Eric lies on the bed shirtless with his hands behind his head.

Oh. My. Goodness.

"Stop staring at me," he says, even though his eyes are closed.

I scoff. "I'm not staring."

"Careful," he says with a smirk. "A lie like that may make your pants catch fire."

"So, um, what are the sleeping arrangements?" I ask, standing next to the bed.

"You take my bed," he says, "and I'll take the couch."

"Oh, no," I say, rubbing my neck. "I can take the couch."

"You're injured." He sits up and stands up to face me. "My bed will be better for you."

"Are you sure?" I rub my neck. I really don't want to kick him out of his own bed.

"It's no problem." He stops in front of me and softly kisses my cheek. "Good night, Rori. Sweet dreams."

"Good night, Eric."

A/N: Hey, initiates! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and if you did, please vote and comment!