ASSURGENT

Chapter 2

There was no laughing on the train back home. No talking either. Everything was completely silent, apart from the sound of the train going over the tracks.
I run my hands through my hair. I was disappointed. I wasn't special like my family I was normal, I was predictable. I was boring. I was what I didn't want to be.
The train slowed, and I got up. So did everyone else.
Predictable. Normal.
I jumped from the train. So did everyone else.
Predictable. Normal.
I huffed. Running from the train. Catching my steps. I look around. Everyone else was running from the train.
Predictable. Normal.
I grit my teeth and head towards my apartment.
So was everyone else, running to their families.
Predictable. Normal.
I stand outside the front door, about to open it. But so does the person next to me. I hesitate, they go inside.
I would not be predictable, I would not be normal.
I turn around and run towards the training room.
No one else was in there. I was alone.
Good.
I walk over to the punching bag furthest away from the entrance.
I stand in front of it and scream furiously throwing a hard punch. I keep punching it, and I finish by slamming the bottom sides of my fist into the bag and rest my head against it, breathing deeply.
"Rough day?" James asked walking over. I take my head from the bag and uncurl my fists.
"Could've been worse." I admit.
He looks at my hands, a concerned expression written on his face. "Could've been better too I suppose."
I look at my hands. They're bruised already.
"Why don't you come inside? Mum and Dad are waiting for you. They're really excited." A feeling of dread washed through me.
"Why, it's not like I can tell them what I got." I tell him. "What about what you are?" He nudged me grinning. I glared at him. "I'm nothing." I say. "Nothing but an ordinary, predictable, normal girl." I say with more punches.
James' face fell. "Oh." He said, understanding. "Oh." I repeated.

————<Time Skip>————

I opened the door, shoving my hands in my jacket pockets. Two figures turned. My Father chopping carrots, my Mother sitting on he couch. Mum smiled at me. "How'd it go?" She asked smiling. "Fine." I lied smiling back. "What factions did you get?" My heart dropped at my Father's words. A plural. They all expect me to be divergent.
"Can't tell you!" I tell him, keeping the smile on my face. He smiles back. "Fair enough."
My smile drops as soon as I'm sure they can't see me anymore as I walk to my room, closing the door behind me.
I just lied. I just got away with a lie. I don't remember the last time I did that.
I kneeled on my bed, looking at my pillow. I turned it around so it was longer other than wider, and I strangled it with rage.
My parents think I'm divergent.
My brother thought I'm divergent.
My best friend hates my opinion on Abnegation.
And he most likely hates my guts for it.
He believed I would be divergent.
I believed I would be divergent.
I wanted to be divergent.
Without divergence my parents would have been like everyone else.
Under simulation. No. I wouldn't be here. My father would have been killed by Eric in the first simulation. Mum has told me that story plenty of times.
I collapse into my pillow. I try to think of away around this.
I can prove I'm braver, because I have no way out of simulations, so I have to fight my way out on my own.
I chuckle into my pillow.
My stomach lightens, and I smile. I don't need divergence. I am brave enough to be without.
And I finally know where I belong.

————<Time Skip>————

6:00 am.
My mother and I sit in front of my mirror. She trims the ends of my hair with her scissors so they end straighter, then brushing through it to brush out the loose strands that were still in there.
I stare at the two of us in the mirror. I have her eye shape, and her same long thin nose. I touch my hand to it, inspecting it.
Mum gives out a huff. "Stop moving." She gently scolded.
I drop my hand back down to my side.
She finished soon after, and she looked up at us in the mirror.
Smiling at us, she rubbed her hands up and down my arms comfortingly. I turned my head towards her an inch, inspecting my face still. Our face was quite similar, but yet, not the same.
I turned my head straight again. Mum offered me a hair tie, and I took it, placing it on my wrist as she fiddled with my hair.
I watched her admirably, glancing at my own hands. I had my mothers hands.
The door squeaked open. Instead of looking behind us, we looked up into the mirror, same alert expression on our faces.
Dad walked in and smiled at the sight of us. "Both my girls." He chuckled.
I furred my eyebrows, Mum raised one. "We aren't 'your girls'!" I scoff.
He holds in a laugh, I can see it. He presses his lips together and slightly grins whenever he does.
I know because I do the same thing.
I mimic him. He lets out his laugh, and it makes me laugh too.
Mum chuckles and wraps her arms around me. I lean my head back slightly and catch sight of James smiling amusedly at the doorframe, his head tilted to the side.
This may be the last time we spend as a family, all of us together. If not forever then a long time.
The thought stops my laugh, my smile, my moment. I look at my hands, thinking.
I knew I wanted to be Dauntless. Deep down I always really have. But I never stopped to think I won't make it. I could be exiled. There was no factionless, and if there was, that was it. I would never be in a faction, or my family or friends again. Even if they become exiled, it's a big world out there, a million different directions to go. I bite the edge of my lip.
My mother notices I've stopped laughing. "I love you, no matter what."