Reality

Chapter 6

The sorting, today's the day I find out where I belong. I've been waiting for this my whole life and I'm ready. Or I think I am. I have no clue where I am going to be put, but I hope that no matter where I'm placed, I will feel like I belong. 2 hours, that's all I have until the sorting and I can't talk to Jeremy. I really wish I could but it's the rules for sorting day, you have to be with your family for the day. I understand why they do this, just in case we are sorted into another society. I hope that Jeremy and I are in the same place together, or I won't know what to do.

1 hour until the sorting, now I'm starting to freak out. Jordan is trying to act like it's just a regular day, but it isn't. I think she's worried I won't stay in Harcos, and I'm worried about that too. I'm not as strong and confident as everyone else is, the only thing I'm good at is school. "Are you ready for this? I know that wherever you go, we'll love you no matter what. You know that right?" I know Mason is trying to make me feel less anxious, but I can't help but think that maybe they won't love me anymore. "Yeah I know that," my hair is all done. It's in a braided low bun and I'm about to get on my dress. I keep the necklace Jeremy got me so I don't lose it and him. I'm more worried that if me and Jeremy are put into different societies, that he'll forget about me and find someone else. I know that's what life is about, growing up, finding your true love, but I don't know if I could without him.

Mason, Jordan and I are on the subway, to head to the ceremony. The ceremony is held in the biggest building in New York, so that many people can come and watch. I see Jeremy when we get off the subway, he's walking with his brothers. I'm still angry that they hurt him. He doesn't deserve it, and they should know that. "You look amazing in your dress." I smiled, "thank you Jordan, that means a lot." Really it does mean a lot, because we don't complement each other often.

I think I'm going to be sick, we are walking into the building, and there are four groups. We are all wearing our society's colors. We only have to wear our colors on sorting day. Harcos' colors are black and silver, that's why I wore black, Regal colors are gold and burgundy; Stringent colors are orange and brown, lastly Saffi colors are navy and white. This way, we know where to go when everything is finished. By the time we sit down, the event is about to start.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, we are very excited to start the ceremony. If you all will take your seats, we will start." A man, probably in his lower thirties is speaking to all of us. The ceremony goes in alphabetical order, and there is a big screen that shows which society people will be in. Since my last name starts with an E, I will be somewhat in the beginning of the ceremony. I see Jeremy, he's sitting a few rows behind me because of his last name which begins with an H.

"Thank you all for coming today for the sorting, I am very delighted to see so many young faces who are yet to be put in your new homes. Since everything is quiet now, we will start. 'Caity Ash' will you please stand up and walk down the aisle." When she's by the man, Caity stands on a large circle while the board shows pictures and stats of her life. The board had a big word on it after a couple of seconds. "It looks like Caity Ash will stay in Harcos, if you will go and sit back in your group, we can move on." 

Wow that is not as scary as it looks, they go through a couple people until I heard someone I knew. Thomas Cyprus, he went up and stood on the large circle. "It looks like Mr. Cyprus will stay in Saffi. Now you may go back and sit with your group." Thomas looked up at the audience, he looked directly at me then looked away quickly. A couple more people went until I heard Josh's name, "Josh Duke will you please come down to the circle." 

He walks down and he looks nervous. When he gets down to the circle, it took the board longer than usual to put him in a society. "It looks like you will be in Saffi," he looks the most shocked than I've seen anyone all day. 

Then I hear my name, "Harper Einar, will Harper Einar come down to the circle." Jordan and Mason both gave me a hug before I left. I think they know I won't stay in Harcos. By the time I get down there and am on the circle, I am sweating because I'm so nervous about where I will be put. The board was blank for a couple of seconds, but it felt like minutes. 

If I stayed up here too long, I might faint but I need to keep up my confident facade. I look at the board, and it shows all kinds of pictures of me, my grades, even what I do in my free time. It finally had the big black word that was painted across the board. "Saffi!" 

The man yelled this time because I think not many Harcos' are put into Saffi. I looked at my brother and sister, they were smiling, but I think on the inside they were disappointed about me leaving them. 

To be honest, I'm really upset that I have to leave them. I look up and see Jeremy, he was not smiling, he was not even looking at me. After me, all the F's and G's went which took a while. I didn't realize how many people are my age. 

Finally, it came to the H's, that's the group I really wanted to listen to since Jeremy is in it. Before him, Lydia was up, and I bet she will stay in Regal. She is way too perfect to go somewhere else until- "Lydia Hendrix will be in Saffi." Both our mouths dropped and a lot of people gasped because I don't think anyone expected that. It was silent for a while, then I heard Jeremy's name. 

Please, please let him be in Saffi. I'll do anything, just put him in-, "Harcos!", no! This- I-. Why does this have to happen to me, the one person other than my family who actually likes me, isn't even allowed to talk to me.

I couldn't hear anything anyone was saying to me or about the person on the circle, all I could think about is how no one will talk to me. I don't belong in Saffi, I honestly don't belong anywhere. 

I'm not as intelligent as Saffi, I'm not as badass as Harcos, I'm not good at finding useless things useful as Stringent are, and I'm definitely not as perfect as Regal's are. I'm a no one, and I won't fit into the puzzle like I wanted to; I'm going to be left in the dust where everyone will forget about me. This is not what I hoped for, I need to find my people and if not, I'm screwed.