Invergent

Chapter Six

I wake up to the smell of fresh baked cookies. I sleepily pull myself up onto the couch. It takes me at least half an hour to get my brain to function properly after waking up. That's why I always set my alarm so early. I pull at the sleeves of the hoodie I'm wearing and curl my legs up inside it to keep warm. 

"Morning, Pancake," Michale says, bringing in a full plate of cookies and two large glasses of milk.

"Did I ever tell you you're my favorite brother?" 

"I better be, for all the work I have to put into you," he grumbles, placing the cookies on the coffee table in front of me.

"Wait—" I say looking down at my clothes, "I wasn't wearing a hoodie last night!"

"You were shivering. I gave you mine." Michale laughs, shaking his head at me. 

"Well, thank you," I say, grabbing a cookie and dipping it in milk. Apple cinnamon. Not as good as apple pie and ice cream but a close second. I'm sure my parents slept over at my aunt Beth's house. That's where they were on the day of my brother's Choosing Ceremony, too. 

"We have to leave in half an hour-" 

"Half an hour!?" I scream, jumping up from my place on the couch. "I have to go get ready!" 

I run upstairs, ignoring the laughter from Michale. I pull out one of my drawers. I pull on some red jeans. I quickly cuff the ends and throw on a yellow tank top. I pull on Michales hoodie. I hope he won't mind me stealing it. If this is the last time I get to be in this house, I want to take a part of my brother with me. I put on my sliver necklace that holds a pretty green stone shaped like a star on it. My best friend gave it to me for my birthday. She wears a matching one with a pink stone. There's no way I'm going anywhere without it. Finally, I grab my ring. There's no sentimental value in it, I just think it's pretty. 

I pull my hair into a ponytail and apply some mascara and lip gloss. I stuff the two into one of my jean pockets. I take one last look at myself in the mirror. I don't look much like either of my parents. They both have brown eyes while I have blue ones. My skin is pale, a dramatic contrast to their olive skin. I'm short and weak. I'm nothing like them, which I always despised about myself, until today. Now, I'm glad that when I look into the mirror, I see nothing of them. It will make it easier to forget them. I pull on my yellow high-top sneakers and run out to meet my brother at the door. 

"Time!" 

"You were gone for 9 minutes." Michale laughs. 

"Wow, I really thought I took longer," I say, out of breath. I sit back on the couch and pick up my half-eaten cookie. 

"Do you want your hoodie back?" I ask, mouth still full of cookie. 

"You can keep it." 

"You're so sweet." 

"Yeah, yeah," Michale says, sitting down next to me. "Just remember who your favorite brother is." 

"Only by default," I say matter-of-factly, raising a finger in the air. 

"You're a punk," he says, pulling my ponytail out. 

"Hey!" 

"Leave your hair down." 

"Why?" 

"You look better this way, trust me." I just roll my eyes at him. I grab my rubber band and put it on my wrist. I'm at least taking it with me. 

I rush up the stairs, anxious to take my place among the other 18-year-olds who will be choosing their faction today. Michale is desperately trying to keep up with me. Being small, it's easy for me to weave between the crowd. Michale's not so lucky, and he keeps getting pushed back. Being in Amity doesn't help. He wouldn't ever shove anyone, even if they deserved it.