Before Tris and Four- A Divergent Fan Fiction

Natalie

I woke up to the sound of my mother knitting. A very small delicate sound. I sat up and there she was, sitting in the rocking chair in the corner of my room.

"Did I wake you?" she said slowly sitting up.

"No. What time is it?" I asked standing up and reaching for my brush.

"Seven-thirty. Do you still want me to trim your hair a bit?"

"Actually, I think I'm fine this month. It is the aptitude test, after all."

"Ok, I'll be downstairs if you need me. Oh, and here is the key to your mirror." she said tossing me a small silver rusted key. I am Abnegation and that means selfless. Being selfless means you shouldn't have to look at the mirror and you put others before yourself. I go to my bathroom and stick the key into a wooden cover that would be where a mirror would be. Opening it, I look at myself long and hard. Brown hair a little below the shoulders. Blue-green eyes. Pale skin. Those three attributes make me, me.

I put on my grey dress with a white ribbon in the middle and tie my hair in to a ponytail. Walking downstairs, I hear the sizzle of bacon on the stove. I love bacon. I sit down at the little table in the kitchen.

"Good morning," my father said without looking up from his newspaper.

"Morning." I say trying to sound cheerful. My parents of all people today should be nervous. Today I take my aptitude test and it will help me decide what faction to choose. I could stay Abnegation, or change. The other factions I could choose are; Dauntless the brave, Erudite the intelligent, Amity the peaceful, or Candor the honest.

"Your aptitude test is today at three in the afternoon. You have to be there at two-thirty. What will you be doing today until then?" my mother asked placing a plate with eggs and bacon on it.

"I will read to the children until lunch time, feed them lunch. Then, I will go to Tobias' house and comfort him about his test and we will walk to the test together."

"What will you do the during the five minutes till they let you in?"

"I will comfort myself. But until then, I will help the kids and comfort Tobias."

"Nice plan, sweetie."

I finish my food and then I kiss my father on the cheek. I grab my bag filled with books and pencils. I walk on the sidewalk and pass the house where Tobias lives. It's not even a house, it's a hellhole. His mother died when he was nine, his father beats the life out of him, it's a wonder he hasn't given up yet. I stop and stare at the window that belongs to him. I wonder if he's up yet. I decide to keep walking to the library where I'll read to the kids and help them with homework.

When I get there, Olivia, a Candor runs up to me. We sit down together and she rummages through her bag and gives me a piece of paper and pen. Olivia is deaf so we write what we want to say to each other.

"Hi! Natalie! How are you today?"

"I'm fine, how are you?"

"I might be deaf, but I am still a Candor! How do you REALLY feel?" she read right through me.

"I'm a bit nervous, but this is about you, not me! What homework do you need help with today?"

"Well..."

"What 'well...'?"

"I don't have homework that I need help with. I just know today is your aptitude test and I wanted to spend time with you."

"Aw. So what do you want to do today?" I wrote that because no other kids showed up.

"I was thinking about making a story together. I write the words and you help teach me how to draw the pictures."

And that's what we did. We wrote about princesses and dragons and anything else she wanted to. I heard the ding of the clock sticking noon. I nudge Olivia and I see a tear trickle down her face.

"Why are you crying?" I scribble on our scrap paper.

"Because now you leave me for your test and I might never see you again!"

"Olivia, sweetie, it's only lunch time! I'm going to eat lunch with you! And of COURSE you'll see me!"

"I won't see you again if you follow your BOYFRIEND!!! I'll loose you forever!"

"What boyfriend? You know Abnegation can't date until they're nine-teen!"

"Well he's a BOY and he's your FRIEND! And you're gonna leave me for him!" after I read that, she jumped into my arms. She sobbed into my chest until she had no more tears in her. I carried her to the cafeteria that connects to the library. I sit her down and she looks at me with big, puffy eyes.

I write on the paper, "What do you want to eat?"

"CHEESEBURGER PLEASE!!!"

"Ok! I'll be right back!" I say walking towards the line. Two Dauntless stand in front of me and are ordering so many cheeseburgers, it must be for a group. I begin to get worried, what if there isn't one left for Olivia? Of course I can't argue with a Dauntless over a cheeseburger, though.

Someone taps my shoulder and I turn around to see Tobias smiling that million dollar smile. Maybe Olivia is right, maybe I do like Tobias a little more than as a friend.

"How long do you think they'll take to get their food?" he whispers so the Dauntless don't hear.

I laugh a laugh only Tobias and Olivia can get out of me. "All day. And poor Olivia about had a heart attack in the library."

"How so?"

"When it became noon, she cried because she thought I was heading to the test. She also thinks I'm gonna leave her to follow my 'boyfriend'!"

"What boyfriend do you have?"

"No clue!" I say looking over his shoulder checking on Olivia who is reading and re-reading the book we made.

"Dauntless left, can I sit with you guys?" he asks turning me around.

"Yeah!" I say over my shoulder to him.

"What'll it be, sweethart?" the lunch lady asked.

"Two cheeseburgers, a large fry, a bottle of water, and a cup of milk please."

"Twenty-three fifty."

Reaching for my wallet, Tobias stops me and pays for it.

"I can pay for it!" I protest.

"Please just let me do it. I'll bring your food over for you, too." he says shoving me towards our table.