Divergent High

Chapter One

Tris's POV

"Are you nervous?" I ask my brother because I am actually terrified.

He shrugs his shoulders, carelessly, "Nah, it's just high school."

I nod and decide to stop pestering him. My brother has never been the type to worry. I, on the other hand, have been. Ever since we were little, I constantly worried. Worried about this and that, even the littlest stuff. Like when a boy yanked out my bun or when someone called me a name. Maybe it is in my nature. I do not know. My parents do not like to worry because worrying is self indulgent. I sigh, my parents are stricter then most. The thing is, they are not strict, they are overprotective. Sometimes I am grateful for my parents protection but most days I am not.

Staring at the cement gray sidewalk, I begin to kick the small pebbles. This is the first say of high school. Nothing to worry about. I have been going to the same school all of my life. This year I want to be different. I do not want to be the quiet, selfless girl. I want to be like the adventurous kids that roam freely, not a care in the world. I want to abandon my nickname as Stiff.

My brother taps my shoulder lightly. I stare at him and he points up to the high school. It is called, Divergent High.

"I can't wait to go to the library and stud-. . . ." Caleb stops talking, his voice trailing behind like our childhood.

"What's that?"

Caleb looks shocked that he said that out loud and he quickly says, "Oh, uh . . . Beatrice, today we should think about our family but also. . . Think about ourselves."

I nod-standing in shock-thinking about what my brother said. My selfless brother being selfish?

"Caleb, Beatrice!" Susan calls, quietly from standing in the middle of the freshly cut lawn that surround the school.

We walk up to her and her brother, Robert. Robert and I have gotten much close over the years. Caleb and Susan always talk and leave us out of their conversations. I do not know if they intend to do so. They should not because both of our families value selflessness. Unlike others, we forget about ourselves and put others first. That is why to say it am wearing the usual gray robe with gray underneath.

I ignore Susan and Caleb's conversation and Robert while he tries to talk to me. I look around the school and notice five different groups. This is still like grade school. If I left my clique then it would be chaos. Everyone sticks to their clique.

There is the blue for the Erudite or nerds as everyone calls them. The nerds sit at tables, reading books every time someone looks over at them. Other then that, they talk to each other. The nerds always want to show off and they think that just because they are smart then us, they are better.

Then there is the red and yellow for Amity or drug addicts as everyone calls them. The drug addicts stand around a tree while some of them hug it. Some of the girls play patty cake and the boys play tag, chasing the girls. I roll my eyes, they are so stupid and childish. I swear, one day they will all start a protest about marrying trees.

There is the black and white for Candor or annoying smart mouths. They sit in a circle and talk loudly like everyone wants to hear what they say. We don't! They are also show offs like the nerds. They like to talk loud and are so obnoxious.

Black for Dauntless or known as jocks. I hear the train, rustling over the tracks and leaves flying under the impact. The train's whistle blows, erupting through the field and I feel like it is calling me. They run around and push each other. Some even climb trees. I laugh when I see one jock hanging a nerd upside down. I have always liked the jocks' brave ways and ruthless tactics however the jocks do not really like us Stiffs. Dauntless do not like anyone in particular. Maybe that is why they wear scary clothes so they can make us all scared of them so we do not talk to them.

Then there is the gray for Abnegation or the nick name Stiffs. We are the worst group. Stiffs are so plain, boring, and hey! Now I realize why everyone calls us Stiffs and because we get picked on the most. Even the nerds pick on us. Yesterday, one shoved me out of his way!

As I am scanning the crowd of black clothed and pierced Dauntless, I notice someone who is also looking at me. He is not like the others. He is not bulky like some Dauntless boys are. And some girls might focus on the way hiss ears stick out or the way his nose hooks at the end. But to me. . . . The guy has no tattoos or piercings that I can see. He does not wear black makeup like the others. This boy wears a black leather jacket with a navy shirt underneath to match his eyes and black jeans. Simple and plain but somehow familiar. His deep, dark blue eyes stare back into mine. I feel my cheeks getting flushed and I look away. Still looking away, I feel like that mysterious boy is still looking at me, observing me, studying every move I make. I feel like we know each, even though we just met, I feel like there is some kind of connection that we share.

I watch as everyone walks into the school. Stiffs have to wait for everyone else to go first so I will be here a while. But then, my eyes land on him again. He studies my facial expressions. Should I smile? I think that I should. I have never had a boyfriend because Abnegation does not like physical contact or sexual relationships because it is self indulgent. I smile at him and realize that my smile was lopsided! I try to smile with my lips closed but he looks away, biting his lip, laughing. I frown, way to go.

Wait, he looks back at me and gives me a pouty face. Maybe he thought that I was trying to be funny. Yeah, I hope so. . . I should not like him, though. I cannot have a boyfriend well maybe if I switched cliques like I have always wanted to. The boy gives me an angry face and I burst out laughing. The other Stiffs around me give me disgusted faces. For once, I do not care.

Another boy with a snake tattoo behind his ear and dark hair shoves the boy into the school doors, muttering something that sounds like Four.

A/N: Was this any good? Disclaimer- credits to Miss Roth!