Resurgent: A Divergent Story//editing

Chapter 11

- Al -

.

.

Beep Beep Beep Beep

I am awaken by the sound of my alarm clock. I check the time and it says 7:00, twenty five minutes before we all meet in the lobby to go to school. Today, Brian, Jenna, Lani, and Jacob will come to Dauntless with Hector and me.

Brian. My cousin Brian. The cousin I had that I never knew I had. And his sister, Madison, my other cousin. The thought of being related to erudite makes me sick to my stomach, but not as sick as the fact that I take the aptitude test in only two days. Then in three days, the choosing ceremony, where I will decide my future.

I put my thoughts aside and get ready for the day. I put on my typical black pants and black shirt, but today, I decide to wear my dad's purple jacket he got when he was called to join the dauntless leadership when Max unexpectedly died, when I was about 9. Tori and Ethan, Eric's son, are the other leaders, but Dad is their superior. Eric was in leadership, but he got sick. He and his wife took the jump to the unknown, so Ethan replaced his father.

I zip up the jacket, which is still to big on me, but I don't care. I walk out to the small kitchen we have. I grab a bowl and the box of cereal. I start to eat my cereal, but I stop when I hear Nat and Andy come in.

"Are you and Hector dating?" Nat asks.

"No. He's my best friend. That would be like you dating Harry or Andy dating Bella." I turn back to my cereal in attempt to end the conversation with the twins, but I fail.

"Ew. I would never date Bella." Andy says, pretending to puke.

"I doubt she'd even want to date you," Nat says, rolling her eyes.

I glance at the clock and it says 7:20. "I got to go. See you guys later." I say to the twins and grab my bag and head for the door.

I stand in the elevator for less than 30 seconds, before it opens and Hector walks in.

"Hey," he says.

"Hey," I say back.

The elevator beeps again and Tommy walks in. He smiles at us and stands next to me. Tommy and Hector are so similar, but so different. They could be twins (but they're only cousins), because they look so much alike. Tommy's hair is shorter and lighter, but their facial features are almost identical.

Their personalities are complete opposites. Hector is the nice, funny, lady's-man, and Tommy is the cool, mean, bad boy. Tommy has a lot if tattoos, even for a dauntless.

I've had a tiny crush on Tommy forever, but I like Hector more. They are both equally handsome, but Hector's personality is what wins it for him.

My thoughts are interrupted by another 'ding' of the elevator and Jo and Claire come running in, both pulling me into an embrace, which is uncomfortable because they both tower over me.

"Kinda being squished here!" I say, and they both pull away. Hector and Tommy both look confused as to why they are hugging me, and I am too.

"We are so sorry, Al!" Jo says wiping a tear from her eye.

"I can't believe it." Claire says.

"What are you even talking 'bout?" Tommy says, in a smooth tone, that sends shivers down my spine.

"He doesn't know?" Claire says.

"You didn't tell him?" Jo asks.

"Tell him what?" I ask, as we walk out of the elevator.

"About you and Brian." Jo says.

"How'd you-?" I start as we leave the building, but Tommy interrupts me.

"Are you and Brian dating?!" he yells, stopping all of us.

"What?" I say, "No. No. No. He's my cousin." A look of relief comes across Tommy's face.

"Oh." He says, still confused.

"Wait," I say to Jo and Claire, "How did you guys know?"

"Your mom called our mom last night, telling her how Caleb thought you were her. Then when he asked you who your dad was and he yelled at you when you said your dad was Marcus Eaton's son." Claire says.

"Who's Marcus Eaton?" Tommy asks.

"He's the abnegation leader," Jo says, "Keep up with it Tommy."

"So your dad's from abnegation?" Tommy asks.

"Yeah," I sigh, hoping someone will change the subject.

"Okay," says Hector, granting my wish, "Al?" I sigh. Why must everyone be focused on me. "Why are you wearing you dad's leader jacket?"

Everyone looks at me and the jacket in awe. It is a nice, purple, leathery material jacket that has 'Four' sewn on the front.

"I dunno," I say "I just felt like it."

"Well," Tommy says, "You look pretty hot in it," making my heart skip a beat.