Resurgent: A Divergent Story//editing

Chapter 20

- Al -

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"You too?" Brian asks.

"Me too what?" I asks him back.

"You were sent home because the serum made you 'sick'?" he says, putting air quotes around sick.

"Maybe," I say, looking away from him.

"Are you Divergent?" he asks, and I nod, "Don't lie."

"Why should I trust you?" I ask him.

"Because I'm your cousin," he says, and I smile and he does too. I forgot that I was related to Brian.

"No, I'm not Divergent," I say, and his smile fades.

"Neither am I," he says, not looking into my eyes.

"Are you Resurgent?" we ask, at the same time, then we both look away, because we know the answer.

"They are going to kill us if they find out," Brian says.

I nod my head, as a tear rolls down my face. "What are you going to do tomorrow?" he asks me.

I shake my head. "I don't know," I say, "What about you?"

"Same," he says, "I just got to trust myself, I guess."

"Yeah, trust youself." I say, and wipe the tears off my face.

"See you later, cous'," Brian says.

"Bye Brian, see you tomorrow," I say, and head for the train.

I glance at my watch, and it says 1:54. I quickly climb up the barriers and wait for the grumbling noise of the train. I love that sound, and I don't think I would be able to live without hearing it every day. It somehow comforts me and makes me feel at home. I am snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of the train, and I jump on. My ride home is silent, except for the grumbling noise of the train. I jump once I approach the compound. I walk to the fridge in the larger kitchen and grab a can of soda.

I walk to the elevator and ride up to my floor. I walk in and sit on the red couch we have and drink my soda. I sit in silence for about ten minutes, thinking about what I am going to do tomorrow. My thoughts are inturrupted by Amar walking in.

"Al?" he says, and walks over to me.

"Hey 'R," I say, and he sits down next to me. I look at him, he looks so much like Dad. He is tall, strong, and muscular. He has tattoos on his shoulders, that curve around and go onto the back of his neck, somewhat like Dad's. He has Dad's smile too. Nat and Andy both look like Dad too, making me the only one who looks like Mom.

"Why are you home so early?" He asks.

"The test made me sick and the administrator sent me home." I lie.

"No it didn't," he says, and I stare at him.

"What?" I say, though I am an awful liar.

"Al, are you Divergent?" He asks, "No lying this time."

"No," I say.

He just stares at me, with wide eyes. "Well, what are you?" He asks.

"I'm Resurgent." I say.

A tear rolls down his face. "Al, I don't know what to say," he says, and pulls me into a hug, "It'll be okay Al, it'll be okay."

"No it won't," I say, and pull away from him. "If anyone finds out, they'll kill me 'R, and they'll kill you too, now, because you know."

"No, they won't Al. No one else will find out about this. Not even Mom or Dad. If anyone suspects anything, you are Divergent, not Resurgent, okay?"

I nod my head. "Are you normal?" I ask him.

"I'm Divergent, just like Mom and Dad, and probably Nat and Andy too. Divergence is now hereditary, and when both parents are Divergent, there is a one in a million chance that the child will become Resurgent, and Al, you are that one in a million." he says, and more tears stream down his face.

"So is Brian," I say to myself, but Amar hears me too.

"What?" He says, standing up, looking at me in shock.

"Nothing," I say, and try to get out of this situation.

"You mean Brian, our cousin Brian, who we found out was our cousin a week ago, is Resurgent?" Amar says.

"Yeah, but please don't tell anyone 'R." I say.

"I won't Al," he says, "I promise."

Then, there is a nock on the front door. I walk over, and open it, but before I can say anything, or ask who it is, a pair of big, muscular arms engulfs me into a hug.

"You too Al?" Hector asks.

I nod my head, and remember that Amar told me I had to lie about my Resurgence, and say I was Divergent.

"I'm guessing you know," Hector says to Amar, and he nods his head. When Hector turns his back to shut the door, Amar gives me a wink, and I smile.

"When the administrator told me I was Divergent," Hector says, "I was so scared."

"I was too, Hec," I say.

"Al, I want you to know, that I am going to go wherever you go," Hector says.

Amar awkwardly walks out of the room, leaving me alone with Hector. I smile at him, and give him a quick peck on the lips. He smiles and pulls me into another hug. He grabs my hand, and I intertwine our fingers.

"But Hec," I say, "You might choose before me."

"So then tell me what you're going to choose." He says.

"But Hec," I say again, "I don't know what I am going to choose yet."

"You aren't going to stay here?" He asks.

"I don't know if I'm going to stay, Hec, I am just going to trust myself and follow my gut tomorrow." I say.

"Follow your gut?" Hector asks, raising his voice, "You are going to decide your whole future based on your gut?"

I stand up, and pull my hand away from him, "I think you should go, Hector."

He gets up and says, "Al, I'm-" but I interrupt him.

"I said, you should go." I say, and I go into my room.

I hear Hector leave, and I sit on my bed. I wipe my eyes, and go into the bathroom. My cheeks are stained with mascara. I use water to try to wipe it off, but it only makes it worse.

Then, Jo and Claire come bursting through the doors, calling my name. I try to wipe off the access make up, and I get most of it off.

I come out, and they look at me, "Where'd you go?" Jo asks.

"The test serum made me sick," I say, praying that they don't know that I'm lying.

"Oh, did you finish?" Claire asks.

"Yeah, I just got sick after I finished." I say.

"What were your results?" Jo asks.

"What were yours," I say

"You'll see tomorrow." Claire says, her smile growing.

"Same with you guys," I smile.

"Well, we got to go. We just wanted to check up on you." Jo says.

"Yeah, I hope you feel better," Claire says, and they both walk out of my apartment.

I think to myself, how could I just lie to all three of my best friends?