60 seconds

3). Byron

Rosey's pov -

I wake up and roll out of bed while it's still dark out. I check the time to see I've woken up early enough again. 4:45 my clock reads. I step onto the floor making sure I stand on the second wooden floorboard. Not the first and not the third but the second floorboard. For some reason every other tile doesn't squeak. No squeak equals no noise which equals no reason for Jonah to get up.

I dance around my room grabbing my clothes and a brush and head to the bathroom. I brush my hair and leave it down to dry. My hair might end up a giant fuzz ball of curls but it feels better than going through the extra effort of putting it in a bun or pony. I look at my appearance and see that I finally don't have  bruises on my face, just my body which is covered up by my yellow and orange dress. I can see my blue eyes and freckles perfectly. My nose sticks out a little but it's nothing too bad. I still can't believe it's not worse considering how many times it's been broken. I like to try and think I look pretty but it's hard. No one has ever given me a compliment and all I hear is Jonah's words. I try my hardest to not let them sink in but how can I not? He's my father?

I feel like I'm a women of stealth as I make my way down the stairs towards the kitchen. As long as I'm quiet he won't wake up and I'll be on my way to school before he can get his hands on me.

I round the corner into the kitchen and see that he's past out on the kitchen table. A tipped over bottle of some sort of alcohol is spilled next to his head and I want to vomit from the smell. I decide to ditch breakfast and head out towards the school. It's 5:15 when I make it out the front door. School doesn't start until 8:15 and I don't need to be there until 8:00. If I leave for school around 7 I'll have two hours to kill. I decide to hike my way through some of the woods. I have a special spot in the back that I like to go to. I've been wanting to build a tree house back here but I have no idea how to even start.

As I hike through the familiar brush, last night turns through my head. Jonah coming home from leadership business. He was mad because they didn't listen to his suggestions about using the peace serum for recreational use. I thought about hiding but I know that would only make it worse. He found me in my room and I tried to pretend like I was sleeping, like that would make him go away. He threw me off the bed and started sending punches to my stomach. That's nothing new or something I can't handle.

I'm 14 and I can take a beating probably better than anyone at Dauntless. Just thinking the word Dauntless has my head spinning. I hope I get that as a result for my aptitude test. I fear my father and want to spend as much time away from him. I don't know how to defend myself but if I'm Dauntless I'll know how to fight back, I'll know how to protect myself. I'm not an idiot, I'm not going to keep myself in a situation where I can't fight back. Does that make me a coward? Or does that make me smart? All I know is that I wish I could fight back, more than just running out and hiding but putting an end to his reign of cruelty.

I trip over a thick root and land on a patch of dirt. I look up to see I've made it to my spot and the sun is rising. I walk over to a nice size rock next to a small pond and watch the sun rise. My little spot is my only place of peace. That's funny considering Amity is the peace faction. I have no friends here due to the fact that everyone in Amity thinks I'm crazy. I walk in with bruises everywhere and they all seem to think I'm the next crazy Dauntless. It's not surprising considering the amount of fights I manage to get into. It's usually some smart mouthed erudite or candor who has it all. They make fun of me and call me names and sometimes I can't handle it. I flip my lid and my fist just so happens to make contact with their face. I have no idea how that happens.

I hate when that happens, when I just loose it at school. If only I could do that at home.

I push off the rock I'm sitting on and take a deep breath. I let my eyes soak up this place of beauty. The tall, soft grass that blocks the pond from view and the small foot worn path I've made over the years that goes to a tall branch filled tree. I make my way to my tree and climb to the top. I sit perched high up enough that I can see the train tracks that run through the back of Amity. It's been so tempting to just catch the train and never jump off. I don't want to be factionless but how bad could it really be compared to this? Maybe I'll just make my tree house and live my days out here. 

I feel sleep pulling me while I'm still on top of the tree and decide to start heading back. I skillfully find my way down trying to avoid looking at my scared hand and start running. Running has always made me feel better. If I could, I would run everywhere. I feel like nothing can get me, more like Jonah can't catch me but still. It makes it seem like I can do something and that is all I need. It helps push Jonah's words out of my head. I can't stand to think of him for too long or else my head will explode and I'll be even more broken then I already am. I'm walking on a tight rope and that rope is about to snap. I really don't think I can make another 2 years.

*Flash forward to school*

The bell rings to signal for lunch and I really don't feel like going. I have some Dauntless friends, Jessie and Jake, that I usually sit with but for some reason I can't stand food. I think my stomach still hurts a little from last night so I decide to wander. I'm not really allowed to wander but whats the harm. I make my way down two hallways before a teacher walks out. She looks like she's coming my way so I duck into the closet room. The library. Great. Now instead of lunch I get stuck with erudite geeks.

I make my way through to the back of the library when I spot yellow. I walk closer until I realize it's some other Amity boy. He looks a little older than me but is over the top cute. He has brown puppy eyes that are soaked into that book with tan sun kissed skin that makes him look warm and inviting and black hair that's shaved to the side and almost spiked up in the front. I want to touch it so bad. Ya, what?!? It seems like I've been staring for a little too long as his eyes peer up from the book. "Can I ... uhm hi?" He looks a little caught off guard and I can't help but laugh. "Hi, I'm Rosey" I say as I sit down next to him. "Byron, why haven't I seen you around, your a little too pretty for me not to notice?" He says this with actual curiosity, like he didn't just give me a huge compliment, something I've never gotten. A huge blush takes a hold of my face and any confidence I have is gone.

He seems like he just caught onto what just happened and starts stammering, "I, I, I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me. I guess that wasn't very kind" I feel like I want to start laughing again, how does he not notice that's the most kindness thing anyone has ever said to me.

I've never thought myself as pretty but it's nice to know someone thinks that. "No, it's okay." Be brave Rosey just say what he said to you. You already know he thinks your pretty, "I'm actually sorry I haven't seen you around. Your too cute not to notice." A smile so big fills his face I feel like it might hurt him but at the same time seeing that smile on him made a matching one on mine.

For the first time I'm smiling a real smile, and feeling something else. Happy? Excited? Or both?