The Daughters of the System (Divergent ff)

Chapter 5: Family day

I wake up to Vince shaking me slightly. "Wake up, it's visiting day." he grins. I groan and push his hands away, rolling away from him. Who cares about visiting day; this is the only day I can get a good sleep in. Isn't it supposed to be faction before blood anyway?

Now forcibly wide awake by Vincent's continuous shaking I get up and take a shower. A proper shower. I thoroughly wash my hair, my arms and my legs for a bit too long, lingering in the hot water. Even after I'm done it's hard to get out from under the steaming water. I only get out at last when the water stops on it's own. Deciding to not waste more time and miss my chance at breakfast, I get dressed and throw on my boots.

My entire friend group had gone out together last Saturday —our day off— and had gotten piercings or tattoos. I decided against it, though I was still dragged along for it. It was fun to see them all wince in pain while losing points. I've not spent any yet and they're starting to stack up to quite the mountain. I'm planning on buying some things with them today whilst all the other initiates are talking with their parents, an uncommon chance to be alone.

Visiting day starts at nine and I'm not expecting or wanting to see my family today. Vince however seems very adamant to introduce me to his family.

"Come on, Andy. I think I can see them over there." He cheered, nearly leaping out of his seat. "I'll meet them later." I shrug, biting into my bagel. "No, no, no. You," he groans as he pulls me out of my seat "are coming with me."

I am dragged along by the underarm all the way through the cafeteria and into the pit where amongst a sea of whites, blacks blues and greys stands a group of people in warm orange and green. Vince drags me along to the group where he is quickly embraced by a young girl. "Vincent!" She cheers out, causing the rest of the group to swivel around and embrace him in a tight hug.

"Hey guys" Vincent greets the brightly smiling people "This is my friend Andy. She's transferred here as well." A speed round of names flow past my ears. His parents are first to introduce themselves; Fleur and Jarek. She's tall and blonde, just like Vince and he's shorter with dark brown long hair, like their daughter Denise. She'd been hiding behind Vince until her parents beckoned her to introduce herself to me. From that moment on she's dead set on braiding my hair. 

I'm hesitant, but Vince ensures me I'll be fine as his parents usher a large family of 7 over to us. In the middle of them all stands Olive, for once not sticking out like a sore thumb. If you thought that Vince's mother was tall here come the giants that are Olive's parents. Dark black hair, warm green clothes on and big grins on their faces.  

Her parents' names are Andrew and Natalia. Andrew and Atticus had been assigned houses for their families next to each other and the families had been best friends ever since. Their 5 children, of which Olive was the second oldest, are all also extremely tall. They're nice. Very Amity, which was that was to be expected. 

After what felt like hours of extremely close family bonding that involved me more than I am comfortable with my hair is braided and Denise has ran back to her father, whispering something into his ear. Her father laughs, ushering me over. 

"She thinks you look pretty," Jarek notes, wrapping an arm around me "And for the record I think you look lovely as well." I thank him, though he seems to have something else she wants to tell me. "Andy, could you do me a favour and look after Vincent? I know he can be a bit much, but I also know how dangerous life can get here." I nod at Jarek, his smile returning after a quick worried question "I'll uh, I'll do that." 

I take a step back, Jarek quickly waving at me. "It was lovely to meet you, Andy." Jarek announces as the rest of the group turn their heads to wave at me as well. I wave back with a little smile, turning away and making my way back to the dorms. 

Just as I walk out of the busy pit, making my way to the exit near the shops, the pit runs quiet. I peak back through the doorway and gasp; It was Jeanine. What was she doing here?

She beckons over Four whom she briefly talks to. He nods at her looks around and then points to the exit I'm standing at. My eyes widen and Jeanine turns, making eye contact with me as a proud smile forms.

She starts power walking towards me, her arms opening once she's turned around the corner. I run at her and jump into her arms for a tight hug. "It's terrific to see you, Star." She says as we walk towards the dorm together.

"I can't believe you came." I smile.

"You didn't think I'd miss seeing my favourite person in the galaxy now did you?" Jeanine says as she grabs my cheek, caressing it with a small smile. "You stopped wearing your contact and hiding your scar." She notes as she wipes her thumb across it.

"I don't know if the attention is positive or negative." I say though I know that it's negative and people think it's weird.

"Well, I for one think you look badass," Jeanine says "The two braids look badass on you too." Her wording makes me chuckle.

"How's it in Erudite?" 

"It's been weird since you left. I've got no one to share my plans with and nobody to roll my eyes at when someone's doing something dumb," She jokes "And Amalthea's been asking me twenty times a day if she can work with me; replace you."

I swallow at the mention of my sister replacing me, but Jeanine just shakes her head. "That girl needs to get through her head that I don't like her."

"I'm surprised she hasn't thrown a temper tantrum yet." I joke, amused by her hatred towards my sister.

Jeanine places her fingers on her temples, letting out a deep sigh. "She has," she groans "Multiple times and it's giving me a headache."

"But that's enough about me," She quickly changes subjects "how are you doing here in Dauntless? Are they treating you well? Are you eating well? Did they give you proper hygiene product? And other clothes? Do I need to shake some sense into someone?"

I smile at her concern, shaking my head. "Everything's fine. I'm doing fine."

"How about the other initiates? Have you made any friends?" Jeanine asks as she looks around.

"You know I don't like talking," I say "though there is an amity transferred boy I could possibly consider a friend, Vincent. He's a pretty nice guy."

Jeanine let's out a content little sigh and hugs me again. "I heard you changed your name? Any reason?" she asks.

"It seemed logical," I shrug "Everyone calls me Andy anyway. Besides, my full name sounds a bit too Erudite for my taste. Andy seems more dauntless."

Jeanine grabs my shoulders a bit tightly and takes a deep breath. "I saw your test score," she hesitates to continue and honestly, I'm not sure I want her to "Why didn't you just tell me you got Dauntless? I thought you hated me or something."

I chuckle and shaking my head afterwards. "Of course I don't hate you," I smile brightly "I just- I was afraid you'd be disappointed." My smile falters as I confess my worries, a practice I do not often lean towards.

"Star," Jeanine says a bit offended but mostly worried "You could never disappoint me. I'm proud of you no matter what."

With those words in mind I knew why I liked Jeanine better than my blood relatives. For all I cared they disowned me. I bet they already have.

"I have to leave pretty quickly, how about you show me around before I have to go back to Erudite." Jeanine suggests.

I agree with her and grab her hand, pulling her with me as I sprint through the chasm. "Watch out for the edge!" I yell over the water crashing against the rocks. Jeanine is taken by surprise and it makes me laugh.

I show her the training room, the dorm, the shooting range and my favourite place, the edge of the roof.

"Why do you like this place so much?" Jeanine asks curiously as we sit there looking out into the city.

"The view makes me feel alive." I sigh, resting my head on her shoulder. Jeanine wraps an arm around me, knowing she'd have to leave in a few minutes.