Dependent, a Divergent Rewrite

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

My head is spinning by the time we get to lunch. How have I not thought of this before? I'd always assumed our lives would diverge from this point, but now it seems so obvious that I can just stay with him. Dauntless will be hard, sure, but all factions have their challenges. And the Dauntless seem so carefree, living every moment to its fullest.

We sit down at our usual table, and our best friends Will and Sebastian are already there.

"I still find it weird that Abnegation members can't have soda." Sebastian comments after acknowledging us.

"Is it time for another round of 'why Abnegation sucks?'" Ash smirks as he opens up his lunch. The cafeteria's quieter than normal, since the underclassmen were sent home early.

"Oh, I've got a good one. I helped this Abnegation girl earlier after a couple of underclassmen knocked her over, right? And she had a bunch of drawings, but she begged me not to tell anyone that she drew."

"Studies show that drawing actually helps students focus, you know?" Will says. "So it's illogical for them to forbid it."

Ash scoffs. "They don't want their children to do well. They want them to be completely average."

"Yeah, you're right."

An awkward silence fell over us, which was weird. I guess we all had a lot to think about.

Will was most likely transferring to Dauntless. While it wasn't as obvious to strangers as Ash's temperance, Will definitely had an energy beyond what Erudite could provide. Sure, he had wit, but the pressure was cracking him like it did most Erudite dependants.

Sebastian has been debating where he's going to go for a while. He wants to study law, but he hates the lifestyle that Candor members live. They didn't have quite the same luxury that Erudite had, and I don't think Sebby could live without his eyeliner. He could also study accounting here in Erudite, but he has a very love-hate relationship with the subject.

It's very likely none of us will stay here in Erudite. It's weird to think of our table being empty.

Eventually, the three of them get into a debate about a new kind of serum being developed, and I listen. It's nice hearing them lightheartedly arguing, and even when it devolves into crude insults, I know that they'll be laughing again in just a few moments. Occasionally, Sebby steals glances at his girlfriend Sarah, who's sitting a few tables over. We have a "no significant others" policy at our table after Will and Edward had a messy breakup, but Sarah's a sweetheart who wouldn't hurt anybody. I wish they'd let her come over, but she sits with Myra and her friends.

Myra. I still can't believe she implied she's going to Dauntless. Maybe I'm just reading too much into what she said, but damn, Myra in Dauntless?

I try to focus back in on the conversation, but I just can't. Today is the last time the four of us will be together, and I can't even hang on to any of their voices. Fuck.

How am I going to leave this behind? Why can't I just not grow up?

I don't even notice I'm crying until Ash ruffles my hair. "You okay, kid?"

"Of course not." I shake my head. "This is our last day of being kids."

"But we're going to go and do great things. Isn't that exciting?" Will asks. He has no idea I'm going to Dauntless with him. I'm not sure where he thinks I'll end up, but there's no way he's going to guess Dauntless for me.