Hey! I know that I REALLY shouldn't be starting something else but I just read Divergent and fell in love with it! So, naturally, I have to post a story! I have absolutely no idea where I'm going with this, and I have no idea how fast my updates will be. I'll try for once a week, but I'm really focusing a ton on 'Cinderella' and 'In My Shoes' which are my most popular. I really hope you guys like this! And it's AU so you have to have read the book to understand! Please review! They really make my day!
Diclaimer: I don't own the Divergent Trilogy.
Happy Reading!
Tris
"Beatrice! Come on, they'll be here any minute!" my mom called from down below. I sighed.
"Coming, Mom!" I yelled back.
I sighed again. Today was the day. The day that we had all been looking forward to. The day that I just wanted to get over with. Today was the day. Big whoop.
I tied my hair up into a braid, and climbed down from the treehouse that Dad had built for me years ago. I looked at the bright blue sky above, dotted with puffy, white clouds. The sun was shining, casting a warm blanket down on the earth. They birds were singing their happy song.
But it shouldn't be. It should be cold and the clouds should be heavy and gray. The birds shouldn't be chirping, and the sun shouldn't be shining. The world should be encased in darkness and coldness.
But it's not. Life should go on, as people have told me at times. Too many times. And maybe for some people life can go on, but not for me.
As I climbed away from my sanctuary, I walked into my small three story house. Yes, there is such a thing as a three story house that's small. I walked into the living room, where my mom and dad were waiting. I don't understand why it's called a 'living' room. I don't do my living in there.
As I got closer to them, I allowed my mask to slip on. The mask that I have to where around everyone to convince them that I'm fine, that I'm happy. I wear the mask that smiles really big and makes me look like I'm one of those happy go lucky kids.
"Hi, Mom!" I say brightly.
Mom and Dad look up.
"Hey, sweetheart!" they both greet me warmly. "Are you excited?" they ask me.
"Yup!" I lie smoothly, popping the 'p'. They both smile.
"So are we. It's always exciting to get a new member of the family," Mom comments.
Yeah, and it sure sucks when you lose one, I thought bitterly. But I knew it wouldn't be fair to take that out on Mom. What happened wasn't her fault.
It was mine.
Instead of speaking my thoughts, I just said,"Yeah! This should be interesting! When are they going to be here?" I ask, faking curiousity. It's amazing how easy it is to lie to the people who are closest to you.
Then, the doorbell rang.
"Right about now!" Dad said, hopping up and walking to the door.
He and Mom opened the door with warm, genuine smiles on their face. I trailed behind with a fake warm smile.
"Mrs. Cox! How good it is to see you!" my mom said, greeting the caseworker. My dad greeted her too, and then both of their eyes turned on me, silently telling me to be polite.
I plastered the smile on my face and said,"It's nice to see you!" in a sweet voice.
Then I noticed the teenage boy behind her.
He had a emotionless face. No feeling, no smile, no sadness. Just empty. It was a mask. I've spent too much time in my life wearing a mask to know when someone else is wearing one.
But his eyes. They were... different. They locked with mine for a second, and I could see how much his eyes contrasted from the rest of him. They were a deep blue and so full of feeling, emotions swimming within them. Just his eyes were a mystery within themselves.
But then he looked away, his eyes becoming cold and heartless.
"Beatrice! Beatrice," my mom said.
I shook my head. "Yes, Mom? I'm sorry."
"That's quite alright. Mrs. Cox was just about to introduce us to your new foster brother," she told me. I nodded.
"Beatrice, Mr. and Mrs. Prior, this is Four, your new foster son," she announced, gesturing to the guy.
Four? What kind of name is that? I thought to myself.
"Welcome to our home," my mom said warmly. "We hope you like it here." He nodded slightly at them.
"Beatrice, are you going to welcome your new brother?" Mom said, turning to me.
Your new brother. Your new brother. Your new BROTHER. Her words echoed in my head. No. No, this isn't what I want. How could we just replace him? My real brother? Suddenly, I felt like I couldn't breathe, and the same suffocating feeling that had overcome me the night my life was turned upside down overtook me again.
Tris, calm down! You can get through this! You're tougher than that! Act like it!, I chided myself.
But it still hurt. Fostering this kid was making everything feel so real, making me acknowledge that life as I knew it really is gone. I couldn't accept that.
But I forced myself to breath. I had to do this. If not for me, then for Mom, Dad, and Caleb.
"Beatrice, are you alright, honey?" Dad asked gently.
I shook myself out of my thoughts, and slid my smiling mask back on, realizing that it had slipped while I was venturing through my thoughts.
"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?" I said matter of factly. I stepped forward.
"Hi, I'm Beatrice," I said, introducing myself. He nodded to me.
There was a brief period of awkward silence before Mrs. Cox said,"I really have to get going! I wish I could stay longer, but it's been pretty busy lately," she told us. Then she turned to Four.
"I have to go now, but if you need me, just call or tell Mr. and Mrs. Prior," she told him. He shrugged uninterestedly. She sighed.
"Well, bye! I hope everything works out!" she said to us, before turning and getting into her car. We all watched in silence as she pulled out of the driveway. Then Mom and Dad turned to us.
"Beatrice, why don't you go take Four's bags inside and give him a small tour of the place.
"Sure," I said, smiling brightly. But as I reached to take a bag, Four stopped me.
"I can carry my own bags," he snaps. I thought of a million things I could say but I bit my tongue.
"As you wish," I said instead. We all shuffled inside.
"Come on," I said in a sickly sweet voice, taking him to the third floor. Once we were out of sight of my parents, I dropped the swwet tone, but not the mask. I had to keep that on.
"Your room is next to mine, the second door on the right," I said in a hard voice.
As we passed a room, I opened the door and told him what each one was. I opened the door to his room, and turned around to let him in.
"This will be your room," I told him. He sat his bags down on the bed. Then, I took him downstairs to see the rest of the house. When we got back up, I allowed himself to see a glimpse of my room.
Then I noticed his gaze shift to the door across from my room. I was closed.
"What's in there?" he asked, reaching out to take the knob. Panic rose in my chest.
"Don't go in there!" I shrieked, louder and harsher than I had intended. But nobody goes into that room excep for me. He look of alarm flashed across his face.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because. Just because. It's an extra room and you don't need to be in it," I snapped.
"No need for the rude tone," he said quietly.
"No need for the messed up attitude," I shot back. We glared at each other.
I felt a wave of helplessness start to engulf me and I wanted more than anything to turn back the clock and change the past. It was killing me. I missed him. I loved him. I needed him. But he was gone. My eyes burned, but I refused to let a tear spill over. Four's faced softened.
"Beatrice, I didn't-" he started.
"It's fine. Why don't you go unpack, while my mom makes dinner? If you need anything, I'll be in my room," I said coldly, trying desperately to keep my voice from breaking.
He opened his mouth to speak, but I just turned and walked into my room, slamming the door behind me.
I crashed onto my bed, and sobbed into the covers. I didn't want this. I never did. I never wanted to live a lie. I never wanted to have a foster brother. And most of all, I never wanted to lose my real brother.
But now it was too late.
I hope that wasn't terrible! I know the characters are OOC but I'm ot Veronica Roth and this isn't her story. This story might be pretty gloomy so don't expect a ton of sunshine and rainbows. If you don't understand everything, the next chapter should be more of a filler. I hope you liked this! I spent a lot of time on it! Should I continue? Please tell me in a review! The more I get, the faster I update! So review! (Even if you're a guest!)
