Hi everyone! This is my first story and i am a very amateur writer, so no hate please! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter one

It was an average day for young Grace Kelling. She sat in a large field, feeling so small compared to the trees surrounding her. The branches were filled with plump red apples being picked and tossed into wicker baskets sitting at the base of the trees. The people picking were talking and laughing; everyone was in good spirits due to the beautiful weather. But Grace Kelling was not feeling as joyful as the other members of her faction. For in just 2 days, she would be taking the test that determined what faction she was destined to be in. She slowly stood up from the log she had been sitting on and took a deep breath. But she knew now was not a good time to be stressed. She had work to do. She walked over to a large tree where two of her friends, Jonas and Delila, were tossing apples back and forth. She put on a smile and waved over to them. They ran over and wrapped in a hug. She laughed, and jogged back to the tree with.

"What have you been thinking about?" Asked Jonas, poking her in the shoulder

"The aptitude test," she answered honestly. "Are you guys nervous at all?"

Jonas shrugged.

"A little I guess." Said Delila as she tossed an apple into their basket. " But I mean there's really not much to be worried about, it's not like you can pick the wrong answer or anything. You get the faction you should be in, and then all you have to do is choose that one. Simple."

"Besides," Said Jonas. "You are a picture perfect Amity, you'll be here your whole life. Don't worry! You're meant to be in Amity!" "I, on the other hand, may not be staying." He flexed his muscles and smiled. "Maybe I should be in Dauntless." He said jokingly.

Delila rolled her eyes. "Yeah right! Like you would ever pass initiation. I hear they make you eat metal to see how strong your guts are!"

"They do not!" screamed Jonas.

They all erupted into laughter.

"But seriously," Grace said, breaking the laughter. "What factions do you think you guys will get?"

There was a moment of silence among the friends before Delila said, " We'll all be staying, we're great in Amity. We'll friends forever, always together."

This seemed to make everyone happy again.

But little did any of them know that the words Delila had said could so easily be proven false in just a day.

The next day, Grace sat outside with her mother, Analisa. Groups of people sat in clusters sorting through baskets of fruit. Her brother Ray and father Theodore sat together, her baby sister, Carmen, giggling in her fathers lap. Golden curls bounced on her head, so similar to the ones on Grace. While Carmen had just a a few short spirals, Grace's hair was thick, grown just past her chin. She frowned, looking at her sister, knowing that if she chose a different faction, she would likely never see her or any of her family again. Her mother cleared her throat, catching grace's attention.

"I bet you're wondering why I wanted to talk to you," she said, smiling.

"Yes, I have been," Grace answered

"Well, since tomorrow is your aptitude I just want to talk to you and... guide you."

Grace was surprised, seeing as she and her mother had never been very close.

As a child, she had spent most of her free time with her father or brother.

"I remember when I took my test, I was very nervous, but I knew I belonged in Amity. I felt it in my heart."

She paused, looking down at a handful of blueberries.

" And so do you. We need you to stay. Ray has never been very good I'm afraid, who knows how your sister will end up, even your father has had his doubts with Amity... but I know that they only do it for us. And I know that you belong here. Not in some horrible faction like Candor, where they don't even care about one another enough to spare feelings, telling the truth all the time." she scoffed. "Horrible. Or Dauntless, where those disgusting brutes fight like beasts. Those other factions are scum. We are much better than anything another faction could offer you."

Grace was shocked. Her mother had never spoken to her in such a manner. In fact, no one had. No one ever said something unkind about another faction. No matter what they really thought. Grace felt the heat bubbling up inside of her, upset with her mother for using such tactics to convince her to stay. But she knew what would happen if she fought her mother. And right now, being peaceful was not what she wanted. She didn't care if she wasn't always happy, or always feeling peace. Because it wasn't natural.

It wasn't truthful.

And all she wanted to feel right now was real, raw emotion. What her mother had said was horrible. But at least she knew the truth. Knew why her mother really wanted her to stay. Just to build up Amity, shatter the chance of the other factions getting anyone new. But if all Amity had was shots of happiness and lies to cover pain, then maybe everyone was wrong.

Maybe she had just been lied to all these years.

Maybe everyone was wrong. Maybe she really didn't belong in Amity.

Dinner that night was quiet. Grace had lied and said she felt ill, so she could have some time to cool off. But she was still expected to sit with her family for dinner. She stared at her food, ignoring her family's conversation and laughter, as she wondered what other lies her faction had been feeding to her all these years.

"Grace?" her father said

"Oh, yes did you say something?"

a look of concern spread across his face. "Yes, I asked if you were all right. If your feeling a bit down I should-" He was cut off by grace hastily saying

"No! No, thank you but really i'm just still feeling a little sick. That's all."

She finished eating quickly and went to bed early, anxious for the day end and for her to test to begin the next day.