I laid in the bed in the apartment my father owns. It wasn't big for a presidential mansion, since my father is president of Dauntless, one of the five factions that makes up Chicago.
The government had changed a lot since the rebellion my father, Tobias Eaton, had lead alongside Tris Prior, who died. Tris' brother, Caleb Prior, was currently the president of Abnegation, another faction within Chicago.
My mother, Cara Status, was the president of Erudite, the main government faction. Erudite produces the smart minds that help create inventions and medicines and things of that category. Most of the presidents come from Erudite, because they are the smartest. Most Dauntless are arrogant. But not all of them.
The president of Candor, another faction, was Zhang Young. Candor produces judges. Because Candor is in possession of the truth serum, they administer it to the worst cases. Candor are terrible liars, so they never have to use it on their own kind.
The president of Amity, the final of the five factions, was Nathaniel Adams. Nathaniel always keeps his faction out of everything concerning violence. That makes sense, because Amity's values are peace, harmony, and butterflies. Amity produces the farmers that harvest fresh genetically engineered crops. In return for a higher status in government, Amity agreed to try a new experiment with crops. The Erudite genetically produced the seeds, and the Amity grow them. The experiment seems to be working so far.
The president of Chicago and all five factions was Max. Max was a former Dauntless leader. He began to conspire with Jeanine Matthews in an attack on Abnegation using the Dauntless as soldiers put under a simulation. He was later confirmed a traitor by the factionless, and was helped by Peter Hayes, a former Erudite, to escape the clutches of the factionless, who were supposed to kill him. Peter was later appointed Max's secretary. Max rose to power by destroying the Bureau of Genetic Welfare that was outside Chicago, forcing everyone back into the city and closing the gates, permanently.
I only have a few friends. Sophia, Dustin, Blaze, and Jax. We were all born and raised Dauntless.
Jax and Blaze are the wild ones. They are the most daredevil. They even once ate a cockroach whole!
Dustin is the lone wolf. Dustin likes to conquest things on his own so he can take the credit afterwards.
Dad had told me things about the Divergent. He told me that him and Tris Prior had been hunted down and almost killed because she was Divergent. He took me through his fear landscape and taught me how to face my fears so they would never discover me. I'm ready.
The presidents of the individual factions could create laws, but the laws need to be passed by the six congressmen he or she appointed when they started their term.
I rolled over onto my side, and am startled when Max's face appears on all of the screens in the presidential suite.
"Faction presidents of Chicago. I am calling an emergency meeting. If you do not show up, you will be evicted. I'm talking to you, Four." Max says.
Tobias groans in his bedroom.
"Not this again!" he says as he throws his black clothing on: a black collared shirt, black blazer, black pants, a black tie, black dress shoes, and a black trilby hat. Dauntless wear all black. It is standard dress code.
Tobias had been given the nickname Four when he was an initiate at Dauntless, in reference to how many fears he had.
"Sorry dad-sir," I said, correcting myself. Tobias had always been strict with me.
"Aaron, If I'm not back in time for dinner-which I won't be-go on a date with that girlfriend of yours," said Tobias, grabbing and twisting the doorknob.
"I don't have a-" I was cut off by the slam of the door.
"So, Aaron. Another emergency meeting?" asked Sophia.
"Yep. I guess it's just you and me again tonight Soph."
We made their way up to the training room. The aptitude test was the next day. Tobias had already prepared me for the test, but I still felt unprepared.
We threw knives to pass the time.
"I dare you to stand in front of my target," I said plainly.
"For what? A drink of that liquor you have in your shirt pocket?"
She had an incredible eye. Just one of the many incredible things about her. I started to doze off, looking at her like I was drunk.
"I don't want you to throw knives at me if you're drunk!" she scoffed, power filling her voice as it always did.
"Why not?"
Sophia stood in front of the target. I readied three knives. The first one hit just to the right of her head. The second to the left of her right leg. The third, however, nicked her ear.
"Hey! What was that about?" she demanded as I threw her the flask of liquor. She took a sip.
"Sorry. Didn't mean it."
"Well you'll be able to remember this event for you whole life, Ace."
"Ace? Is that a nickname?"
"Yup!"
I had dinner with the Pedrads. Sophia's parents were Zeke and Shauna. They had been in love since they were initiates. It was common for initiates who met and connected to stay together for life.
"Thanks again. Another emergency meeting. He couldn't miss this one or they would kick him out."
"No problem," said Zeke.
It had been rough for Zeke. His younger brother Uriah had died in an explosion that started the attack in the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. For a while, he didn't talk much at all until he rode the zip line and got his Dauntless spirit back. Now, he's the crazy daredevil Tobias knows from initiation.
Sophia's mom, Shauna, was a congresswoman, or whatever you call them. That was the only reason I was allowed to hang with Soph.
"Can we head out?" Sophia asks Zeke, giving him a wink. He grinned like an idiot and nodded fast.
Sophia dragged me out of their apartment and down to the chasm. The chasm was the most dangerous spot to be. When I stopped walking because it was the most popular spot and I suspected that she would stop too, she kept going. She lead me down through a hidden door and onto a flat rock perfect for two. We sit and let the waves from the river in the chasm soak our shoes.
I took out the flask of liquor I stole from my father. He had seen me that time, but pretended not to notice. Sometimes he let me have a bit of fun.
"Mom, dad and Four used to come down here a lot," she said, "I thought it would be fitting to show it to you."
I nodded and took a sip. The alcohol tasted bitter. I thought about what my father had told me about the chasm, The chasm creates the fine line between bravery and idiocy. Don't mistake one for the other. An experienced one, my father was. He knew the curves and bumps of everything in the Dauntless compound. I stared out into the darkness of the chasm, wondering what was down there, what deeper secrets it had to hide.
"So, what faction would you choose if you couldn't choose Dauntless?" I asked her.
"Amity."
"What? Amity?" I asked astonished. Amity? The peaceful faction with smiling freaks and wheat fields that stretch for miles?
"Sometimes I need a break from all the chaos and drunk people," she said with a laugh.
My father needed a break too. He worked his tail off, and never had time for me unless it was about the aptitude test. I sighed. I didn't have any memories of anything like knife throwing or zip lining with him unlike other Dauntless children.
"Would you freak out if I kissed you?" she asked, yanking me off my train of thought.
"No."
And then she leaned in and kissed me. I embraced her, wrapping my arms around her neck, sliding them down her back, feeling every moment of the kiss through my veins. What would I tell Tobias? What if she chooses a different faction? She slowly pulled away.
"Aptitude test tomorrow. You ready?" she asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
And then I leaned in and kissed her again.