I promise this is the last rewrite! I just want to get it perfect and just not happy with it. I know it's annoying but please please please bear with me. I've never really written a long story before so it's a first and I need to make sure I get the first chapters spot on.

Background

The age of choosing is 18. Eric is 19, Max is 34 and Jeanine is 36, and Alexis is 18. The story is set a year before Tris joins Dauntless. This story will stick to some of the original plot, but things will be different.

Nothing keeps me interested,
longer than a sec.
If I'll give you my attention,
it would set you back.
This was never meant to happen,
never meant to be.
And in the end, I know for sure,
the faulter – this is me.

Neuroticfish - The Creep

Eric

She was on top of me, her breasts bouncing while she was coming close to orgasm. Her long blonde hair was sticking to her face, her face red and those bright blue eyes staring deep into my soul. My hands were on her hips, setting the pace. I could feel myself about to come undone. A moan escaped her lips and she began to shake. I held her in place and increased the pace until my orgasm happened. I finished inside of her and she bent down to kiss me. The kiss was full of passion. I was attracted to this woman and she is the love of my life. She is the reason I'm still alive and picked me up when life went to shit. I owe her the world and being like this with her was simply bliss. She climbed off of me and rested her head on my chest, my hand found her hair and I began to stroke it. We were both breathing hard. "I love you." Her saying that still made my heart flutter even after being together for a good three years.
"I love you too." She kissed me on the chest and we lead there in silence; content with each other.

I must've dosed off on my sofa again. I sighed and got up putting my tablet down. My apartment was dark and the clock in the kitchen flashed 3:00. My whiskey glass was half empty, I grabbed it and downed the rest. I poured myself another and walked to my room. Lately I couldn't seem to get Alexis out of my mind. It was a year since I left Erudite and joined Dauntless. I never said or hinted to her that I wanted out of the faction. I had debated it for over a year, after my parents died I didn't want to stay there. I didn't want to leave Alexis either. But I didn't want to stay and force her to stay, so I left, I was just too much of a damn coward to say anything to her. Hurting her was my only regret and I'd take that to the grave. Not only was she my girlfriend and the love of my life she had been my best friend for years before that. She was there the day the factionless killed my parents. I took a long sip of the whiskey and began to undress, I slipped into bed and was leaning against my headboard, knowing that sleep wouldn't come. I never slept well, not since my last night in Erudite. And those dreams of Alexis didn't help, usually I'd wake with a raging hard on and contact one of the many women in Dauntless that just wanted a good fuck. Tonight, was different though. I was tired and miserable.

The day had been shit from the start. I had to go to Erudite to bring in another Divergent for her to test on. Usually I'd just throw the Divergent in and leave, however on my way out I saw the familiar blonde hair and skinny figure, head down in a book. It took everything in me not to approach her and tell her I'm sorry, to beg for forgiveness. I wasn't the same man though. I wasn't Eric the top of his class and your role model Erudite. I was Eric, the youngest leader of Dauntless, who had blood on his hands. The man that was trained to be a solider and leader. So, I took a deep breath and left. Alex being none the wiser that I was there at all. I finished my drink and led down in bed, putting my arm over my face and praying sleep would come. I wonder what faction Alexis would choose. She was smart enough to stay in Erudite but would she because of her mother. I knew Jeanine wasn't a nice woman, but she would do well there. Part of me hoped she would come here, but I wouldn't be so lucky. And I knew I didn't deserve a second chance if she came here. No. I needed to focus on being a leader now. I was a cold, calculated person. Even if Alexis came here I would not touch her and I'd treat her like any other initiate. I'm a new person now, not the man that she loved.

Alexis

I woke up and brushed my shoulder length blonde hair back into a tight pony tail. I dressed in my sharpest, blue suit and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like the typical Erudite, one with money that could afford to dress very well. My suit was tailor made, like all my clothes, my glasses of top quality, even if I didn't need them. Jeanine had always said they made me look cleverer, so I had to wear them. If Jeanine was a caring mother she would've been proud of my appearance, I looked like someone of authority even if I was just getting ready for the Choosing Ceremony. I didn't know my father, all that that was told to me was that she was attacked one day and became pregnant with me. I decided last night that I was going to leave. There was nothing keeping me here and I knew I had to get far away from my mother. I knew I was Divergent as soon as the simulations had started, and I became aware I was under one. I hid it well and chose the options someone from Erudite would choose, if I had swayed it to decide another faction I knew I'd be watched. Eighty percent of candidates received their home faction as a result, fifteen percent received a different faction and give percent were Divergent. I knew all this as I was studying them with Jeanine. I knew what cruel things she put them through, the horrible experiments and serums. I could still here their sobs and begs for death. I didn't know what she wanted to achieve but I couldn't stop her. I tried once and was smacked in the face by her. I still have the scar on my cheek, where her ring caught me and was locked under the stairs for a week. She then used several pain serums on me, that was enough to stop me going against her again.

I looked at my room, books lined the shelves, and everything was immaculate, Erudite to a t. I took one last look at my room and closed the door. Jeanine was already at the Choosing Ceremony, it was her turn to do the speech. I left the house and walked over to the school. Abnegation in their greys stood in an orderly line in silence, Candor in their black and white were in a sort of orderly queue debating with each other, Amity in their reds, yellows and oranges were huddled together and laughing with each other, Dauntless were nowhere to be seen and then it was us. There was some discussion going on about how serums worked, and I chose to ignore it. I kept to myself most of the time and didn't have anymore friends. The only friend I had left me without saying a word. I cried for days after and then I focused on getting through this year. I did what Jeanine wanted me to do and spent my time reading. There was cheers and shouting coming from the distance, Dauntless. They looked so happy and carefree with their blacks, reds and purples, colourful hair and many tattoos and piercings. They stood in groups, talking loudly and shoving each other. We were let into the building, Dauntless ran past everyone, shoving other factions out of the way and headed for the stairs. Abnegation stayed put, it was too selfish for them to go first, Amity, Candor and us headed for the lifts. We filled the room according to our factions and once it was filled Jeanine took the stand.

Marcus, leader of Abnegation was sat to the left of the stage, Jack next to him, then Max, Jeanine's empty seat was next to him and then Johanna, all wearing their smartest clothes. "The factions' system is a living being composed of cells; all of you. And the only way it can survive and thrive is for each of you to claim your rightful place. The future belongs to those who know where they belong. When you leave this room, you will no longer be dependents, but full-fledged members of our society. Faction before blood." She looked at me when she said that, and I kept eye contact. Jeanine that sat down and Marcus stood up and began calling out names. I sat there playing with my thumbs deciding what faction I was going to choose.

I could choose the glass of Candor, where everyone was transparent, where no one could lie, but I needed my secrets and I knew that being honest could get you into trouble and it would reveal my divergence; water for Erudite, which would turn red once the first drop of blood hit it, we needed water to survive and like water we needed knowledge, but I couldn't stay here working under Jeanine; grey stone for Abnegation, something simple and dull, like the people of the faction, I could have a home there but I did not trust Marcus and I wondered if the rumour of what he did to his son was true; hot coals for Dauntless, which made a sizzle when blood dropped on it, it burnt hot and seemed dangerous, like our soldiers, I could pass the simulation stage easily but the fighting I'd have to try really hard and of course the soil of Amity, where things grew and it was peaceful, but I couldn't live under the peace serum, I liked having some emotion. There was always the factionless, I could hide there but I could also die very quickly there. I sighed and before I could make any other decision Marcus said my name. I took a deep breath and walked over to the bowls. I could feel Jeanine's eyes on me and I swallowed, while Marcus handed me the knife. I cut my hand and closed my eyes, here goes nothing I put my hand over the coals and heard the sizzle. "Dauntless." Marcus boomed, the room erupted in cheers and applauds and I walked over to my new faction. Shit here goes nothing. What swayed me was that I liked how free they always seemed, and I knew I could fit in there. Just got to stay alive.

The last person was called, and the room exploded with Dauntless cheers and laughter. They began to run, knocking anyone in their way I joined in the run, down the stairs. I threw my glasses somewhere and did my best to keep up. We approached the tracks, and everyone started to climb up. I had never done anything like this before and my heart was pounding, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I began the ascent and was helped up onto the tracks. No one was still shifting from one leg onto the next waiting for the train in the distance. "When you see the train, start to run, grab on and throw yourself in." I nodded to the man with blonde hair a lip piercing in. The train made its appearance and we began the run. The train was level with me and I grabbed onto the rail by the door some hands grabbed me and threw me in. I sat there in shock, I just jumped into a train, it was going to take practice, but I was going to make sure I mastered it. The train left the platform and I took a deep breath looking around. "Nice going for a nose." A girl with dark skin, her hair cropped short which was black with red tips, an eyebrow piercing and a nose ring said to me. "The name's Alice." She smiled.
"Thank you, I'm Alex." I smiled back to her.
"So gotta ask, why choose us?"
"Wanted an adventure." I replied.
"Alice stop interrogating the initiate. Name's Kyle." Kyle was the blonde boy that told me what to do when the train approached. I smiled at him. "Alice is just so nosy, surprised she didn't go for Candor, she did get that in her aptitude test."
"Shut up you dick, you said you wouldn't say anything." She hit him. I started to laugh. Looks like I was in a carriage full of Dauntless, I couldn't see anyone else from a different faction. After ten minutes the train began to slow down. "Now the fun part, you ever jumped out of a train before?" I looked at her and my face must've said it all. "Grab my hand I'll jump with you." I grabbed her hand and she looked at me "On the count of three….One….two…..three." I jumped with her and landed on my knees. Alice faired better than me and was up straight away laughing. I got up and made my way to the person standing on the edge of the roof.

Eric

I stood on the roof waiting for the initiates, like Max had when I joined. Why did I have to be the greeter though? I couldn't give two damns about the initiates I had other shit to do and had Jeanine breathing down my back wanting more Divergents and wanting a report on the initiates. The train approached, and I could see them jumping off. I counted the ones not in black, three Erudites, four Candors and four from Amity. Not to my surprise there was no one from Abnegation. I studied them, and my eyes fell on the blonde hair of one of the Erudites. My breath caught when she got up and looked at me. Shock appeared on her face, quickly replaced with anger. She brushed herself off and joined the girl she jumped off the train with. Once everyone was gathered around I spoke. "Listen up. I'm Eric one of your leaders. To enter Dauntless, you have to jump off the roof. If you're too scared to do it, then you don't belong here. So, who's going to be brave enough to make the first jump?" I scanned the group, and no one moved. "Someone is going to have to jump, I don't give two shits if all of you are going to be factionless." I said bored. Just then Alexis stood forward, back straight and looked me in the eye, not breaking contact once.
"I will." She then made it to the edge of the roof and took in a deep breath. I was growing impatient. "Any day now initiate." With that I pushed her. There was a gasp from the crowd. In fairness to Alexis she did not make one sound when falling. "Who's next?"

Alexis

I was about to jump when Eric pushed me. I didn't have time to make a sound and before I knew what was happening I landed on a net. I let out a laugh and was helped off. I came into contact with a man with olive skin and blue eyes, he smiled at me. "What's your name?"
"Alex."
"Okay" he said softly to me. "First jumper, Alex." The room erupted in cheers. A scream came from the rooftop and Alice landed on the net neck. She got off quickly and joined me.
"What a dick move pushing you."
"I'll get my revenge, just wait." I promised myself. He made me look like a fool waiting for him in Erudite and I was not going to let him do the same to me here.

Eric

After the last initiate jumped down I jumped. I landed on the net and no one dared to help me off the net, I wasn't pathetic enough to need it. I jumped off the net easily and pushed past Alex as I made my way back to my room. I was tired and wanted a drink. I decided when I saw her on the roof, I was going to make her hate me. It was better for her to keep her distance from me, especially working with the one person she hated the most and I couldn't do anything with her while she was in training. I didn't want a weakness either and she was it. If people caught on my feelings for her, it would make Alex an easy target. I knew as well I had to get her fighting fit and push her at the same time otherwise she'd be on the streets with the factionless. What a clusterfuck! First things first though, I needed Max to scramble the footage of the initiates arriving, so Jeanine would think that Alexis didn't make it and give her a good fighting chance as Alex knew too much of what Jeanine was up to and if she told someone it would get her in a lot of trouble. Jack Kang would have a field day and it'd mean I'd probably get executed for helping Jeanine. But I had my reasons working with her, she wouldn't expect a Divergent to be collecting other Divergents for her. But no one else was gonna look after me, and I needed to stay alive, I had no plans on dying anytime soon. Call me selfish but I didn't say I was perfect. That and it was one of the conditions Jeanine put a word in with Max about making me leader.

I loved Max like a father, he helped train me and shared his wisdom as a leader with me. He took me under his wing after initiation was over and was there for me after the fear sims, which admittingly I cried after. I was living with the guilt of leaving Alexis and I got myself in a state on night when I had one to many whiskeys. Max listened to the story and never mentioned it again. He taught me how to be hard and cold to protect myself. Max, like myself was an ex Erudite and he was good friends with Jeanine when they were in school and she had told him her concerns about the Divergents. Max had suspected my Divergence as I let it slip during one of my fear sims and he didn't say anything, nor did we speak about it. I guess he worked with Jeanine because he was trying to protect me. I walked over to his office and knocked on the door.
"Come in." I walked in and Max was on his computer typing.
"Am I interrupting something?" I asked, taking a seat opposite him.
"No, just trying to calm Johanna down. She doesn't like the idea of us going over there to look at the cameras." He sighs. "What can I do for you Eric." He asked.
Here goes nothing. "I need a favour."
"Depends what it is."
"I need you to scramble the footage of the initiates coming in."
"Why is that?"
"Alexis is here. I want to keep her safe and don't want Jeanine to catch wind that she is here."
"But she knows from the Choosing Ceremony."
"We can tell her some bullshit saying she didn't come. She could be with the factionless."
"Okay I'll do this. Just promise me something, Eric."
"Yes?" I answer unsure what he wants me to promise him.
"Keep your head on. I know your relationship with Alexis, but you're a leader and need to remain professional at all times. No trying to sleep with the initiates."
"What we had is gone. You do not need to worry Max."
"Okay Eric, I'll do this for you. "
"Thank you I owe you one." Max smiled at me and I left. Time for a quick drink in my apartment then to join the initiates for their dinner.

Was it better? Please let me know