This is my first story, so please only leave criticism if it's constructive! This story has chapters happening in the same space of time as those in Divergent, meaning that you could read the book and my story at the same time if you wanted to. Kayla is my own character, all other characters and most of the plot belongs to Veronica Roth. Enjoy!
"Kay. It's time to get up."
I roll over and press my face far into the pillow. I can get a couple of extra minutes if I just try to ignore her. Sometimes. Erudite efficiency is something that can get to you after sixteen years, even for the smartest of people.
"Kay, if you don't get out of that bed right now…" my mum threatens. This is a pretty common practise in our house. Benjamin, my brother, is probably up, reading as he eats his breakfast.
"I'm getting up mum." I whine as I roll out of the covers. The air is colder than I anticipated, and the hair on my arms rises up until it is on end. Our faction is fairly advanced in terms of technology, especially compared to Abnegation, but the heating could be better. If I were my brother, I'd be talking about how it worked and the very smallest of flaws that could be resolved.
When I finally get downstairs, I look at myself in the mirror at the end of our hallway. My hair seems controllable for once, falling just short of my waist, dark brown. If it was straight, it would be longer, much to my dismay. Dark green eyes look back into my own and their expression hardens a little. I walk into our kitchen to find the rest of my family with their noses buried in books. I pick a book at random from the shelf in the corner of the room, ending up with something about theories of the creation of the universe.
"Are you worried at all, Kay?" my dad asks. He seems more worried than I am.
"Not really. The aptitude tests don't have to change your decision, do they?" I'm not too sure if I believe what I'm saying, let alone the rest of my family.
"They don't have to, of course, but they tell you where you would fit best. It's a big decision, and you'll be there for the rest of your life." Benjamin always has something to say that's better than what I can when we're with our parents. I can already tell that he won't be going anywhere. He'll be staying here in Erudite judging by his general attitude and his IQ score. Mine wasn't that far off of his, but IQ is what defines how you live your life here in Erudite. Janine Matthews, our leader, was chosen because of her IQ being the highest in the faction.
"We need to go, you two," my dad says, voice reflecting his authority in our family, "you're going to be late."
After a pointed look from my brother, I get up from the table, hug my mum goodbye and go out to our car. The roads in our sector of the city are well maintained, not a hole in sight, so the journey is always comfortable. We soon reach the school and I say goodbye to my dad quickly, pushing past my brother quickly to catch up with Kyle. His family are close to the Matthews, so they are fairly influential in the faction.
"Hey, what's up?" I ask. He shrugs nonchalantly.
"I'm worried. If I don't get Erudite as my result, who knows what position I'll be in. I can't leave my family; they already had to deal with that when my brother went. Janine has promised me a position in helping her about Abnegation if I stay." His brother changed faction, which was a big shock to the whole of our faction. He had been given a similar offer to Kyle, but he didn't take it, and didn't even stay to find out what he could have done instead. Rumour is that his family haven't spoken to him since, and I don't bring up the subject because of it.
"Your result doesn't change what decision you make, Kyle. You've got a good future for yourself here – you can still stay and have that." By now, we're inside the building, the sound of a much more animated group of students echoing around the main hall. Walking towards Advanced Maths, Kyle deliberately shoves one of the Abnegation on to the floor. Whether he wanted to or not, it's still expected of him by the position of his family within the faction and the growing rivalry.
"Out of my way, Stiff," he sneers and we carry on walking.
"Having your daily bit of fun," I ask, smiling knowingly. He shoves me, and we both grin at each other as we go into Maths. I turn my head at the last minute to see the girl stood at the window just as the Dauntless jump off the train. Maybe she isn't such a Stiff after all.