A/N: I just saw Divergent today, and the state of intense fangirling propelled me into this fanfic. I just got to thinking of what would happen if attraction developed between a factionless individual and Caleb Prior. In a society where everyone is so separated, it would definitely cause both outward and inward conflict. So here is the story of Caleb and Dani…
Factionless.
It's my identity, who I am. Means that I don't belong anywhere. Society doesn't want me, no one wants me. Factionless is my name. No one but my parents ever bothered to call me Dani, and they died last year. This is my life now, living on the outskirts of the city, fed by the Abnegation.
I don't suppose I was ever really happy, but I never took the time to be depressed either. Life was simply the way it was, and I couldn't change it. My parents had been factionless before the sickness took them, so it was the only life I'd ever known. But one day, I realized what I was missing out on; the day I met Caleb Prior.
I hated receiving charity from the Abnegation, it made me feel so inferior. Being factionless might take away your dignity, but it doesn't take away your pride. I despised the way the Abnegation looked at me, with this mixture of sympathy and pity. Selfless as they were, their drab grey attire and sad eyes always turned my stomach.
But Caleb never looked at me like that, not once. I looked up from the piece of bread he extended to me, and my gaze met a smile and gentle brown eyes. I found myself smiling back. Our fingers brushed as he handed the bread to me.
"Thank you," I said, feeling truly grateful without a shadow of distain.
"You're welcome. I'm Caleb, by the way," he added, extending his now empty hand. I transferred the bread to my left hand and shook his.
"Dani, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." He grinned. "Maybe I'll see you around sometime," he added before turning and moving away.
I looked down at the bread, trying not to smile too widely. I tore off a piece and slowly chewed while watching Caleb distribute more food. He truly wasn't like the others, stopping to talk with people and meeting their eyes. And that smile of his was heart-stopping.
As I had earnestly hoped, I did see Caleb again during the next week's distribution.
"Dani, right?" he asked, approaching me.
"Yeah," I confirmed. "How are you?" I asked before realizing that such a selfless individual wouldn't want to talk about himself. But Caleb didn't seem put off by the question.
"I'm doing well, thank you." He reached into the pocket of his grey vest and pulled out a shiny red apple. Moving closer to me, he slipped it into my hand. "It's the last one," he whispered. "Don't tell anyone."
I laughed softly. "Thanks Caleb, I haven't had an apple…well, in a long time." He simply flashed another beautiful smile in reply, and walked away.
When he'd left, I stared at the apple. It was warm to the touch from being so close to Caleb's body, and the sweet aroma intoxicated my nostrils. I took a smile bite, determined to enjoy every moment of pleasure the tart juice brought.
Why would he give the apple to me? I wondered. I could still see his smile in my mind's eye, and I let the memory dwindle there for a while. Perhaps a little too long, I realized when my imagination suddenly pressed his smile against my own lips.
Stop, I told myself, leaving no room for negotiation. I was factionless, he was Abnegation. Impossible would have been an understatement.
Still, I found myself looking forward to his visits. And for the first time, I became resentful of my destiny. The destiny of the factionless that kept me away from a man I knew nothing about, but whose smile had charmed me.