Title and content inspired by the song Bad Girls World by Halestorm

Her life could have turned out differently. There was a time when she felt like she could have read how it would go, word for word, from a playbook that other girls just like her had lived a million times over. One event set about a change that erased the pages and freeing her to write her own story. Eric/Tris, No Divergent Hunts, AU

Tris - Age 14

"Leave him alone!" I screech and launch myself at the boy crouched over the prone form of my brother on the concrete.

The boy was in the middle of pulling his arm back for a second punch to my brother. Who is much smaller than him. I don't know what I expect to be able to do to the candor boy when he is even bigger than I am. I am not really thinking clearly when all I can feel is fear.

Caleb is bleeding and looks like he is really hurt. He can't and won't fight back and the Candor knows this. He knows Abnegation are pacifists.

It makes me so mad.

It always makes me mad when someone from another faction takes advantage of this. But this is my brother and he is hurt. That makes me want to hurt the person responsible.

I can hear Caleb calling my name from a distance but I can't do what he is yelling at me to do. Why should I stop when the boy wasn't going to stop what he was doing to Caleb?

There is blood on my hands and I don't stop. There are footsteps fast approaching and I don't stop. Hands are pulling me away, and still, I don't stop swinging.

I am breathing hard and struggling against whoever holds me to drag me away. I watch with wide eyes as an adult dressed in grey goes to help the bleeding Candor boy. The elder announces he has a broken nose and I smile.

I shouldn't smile or feel pleased but I do. I don't feel a bit of regret. I am tired of feeling guilty for not wanting to be walked all over. I am tired of being told to turn the other cheek. I am tired of living in misery in the service of others.

I am tired of pretending to be something I am not and will never be. I will never be Abnegation. Not if it means living my life like this.

p/b

I can hear their voices clearly through the wall of their bedroom into mine. They are arguing again and about me.

It has been this way for a week now. Ever since I had to be pulled off the boy who was beating up my brother.

Of course, the bully didn't get into a bit of trouble. He said we were the ones that started things and he had just been defending himself. Caleb had remained silent but I couldn't. I had told the truth and told the principal along with our parents that I would take the truth serum to prove it. I challenged them to have the boy do the same.

They wouldn't do either.

I got sent home from school and there was some kind of meetings going about what to do to me.

I am angry that no one believes me, that Caleb didn't speak up for either of us, that my brother didn't even say thank you for trying to defend him, and that my father keeps looking at me like doesn't know me.

I am sad that it feels like I don't belong with my own family, that Caleb always seems to be talking down to me, and that no matter how hard I try I just can't be what my family wants me to be.

The only person I feel is on my side right now is my mother. She never said the words when we were at the school or at home, not to me, but I hear her saying them to my father. She knows I don't belong here in this faction. She knows that I can't take much more of the treatment our faction gets from everyone. She knows I can't take much more of how my own faction treats me.

"I did not leave Dauntless to come here and watch my own children suffer because of a stupid dictate. We came to Abnegation to help people and try and make this city better, but should that be at the cost of even being treated decently? I am proud of Beatrice, Andrew. She saw her brother being hurt and took action. You want an act of selflessness? What better act could there be than to put yourself in harm's way for the safety and protection of someone else?"

"You are thinking like a Dauntless, Nat." I can hear the admonishment in my father's voice. The condescension dripping in it, and it has me scowling into my pillow where I have my face buried.

"And what is wrong with that, Andrew? Didn't you fall in love with one? Do you even hear yourself and your tone? You are sounding like an Erudite with all their smug superiority and derision." She snaps back at him.

It is quiet for a second before I hear shuffling.

"I am sorry, Natalie. I don't think Dauntless are the dirt beneath my feet that I know my former faction thinks they are, but I do have issues with how they handle things. I always have and you know this. I know what you are saying, but can't you see my point of view too? She is my little girl and what I saw her do to that boy, it scares me, Nat."

"I admit she lost control but that is my point. All I want is for you to agree to my request and see my point of view. Our little girl was never going to stay in Abnegation, even before this. She was meant for my old faction and no amount of turning a blind eye or denial will change that fact. Just like Caleb isn't meant for Abnegation either. He is Erudite through and through. If we keep denying these things, our worst fears of losing them forever will come true. Beatrice will go to Dauntless and distance herself from us because she will think we won't love her anymore. Caleb will most likely be drawn to the elements of your old faction that will take advantage of his need for approval and learning, and that will ostracize him from us because we are Abnegation. They are teenagers already, my love. Time with them is short and it is up to us on how we continue forward. Let me do what we know I should have done all along and talk to, as well as guide, Beatrice. You need to do the same with Caleb. It would be selfish not to help our children prepare for their lives, Andrew. To give them the tools they need to grow and succeed. To be good people when they face this world on their own."

I hold my breath and wait, hope to churn in my stomach. I clench my fists tightly. So tight the nails of my fingers cut into my palm. I squeeze my eyes shut and will my father to see the truth in her words.

I don't know how long I do this before an audible sigh comes from my parent's room.

"Okay, Nat. Okay. We will talk to them both at dinner. They will need to be told to keep it secret and limited to the house, but you are right. I have been hoping if I deny it they wouldn't leave us, but really I am driving them away instead."

I don't hear the rest, elation spreads through me and I bury my head into my pillow again, silently screaming my joy and relief.

If I can have this, my parent's approval and help, then I think I can manage to pretend for just a bit longer. It will be hard but I will do it. If they are willing to sacrifice possible trouble with the faction then I will sacrifice the annoyance of playing a role I was never meant for.

Because at the end of it all it will mean I will be Dauntless and free.

Just want to give a big thanks to Damn You Kylie for inspiring me to try something new. Eris fics are so out of my comfort zone but the story for this just fits that pairing!