I've just arrived at Abnegation headquarters for the first time. My mother thinks I'll be safe here, and I have to agree. It's nothing grand; plain white walls and a podium are the only things I see. All around me is a sea of people in gray clothes. A handful of us are from Amity, but very few come from Candor or Erudite. I'm the only Dauntless transfer this year, it appears. We all arrived here on foot; the selfless way to travel. Thank goodness I've been running laps every day since I was little, otherwise, the walk would've worn me out.

One of the Erudite boys meets my eyes and smiles. I have to keep myself from blushing, which is odd. He's a complete stranger. But I've always been a sucker for smiles like that, the kind that burns through me, leaving me breathless. I'll have to introduce myself later.

A middle-aged woman takes to the front of the room. "Hello, Abnegation initiates! My name is Selena Morris, and I'll be leading your trials for the next few weeks. You will be ranked; however, none of you will be ousted, as we believe in giving everyone equal treatment. It's simply a way for us to see how well you can represent our faction. I do have to warn you, though; if any fights break out, everyone involved will become factionless on the spot. Am I clear?"

"Yes," we all mutter.

"Speaking of the factionless," Selena continues, "they will be your first assignment. We're going to prepare supplies, clothes, and food, and give them to as many of them as we can. Your scores will depend on how many items you provide and how many people you provide to each day. I'll be supervising, of course. Now follow me to the kitchen!"

I soon find out that Abnegation's kitchen is enormous. There are multiple stoves, pots, pans, and utensils; enough equipment to feed an army. I think it's the size of my family's apartment back in Dauntless.

"I want each of you to pair up," Selena instructs. The Amity people automatically pair with each other. Is that their way of keeping peace, I wonder, not bothering to get to know the others? But I'm not so sure of myself, either. I feel so awkward, not knowing anybody here.

Then the Erudite boy who smiled at me earlier approaches. Upon a closer look, I notice that he's not very tall, but taller than my five-foot, three-inch frame. He's got bright, green eyes and a mop of dirty blond hair. He wears the Erudite blue in a laid-back way with his shirt un-tucked and two buttons undone. Much more approachable than the stereotypical straight-laced, polished look that his faction neighbors have.

"I guess we're working together," he says. "My friends are all taken."

"You sure know how to talk to a girl."

He chuckles. "I'm just kidding. You're the first Dauntless person I've ever met, and that makes me curious. You know, since we're not allowed to visit the other factions."

"Erudites," I mutter. "So full of curiosity." My facial expression remains normal, but inside, I'm blushing. I want to blush more when I realize I haven't actually responded to his offer. "Sure, we can be partners."

"Can I have your attention again, please?" Selena interrupts. "I'm assigning every pair a different item of food to make, so I need you to be patient as I hand out the recipes. Once you get yours, grab a wagon from the storage closet. There are ingredients in the cupboards above you. Get out everything that you need, and you're on your own."

My new Erudite friend goes to get a wagon, while I find a cooking station. Selena walks by and hands me a card with a recipe for minestrone soup. I haven't done much cooking in my life, but it looks simple enough. When he returns, we get right to work kneading dough and putting it through a noodle-shaping machine. Next, I chop vegetables while he boils the pasta in a giant pot. Tomatoes and spices add the final touch. This could feed dozens of factionless people. No matter how they wound up without a faction, it warms my heart to be giving them something to look forward to.

I move to pick up the pot and set it on the wagon, but my cooking partner waves his arm in front of me.

"That looks really heavy," he says. "I don't know if you want to lift it."

I gesture over my black attire. "Hello. Dauntless! I've been building muscle since I could walk, so I think I can handle a measly pot." My mind wanders to the tattoo of flames that lies under my arm. A reminder to me of where I came from, and what I should still aspire to be. Dauntless. Unafraid.

I refuse to consider using a dangerous word.

Divergent.

"Wow," he replies. "Your faction really is full of cocky people."

"We're not cocky. We're confident. And girls are stronger than you might assume." Without further inquiry, I take the pot in my arms. "I'll let you get the next one. Think your ego can handle that?"

He doesn't reply as I set the pot into our wagon and start chopping more veggies. I scan the kitchen for a clock, but there is none. Probably to keep us from losing focus on our jobs. I have to say, it's a smart idea. Maybe I'll fit into Abnegation after all.

We work for what feels like an entire day before Selena declares, "Time's up!"

By now, we've made about ten pots. Not bad. Everybody else has plentiful amounts of food on their wagons, too. The factionless definitely won't go hungry tonight.

We form a line as we walk out with our wagons, into the streets.

I turn to my partner, who's pulling the wagon. "Forgive me," I say. "I still don't know your name. I should've asked already."

"Well, you haven't told me yours, either," he argues.

"I'm Nat- Natalie Shaw." I almost use my nickname, Nat. That girl can't exist anymore.

"Andrew Prior," he says as we shake hands.