Chapter 2: Visiting Day
"Mother, may I please come too?" she was getting ready to go visit Beatrice. No one could visit Caleb. Erudite had shut off contact with Abnegation. "Yes, but make it quick," I was shocked. I didn't think she would let me. I ran up the stairs and hurriedly got ready.
"Beatrice," I said as I saw her. She looked so grown up, so beautiful. Her hair was down, she was in a tight black tank top, and she had three tattoos. "Mom," her voice broke as she gave her a hug. "I've missed you," I whispered as I was giving her a hug. Beatrice dragged us over to some of her friends. Christinia, Will, Al, Four. My mother looked them over, stopping at Four. She didn't say anything, but there was something she knew that no one else did. "I love you," I said once it was time to leave. Beatrice nodded her head. My mother said, "Allison, please go on out. I'll be there in a minute," I nodded my head, but wished I could stay longer.
"Lets go," my mother said briskly. "What was that about?" I asked her. "Since when did you get so curious?" she asked with a smile. I felt bad. That was not my place to ask. I looked shamefully down at my feet. Things had been so different. Doing meals with three people when for 15 years you had done it with five. The night they switched, I cried myself to sleep. My parents love me, but I've always had someone to look up to, someone who wasn't my mother or father. I maybe thought Beatrice would leave, but Caleb? Why? He was such an Abnegation. Either that or he was a good actor.
My mother looked understanding after they switched, my father? He looked ashamed. Shameful. He looked like he didn't want to know them. I didn't know what I thought. Maybe it gave me perspective. They did faction before blood. Just like they are supposed to. Just they put their new faction, before their family. I guess I was hurt. Caleb, he lied straight to my face. He said he would always be here for me. I guess that is wrong. How could he? Oh well, it's over. I can't change it. I should just accept it.
Them changing factions opened my eyes. It confused me. I thought they were going to stay in Abnegation, so when it was my turn I would. Now, I feel like I should switch. My parents would probably be better off with no kids to take care of. One would be weird. I heard about Abnegation initiation and knew it was the easiest. I couldn't fail it. Maybe I should stay. Maybe I should know I'll have a faction and stay. Then I thought about Erudite. I'm smart. I know they are enemies with Abnegation, but most of all my father. Could I betray him? Could I betray my whole faction? My thoughts switched to Dauntless. The fun they had. No rules. Would I be able to survive their initiation? I was so close to Beatrice. I could be with her. I have a year, and it will be stressful. I'll change the faction I want to be in every day till Choosing Day. Maybe it would be easier to just go factionless. Maybe I just don't know.
"Allison, dinner?" my mother called upstairs. I wiped my tears off. I could not let them know I had been crying. "I'm coming," I said quickly. I walked down the stairs and planted a fake smile on my face. "Erudite. Erudite," my father muttered. Why did Caleb switch? Why Erudite? This will be the worst year of my life. I could go to be with one of my siblings, I could stay with my family, or I could be on my own. I would never be in Candor. So I'm left with four. Would I be Dauntless? It pulls me in the most, but I'm not Dauntless. I'm not brave. I'm not strong. Amity. Amity is too boring. Everyone is happy. Everyone is peaceful, but is that what I am? I say I'm not going to talk about this stuff way too much, but it's who I am. I have a torn family. Should I make the rip bigger, or should I try to make it smaller?
One year. That's all I have. One single year.