Here is my next chapter. Please review! I love reviews! They always make my day super happy.
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I walked home silently, just taking it all in. Divergent? Leave Erudite? Don't tell my mom? It was a lot to take in. I was only sixteen, for goodness sake! Christina sure knows some stuff about Divergence. Maybe I could ask her...
I shook my head. If she thought being Divergent was so dangerous that I couldn't tell my own mother, than maybe I should just try to forget about it. But what if I can't? I kicked a pebble on the side walk. I shouldn't think about this right now. I should pick which faction I want to be in. My mom always said that the test didn't matter that much, you just need to find where you belong. She said that it's best to follow your aptitude result, but in the end it's your choice of which faction you will be in. So, where do I belong?
I thought hard. I wasn't the most selfless person, but maybe I could go to Abnegation. A snort came from my mouth as I fought back a laugh. I was not going to Stiff Land to be little miss never look in the mirror. That just wasn't me.
Candor and Amity weren't even in my results. I was an excellent liar and always got into fights at school.
Fights. Dauntless. Could I be a Dauntless and not even realize it? I'm always fighting that stupid Commons, whether it be I throw him nasty comments or I punch him in the jaw. (I only did it once, but he still had to go to the nurse) Maybe I should pick Dauntless. Sure, I've heard initiation is tough there, but what isn't in Dauntless?
I opened the front door and walked into the kitchen, where I found my mother and her favorite assistant, Caleb Prior. They looked up at me and my mom's expression turned worried.
"Ashlee, why are you home so early? School doesn't end for another hour."
My mind went blank. What was that excuse Christina gave me? Got it!
"I, um, I got sick after the test and they sent me home early."
Caleb gave me a once over, his eyes mixed with emotions and curiosity.
"The same thing happened to my sister when she took her test. That test must give some kids nausea. Should we fix it for next year, Jeanine?"
My mouth fell open as my mom nodded, then they went back to work.
"You have a sister?" I asked Caleb. My mom scowled at me for going into his privacy, but I was curious. He nodded.
"Yes. We both transferred to different factions. We don't speak much anymore. We are both very busy, and, besides, faction before blood."
I nodded, grabbing a fizzy pop out of the refrigerator and heading to my room.
Faction before Blood. I hated the saying. What if I love my faction and my family? Worst about it is my mom thought of it. If I leave she will never welcome me back. I opened the door and closed it shut behind me. My room looked like it had that morning. Science poster and awards scattered on the shelves and light blue walls. My plain furniture not letting myself express much. I sat down on my plain blue comforter and popped off the cap of my drink. I took a sip and set it down on the night stand.
A yawn escaped my mouth. I hadn't really noticed how long a day it had been and I was dead tired. I kicked off my shoes and crawled in my warm sheets. With in minutes I had drifted off.
I woke up with a start when I heard a beeping noise. I looked all over the room until I realized it was just my alarm clock. I pressed the snooze and sat up. When did I go to sleep? Was I going to be late for school?
My door opened suddenly to show my mom with a tray in her hands. She set in on my lap and smiled. She was dressed more fancy than usual. She only dressed up like this on...
"Happy Choosing Day, sleeping beauty! You are so lucky it's here in Erudite this year or else we would be eating on the road. Now eat up and get dressed." My mom said and left the room. I forced the pancakes and juice down my throat, hoping they wouldn't be pushed back up by all the butterflies that infested my stomach.
I jumped up and ran to the closet, grabbing a pair of skinny blue jeans and a fancy white blouse. I quickly fastened my hair in a braid and grabbed my favorite denim jacket. I sprinted down the stairs and out the door to my mom's car. She grinned at me.
"Ready to go, Ashlee?" I nodded, putting the jacket on as the car started. We traveled only a few minutes to the main Erudite building. I saw all of the sixteen year old kids of the factions ramming to get in. I followed them in with my mom.
I still hadn't given that much thought to which faction I would choose. I guess I would pick at the last possible second, just letting my blood fall into any of the bowls.
The room was bigger than I remember. The family members of the initiates sat in the crowd while we stood in a line. I was terrified. My mom made it feel like it wasn't that big of a deal when I was young, but now I felt like I was suffocating in a room filled with people. Mom stepped up on the stage, in front of the five bowls. Four guys in Erudite blue stood by her side with knives in their hands. She cleared her throat.
"Welcome to another choosing ceremony! As most of you know, I am Jeanine Matthews, representative of Erudite. Now, with all the formalities over with, let us begin." She pulled out a very long list. "Jeffrey Zinda!"
A boy in Amity reds and yellows walked up to the bowls and took a knife from one of the men. He cut his hand and slowly let the gushing blood drip into Amity's bowl, as expected.
The list went on for a while until there was a switch. "Julia Tutario!" my mom boomed through the hall.
A small Abnegation girl dressed all in gray walked to the bowls with her head held high. She took the knife with a slight nod, other than the other Stiffs who said thank you. I could tell she was going to switch just by her attitude. She walked over to the side where Abnegation, Dauntless, and Erudite's bowls were. She quickly cut her palm and spilled her blood over the Dauntless bowl. A switch had been made. My mother smiled and the Dauntless cheered, taking in the new recruit.
I got lost in a day dream after that, watching as the expected and switches were made on the stage.
"Ashlee Matthews!" Mom called.
I stood from my slouched position and a murmur went through the crowd. My mom smiled at me as I slowly walked onto the stage and took the weapon from the man. I walked to the side of Erudite, Abnegation, and Dauntless's bowls. I glanced at the water, and then at the burning coals. I thought of what Christina told me, to run from Erudite, run from my family.
The water of Erudite looked so open, such a wise decision. I glanced at the coals. They burned away the hurt and insecurities of the past. Brought you something new for the future.
I locked away my intellect.
My bravery was freed.
I cut my palm and watched the red fluid drip down to the coals and burn away. I heard the cheers of the Dauntless, the shocked gasps of my people, and the cries of my mother. I was no longer smart.
I was a brave idiot.
And that concludes the second chapter of Follow Your Divergence. Tell me your thoughts. I read them! Well, at least in reviews. So review!
