Sorry for not updating in a while! Also, sorry that this chapter isn't as long as other ones- I'm just craving to get something posted here after so long of not posting and all that such! Enjoy!

"You have to hold still, Shimea!"

"Well, then you'll have to first stop that awful stinging!"

Sarah sighed.

"All I'm doing is washing your cut," she said. "I realize it stings, but I'd feel horrible if you'd gotten sick."

"If you hadn't been meddling, I could have gone without this torture." Shimea scowled.

I'd walked in on them in the kitchen. I'd been meaning to start preparing dinner, but the drama unfolding in front of me was so much more interesting.

"You mean to say," Sarah inquired, "that, before this, you've never washed your cuts?"

"Nope," Shimea replied. "Never. Now, could I please get a bandage and end this? You know I hate being treated like a child!"

"Then stop acting like one."

"Geb, tell her to stop!"

"Geb, if you so dare tell me to stop, I'll put your hand in warm water while you sleep."

I couldn't help but laugh. Seriously, those two were being a riot. Also, my mother would never have approved if she'd caught me arguing like this- to witness such a scenario made me feel rather rebellious.

Tonight, dinner would consist of protein-filled pinto beans and brown, nutritious rice. Yesterday, Dorcas had set the beans to soak, and, also, Raddai and Jael had made bread, which would go perfectly with tonight's meal. To be perfectly honest, after getting used to the "plainness", I actually kind of liked Abnegation food. I now found it rather tasty, but, I also found it rather comforting, as if its basicness gave it a homelike feel.

Sarah set water to boil on the stove, and Shimea started setting the table.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door.

"Who on earth could that be?" Sarah inquired.

"Geb!" Ozem's voice from the other room called. "Someone's here to see you!"

Walking into the parlor, I saw Caleb Prior standing in the doorway. Ozem was holding a bag of veggies.

"Hey!" he said, smiling. "My mom sent me to give all you-all these vegetables, but I found something you might like."

He handed me a book. The title said An Imperial Affliction; it was by some guy named Peter Van Houten.

"Hmmm…" I said. "Thanks. What's it about?"

"A girl with a disease called cancer. The book's meant to bring to light how folks oftentimes forget that those who are sick are people, too. It's told from quite the perspective."

"Sounds interesting… I do love different perspectives. Where'd you find it?"

"Robert and his sister Susan suggested it to me. Of course, I instantly fell in love with it."

Cindy walked down the stairs. Walking over to me, she swiped the book out of my hand. She looked at the title, frowning.

"Sorry," she said, "but I'm afraid, Caleb, that he'll have to decline the book."

"Why?" I asked, feeling nervous. "Is it smut?"

"Not that I'm aware of." Cindy gave Caleb a warning look, as if she was certain he distributed perverted magazines on the black market. "But, both of you boys really ought to focus on less self-indulgent pursuits."

"But, Ms. Cindy!" Caleb said. "There's nothing wrong with reading for pleasure! I mean, if…"

"No buts," Cindy said sternly. "What would your parents think to find you've been drowning yourself in such useless hobbies? Think of how scandalized they would be!"

Caleb looked as if he wished to argue, but knew it'd be futile.

"Bye, Geb," he said.

"Thanks anyways," I said. "I'm sure it truly is a wonderful book…"

After Caleb left, Cindy requested I speak with her and John in their room.

Once we arrived there, she said, "By the time that knock had come at the front door, I'd intended to speak with you about something that's come to mind. I heard a few of your fellow initiates humming, a few of them even singing. Tell me, have you any idea where they learned to sing?"

"Maybe they learned it sometime before they quit school," I replied. "I mean, lots of kids there enjoy music."

Cindy raised an eyebrow.

John said, "Seriously, Geb, you need to tell us the truth. We won't get angry if you've been behind this."

Been behind this? Seriously, he made me sound like some sort of evil mastermind.

"Yes, I've been singing," I confessed. "But they want me to teach them songs. And, it's not like it's getting in the way of our chores or community service or selflessness…"

"But it is getting in the way of your selflessness," Cindy said. "It's highly self-indulgent. You don't understand what ill effects it can have on you."

Since when did singing as a rule of thumb have ill effects? True, it may often be for personal pleasure, but it's been known to benefit emotional as well as mental and physical health. It's been used as a mnemonic exercise, and a way to entertain others. While there are some songs which could definitely create a deficit (like "Let's Drink Ourselves Drunk" and "The Perverted Song"), there are countless ones which can prove to be helpful!

"Geb? Geb, are you listening?"

"Yeah…"

"You understand what we're saying?"

"Um… Not sure."

Cindy and John both looked somewhat frustrated. I have no idea why. It's not like I've caused a heapload of trouble- haven't I decently behaved?

John said, "Geb, don't you trust us to tell you the truth?"

Thinking about that a bit, I replied, "I think you're both honest people. That doesn't mean you always have to be correct. I mean, wouldn't that be such a burden?"

Cindy, groaning, said, "From now on, no more singing. Also, the only things you should read are instructions and the Bible. Any other issues we must discuss before you get sent back downstairs?"

"No," I replied.

"Then off with you. See you at dinnertime."

That night, I couldn't sleep. I rolled over several times, tried some of the meditation breathing exercises, counted sheep, among many things. Nothing helped at all.

"You too?"

The sound of Shimea's voice startled me.

"What on earth?!..."

"Let's not talk in here. We don't wanna wake anyone up."

Shimea and I walked downstairs, and out the front door. We started walking through the neighborhood. The cool air felt good on my face. If I'd still been in Amity, I would have been able to hear the crickets chirping and the frogs croaking. I would have been able to see countless stars blanketing the dark blue sky, and would have smelled the orchards' aroma being carried by the wind. But, alas, I was stuck in this trashy city.

"I guess Cindy and John would consider this to be self-indulgent and forbidden," I said, laughing.

"Well, then it's a good thing they're asleep." Shimea laughed back. "I heard about that book Caleb offered you. And… that there'll be no more singing going on anytime soon."

"Our dorm instructors are legalistic, that's all. They were probably faction transfers, so they feel they have to prove just how Abnegation they are."

"They're the first instructors ever in all of Abnegation history to fail someone out of initiation. Actually, they failed two people. The first was a guy who preferred to wear clothes for women. In fact, he wanted to be called a 'she'. The whole community in general agreed that this fella was strange, but harmless. Cindy and John thought otherwise, claiming that all distractions, be they living or not, should be sent far away. The other failed initiate was a rather absentminded girl. True, she wasn't as selfless as everyone hoped for, but she was still perfectly harmless. But, John and Cindy had to disagree. They thought she just 'didn't have what it takes to fit in'."

"You think that'll happen to me?"

"I hope not. I mean, you wouldn't want to be factionless, would you?"

There was a silence between us for a moment.

Sighing, Shimea said, "Matthew did the smart thing. He knew these instructors wouldn't let him pass initiation, so he transferred. I hope he's happy in Candor. He should fit right in- he didn't always know how to bridle his tongue."

We'd walked a bit too far. We were now outside of the Abnegation section of the city. Right in front of us were train tracks. A horn blew in the distance.

Suddenly, I felt an urge go through me. As the train started coming up the tracks, I backed up and got myself in position. When the first train car was in front of me, I jumped. A rush of fear and excitement swept over me, and then, I felt my feet go thud against the train car floor.

My head pulsed, and a rush of adrenaline flowed right through me. Had I seriously just done that? I must be some crazy person, or something like that.

"Impressive," a female voice said behind me.

Whirling around, I noticed a small, blonde Abnegation girl about my age or younger sitting in the train car's corner. At first, I thought it was Beatrice, but, looking twice, I saw that wasn't the case.

The girl stood up.

"I'm Susan Black," she said. "And may I ask what your name is?"

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, and tell me what you think! If you have any suggestions, feel free to say them! :)