A/N: Heyyy... Ally's finally here. OK, I'm like, WEEKS overdue, and I apologize, but my whole summer has literally been soccer, soccer, vacation, soccer, reading, soccer, homework, soccer. Now that school's approachin' I'll be busier, (and I'm guessing Julie will be too), but I promise to update regularly, or at least not make you guys wait forever for the next chapter. FOURBIAS IS BAWSS B) DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DIVERGENT!
When I emerge from the closet where Julie/Cara and I had our brief little meeting, I'm slightly alarmed to see that every seat is occupied, and Marcus Eaton walking towards the podium, preparing for his speech. I spot Lynn and Uriah waving their arms wildly, trying to get my attention. I edge past other Dauntless, chatting excitedly, almost all of them sure that they would choose their current faction. I reach my friends, and take the seat they'd been saving for me.
"Mar, where've you been?" Uriah demands, "The Ceremony's about to start!"
"Oh, you know... "
Lynn, on the other hand wasn't too upset. "She was probably too busy with that special someone..." she mutters, bitterly.
Oh no, she'd better not be on to something.
Uriah grins slyly, "Ooh, does Marlie have a crush?"
I punch his arm playfully, "No way! And you never call me Marlie!"
"Well, I just did!"
"Anyway, I have a slight suspicion you're keeping something from us, Mar," Lynn says quietly, "Are you having an affair with someone who's not in Dauntless, and planning to switch to their faction today?"
Well, technically I have nothing to hide, because once our plan works and we leave this place, everything will be back to normal, so... I have no reason to feel secretive around my friends. But then again, do we even have a plan?
"Haha, like that will ever happen!" Uriah laughs, but I know he just doesn't want to believe it. I remember how Marlene and Uriah were something closer than friends in the Divergent series, and that Uriah shared secret feelings for Marlene. I never realized it before, but I was starting to see Uriah differently. To put it bluntly, I like him. No matter how hard I tried to push the feeling away, it was clearly there. I didn't think there'd be a reason to dislike being Marlene. Luckily, everyone in the room went quiet as Marcus began his speech, so I didn't think about it anymore.
"Welcome," he said, in his somber, yet firm voice bouncing off the walls, "Welcome to the Choosing Ceremony. Welcome to the day we honor the democratic philosophy of our ancestors, which tells us that every man has the right to choose his own way in this world."
That's when something occurred to me. If our philosophy stated that everyone has the right to choose their own way, then why can't they choose to be accepted as Divergent? I don't see how the Divergent can destroy the "peaceful community."
After listening to the rest of Marcus' boring speech about the history of the factions, he finally started calling names.
My last name begins with the letter C, so I was going to be one of the first ones up.
I heard my name being called, and I stood up immediately. Uriah held my hand briefly in his, and whispered, "I love you, Mar."
I could feel my cheeks blush, and hoped nobody noticed. Then, I made my way towards the five bowls, each representing a faction. This was the day that I/Marlene had to make a choice that will decide my/Marlene's future. But I knew exactly what to do of course. I grasped the handle of the knife, reflecting its light on the shards of glass in the Candor bowl, and held my breath as I created a small gash in my palm. Wincing in pain, I held my hand over the flaming coals in the Dauntless bowl, and let a shiny drop of blood slowly fall, sealing our fate. Not mine, but Marlene's. But pretty soon, if we don't find a way out of here quickly, it'll be mine as well.
A/N: DONE! :)