I do not own Divergent. Credit goes to Veronica Roth.

It had been weeks before I saw Eric again, well in person at least. We had kept up daily contact with one another on the glass. Once, Gregory snorted while I was talking to Eric at night. A couple minutes after ending the conversation, Gregory sat up and turned to me.

"The fact that he is in Dauntless doesn't bother you?"

I shrugged as I lay on my stomach on the cot next to his, hugging my pillow tightly. "We were technically supposed to be there together," I replied.

"Yes I get that but you're in Amity now. I thought that maybe you would have moved on if you're going to stay here."

"We both know the answer to that."

"True," he nodded. "So you intend to continue seeking a relationship with him?"

"Yes," I answered as though it was that simple but I knew that we were going to have problems.

"Wait so you're okay that he got into a fight? He and you were speaking of it as though it was second nature. His violent actions do not bother you?"

"It is part of Dauntless initiation," I replied.

"Okay but it isn't part of Amity initiation."

"What are you talking about? I know it's not part of..."

"You shouldn't be talking about it so openly. People are going to start thinking that you accept anger and brutality in your life. We're Amity, JoyAnna. You have to think about peaceable matters. The next time he calls, I don't think the two of you should speak about him fighting anymore."

"So I shouldn't be congratulating him that he won his recent fight again," I questioned. "I'm being supportive. I'm not there to hug him so I might as well..."

"Okay that is fine then," he interrupted with a small smile that told me he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

I smiled back also. "I like that we get along so easily," I said.

"Another thing I want to talk to you about."

"What is that?"

"I think that we shouldn't be friends anymore."

"What, why? Is it because I talk about violence," I questioned. "Is that why you..."

"No JoyAnna. I understand that it's something you don't mind talking to Eric about. I just think that you should keep your conversations a bit more private between him. All that whispering you're doing over here by my cot and people might think that you're whispering to me."

"You're one of the few people who know about him and don't mind that I talk to him."

"I get that as well," Gregory moved so that his feet were on the ground and he was facing me. "But," he sighed, "JoyAnna a lot of people are starting to gossip."

I feigned a gasp. "How scandalous," I put a hand to my mouth, "people talking about me," I finished with a slight roll of my eyes.

"I'm being serious, JoyAnna."

"Gossip is malicious Gregory. I'm surprised that even you resorted to using the word to describe what people are speaking of. And besides I've been happier around people. It's not like I'm going around in Amity picking fights. I was just..."

"Wait, JoyAnna," Gregory put up his two hands to quiet me.

I turned to look at one of the girls across the room that was starting to stir. Then I realized what he was talking about, at least one of the things that he was talking about. Since I had seen Eric, I had also moved my cot to sleep closer to the boys, particularly Gregory.

"Do people think we are courting," I looked back at him when all was quiet again. Gregory looked away. "But aren't you and Alice courting?"

Gregory turned back to me and had a look that said I should know the answer to that question.

"She ended things with you because you've been hanging out with me?"

"The first week, I was practically sleeping with you in your cot every night JoyAnna. She knew from before that I cared about you. To be quite honest, you're not the easiest girl to get over," he chuckled. "And now that you just confirmed you're going to continue seeing Eric, it just..."

"Wait," I sat up too, "you thought I was going to be ready to start courting someone from Amity?"

Gregory looked guilty. "I've been ignoring Alice. And I thought that since you had chosen Amity that in time, you would chose me too. It's silly really," he shook his head.

"No it's not. I'm sorry Gregory. I didn't mean to put a rift between you and Alice."

"I wasn't that fond of her."

"Still," I smiled, "she could have won your favor over time. I get it Gregory, I've taken up a lot of your time by trying to get over Eric and now that we reconciled it's like you're put on the side again as being my friend. I gave you hope where there was none and for that I am sorry. I hope that you and Alice can work things out."

Gregory shook his head. "We probably won't. But to help me, JoyAnna I think it would be best for us to not be friends anymore."

"Gregory," I moved and went to sit on his cot. "I want to say that I don't want to lose your friendship but I respect your decision. In time I hope that we can go back to being friends. No one here understands me the way that you do and I know that I'll miss talking to you."

"I'll miss talking to you too JoyAnna. Thank you for understanding," he looked to me before pulling me into a hug.

I had slept in Gregory's cot that night. I don't know why. Perhaps because something told me that this would be the last time that he and I were ever this close, not just physically either. I couldn't help but think that we would be friends again but never as we were the past couple years. Though my feelings for him remained as though they always were, his feelings had stayed the same as well. Deep down inside, even though we were labelled as 'friends' he had always hoped for more. Ending our friendship for the time being was probably the best thing to do.

"Look what I have found," asked Benjamin when we went to the wagons the next morning.

I climbed up to sit next to him and took the package in my hands. Smiling, I turned to Benjamin and gave him a hug.

"Madeline enjoys eating the dish as well, though she does not know how to make it."

"Is that a hint at something," I turned to him with narrowed eyes.

"I would like to have dinner with Madeline and I was told that it is best to have a chaperone."

"Is courting in Amity the same as Abnegation," I questioned.

"Not really. A lot of things are similar so I understand as much," Benjamin nodded at me, "Although, I wouldn't have gotten my first kiss that soon if we were in Abnegation."

My eyes widened a bit and I playfully nudged him.

"It's really no big deal."

"Yes it is," I straightened out and linked an arm around his. "Come on, I want to hear it."

Benjamin started to chuckle. "A week ago, I had walked her home and usually her Dad is out on the porch waiting for us. That night he wasn't and I leaned in to kiss her goodbye."

"You could have been a bit more romantic."

"Okay the moon was shining down on her flowing hair and the wind was..."

"Okay, okay," I stopped him causing us both to laugh. "So you invited her over for dinner tonight?"

"Yes and I told her father that there would be other people present."

"Who else did you have in mind?"

"I only asked you."

"And you want this done tonight," I questioned in disbelief. "Oh bother," I looked away. "Okay, so you already have the Salmon," I picked at the package. "I will invite my younger brother, Jensen with me. He knows how to properly cook this vegetable dish that would be wonderful with the fish. Ooh I'm so excited."

Benjamin just shook his head.

After school had finished, I met my brother. He and I had been on shaky terms ever since I had decided to stay and I knew that I would have to work on things with each brother one by one. Jimmy Bean had been the most forgiving out of them all. After speaking to Eric, I had hurried over to speak with my mother and she was overcome with joy and relief. She warned me that it might not go well between us but hoped for the best. Jimmy requested that I sing to him every night before I left and so I did. Josh and Jensen though kept their distance.

"So you're going to dinner with someone," questioned Jensen.

"Well I'm going to be their chaperone."

"What do you need me there for then?"

"To help," I shrugged. "I thought it would be good if you and I spent the evening together."

After a while, Jensen sighed. "Okay," he said quietly before wrapping an arm around my shoulders and giving me a quick squeeze.

We had had fun that evening at Benjamin's small home preparing for dinner. Jensen had even told him proper etiquette and reminded him of how to be the perfect gentlemen. Madeline had shown us a few minutes later than anticipated because she couldn't find her shawl. A girl must look modest after all. That is the Amity way. I welcomed her in and couldn't help but beam at the way her eyes lit up with the kitchen had looked like. Jensen even told Benjamin to have flowers ready and they were.

"Thank you," Madeline smiled as Benjamin handed them to her and kissed her cheek.

"You have to forgive me if it isn't the best tonight," I told her as I served some Salmon on her plate.

"Oh, you cooked Salmon," she smiled up at me.

"Benjamin went and got it. He said it was your favorite."

She turned to Benjamin and blushed. "You remembered me telling you."

"Of course I did," he replied with a small blush of his own.

"So Madeline," Jensen spoke up, interrupting the silence that had started.

Quickly we delved into conversation about little things. Madeline had begun working at the day care and was in love with all the little children there, our youngest brother included which made Jensen and I laugh. She was a quiet girl, quiet by Amity standards that is. She didn't giggle uncontrollably or speak of things with over enthusiasm. But she was still cheerful. Benjamin was quiet as well even though he had been recently opening up. I could see the two of them working out.

"They would make a wonderful couple," Jensen said as he walked me back to the dependent housing.

"They would," I replied.

"No one has caught your eye," he asked.

I shook my head.

"You're still thinking about your Erudite friend?"

"We're kind of courting still," I replied.

"But you are different factions now," Jensen stopped walking. "You both made that choice."

"Yes and we discussed things. I know it's going to be difficult but I think that..."

"Why JoyAnna," Jensen interrupted me. "Why can't you just start over? He hurt you and you continue to go back to him?"

"I actually hurt him, I hurt us," I clarified. "I was the one who decided to stay and he was struck with grief over my decision but..."

"He could have come here."

"He already made his choice. They called his name before mine," I added.

"I don't know JoyAnna. I just want you to be happy and move on with your life. The two of you can never get married like Benjamin and Madeline. The two of you cannot see one another like they can. The two of you cannot have a future together. It's impossible."

"We can make it work..."

"That's called being naive JoyAnna," Jensen stated.

"We'll make it work," I repeated again.

"I hope so JoyAnna," Jensen kissed my cheek and then left.

As the days went by and I continued to speak to Eric about what he was doing and what I was doing, I realized that Jensen was probably correct. Every now and then I would hear some girl or boy calling Eric to hurry it up. Eric was going to some party or get together that was happening at Dauntless constantly. And despite my best efforts not to let my jealousy show, it always did the second he ended the communication. I couldn't compete with his life right now. I was in Amity and I had made my choice to stay here. It was probably best if what we had stayed in the past as well since it was obvious we couldn't be with one another in the present and our future looked grim.

"Is everything alright?"

I looked up to see none other than Gregory.

"Eric is hanging out with his friends," I smiled at Gregory and then got up to stand and head out.

"You could hang out with the girls you know," Gregory offered. "I think Mason was speaking to Harmony about going down to the lake tonight. They were going to be singing and dancing, I think."

I shook my head. "I think I'm going to take a walk around."

We normally had free time at the ending of the week. Most of our job duties were done and things would get rather relaxing when everyone knew that no one would be working the next day. I happened to walk past by the lake where they had gotten together and noticed that Madeline and Benjamin were dancing. Another pang of jealousy flowed through me. Eric and I could never dance with one another. In fact right now, he was probably dancing with another girl and it was my entire fault.

I had just made my way back to the dependent housing when I heard something off to the side that caught my attention. Quickly I hurried towards the safety of the barn only to get pulled back. I was so close to screaming until I looked up at those cloud filled sky eyes.

"Eric," I whispered before he smiled.

My arms wrapped around his neck as his wrapped around my waist.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too," he mumbled into my hair giving me a slight squeeze. He pulled back and looked down at me, his smile disappearing. "Hey, what's wrong," his hand gently wiped my face.

I didn't know I had started crying. "I just feel that I made a huge mistake in not choosing a future with you."

"Who said we're not going to have a future together?"

"We live in different factions Eric," I told him. "I mean look at us," I took a step back and motioned to him. "You're all in black and I'm wearing a yellow and brown dress. I need to think about peaceable things and you talk about violence and…"

"Where is this coming from? Everything was okay when we were talking earlier," Eric pressed.

I let out a sigh and shook my head. "You're just not here Eric. And I can't ask you to be. I made that choice. I'm the one who decided to stay back. I'm the one who didn't follow you. I just feel like in time we'll grow apart because…"

Eric pressed his lips to mine wrapping his arms around me again as we kissed on the side of the barn that housed the dependents. I gasped in shock when Eric's tongue entered my mouth with a determination that I had never seen. It made me entire body shiver. Instinctively my legs wrapped around him as he pulled me up higher.

"I already told you, Ana," he said with a misty look in his eyes and gruffness to his voice. "No faction is going to stop me. It didn't before and it won't now. I'll never surrender you," he mumbled as his lips moved to kiss my neck and down to my shoulder. "I'll never surrender you."