I was perched on my bed waiting for my mom to call me to breakfast. Staring around my room impatiently, I waited. I heard my name and I jumped off the bed and down the hall.
" Are you excited for your last day of school this year?" She looked up at me from her papers and I nodded nonconvincingly. She raised an eyebrow at me.
" I just wish that . . . I just wish that I could be taking the test this year. With Hec." She smiled sadly at me.
" I know it's hard Audrey. This is also why I recommended that you don't date anyone until you are in your permanent faction." I rolled my eyes and plopped myself in the chair beside her.
" Tris! What's for breakfast?" I heard my dad calling from the other side of the apartment. She laughed and answered, " Nothing from me today! You can go to the cafeteria." I felt like I could hear his groan. Cafeteria food was never as good as Mom's cooking, except the cake. Mom couldn't cook that to save her life. " Mom? Can I go to Sarah's before breakfast and leave before you and Dad?" She nodded and motioned me on as she was still reading her papers.
I ran back to my room to get dressed. I grabbed a black tube top, pull on sleeves, a burgundy skirt, and my black army boots. I left my hair down. It hung in its tight, dark brown curls past my waist. I wasn't one for makeup, but I took out a bit of mascara. I raced down the hall and into the kitchen. I fist bumped my Dad, who was sitting next to my mom now, on the way out. I sprinted at full speed down to Sarah's.
Sarah was my best friend. We've done absolutely everything together for the past 5 years. Hec was my best friend before Sarah. I've known him as long as I can remember. Sarah and I met at school. With her I can be a girly-girl. I feared for when we chose, though. She is definitely Amity material. I reached her apartment door and knocked loudly.
" Audrey. How are you, dear? Sarah is just finishing getting ready. You can go on back to her room." I smiled sweetly at Ms. Blakely. She was like a second mom to me. I walked on back to Audrey's room. Her brightly colored room was nothing like mine. Mine was an assortment of blacks and grays.
She jumped as I walked in. She smiled once she realized who it was. I jumped out and sprawled across her bed while she finished plastering her face with makeup.
" Hello, Audrey. How are you today?" I smiled sweetly. Yes, definitely an Amity. " I'm good, just hungry. So speed it up! You don't need all that makeup anyway. You don't even look the same with it on." I laughed at her and she laughed with me. " Yeah, but the thing is, if I stop wearing the makeup my own boyfriend won't even recognize me!" I burst out into tears laughing over that.
" Well, personally, I think you look prettier without it." She smiled sweetly and sat beside me. " Are you alright, Audrey? I know you are nervous for Hector. Are you scared he won't get Dauntless or he won't get the faction that you are destined for?" I sighed deeply.
" I don't know. I'm nervous, but I don't want him to choose the faction that isn't for him because of me. I just want . . . I just want him to be happy." She shook her head, " You may tell yourself that, but you want him to stay Audrey." I reajusted my head to peer at her through my hair. " I'm just saying. I know you. Now enough of the deep, let's go stuff our gobs." I giggled and hopped off the bed trailing behind her.
We found my parents seated at a table in the cafeteria. I placed my tray beside my dad and Sarah placed her's beside my cousin's place. My Aunt Chris was seated across from me, Uncle Will beside her, and my cousin next to him. They aren't my real aunt and uncle, but they are my mom's best friends. I've never met my real uncle. Aunt Chris and Uncle Will have three kids, two are twins, Natasha ' Nat' and Nathan. Nat is more fun than Nathan, but that might just be because she's a girl. I miss her. She defected last year. Nathan chose to stay, but he didn't make it through initiation. He was kinda soft to be in Dauntless. Natalie is their other daughter. She is in Hec's year. I feel bad for her, though. She has a lot of pressure put on her to stay in Dauntless. My parents are different, they just want me to be happy.
I spotted Hector in the food line and waited for him to come over to our table. He never sits with his own family. In all honesty, his family is scary. His sister, Lynn, alone is terrifying, not to mention his mom. He's nothing like his family. My dad groaned as he saw Hec walking over. I punched him in the shoulder. Hec set his tray beside me and gave me a side hug. I continued eating until Natalie told us we needed to leave if we wanted to catch the train.
We all stood and waved goodbye to everyone. We jogged down to the train tunnel. I pulled my bag tighter on my shoulders so it wouldn't fall off. I pulled Hec's arm so I could read his watch, 6:59. " Alright, one minute everyone." All the other students that rode the train to school appeared around us. Many were nervous, as today is the day the 16 year olds would take the test. That means Hector. I grabbed his hand and rubbed it comfortingly. He smiled down at me and kissed me. I heard the train coming and we broke apart. Everyone broke out into a sprint. We all climbed gracefully aboard the train. It was a 30 minute ride down to the school. The school is in between Erudite and Abnegation. That's the other side of the city.
Sarah, Natalie, Hec, and I sat against the wall. I rested my head on Hec's shoulder as I did every morning that we went to school, but this would be the last time.
" We're here!" Someone called this and everyone imediately stood. Sarah and Natalie jumped first. Then, Hector did and I followed. I rolled on the ground to brace the impact. I grabbed Hector's hand and we ran to the building. All the kids from other factions stared as we sprinted down to the school. As we went inside he kissed my forehead and left to go to the cafeteria, where the testing would take place. I stared as he walked away. Sarah grabbed my hand, pulling me along and smiling at me sadly. We walked to our first class of the day.
I didn't pay any attention. I couldn't. I waited impactiently wondering if Hector already knew he would be leaving or staying in Dauntless. I wasn't going to ask him. You're not supposed to. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Before I knew it, it was the end of the school day. All the Dauntless kids waited outside in the courtyard for the train, but I couldn't spot Hector anywhere. I did find Natalie.
" Hey Nat Jr., where is Hector?" She glared at the nickname I gave her, " He got sick. They sent him home early." I nodded and was concerned about him. I barely paid any attention to whatever Sarah was saying.
" Hey Sarah?" I whispered and she nodded. " Can I stay over at your place tonight? But if I don't come over at all and my parents ask, I was still there." She nodded knowing why I needed her as an excuse.
We sat at dinner in the cafeteria and Hec was nowhere to be found. Mom noticed, " Hey, Audrey. Where's Hector?" I sighed. " I don't know. I haven't seen him since this morning." My mom narrowed her eyes at me. " He got sick. They sent him home early." My mom's eyes widened momentarily, Mom and Dad shared a knowing look. " Mom? Can I stay at Sarah's tonight?" My mom looked up at me.
" Sarah, is your mom alright with Audrey staying over?" Sarah nodded as her mouth was full. My mom looked back at me, sighed, and nodded. I brought my eyes up to meet Sarah's and flashed a silent thanks. After dinner, Sarah grabbed my hand and we ran up towards her apartment. After a while she stopped and raised her eyebrow at me. " Thank you. I might be back later." She smiled at me, " Doubt it. Come over tomorrow morning to make it look like you stayed the night. Good night!" At that I ran to Hec's. Hoping his sister and mom were out. And hoping he'd tell me what faction.