I wake up to a sharp, loud beeping noise. My first instinct is to hit the snooze button on the infernal machine, make myself late for the sake of sleep, but then I remember – my first day in Dauntless. I turn off the alarm with the push of a single button, and almost dive into my wardrobe.
I pull on a maroon t-shirt, black jeans, black trainers, and my leather jacket. I pull my hair into a simple ponytail and open my desk drawer. I've been keeping a mascara and an eyeliner pencil in there secretly. Piercings and make-up if forbidden in Abnegation, and facial piercings are disapproved of in Erudite, Amity and Candor, but in Dauntless, they're practically required.
I put in some silver studs, and make a mental note to either get some more extravagant earrings, or get a second piercing. I carefully apply the eye makeup, making sure it doesn't smudge or look ridiculous. When I'm finished, I'm kind of impressed with my handiwork.
I've never used make-up before, my parents forbade it, but now I'm Dauntless, I basically get the licence to wear make-up. My eye isn't black, but it has enough of the cosmetics applied to my eye looks even bluer than usual.
I fill my new backpack with my books for the day. It's black, with a shiny silver Dauntless logo. I don't need much for today, based on my schedule.
Monday
8:30 – 9:00 – Homeroom – Classroom 4
9:00 – 10:00 – Math – Classroom 8
10:00 – 11:00 – Training – Main Gym
11:00 – 11:30 – Morning Break
11:30 – 12:30 – Lunch – Dauntless Cafeteria
1:30 – 2:30 – Training – Main Gym
2:30 – 3:30 – Science – Classroom 9
It doesn't look like a difficult day, but I'm worried about the training. I'm weak, short and I could easily be knocked out by any of the Dauntless first years. I have no muscle at all, I've never needed it. I have a good idea of what happens in training. You throw knifes, hit punching bags, do 10-mile-long runs, climb the building, fight each other, and learn how to break out of grasps if you were ever assaulted. I just hope they go easy on me.
When I come down the stairs, I'm holding onto one of the straps of my backpack nervously, anticipating my family's reaction to the earrings and make-up, but then I remember – I'm Dauntless now. Dauntless don't hold onto their backpack straps nervously. I let go of the strap, and walk faster into the kitchen. I grab an apple from the fruit bowl and take a loud bite.
It's like somebody has just frozen my entire family in time. Caleb is standing by the door, his leather book bag in his hand. Mom is standing in the kitchen, holding a box of cereal in mid air, and Dad is holding a spoon full of cereal half way between the bowl and his face. They are all gaping at me like fish. I take another bite of my apple as I set my backpack on the ground.
"What?" I ask, and Caleb snaps out of his trance. He starts filling his book bag with books, files and papers, Mom continues pouring her cereal and Dad puts the spoon back into the bowl.
"Nice jacket." Caleb says from the doorway. I can't help but laugh.
"Thanks." I say, before he shuts the door behind him and walks past the window. My Mom sits next to my Dad, and both of their eyes are full of emotions. Mom's eyes are full with disappointment, upset and sadness, whereas Dad's are full with anger, disappointment and frustration.
"Beatrice, what is on your eyes?!" Mom gasps, not bothering to say good morning.
"Just some mascara and eye liner. It hasn't smudged has it?" I ask, touching my eye to see if any of the black cosmetics were coming off.
"No, but why on Earth are you wearing it? Are those earrings too? Beatrice, this is entirely unacceptable! Go and take it off now!" he almost growls.
"No, I'm Dauntless now, it's the norm to wear make-up and have piercings. And, uh, it's just Tris now. I've changed it." I say, taking yet another bite from my apple.
"When you are home, we'll call you Beatrice. That's your name sweetie." My mom says gently. I sigh, toss my backpack over my shoulder and stand up.
"Wait, wait, wait! We have to set some ground rules here Beatr-" Dad stars, but a sudden burst of anger comes from the bubbling in my stomach.
"You never set ground rules for Caleb when he joined Erudite! I don't need ground rules, and I have to go anyways. My friends are waiting for me. I'll see you later." I say, and speedily walk out the house, leaving both of my parents stunned, and my father quite angry. I know they would never do anything though, like force me to change faction or hit me. They'll get over it eventually.
I'm not lying when I say I have to go, I just got a text from Will saying that he, Christina and Al are waiting for me at the school gates. I power walk the entire way there, deciding not to take the bus this morning. Christina must not have taken it either, or she would be just as late as I am.
I make sure to go the fastest way to school, cutting corners and jogging through some alleyways. It only takes me 15 minutes after jogging quite a bit. Christina and Will wave me over, and I can see a stocky, tall boy next to them. This must be Al.
"Hey guys." I say, tossing my apple core into a bin.
"Hey Tris. This is Al." Christina says, gesturing to the brown-haired boy next to her. We smile at each other.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Tris." I say, outstretching my hand. He shakes it with a smile.
"Sorry I'm late, my Dad kinda lost it with me over my eye make-up and the earrings. Abnegation…" I say with a sigh.
"Well, they'll just have to deal with it. What homerooms are you guys in?" Will asks, and we all look at our paper schedules. I don't think Will is ever going to lose that organised Erudite approach to things.
"Classroom 4." I say, tucking the paper back into the inside pocket of my jacket.
"Same! What about you Will?" Christina asks with a hopeful smile. I can see her fingers crossed by her side.
"Classroom 4. Al?" he says with a smile, as Christina's fingers uncross.
"Dammit! Classroom 9. I'll see you guys in training then?" he asks, shoving his schedule back into his pocket.
"Sure, see you later." I say, as Al turns around and walks a separate way into the school.
"Brilliant. Homeroom?" I ask. They both nod, and we turn to walk to Classroom 4 in the Dauntless grounds. We take seats next to each other, but that doesn't help me ducking to avoid a flying water bottle thrown by a boy who looks older than me. Well, I am one of the youngest in the school, so everybody looks older than me.
When our form tutor walks in, he takes one look at us and sighs. He clearly didn't want to be a homeroom teacher this year, especially for Dauntless. Abnegation teachers are always filling in for other staff, but clearly, he has to do this for the entire year. He tells us to be quiet, and we do eventually, but it takes a while.
"I'm Mr Lunn, your homeroom teacher for this year. As you should know, starting this year, we are mixing first and second years. You will be grouped together for the remainder of your time here, so you best get used to it. I would also like you to know that I am an Abnegation teacher. I am filling in this position because there were no other Abnegation staff available. I presume you know that Abnegation are strict on their students. I know you are Dauntless, but I will not accept tardiness, "pranking" or jokesters in my classroom. Understand?" he says in a dull monotone voice.
We all respond with equally bored and unimpressed voices. The entire class, me included, clearly doesn't want a strict Abnegation homeroom teacher. He continues going on about something or other, I'm not really listening, until the bell finally rings, and we rush out.
He tells us to walk, but we run anyways, pushing through the corridors. I try and stick to Will and Christina, but the blur of black and maroon clothing is pushing me around like a ragdoll. This is what I was afraid of. I'm small and frail, I'm being easily pushed around by these people.
I'm managing to force my way through the crowd, until a tall, broad shouldered boy pushes into me, sending me flying towards the floor. He catches me before I fall, grasping my wrist tightly, as if he's scared if I hit the floor I'll shatter like glass. I look up at his face. He has a sharp, defined jaw line, and dark blue eyes, so deep I can feel myself staring into them. He has slightly tanned skin, and his brown hair is cut short enough it could almost be classified as Abnegation, but it is just a fraction longer.
"Sorry." He says bluntly, and shoots off through the crowd. A few people are staring at me, and Will and Christina are looking at me like I just fired lasers out of my eyes. I quickly push through to them.
"What?" I ask, as we continue to walk to math.
"Tris, you must have a death wish." Christina says, pointing at me.
"What do you mean?" I ask, thankfully Will explains.
"That guy you ran into? His name is Four, he's a second year. He's in our homeroom, and by the looks of where he was heading, he's probably in our math class too. He's like, famous in Dauntless. Very buff. Doesn't really like people." He explains, and the moment he says he is in our classes, I face palm. I'm so embarrassed.
"All the girls are into him Tris, but he's never dated any of them. You literally just got thrown to the floor and saved by the school hottie!" she says with a squeal.
"I'm so embarrassed…" I murmur quietly. We walk into math class, and are stopped at the door. Unfortunately, our math, science, IT, geography and history classes are all taught by Erudite professors. They like seating plans. A lot. We're told to ling up outside the classroom, much to the annoyance of many Dauntless. Including myself.
When I'm at the front of the line, I see the tables are set out in twos. Not many seats are left, except a few next to annoyed Dauntless. One is beside Christina and one beside…Four. Typical. I'm silently praying to be next to Christina, or even a random Dauntless. Just not next to Four. Please not next to Four.
"Your name is?" the teacher's sharp voice cuts through the annoyed grumbling of the classroom.
"Tris Prior." I say, and I can see her write my name on a map of the classroom. Erudite and their graphs, charts and maps…
"Okay, can you sit next to Four please?" she asks. I mentally scream, but I nod and start walking towards what feels like my imminent death by embarrassment.