Caleb's POV
Two days before finals week
I wake up in my bedroom staring at the blank grey walls and ceiling. Usually I wake up half an hour before the alarm clock. I shut the alarm clock down. I grab an Agatha Christie book from my hiding place. I deliberately chose that book so that I do not fall asleep again. At 7.30 am, I go down to the dining table, where a bowl of plain oatmeal awaits me.
Back at the dining table, it is the same old routine for the last ten years of my life. Dad reads the newspaper while occasionally looking out of the window into the same dreary street. Beatrice walks in with her worn out powder grey school bag. I look around and make the same observation I make every morning. Every object around me is grey, colourless, and lifeless. Dad would probably call me a faction traitor for thinking all of this. I finish my oatmeal and wear my shoes. Beatrice walks with me towards the door and impulsively I throw my arms around mom in a hug. She isn't surprised; instead she reciprocates with a smile and tells me to have a good day.
Outside the door, Susan and Robert Black greet me with an Abnegation bow. I bow down and give her a half-smile. She gives me a full smile in return. I know that my actions are being watched and dissected by my sister and Susan's brother; so I ask Susan, "How is the soup kitchen volunteering going?"
"It's going fine, thank you Caleb." replies Susan.
Why are adjectives other than 'fine' not spoken in Abnegation? 'Fine' is the vaguest answer you can get and it is never enough.
Robert and Beatrice walk ahead; Susan asks me if we would like to go to school in her dad's car. I politely decline the offer. I look around to see that nobody's spying on us. Satisfied, I extend my hand forward and hold Susan's hand. I give a winning smile and her eyes go wide as saucers. She is too shocked to respond.
I still don't know what to do with Susan. She is way too Abnegation and way too polite. I have got feelings for her but I can't decide whether they are brotherly or otherwise. If I fall in love with her, it would be the thing that mom, dad, Beatrice and everyone expect but I love the unexpected. I'm pretty sure that mom has my life mapped out for me. It goes like this- Stay in Abnegation, marry Susan, have a couple of children and stay happy. Will I be able to stay happy in this dreary, grey faction?
Stop, Caleb Prior, you are thinking way too selfish. You should do the thing that mom wants for you. Wait, is this my purely Abnegation alter-ego speaking? Why am I speaking to myself? These questions will never have answers and I don't like not getting answers.
We arrive in the Upper Levels building, one of the oldest buildings in the city. People of all factions are filing into the school. I discreetly watch the Erudite as they come in. Beatrice watches the Dauntless.
Dad says that the Erudite are vain, selfish and stuck-up people. They always spread lies about the Abnegation. The day dad said this, I couldn't believe my ears. Dad never said a bad word to anyone.
We part ways, I have Math and Beatrice has English. I don't remember Susan's or Robert's schedule. Math is taught by an old Erudite professor. All of the teachers in Upper Levels are Erudite. Some Amity members teach in the Lower Levels. I make my way to my seat in the corner. I don't Know why the Abnegation always try to blend in the background, just like the greyish background in an Amity abstract painting. The other factions hold Abnegation in a very low regard. I listen to the old professor carefully and I see an Amity girl looking for something. "Do you need anything?" I ask in a quiet voice.
"Yes, my pencil seems to have gone for a tour around the city." says the Amity girl.
Very out of character for me but I smile a real smile at the Amity girl. No one cracks jokes in my faction. I pass her my extra pencil kept in my bag. She thanks me and I go back to listening and doing my work.
The last period of the day is chemistry. Too bad all the Abnegation except me do not use the chemistry lab. An Erudite guy comes into the class and announces, "All of you who are interested in a debate about different faction principles can give your names to me and come to the hall tomorrow morning."
This is a really good opportunity; I may be able to lay to rest all the rumours about Abnegation and secret warehouses. The plan may backfire but I am up for it. I was expecting a couple of other members from my faction but nobody got up. I got up to give my name and an Erudite called out:
"Hey there, Stiff, do you want to do some volunteering? You could circulate some water and stationery during the debate."
My courage got crumbled with this comment. I went to seat and sit there, silently seething at the Erudite guy. Maybe next time I should gather an entire team of Abnegation who are willing to participate.
The day ended like this. I wonder why the members of my faction don't speak up at least once. I walk towards the door and meet Beatrice.
"Hey Beatrice, did an Erudite guy come to your class to announce a debate?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" says my sister.
"Nothing, I was just wondering."
We walk towards home and pass the Lower Levels building. School disperses an hour early there but I see a little girl still standing outside the main gate.
"Let's see what is going on there.", I say to Beatrice.
The little girl stands there with a brave face. Most children would be in tears. She wears a green tee shirt, not adhering to any faction rules. I envy little children sometimes for having so much freedom.
"What is your name?" I ask with a smile.
"My name is Aria Grace and I study in Mrs. Smith's class." the girl recites.
"Okay Aria, why aren't you home?"
"My friend was suppo... sup... to pick me up."
"The word is supposed, Aria."
"Come with us, we'll drop you home but where do you live?"
"I don't know the address but I'll show you the way" she says, bouncing happily.
Aria leads me and Beatrice towards the Erudite sector. Like all children, she can't keep her mouth closed.
"You didn't tell me your name and your sister's name."
"I am Caleb Prior and this is my sister Beatrice Prior."
"Hey Caleb, do you know that I am also going to have a little brother. He is inside mom's belly."
"Great, do you call him by any name?"
"Mom hasn't given a name to him but I call him Tyler because he moves around in mom's belly like a little Tyler"
I smile at her innocence. She jumps around in a way that an Abnegation child would never be allowed to. We reach the Erudite sector.
"Now, which home is yours?"
"That one, with the number 2007."
I ring the bell and a very worried woman opens the door. She hugs Aria tight and looks at me.
"May I ask who you are?" says the lady.
"I am Caleb and this is my sister Beatrice."
"Thank you so much for bringing my daughter home. I am Cadence Grace."
I shake the lady's hand and Aria points out to me,
"Here is my little Tyler." says she with a big smile.
I give an equally big smile to Aria and Mrs. Grace.
"We should be going home now."
"Okay dear, I'll tell Aria to ask you whenever her friend doesn't pick her up.'
"Okay Mrs. Grace and thank you." I say and go outside the door.
"That girl is cute, isn't she?" asks Beatrice.
"Yes, she sure is" I reply and walk forward.
We reach home and an equally worried mom opens the door.
"Why are you two so late?"
"We had to drop a little girl home" both of us say at the same time.
"Okay, eat your lunch now, I made it for you.
We finish our lunch and go to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Washing dishes is hated by Beatrice. She'd rather mop the floor than do the dishes. We quietly finish doing the dishes and get out of the kitchen. I go to my room and close the door. As I sit down on my desk, I think about Aria, her freedom and her innocence. Would I be different if I was born in a different faction? I realise I would be. The faction mindset is ingrained in our heads by our parents and our surroundings. With these revelations, i open my English book and begin to study.