Chapter 4!
To everyone who's reading my story: thank you so much!

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Disclaimer: I do not, and will never ... *sniff* own Divergent. Or Tobias Eaton. Or Theo James.

Iris

Mom stroke my back softly, she knew how badly I felt right there and then. 'I still believe he's somewhere, love,' she whispered. I nodded, however not believing it anymore. It was implausible, and fanciful for me to keep believing, and my eyes became bleary yet once again. I noticed Jenna looking at me from a few rows in front, as if my sudden grief had been tangible, her eyes were watery as well.

I found the fact that Jeanine continued talking, like it was in no way important that Tobias was missing, very obtuse, and apparently so did Jenna. I looked at my parents again and decided to spend my last few minutes in Abnegation, once again focused on them. We kept talking softly and I didn't look up until I heard another pair of dreaded words.

'Jenna Tides,' I heard Jeanine call. I looked at Jenna who stood up and smiled at her family, then mine. She teetered to the front, up to Jeanine. She looked at the five bowls in front of her, and lingered before cutting her hand. 'Please,' I whispered under my breath. I was sitting too far from the stage, I couldn't see which bowl she chose, until...

'DAUNTLESS!' Jeanine called. My mouth fell open, Jenna in Dauntless? I realised how hard I'd been squeezing mom's hand when watching Jenna. 'Sorry,' I hissed, but she wasn't even paying attention. An incredulous smile played on her lips, and dad was on the other hand grinning blatantly, as he suspected me to choose Dauntless as well. Jenna walked up to the Dauntless faction, who were exulting as she did.

I looked at her parents, who looked like they'd seen a ghost. I had known the Tides' family for all my life, James and Laura Tides were made for Abnegation, and they expected the same thing from Rick and Jenna... But they couldn't live up to that, like me. James and Laura's faces flushed with shame, which made me mad. All of a heave I realised how well Jenna fit in Dauntless, she wasn't incongruous at all.

When she took her place next to a Dauntless-born, Jeanine called Rick's name. My heart skipped a beat, my last friend having to choose was the last to final bump of that day. Rick grinned at my family, and said something to his parents what caused their jaws to almost drop to the ground. He walked over to the five bowls, didn't linger like his sister, and Jeanine could immediately call out his choice.

'DAUNTLESS.' Dad leaned towards me with the same grin still plastered on his face. 'I won't be hearing the end of this from James, ever. I can predict the words he'll be using. Something with "conspicuous behaviour, and an ostentatious new lifestyle?' Mom thumped him again, with a big smile, and I almost burst out into laughter. I was so happy that my two best friends chose Dauntless, we would be together once again!

It wouldn't take long for my name to be called out, and I told my parents how much I loved them for the last time. 'I'll do my best, I promise,' I said softly. 'Hug your brother for us please, darling,' mom said as she squeezed my hands. I nodded, and heard the last pair of dreaded words, called by Jeanine. 'Iris Valentine.'

I drew in a shaky breath, and smiled at my parents. 'I'll miss you,' I told them sincerely. They nodded at me with loving smiles, yet their eyes were blurry, but so were mine. I tried to swallow the lump that was forming in my throat, and took a deep breath. I stood up and walked over to the front as steadfast as I possibly could. I smiled at James and Laura, whose faces were solemn.

It wasn't because of me, but because of the "betrayal" of their children, they were possibly thinking I talked them into it, as my brother and father were true Dauntless people. However, I hadn't done that, but I was really proud of Jenna and Rick for standing up for themselves like that. It wasn't like they had the same bond with their parents as Amar and I had, Jenna and Rick didn't tell them anything. As for me, I told my parents everything.

I walked up the stairs and Jeanine handed me the knife. I smiled at her and took it to cut the palm of my hand. I looked at all the bowls, the first one being filled with soft, gray stones- Abnegation.
Was I selfless? I shook my head softly.
No, I wasn't.

The second one, filled with glass- mom's old home, Candor. Was I honest?
No, not always.

The third one, filled with water- Erudite. Was I smart? A smile made its way onto my lips.
Not smart enough.

The fourth one, filled with earth- Amity. Was I kind?
Yes, but I wasn't planning on eating peace bread for the rest of my life.

And finally... Lit coals- Dauntless. Was I brave?
I was brave.

I looked at the drop of blood that was about to fall, moved my hand to the Dauntless bowl, and let it fall. 'DAUNTLESS,' Jeanine called. I smiled at my parents, and ran off to the Dauntless section. Rick and Jenna exulted, louder than all the others, and wrapped their arms around me.

'We're free, Iris!' Jenna called out and threw her hands in the air. Rick and I laughed, and I felt like a burden fell off my shoulders. The only thing that could make it better was Tobias being there with us, but I couldn't show the Dauntless my weakness. As we sat down and waited for the final people to choose, I realised what I had just said. The Dauntless could take advantage of a person's weakness... But I was one of them now.

When everyone had chosen a faction, it was time for us to go to our new home. We waved at our parents for the last time and everyone started running. We grinned at each other and ran along. 'This is amazing!' Rick called out as we ran through the streets of Chicago, about to climb up on a tower to get to the trains. I stopped dead in my tracks as I stared at the tower, and gasped. 'Ris, get a move on!' Jenna said surprised, and she started climbing up the tower. 'You go first, if you fall, I'll catch you,' Rick said softly, catching on to my fear of heights. I nodded, my face growing pale. 'Thank you,' I whispered softly. I put my foot onto the tower and grabbed a brick.

I pulled myself up and kept thinking how my fear couldn't keep me from reaching my goal. I was Dauntless. When I reached the top, I pulled myself on top of the roof and stood up. Jenna was already waiting, and Rick joined us. 'You did great,' he said softly, and I smiled. 'Thanks for literally having my back,' I said. Jenna grinned, 'if you had fallen, he didn't have your back, he had your butt.' Rick and I burst into laughter, when someone started yelling. 'The train is coming!' We heard, and looked up. The train was speeding up to us, and we started running. The train neared us, and one for one, everyone of the Dauntless-born jumped on the train. 'Come on, transfers!' They called.

'Get going, STIFFS!' I heard some guy yell at Jenna, Rick and me. I glowered at the guy, he was good-looking yet very pleased with himself I imagined. He raised his eyebrows at my glower, and smiled. His comment had made me mad and caused me to strive harder. "Stiff" would be an incessant word, I was sure of that, but that didn't mean we couldn't prove it wrong. I turned my speed up a notch, and so did Rick and Jenna. Rick grabbed a handle and swung himself in first, then Jenna, and then me. They stepped aside quickly, trying to avoid me bumping them to the ground as I stumbled in after letting go of the handle too quickly. I therefore bumped into someone else.

A sturdy guy, but I accidentally knocked him down on the ground. He fell, and I fell on top of him. I was about to apologise when I recognised a familiar smell. I quickly looked up, and found myself staring into the eyes I loved most. Dark blue, almost black at times... My heart skipped a beat and my breath quickened.

It was Tobias.