Disclaimer: The plot belongs entirely to Veronica Roth, and the characters belong solely to Richelle Mead.

Technically, almost nothing belongs to me. :(

Divergent: Rose's Story

Chapter 1: Abnegation

I woke up, my eyes staring at the drab ceiling, only one thought clear in my sleep-fuddled mind.

It's today.

Today was the day, the day that determined my whole life hereafter.
Today we would have the aptitude tests, the ones that told us which faction we belonged to, the ones that would let me remain Abnegation, or decide that I was better in another faction, and make me abandon my family.

The thought made me cringe.

My parents' smiling faces came to mind, followed by my brother's kind laugh as he helped me with homework when I was younger.
Okay, that just made me a lot more nervous.

I sighed, getting off the bed, and made my way downstairs.

My mother's smiling face greeted mine at the foot of the stairs, and I couldn't help but smile too at the cheerful look on her face.
"So today's the day, Rose."
That wiped the smile right off of my face.
"Yes, the Aptitude Tests are today."
"Are you scared? Nervous?"
I gulped, imagining her expression if she knew just what I was thinking a minute back.
"No, of course not. The tests aren't going to change anything."
"Come on. You look ill, maybe some breakfast will help!"

"Rosie."

I looked up from the stray thread I had been staring at for the past ten minutes, waiting for the bus to reach school.
My brother, Eddie was the only one who ever called me Rosie.
The only one who still called me Rosie. Some willpower, and muscle power had taken care of the others.

I didn't ever look as strong as I was.
With my delicate, yet exotic features- Dark hair, huge dark eyes, and tanned skin, I seemed like just another pretty girl.
But oh boy, anyone who thought that was instantly proved wrong.
Because I was Rose Hathaway, the girl with the Iron fist, and the filthy tongue.

The girl who didn't belong in Abnegation.

"Rosie. Hey, Rose!"
I turned my attention back to my brother, who was trying to grab my attention as discreetly as possible.
He had got my parents penchant for selflessness, and forgetting yourself, and had given up his seat for a haughty-looking Erudite woman.
The woman scowled at me.
I scowled right back.

Eddie noticed this.
"Rose! Behave yourself! You're Abnegation. You know the rules."
I'm not, I wanted to say. But I knew he was right.
Eddie was always right.
That was what made us so different. But that was not the only thing.

With his sandy-blonde hair, and hazel eyes, Eddie looked nothing like me. But he would have had quite a few girls flitting around him, had he not been Abnegation.

"I know, Ed. I'm sorry."
He gave me a warning look, and I rolled my eyes when he wasn't looking.

It was going to be a long day.

"It's the tests today."
Eddie is just eleven months older than me, so we are in the same year at school.
"Yes." My reply is short, stiff.
"Do you think they'll be easy?"
"I don't know, Ed. Why are you asking me? Are you nervous or something?"
"No! I just…never mind."

We reach the intersection in the corridor where he and I split up to attend our separate classes.
"See you later, Eddie."
For a second, he looks like he wants to tell me something, but he just nods.
"See you later. Have a nice day."

I take a deep breath, count to ten, and make my way to my class.
People all around me are shouting, waving at each other, shoving each other.
A burly Erudite boy pushes me to the ground, nearly trampling me.
"I would say I'm sorry Stiff, but I'm not." He glares at me and walks past, making people look my way.
I feel their eyes on me, but I refuse to let it get to me. The Erudite have started mistreating the Abnegation. Once upon a time, we would be unnoticed, but now, we were targeted.
I push back a lone loose strand of hair back into its knot, and pause at my spot by the E-wing, waiting for the Dauntless to arrive. I do this every morning, watching the Dauntless prove their courage by jumping off a moving train.
Everyone calls the Dauntless 'hellions' with their dark clothing, tattoos and piercings, but the Dauntless claim them to be marks of bravery.

What a metal ring through your skin has to do with bravery, I don't know. But something about the Dauntless intrigued me.
I watched them jump from the train, some falling, some rolling, and some landing right on their feet. A boy jumped off, pulling a girl with him, catching her as she stumbled into his arms. I turned away from the smiling couple, ignoring the feelings within me.
There was something about being Dauntless that sounded...fascinating.

I just didn't know what.

And...that's the first chapter! What do you guys think? I know its a bit slow, and Rose is way too rebellious, but as we all know, ROSE IS NOT TRIS.
So let me know what you think!
R&R, please!
You Held the Ransom to my Heart will be out tomorrow, folks! :D