Hey! I'm SO sorry for the delay, guys. It wasn't really my fault though. :(
Here's the chapter you await! Enjoy! XOXO.

Chapter 4: So Many Decisions To Make

I sigh, walking down the familiar street, looking at the simple uniformity of it that once used to comfort me.

The drab grey houses stare back at me, mocking me, making me walk faster.

I look at my watch, another splash of grey in my already colorless world.
Feeling something inside me snap in an uncontrollable way, I pull off the watch, toss it on the pavement and stomp on it.
Somehow, this small action brings me a bit of relief. The Factionless man's secret smile flashes again through my mind, and I stomp on the watch again, hearing a satisfying crack.
"Oops."

Abandoning the now ruined mess in the middle of the street, I walk up to my house, and sit on the front steps to clear my mind.
When did this happen? When did I go from being 'normal' to being…Divergent.

I frown, thinking back to all the times as a kid, when I refused to be selfless. The times I stood up for myself. I had never been destined for Abnegation.
But what I hadn't expected was to be compatible with three factions. I had always thought that I would take the test, get my result, join that faction.

I had never known it would be this…different.

My thoughts were broken by the sound of laughter and footsteps, and Eddie, Meredith and her brother Mason walk around the corner. They are all smiling, even Eddie, and their happy faces churns up something inside of me.

Eddie notices me sitting there, and gives me a questioning look.
"Rose, what happened? They told me you were let off early?"
At this, Meredith and Mason turn to give me weird looks, like I was insane for coming back home instead of eating carrots in the cafeteria.
I try to smile. "They liquid they gave us made me want to throw up, so they sent me back. I'm fine now."
This seems to ease Mason and Meredith's concern for my mental health, and they smile back tentatively.

But Eddie doesn't seem satisfied.
He frowns at me, the way he does when he thinks I'm lying about something.
Change the topic, Hathaway. I think to myself. Talk about Meredith.

"So guys, did you take the bus today? I saw you coming with Eddie." I smiled at Meredith, encouraging her to respond.
"Yes, Father was running late today, and he also wanted us to give ourselves time to think about our decisions."
Eddie, ever the conversationalist, replied. "That's great. Maybe you guys could come over later."
Meredith smiled. "Sure."
I looked over at Mason, and we exchanged a knowing glance.
We did this every time Eddie and Meredith flirted in the subtle way the Abnegation did.
"Come on, Mase." Meredith tugs at his arm, and they make their way home.
Eddie's eyes follow Meredith the whole way, not stopping even when she goes into the house and shuts the door behind her.

I clear my throat.
"Earth to Eddie!"
He jumps a bit, startled, and immediately turns bright red.

"Someone's got a crush!" I sing.
"Shut up, Rose."

I slump down on the chair, frowning at Eddie.
"You tell me to be helpful and selfless, and you don't let me cook!"
"Rose," Eddie smirks. "You burnt down the oven the last time you tried to cook."
"It wasn't my fault. You didn't tell me that metal makes the oven go crazy."
"Rose. That. Was. A. Tin. Can."

I just shrugged.
"Not my fault, Ed."

Eddie sighed, going back to his cooking.
The doorbell rang, and I got up, opening it to let my parents in. My father keeps his briefcase on the coffee table, and hugs me.
People say that my father deals with unnatural things. That his line of work is illegal. But I ignore them, because no matter what he does, he loves us. I see only the good in him.
My mother smiles at me as she helps me set the table.

My father settles down. "How did the test go, kiz?"
"I…" I think about telling them, and Alberta's grim voice plays in my head. Divergence is dangerous. No one should know. "It went well." I lied.
"I heard there was something wrong with one of the tests." My mom looks at me. "You kids know anything about that?"

My mom works for the branch of the government that protects the Factionless. She must have heard all about it.
I grimace. "Nope, not heard of any such thing."
Eddie looks over at me, his eyebrows scrunching up. He's thinking about something, trying to piece everything together. In the end, he gives up, a small frown still on his face.
"No, I haven't heard anything either."

My mother sits down beside my father, and holds his hand, staring at him intently.
That's when I notice my father's posture. What seemed cheerful was actually tense and drawn.
"Tell me, Ibrahim." She rubs soothing circles on his palm with her thumb. "What's bothering you?"

I watched them, listening to my father talk about work, how Tasha Ozera, head of the Erudite was trying to ruin the Abnegation.
"She's filing a case on Alexander." My father said quietly.
Alexander Belikov was my father's co-worker, and had a very prestigious position on the Council.

"They're making him look bad by saying his son joined the Dauntless to escape his father's cruelty." My father sighed, running a hand through his thick, dark hair.
I frowned.
Alexander Belikov's son Dimitri had left the Abnegation and joined the Dauntless two years ago.
Alexander was devasted- his wife Olena had passed away when Dimitri was young, and Dimitri had been Alexander's only family.
I had never met Dimitri, he was extremely antisocial, never going to public events or coming with his father for dinner.
It was all very strange.

My mother tutted softly.
"Poor Alexander, as if he needs more to remind him of his loss."
"Of his son's betrayal, you mean?" My father seethed. "They shouldn't be doing any of it. It's wrong"
"Why are they doing all this?" I blurted out.
All three pairs of eyes turned to look at me, and I cowered under their patronizing gazes.
"Rose, just listen to your father. Go on, Ibrahim."

And they just continued, ignoring me, other than the occasional glances from Eddie.
It was like I was invisible.
Like I didn't exist.

Later that night, as I lay on the bed in my room, just thinking, Eddie walked in.

I sat up, startled.

"Rose..."He began, looking nervous. "I need to tell you something."
"What is it, Eddie? You know you can tell me anything, right?"

He nodded, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Listen, Rose. Family's important."He began.
"Of course." I nodded.

"But don't let obligation to your family get in the way of your choices."

I looked up at him, shocked. His hazel eyes stared back seriously.
This was the first time I had ever heard Eddie say something that was selfish, more for yourself than for others.
"Just remember this, family is important, but not as much as yourself."
What...?

"I...Eddie. What are you-?"
"The tests, Rose. Follow your hearts desire."
"But the tests don't change anything." I replied, still reeling from what he just said.
"But they do, don't they?"

And with that, he smirked, leaving me there and going back to his room.

Just before he shut the door, I noticed a huge stack of books on his table.

"Good night, Rose."
And with that, reality set in.

Tomorrow, I would have to make choices.

Abnegation, Dauntless or Erudite?

And that's the end of this chapter, folks. Whaddaya think? R&R if you want Dimitri in the next chapter, please! :)