Four

"So, false alarm then?"
"Yeah. You know, I was getting used the idea of being a dad too."
"Don't worry Zeke. There's still plenty of time for that."
He gives me his patented dazzling Zeke smile before coming in for the hug. As much as I dislike this sort of contact, from Zeke it just feels right.

"So, you never told me. What's your writing partner like?"
"She's a nose, I know it."
I laugh. "How do you know? How do you even know it's a girl?" I ask.
"Because, man. She wouldn't shut up about herself and her good looks and how smart she is and how she's the best at this and the top of her class at that." He rolls his eyes. "Told you I'd get someone annoying. What about you?"
"Truthfully? I'm not too sure. Mine seems fairly laid back, and nothing at all like yours."
"Want to switch?" he asks excitedly.
"No way. You can keep your know-it-all."
Zeke breaths all the air in his lungs out through his nostrils before giving me a serious look, and an even more serious, "Dammit."

I leave Zeke in the cafeteria and head up to get my letter. When I arrive at Max's office, he is nowhere to be seen. But Eric is there.

"Aren't you scheduled to do maintenance checks today?" he says coldly. It's no secret there's no love lost between the two of us.
I take a deep breath and compose myself, because I have a feeling where this is going. "Yes."
"Then what are you doing here? Run along and let the people who matter handle things up here." He makes a little hand gesture, like his fingers are running towards the door, and it takes everything in me to not reach out and break his hand.
"I actually stopped by for my letter."
"Letter?"
"Yes. From the program."

He rolls his eyes before fiddling around on Max's desk. It amuses me that he doesn't know where he keeps them.
"They're in the folder. Over there," I say as I point to the shelf behind him. He snatches it down and tosses my letter down at my feet. I clench my jaw tight as I retrieve it.
"That's right. Run along and do your menial task work."
"Second place," is all I say as I leave the room. I don't even need to look back to know Eric is fuming. I know it's petty, but sometimes I let that part take over me, and enjoy the fact that it still pisses him off that I beat him.

I also know he's dying to know about the private conversation I had with Max last week. He offered me a position. The same position that Eric holds. The same one I turned down after ranking first in our initiation class. I know that I will never take it, and not just because I plan on leaving.

After making my way through Amity, I head over to Abnegation. I tread carefully, watching every person and their every move. Luckily I don't have to go into their headquarters; running into my father would be a disaster.

I'm just finishing replacing the two cameras in the Factionless section that went down, when a group comes by with boxes of items to distribute. A quick glance tells me I have nothing to worry about, but a glint of blonde hair catches my eye, and I find myself watching; staring even. I think I recognize her, but I'm not sure. It's almost as if she can feel my gaze, because she looks up directly at me.

Our eyes meet for a moment before she looks away. I look away too, positioning the new cameras properly before placing the old ones in my backpack. Just as I'm about to leave, I look back; there's something about her. In that quick moment we locked eyes, I could see it. She's small, but her eyes aren't; they give off a ferocity that she is ten feet tall and that nothing in this city could hold her back from what she desires. When she looks up again, she gives me a small smile, and my stomach gives a little jump. I give an almost imperceptible smile back and take off towards the train tracks.

Dear Four,

I'm very sorry to hear about your mother. That must have been very difficult for you. I love my parents very much and can't imagine my life without them. I have an older brother as well, but we're close enough in age that we are in the same year. He's doing this same assignment too.

We both went to last years Choosing Ceremony. Even though we weren't choosing, I was still nervous. It's such a big moment in our lives.

I don't really have a favorite subject in school. They're all just okay. Right now though I guess it would be Faction History. That's the class that's making us write these letters. I was hoping to get more out of this though than some anonymous chit chat though. My teacher gives us our letters sealed, which means she doesn't read them. If you think it's okay, I would like to talk about more than the "approved" list. But I might as well round it out, and do exactly as the rules dictate.

The weather is nice and warm today, as I'm sure you know. I doubt it's any different where you are.
School is okay. My course load is easy enough. Not a lot of homework today.
My appearance: Short. Small frame. Fair skin. Gray eyes. Long blonde hair.

I think that's everything. We'll have to figure something out if we wish our letters to contain more than this.

Sincerely,

Six

I sit at my table and stare at the letter. They're right. Or, rather, she's right. Long blonde hair? Small frame? Most likely a girl. Definitely a little bold. Could she be from Dauntless? I can't see Abnegation or Amity. I guess there's only one way to find out.

Dear Six,

You are correct. My letters come sealed as well. So feel free to ask me anything. Something tells me you have a lot of questions.

A little bit about me then. I am tall. Tan skin. Short dark hair. Blue eyes. And male, in case you were wondering. I'm 18, and a transfer, though I'm not going to tell you from which faction. I'm curious what you thought when you read my first letter. My first guess for you is Candor, just because you don't seem to want to hold anything back. But you could also be Erudite. Maybe even Dauntless. Definitely not Abnegation or Amity.

I currently work in intelligence within my faction, which means I watch security footage all day, replace security cameras and the like. I do know my fair share about computers though, so I sometimes do some work around at other factions. Who knows, maybe we've seen each other before. I like my job. I'm actually really good at it. I had opportunities for other things, but they just didn't suit me. So far it's not a mistake.

This year I will also be working with those who choose. Trying to be as vague as I can here, but I'm also one of the best at, well, what's necessary for our initiation. And hey, maybe I'll see you there too.

Okay. You tell me more about yourself. And ask me anything. I'm in this for you.

Four

Okay. This is still odd. Especially since I'm signing my name, and still referring to her by a number. Next letter will be better. I'll know more and maybe I won't feel like I'm talking to a complete stranger. And maybe I can actually help her out. I really do want to do something meaningful before I leave.

Beatrice

I take in a deep breath as I read the letter again. My eyes dance all over the paper, unsure of where to even begin. A smile plays across my face as I realize, he has no idea I'm Abnegation. I've always felt like I don't belong here, or rather, that I am more than what this life has to offer; It's definitely a nice validation for me. A million things fly through my mind, so I try my best to organize them into something coherent and start my letter.

Dear Four,

This is really good news. I feel like we can actually get somewhere now.

I'm a little surprised that you think I'm Candor. Or Erudite or Dauntless. Truthfully, I'm not even close to any of those. I'm Abnegation, which was my first guess for you, followed by Amity. But something tells me I'm just as wrong as you were.

Life in Abnegation is, well, hard. Not in the physical sense. The mental; it takes it's toll. I understand selflessness better than anyone, but sometimes, I just want to do something for myself. Is that so wrong?

I'm a bit terrified what my aptitude test will tell me; not just that it will tell me to stay, but that it will tell me to leave too. Is it possible to want both equally? Were you this conflicted? You transferred, so I'm sure you were. Was it hard to leave? Do you regret it?

I have to say, I was surprised to learn that you are 18. I'm not sure why, but I figured that everyone who would participate would be older. I turned 16 a few weeks ago. We don't celebrate birthdays in Abnegation. I always wanted to though. It seems like a good reason to celebrate.

There's so much more running through my head, but I'll leave it at this for now. Thank you, you know, for breaking the rules for me. Oh, and I realize that I didn't specifically say, but I'm a girl, in case you were wondering.

Sincerely,

Six

I lick the envelope and seal it tight before holding it to my chest. I'm not sure why, but something about Four seems special. I rearrange the things I have for my schoolwork, press the letters from Four flat, and carefully place them in my newly emptied folder. I want to hide them away somewhere safe, but instead I place the folder with the rest of my things; I'm expected to carry it anyways.

I'm just finishing the rest of my homework when there's a soft knock at my door.
"Come in." I turn and see that it's Caleb. I can tell something is on his mind. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Why does anything have to be wrong?"
"It doesn't. You just have a look on your face, that's all."
"Oh." He looks around my room before finding my eyes.
"Caleb. You can talk to me."
"I know I can. There's nothing wrong, I promise. I just wanted to ask you something."
"Okay."
"Do you...well...if someone was breaking a rule, would you report them?"

My mind instantly goes into overdrive as my heart drops down into my stomach. Nonsense Beatrice. How could he possibly know?

"That depends. What rule are we talking about?"
"A school one."
I narrow my eyes at him. "Caleb."
"You know what, it's nothing. Forget it."
"But Caleb-"
"Beatrice. It's nothing. I was overreacting." He gets up and leaves my room immediately.

I sit at stare at my door for a few, wondering what that was all about, before heading downstairs to start preparing dinner.

Caleb joins me shortly after and I can see whatever he was trying to talk to me about is still bothering him.
"Caleb," I whisper, "Whatever it is, you can tell me. I promise I won't tell."
He simply looks at me for a moment before turning back to dinner.