I do not own the Divergent Trilogy

Lilyana POV

Aunt Jeanine and I are both quiet the next morning at breakfast until she says, "You can do whatever you want until 3PM when you need to come back here to get ready for the Choosing Ceremony." I nod and look at the clock it's 9AM. "As you can see, you have plenty of time to do as you please while I finish up the last minute details for the ceremony."

"Thank you Aunt Jeanine," I say with meaning as she gets up from the table.

My aunt gives me a piercing look as if she knows what I mean and says, "It is no problem, just remember 3PM." With that she gathers her things and is gone.

I let out a huge sigh that I had held in since the start of breakfast. Last night I probably had not slept more than two hours and the bags under my eyes were showing it. What I needed to do was keep myself busy. So I began by washing the dishes that Aunt Jeanine and I had used for our breakfast, but that only took five minutes at the most.

Huffing out irritated breathes and throwing myself onto then couch in a way my aunt would definitely not approve of, I tried to think of things I could do. Reading was an option, but I don't think I'd be able to concentrate long enough to read more than a line or I could watch a movie, no I've watched all of them. It was then that my eyes landed on a recent newspaper article where my old babysitter, Cara, received a review for her recent book.

"I'll visit Cara!" I said out loud. It was likely she was going to be home since almost everyone had the day of the Choosing Ceremony off from their jobs.

It's nearly 10:30AM when I leave my apartment building and make my way towards Cara's house. I'm only slightly shocked when I reach the central park, which is usually crowded with people, deserted. But then again, I thought, people must want to spend the day of the Choosing Ceremony with their family and reflecting on their results.

All of Cara's children are in university so I wouldn't be interrupting any family time, much to my relief.

It only takes all of 15 minutes to reach her house in the Erudite suburbs, but since her house is one of the closest to the entrance of her neighbourhood it's easy to find. Her garage door is open and I see her scooter inside which indicates that she is home like I expected her to be, so I don't hesitate to knock on her front door.

After a minute I hear a pair of light feet walking towards the front door that opens for me a second later, "Ana?"

I shift awkwardly at her confused tone, maybe it wasn't the best idea to come here, "Care, do you mind if I come inside?"

She gives me an unreadable expression but after a few moments opens the door wider and lets me in. When she shuts the door I ask, "So where's your husband?"

Cara raised an eyebrow, "Dave is helping your aunt with the Choosing Ceremony," she led me towards her living room. "But that isn't what you wanted to talk to me about, is it?"

I visibly deflate, "No it isn't," then I looked at her nervously. "I know we aren't supposed to talk about our tests and what not-"

Her old babysitter nodded, "It's against the law."

I flinch, "Right, but Aunt Jeanine discussed it with me last night and I feel pressured."

She raised an eyebrow, "Pressured?"

"Well you know I'm Divergent," I say while shifting awkwardly in my seat. "You and the other researchers on my…project know."

"Yes, why are you bringing this up?" Cara asked stoically.

"Well I liked some of the other factions I went to!" I blurted out and then covered my mouth.

Cara nodded, "It's your choice, correct?"

"Yes, but I feel like Aunt Jeanine wants me to choose Erudite out of all the factions I am compatible with." I say almost desperately.

"Well," Cara said and ran a hand through her hair. "Did you know that I had a brother?" I shook my head. "He was a few year younger than me, but he transferred to Dauntless."

"Really?" I asked. "Do you still…?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Love him? Keep in contact with him?" I nod. "I love him and respect that he followed his aptitude test results instead of our family's expectations. I like to think that he's spreading his knowledge to the other factions and I also occasionally exchange letters with him to keep updates on each other's lives."

I nod and say quietly, "I just don't know what to do."

Cara gave me a soft look, "Think about your future. If you do decide to leave Erudite, the friends and family you have here will always love you and hopefully write you. I know I will."

I look up at her, slightly insecurely, "Really?"

"Really, I love you Ana."

"Love you too Cara."

After our rather deep conversation on my conflicted emotions of which faction I should choose, we decided to make lunch together.

"It will be like old times," Cara says while smiling at me and getting out the ingredients to make pasta. When I was younger and Aunt Jeanine had Cara watch over me we used to make lunch together.

"What type of pasta were you thinking?" I ask curiously as I followed her into the kitchen.

"How about we make salmon carbonara?" Cara replied with a tilt of her head. "I already have some salmon defrosting." When she saw my nod she brought out the rest of the ingredients and together we went to work. We worked in silence for the most part as neither of us was that great at cooking so it was best if we concentrated all our efforts on the meal we were making.

After about an hour the pasta was complete.

For the next few hours Cara and I settled on catching up and having light hearted conversation ("Have you read the new book series that just came out?") or ("Yes, my new research project is coming along nicely…") until I looked up at her clock and saw that it was already 2:30PM.

I sighed and gave Cara a disappointed frown, "Aunt Jeanine wants me back to our apartment at 3:00PM."

She gave me a sad smile and then stood up with me, "If you switch faction, I'll write to you Ana," then pulled me into a tight hug.

"Thank you, Cara," I said while returning the hug with a sad smile. I give her one more glance before turning my back to her and walking out the front door that she had opened for me.

This time on the way back to my apartment building I took in my surroundings. I had never really appreciated how beautiful Erudite was and if I was to leave, I would miss the intimidating structures and peaceful gardens.

But then I remembered the thrill I got when I entered the Dauntless Compound and the odd feeling I felt in my bones that got stronger the longer I stayed there. I needed to see what that meant.

Suddenly I realized that I was standing outside of my apartment building and quickly decided that instead of taking the stairs like the day before I would take the elevator as I was running a bit late to meet with Aunt Jeanine.

The first thing I saw when I entered the apartment was Aunt Jeanine on her tablet again, but as always when I enter the room she put it down and said, "Cutting it a bit close, aren't we?" I look at the clock that says '2:55'.

"I was visiting Cara, our good-bye went a bit longer than expected," I said in what I hope was a nonchalant way.

"Hmmm," was all she said for a moment and then continued, "How is Cara?"

"She's good," then I faced my aunt. "She says that some of her research will be done soon."

At this Aunt Jeanine's eyes brighten, "Really?" I nod. "Well that's good news."

I wondered what this research could be that put my aunt in such a good mood, but filed it away. The only research I really knew anything about was the one I was the 'guinea pig' of. All I do to respond to my aunt's comment is, "I'm sure it is."

For a few minutes we're silent before she say, "We're going to leave here at 4:00PM to make sure we're at the Hub at 4:30PM. Make sure you look your best, I don't want you embarrassing me," with that she got up and walked away.

I sat there for a moment going over the short conversation that Aunt Jeanine and I just had, mostly the part of not embarrassing her. If I chose a different faction, would that embarrass her? All of a sudden the room felt slightly suffocating, so I stood and made my quickly towards my room.

The first thing I did when I got in my room was look at my bedside clock and saw that it was already 3:32PM, I had very limited time to get ready. On a normal day this amount of time would be fine with me, but I now not only had to look presentable for my peers (who I can't remember ever meeting) and dress so that I could blend into my new faction without giving away that I'm possibly leaving Erudite.

After about five minutes of staring at my closet I decide to wear my dark wash skinny jeans and a black tank top with a dark blue cardigan buttoned up over it plus black flats. No one would question the black since it did go well with the type of blue I was wearing. I did my make-up simply but put my hair in a complex side braid.

I was looking at myself in the mirror when I heard Aunt Jeanine call out, "We're leaving in 5 minutes Ana!"

"I'll be right out!" I call back and then mutter to myself. "And then possibly never coming back."

Again I don't own the Divergent Trilogy. Also you may have noticed how some facts may or may not be canon or whatever. I've only read Divergent, I mean I've read Insurgent…once but didn't like it as I like Divergent and so I never read Allegiant. I'm sorry! I don't know why, but I just never bring myself to read it! Anyways, next chapter is the Choosing Ceremony!