Chapter 1

(Tris' POV)

It has been exactly 3 months since my last birthday, I turned sixteen. It was Saturday and I remember waking up that day knowing that I could be free to choose which ever faction I belonged in. Of course today is the day I will know where I belong, according to the aptitude test. Although I am highly nervous, I know that the test today will point me in the direction I am supposed to take. But to me the test doesn't matter, all I know is that I will not stay in abnegation.

My faction values selflessness, we must be selfless at all times, any place any time. But I know that I don't have what it takes to be truly selfless. I think it's a pretty amazing view of life, maybe if I'd been born to a different family I could be truly selfless however my father's example shows me one could really be what they seem to be.

I look over at the clock and I see I can't be late for school today, its 7:15 and I must gather my stuff to get going. As I am about to walk out my house Marcus stops me giving me a vicious glare, snapping away the apple I grabbed earlier as breakfast.

"We both know that the test result does not matter, you will stay in abnegation above all, are we clear?" he sates, while gripping my wrist far too tight. All I can manage out while pain circulates my hand is "Yes, dad". He returns my apple and I no longer care if I eat this morning. For too many years I wondered if my father ever really cared for anyone, and as the years passed I learned the unsatisfying answer to that question. No, he never did and today I am sure he never will.

As I wait for the bus I see a mother and a daughter, her daughter imp guessing, walk close by hand in hand. The little girl reminded me of a younger version of me, when I still had my mother caring and loving me every day as I left for school. She was pretty, or too beautiful as my older brother Caleb would say. I still remember the day of her funeral, it was the day we were forced to say goodbye to her. Caleb held my hand through the whole thing. I miss him more than ever, but I know he was brave in deciding to choose Erudite as his faction last year. That day my father made sure I wouldn't follow in his footstep and I haven't spoken to him since, except for the day he visited my school to say he was sorry for leaving, but I assured him he didn't have to feel guilty. That was the last time I saw him.

Ever since Caleb left my father has been taking out all his mixed emotions on me, without holding back with the usual belt and the never failing "it's for your own good"

As I get to school all I see is nervous faces and excited feelings all around me. Or at least that's what I think everyone is feeling. Of course I'm sure the Candor are far more perceptive with that, since they value honesty above all they must know how people come off.

I see some Amity girls giggling in their bright red and yellow colored clothes as they see some fellow make his way to the gray line of students from abnegation. Suddenly I come to wonder how I would look in the colors from all the other factions. I laugh to myself and wonder what the aptitude test will say.

Will it say I'm smart and full of knowledge in blue for Erudite, or if I could maybe be peaceful and kind in red and yellow like the amity girls I just saw, or maybe I could belong in candor, but the thought of me wearing black and white all the time as I tell only the truth startles me. Then I drift off to the passing train with many student jumping off and then I think, maybe I could belong in Dauntless and be part of the strong mass of black running toward the school free and careless.

Either way I know nothing scares me more than the thought of having to stay in abnegation with Marcus for who knows how many more years of pure brutality from his part. My only comfort is knowing I am the one making the decision.

My gaze drifts off to my neighbor Susan and her brother Robert approaching me as I sit and wait for the test administrators to call my name.

"Hello Beatrice" says Susan as she smiles warmly at me, "how are you?" she asks,

"Hi Susan, hey Robert I'm fine thank you, how are you?" I ask trying to sound as calm as I can.

"We're fine, thanks for asking," she replies though I sense she wants to ask more of another topic but instead she just smiles and I can't help but to feel a bit nervous at the gaze Robert gives me with a very anxious smile. "Have you heard from Caleb at all?" she asks abruptly. Her question surprises me since it welcomes anything but selflessness in. "no, I haven't heard anything of him, but I'm sure he is fine" I say trying desperately to believe it myself. I always thought that if Caleb had stayed in abnegation he would have eventually married Susan since it always seemed to want to be more than friends.

"Yes, I hope he is all right as well" she replies with a hint of disappointment in her face.

"Beatrice, would you like if we gave you a ride back home once we are out?" Asks Robert while smiling too deeply at me, I suddenly have an urge to look elsewhere, "no, I would want to inconvenience you I'll walk home, but thank you for asking Robert" I say trying to sound as gentle as possible

"ok, well maybe I could walk you home, I could use the time to think about tomorrows decision, what do you say?" his response intrigues me since I figure he is implying maybe to switch factions if he needs time to debate over it.

I always knew Robert wanted to know me better, I suspected he had a crush on me for a while before Caleb confirmed it but I never really wanted it to be true. By the way it works in our faction I would probably end up being married to him as well if we both stay in abnegation but that thought suddenly seems more frightening than staying with Marcus, and not because I don't care for Robert but because I can't really see myself with anyone.

I realize I haven't answered him so I begin to say "Um... that sounds... very"- but I'm cut off by the test administrator calling my name, "Eaton. Beatrice Eaton". I nervously glance back to wave them good bye when Robert says "go ahead Beatrice; we'll walk another time, good luck" smiling intensely at me before I walk off to the room where the test will be administered.

As I walk I realize that I probably won't get another chance to walk home with Robert, even if he does stay in abnegation I know I can't. But that thought doesn't bother me, I know Robert is and will only ever be just a good friend.

I turn my attention to the woman in front of me as I walk towards the room where I will find out the faction I belong in. I take a deep breath before I step in and whisper to myself "ok,"