First Divergent story. I'm really nervous about it. Now, I'm not a big Eric fan in the canon, (Actually hated him.) But I realized what would of happened if Eric gave himself the chance to care and there was no war going on...just a what-if fanfic basically.

Disclaimer: I own nothing besides my own characters.

Chapter One:

The feel of the grass beneath her fingers feels soft and the prickles of them also made her feel connected. Connected to the Earth and to most importantly, her family.

She stared up at the sky, looking above at the clouds in deep wonder. What will she make of any of this? She has her answer, but how does she use it? She isn't sure if anything is the right decision anymore. Part of her wants to give up all together, but she can't, can't she?

Her mother calls from the barn, "Arabella, it's lunch time." She lifts herself up from the ground, her long purple dress slipping to the bottom of her feet. She follows her mother towards the kitchen area where her father and sister are.

"Ah, Arabella, where have you been all morning? I heard you left the test early?" Her father asked her as she took a seat at the table.

She opened her mouth to speak but her sister does instead, "I saw her playing around on the grass again, father. While I was in the garden helping Miss Cecile-"

Their father, Robert, lifts his hand cutting off Ariana, "Yes, Ariana, I understand." He turns and faces Arabella, "Arabella, you know how important it is for you to start helping out around the farms and figuring out what type of job you're going to be picking. Your Choosing Ceremony is tomorrow. You'll begin working then."

Ariana smiled while Arabella glared at her plate full of broccoli, potatoes, and corn. "Miss Cecile says that I have potential in working in the gardens. She told me I am one with Earth," Arabella's twin sister boasted.

Their mother, Alyssa, smiled happily and rubbed her daughter's arm, "That's great, Ariana. You'll fit right in tomorrow."

"Yes, unlike your sister." Huffed Robert.

Tired of hearing the same thing over and over again, Arabella pushes her chair out from the table and stands up. "Will you excuse me," she mutters and rushes out of the kitchen.

Robert stands up and shouts, "Arabella Carter, get back here this instant!"

She ignores him and runs through the barn and to the fresh air outside where the sun is shining brightly in the sky above her. She sighs to herself in relief as the feeling of the sun kissing her soft face mentally empowers her.

Walking through Amity faction, she found her dear friend Ryan. He was sitting on a tree branch, waiting for her at their normal hangout.

"Hey, " she starts as she lifts herself up with no problem and climbs the tree. "What are you doing up here? It's lunch time-"

"Can we discuss our aptitude test?"

Arabella sighs, "Ryan, you know we can't-"

"Who's going to find out?" He grumbled in annoyance.

Arabella shakes her head as she sits beside him on the branch. The two of them stare out into the distance, watching their friends and family work the farms.

"I didn't get Amity..." He whispers to her.

Her eyebrows furrow in irritation and annoyance, "Ryan!"

"I need to talk with somebody, Arabella." Ryan pleads. "I need help in making the biggest decision of my life..."

Although she's curious she knows better than to ask him what he got.

"Just go with your gut. If it says stay in Amity, stay. If it says go to whatever faction you got, go there. Just do whatever will make you end up not regretting it in the long run. Don't stay here for your family, Ryan. You're better than that."

"What about Melissa?" He whispered softly as he glares down at the ground beneath them now.

Arabella frowns in sympathy. Ryan has been in love with Melissa ever since she can remember and just a year ago he finally got the courage to tell the other Amity girl how he feels. Luckily she felt the same and they've been together ever since. She's never seen a couple more made for each other and just knowing that the ceremony can break them apart upsets her greatly.

"Do you know what she got?" She asked him softly.

Ryan scoffed to himself, "Probably Amity. You know her and nature. Plus she's the kindest person I ever met...There's no other place that fits her than this."

"Have you talked to her about the test at all?"

Ryan shook his head. "I haven't seen her at all today. She's probably wandering off, trying to decide which job she's going to pick." After a long pause he turns to Arabella. "What about you? What did you get? There's no way you're staying here. This place is beneath you. Was it Erudite? That seems pretty fitting. I doubt you got Abnegation or Candor. Telling the truth and wearing all that gray would drive you mad-"

"Okay, Ryan. That's enough and I'm not telling you what I got." She scoffs. "And anyways, go talk to Melissa. If she doesn't want to discuss the test with you then honestly, pick what you want. Don't pick what she wants, because if you guys break up, you're going to regret ever picking what she picked. Even if you guys don't break up, you'll probably be miserable at wherever she chooses to go..."

Ryan smiles appreciatively in Arabella's direction. "Thanks, sis."

Arabella laughed, leaning over to give him a hug. "No problem, brother."

The next day was the most stressful day in Arabella's life. Up until the ceremony she still didn't have a clue as to what she was going to pick.

She sat with her family, waiting for her turn. As Marcus Eaton began to talk, Arabella felt her mother stiffen beside her.

"Mom?" She asked her softly, getting her attention.

"It's nothing-" began her mother but her father leaned over and interrupted.

"When was the last time you talked with your brother, Alyssa?"

Arabella's eyes widen slightly when putting the two together.

Her mother sighs and looks anywhere but the two of them, "Not for a long time."

Sooner rather than later, sadly, it was almost Arabella's turn. She waited in line with her sister. Ariana kept making 'oohing' and 'ahhing' noises when everyone in their faction went up to pick. Arabella was annoyed real fast.

"Melissa Ashton." Marcus called.

Arabella watched anxiously as Melissa cut open her hand waited a moment before leaning her hand over a bowl.

She chose Amity.

Arabella closed her eyes. She had no idea what Ryan was going to choose. He didn't leave any hints to what he was picking.

In no time his name was called. "Ryan Barnett."

He walked so slow, so stiffly, it broke Arabella's heart.

Candor.

Closing her eyes, she shook her head softly. She guesses it wasn't meant to be. She just feels bad for the two of them.

"Arabella Carter."

She felt her heart race as she started making her way up the steps. This was it. It's now or never.

She looked at each of the five bowls. Gray stones for Abnegation, water for Erudite, glass for Candor, lit coals for Dauntless, and Earth for Amity.

She feels the pressure of Marcus watching her intently. Knowing now, that that man is related to her mother, she can't help but now feel even more uncomfortable under his gaze than she ever did before.

She takes the large knife, and cringes when she cuts her hands slightly, oh how she truly hated this. Why couldn't they all simply write down what they wanted on a piece of paper or something? She hesitates for a second before releasing the knife in her hand. She curls her bloodied hand and takes another moment to decide. She can feel everyone's watchful gaze on her, especially her parent's and sister.

So she did it quickly, so quickly that whoever blinked at that moment missed it.

She chose Dauntless.