Disclaimer: I am not Lois Lowry and therefore am not the creator of The Giver.

Also, this is my first fanfic so please leave a review! (Don't worry, I can take criticism.)

Rosemary opened her eyes. She looked around her family unit's dwelling. Calm. Serene. Just like every other morning. Everything in the Community was the same. It was what was best for the Community after all. At least, that's what they had told her. But there was no time for thinking about such things.

"Rosemary, you'll be late for school," Mother said, as if goading her out of bed and into the quiet, orderly lifestyle she had always lived, and always would. The only thing that made her different was that her Father didn't live in the family unit with them. He was always busy with his work as the Receiver of Memory. Rosemary was proud, in a way, that her Father was important. It made her different. But, of course, differences were dangerous. Though danger was never a problem within the Community.

Rosemary hopped on her bicycle, and pedaled off towards school.

"Hey Rosemary!" squealed her friend, Naomi.

"Oh, hi," she replied, startled.

"How do you feel about the Ceremony of Twelves?" she asked.

"A little nervous," she admitted, "But I'm also excited."

"Me too," Naomi agreed.

She slid into her seat, just as she had since she was only a Three. She listened and participated throughout the uneventful lessons. Then, during recess, she stumbled upon someone she had never met before. Well, they must have met before, because she was an Eleven as well. But something about her seemed different. Then she noticed. This female had pale eyes, like Rosemary herself. The other female must had noticed this also, and she approached Rosemary cautiously.

"Hi, my name is Rosemary, what's yours?" she asked.

"Ashlyn," the female replied.

Rosemary had never heard a name like that before."Ashlyn?"

"Yes, Ashlyn."