I peer into the small, rectangular mirror, stringing my long and freshly trimmed blond hair into a neat bun making sure to tuck in the strands that fall out even though I know that this makeshift solution is only temporary and the strands will at some point of the day fall and tickle the back of my neck.

Truth be told my mind isn't focused on my hair but more on my face. I only get the opportunity to see it every few months when my mother cuts my hair. The last time I looked was yesterday but my mind was so boggled with the thoughts of the event that will take place today that I didn't even bother to look at myself to spot the differences that age brings to me.

So here I am standing in front of a mirror that should be locked away taking mental notes of what I look like.

I think there isn't much to look at.

If you look at me from a distance my long hair would be the only reason you would identify me as a girl along with the dress that bags my body.

I'm not beautiful and curvy like most girls my age. I am flat, almost like a boy's body. Truthfully I'm happy that the clothes I'm forced to wear are baggy, if they were just right all they would do is show just how little to me there is.

And my face looks so young. The flush round cheeks, thin light pink lips, my curious grey eyes. I don't look my age, I hardly look like a young woman.

This year my brother- Caleb - and I turned sixteen.

In this city, sixteen is a very important age. When you turn sixteen you go for a test to see which of the five factions you belong in.

I've never really thought about which one I could belong to but I guess I should now.

I'm not highly intelligent so Erudite is crossed off the list.

I'm not peaceful or a kind person so goodbye Amity.

The door handle to the bathroom jiggled. I quickly slid the panel door over the mirror and locked it. The door creaked as it slowly opened, revealing my mother's beaming face who then entered the room. 

I have always considered my mother a beautiful woman. Short brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. If she didn't have to wear the baggy grey rack we have to wear here in Abnegation she would be incredibly beautiful. 

It's a shame I'm not like her, beautiful isn't one of the words I would use to describe myself. 

"Morning honey." She smiled resting her hands on my shoulders gently squeezing them for a few seconds then removed her hands.

"Morning." I greeted her.

"What were you doing?" She asked but I'm sure she already knew. The panel that locks away the mirror isn't exactly the quietest thing.

But I still couldn't make myself tell her the truth.

"Just brushing my teeth." I shrugged.

 Yeah, I'm not Candor I can tell a lie far too easily.

"Sure," She smiled that kind of smile she showed when she knew someone was lying. I mean, of course, she knows I'm lying she's my mother for crying out loud, "Well breakfast is ready."

"I'll be down soon."

Smiling at me one last time she turned around and left me

Turning away from the closed mirror and pushing down the desire to unlock it and continue my research I straightened my dress with my pale hands then left the bathroom and walked down the stairs to the dining room.

My brother, mom, and father were already sitting at the table in their usual seats eating the scrambled eggs my mother had prepared for us.

As I look out at my family I remember that I don't look anything like them. Caleb looks more like my parents than I do. They all share dark hair whilst mine is blond. They all have brown eyes whilst I have grey. Caleb even has their dimples whilst I don't.

But the main thing they all share is their personality. In Abnegation we are taught to put everyone else before ourselves. We are taught to help the needy, who are normally the factionless. This is a skill that is highly required for Abnegation members, it is one everyone in my family is capable of. Everyone that is except for me.

I mentally sigh once again if selflessness is a problem for me then that means that Abnegation isn't the faction for me. A part of me is upset, who wouldn't be upset at the fact that they might leave their family but a part of me is also happy. I've never felt like I belonged here in Abnegation.

"Good morning Beatrice." My father greeted, snapping me out of my thoughts. 

I quietly groan at the sound of my name, Beatrice. It's not like I don't like it it's just....well I guess I just don't like it.

"Good morning." I said sitting down in the chair beside my brother.

I scrunch my nose as I swallow the watery eggs. Another way we practice selflessness is only eating plain foods: scrambled eggs, stale bread, chicken with minimal seasoning, oatmeal, and so on.

When I used to walk past cafes I would smell the burgers and pizzas and other delicious (at least I think they are) things. My mouth would water as I imagined myself eating that stuff.

"Are you two ready for today?" My father asks us. 

" Yes." My brother immediately answers him. I'm not surprised by his answer he has been ready for this for months, years maybe. 

"That's good, Beatrice how about you?" 

"Ready as I can be."

Another lie.

"That's good," My mom smiled," honey what are you reading?" She asks my dad.

He sighs as he folds his newspaper before furiously tossing it onto the table.

"Nothing, just more nonsense about Marcus."

Marcus Eaton, a name that everyone in Abnegation, hell everyone in the city knows.

Marcus is the leader of our faction and my dad's best friend for as long as I can remember. He lives just down the street from us along with his wife Evelyn.
They have a son too but he's been missing for two years. Tobias, I think his name was.... yes that was his name.

It wasn't long after Tobias's disappearance articles began to circulate in the city that Marcus beat his child and killed him. Of course, these are all wrong. I've known Marcus my entire life, at this point, he has become family to me and I can say with every fiber in my body he isn't a violent man.

"I feel so bad for him. His son goes missing and now he has to deal with this. And poor Evelyn." My mother shakes her head.

She and Evelyn have been friends since they were in school. Evelyn took her son's disappearance very hard. She spent weeks after he vanished locked away in her bedroom refusing to see anyone unless it was news about her son. But as time went on and with nobody coming up with anything she began to realize that news wasn't coming anytime soon and she began to re-enter society.

" I don't know how this writer sleeps at night attacking grieving parents. But this is not a discussion to be had over breakfast. Beatrice, Caleb you two should get going you don't want to be late."

Hugging my parents goodbye Caleb and I loaded the dishes into the sink and then started walking to the bus.

Every sixteen-year-old will take this bus and the others like it to school, which is where the test is held.

As we walk down the cobbled street we passe the Eaton house.

Normally I don't look up at the two-story grey block of grief but today is one of the days I just can't help myself.

Evelyn is sitting in a chair on the front porch. Even from this distance, I can tell she has been crying. When she notices me staring at her she nods at me, a typical Abnegation greeting. I nod my head and that's all we do. Turning back to focus on the road ahead of me I follow Caleb to the bus stop.

One by one we load the bus, taking any available seat. Caleb and I hurry to the back to meet our friends Susan and Robert. Like us they are siblings. We have been friends with them for as long as we have been alive.  Caleb sat next to Robert and I took the available seat beside Susan.

"Are you ready?" She asks her golden blond hair shining in the reflecting light from the window. 

"Sure and you?"

"Oh Absolutely! " She chirps.

She will be Abnegation for sure. Out of the four of us, she is the most selfless. And if by some chance she isn't Abnegation she will be Amity because she is as bubbly and happy as she is selfless.

Caleb quietly chuckles at her giddiness. He's had a secret crush on her for a while now and it's obvious that she likes him too but for some reason, they haven't made any moves. Although their moves would be restricted to volunteering together and a few other things that I don't know what they are but I'm sure they are very complicated.

Dating in Abnegation is a very different thing when compared to the other factions. Dating young is frowned upon but the one thing that is number one on the do not do list is physical touch.

The only time a couple is allowed to touch for the first time is after they are married and even after that they are not allowed to do it in public. Even something as small as holding hands is forbidden.

" Hi, Beatrice." Robert greets me, his small dimples showing in the corners of his mouth as he smiles at me. 

" Hi."

As the last person jumps into the bus the doors swing shut and not long after the bus jerks forward and we start moving.