Liar, Liar

Chapter 1

"Lo! Wait up!" Peter yells.

His black slacks and white shirt match the rest of the Candor boys', whereas I stay with a more feminine approach: a black and white striped dress, black flats, and a white hair flower.

Part of a circle dangles above my ribcage from a chain around my neck. The piece is black, with a white dot on the larger part. Peter has the other piece: white with a black dot. The textbooks call it Yin and Yang. Peter and I call it our "well-balanced friendship".

"Hey, Lo," Peter says, slightly breathless.

"Hi, Peter," I reply, distracted.

I twirl the chain around my finger absentmindedly, thinking about the Choosing Ceremony. We Choose in half an hour. I'm not going to Choose Candor, but I don't know what Peter will Choose. Candor? Or will he transfer?

I won't know until after I Choose. Peter will Choose after me, seeing as my last name is Hazel and his is Hayes. Choosing is in reverse alphabetical order.

"What's on your mind, Lo?" Peter asks, sitting next to me on the bench.

"When we Choose. I-I'm going to transfer. To Dauntless."

Peter's face is ecstatic at the news. He wraps me in a bone-crushing hug, and I hug back, albeit hesitantly.

"Lo, that's amazing! That's what I was planning to do!"

"Really? I thought for sure you'd stay in Candor!"

"I'm transferring, no doubt about it!"

"This is amazing! Just wait until w-"

I stop speaking for a moment as a group of Erudite women walk by, gossiping about "this new plant specimen that can be used as a pain stimulant". So riveting. The one woman, a short blonde, has an air of importance about her.

That's Jeanine Matthews! She's that new Erudite representative with the super high IQ score! Anyone but me would be so flattered to be anywhere near her!

Peter leans over and whispers, "I think you should keep your thoughts to yourself. But she didn't hear you, so you're good."

"I said that out loud?"

"Yes indeed, Lo. Yes indeed."

My face flushes an unattractive shade of red, and I duck my head in embarrassment. Speaking my thoughts out loud is one of my worst habits. That, and biting my nails.

"I'm not sure, though..." I trail off.

I know I can't stay in Candor. I lie too easily, and find no solace in the truth. I know I'll leave, but I don't know where.

"It's okay, Lo. You'll figure it out, I promise."

Peter pulls me in for another hug, this time for reassurance and companionship. I know it's silly to want to be more than just friends, but I just can't help but feel like there's more than just a friendship connection between us.

"What if I don't? I can't stay here, and I don't know where I could go. I don't want to be factionless, and I don't want to run away. What's wrong with me, Peter?"

I bury my head in his shoulder and start to cry.

"Lo, there's nothing wrong with you. If you don't know where to go... Just transfer to Dauntless with me. I'll keep you safe, I'll get you through initiation, I promise. We're in this together."

Peter tilts my chin up so I look at him. His dark green eyes have a hint of emotion in them that I've never seen before, at least not from Peter.

"Okay. I-I trust you. Just... Don't let me down," I say finally, closing my eyes.

"I promise, Lo. I promise."

Peter leans in and gently presses his lips to my forehead. We stay like that for a minute, the air around us still and silent. When he pulls away, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"What was that for?" I ask, opening my eyes.

"I don't know why I did that. I'm sorry, Lo. But I can't apologize for telling you that I wanted to."

"Don't be sorry. I hate to break it to you, but we have to go. It's time to Choose."

I glance at the hundreds of other 16-year-olds lining up. Some stand perfectly still, some chat with friends, and some just laugh loudly. Most of the Abnegation just stand with their hands clasped in front of them. The Amity play a hand slapping game, whereas the Erudite gesture wildly around them, probably discussing something science-y. Dauntless are laughing and shouting, and our fellow Candor are calmly talking in loosely formed circles.

"Let's go, then."

Peter grabs my hand when we stand, and I smile at him. We slip into line just as the doors open. Everyone disperses to sit with family, but I stay with Peter. Our families always sit together during gatherings.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes," I greet, sitting between Peter and my dad.

Mom passed away about a year. She transferred from Dauntless, but never managed to suppress her urge to do dangerous things. That's how she died. She got hit by the train while running around with her old Dauntless friends.

"Hello, Lo," Mr. Hayes says.

"How are you holding up?"

I know what he means. Peter squeezes my hand reassuringly.

"I'm pulling through. It isn't easy, but I'm trying."

"You're a very brave girl," Mrs. Hayes says.

"I can only imagine how proud your mother must've been of you."

Don't cry, Lo. Be strong for Mom. Be strong.

I smile. Peter leans over and whispers, "It's okay, Lo. You're okay."

And I believe him. Seats start to empty as names are beginning to get called. Then, "Lo Hazel."

I stand up shakily, wiping my sweaty palms on my dress. I walk up to the five bowls with my head held high. Dauntless coals, Abnegation stones, Erudite water, Amity soil, and Candor glass all mock me as I drag the knife across my palm.

Coals or glass? Glass or coals?

I jerk my hand at the last second, and my blood hits the coals. It sizzles for a second as the Dauntless cheer and the Candor murmur amongst themselves. I see Peter smile as I go to stand with the other Dauntless initiates.

"Peter Hayes."

My eyes cling to him as he walks up, cuts his palm, and confidently lets his blood hit the coals. I see Mr. Hayes hug his sobbing wife from the corner of my eye. My father already left.

They aren't your family anymore, Lo. They are just another faction. You are a Dauntless initiate now.

"Hi," Peter says quietly, standing behind me.

We talk quietly for the rest of the Ceremony. Peter's mother sobbed through most of the Ceremony. My father never came back. There's a deep pit sinking inside of me, like I made the wrong choice.

I stare at the wall, studying the little cracks and crevices that are too small to cause any alarm. Peter's hand is on my shoulder the whole time. When the black-clothed initiate in front of me starts walking, I hesitate.

"Go, Lo," Peter says, urging me forward.

I follow the initiates outside, and then break into a run after them. Life in Dauntless... Who would've thought that I, Lo, a shy girl from Candor, would attempt to fit in with the brave, loud, crazy Dauntless?

Certainly not me.