Insurgent (Divergent, #2)

by Veronica Roth

“We’re all right, you know,” he says. “You and me. Okay?” My chest aches, and I nod. “Nothing else is all right.” His whisper tickles my cheek. “But we are.”

“Sometimes,” he says, sliding his arm across my shoulders, “people just want to be happy, even if it’s not real.”

Either way, I always thought I would be happy when I stopped looking like a child. But all I feel is a lump in my throat. I am no longer the daughter my parents knew. They will never know me as I am now.

“I regret . . .” Tobias tilts his head, and sighs. “I regret my choice.”

“Dauntless,” he says. “I was born for Abnegation. I was planning on leaving Dauntless, and becoming factionless. But then I met her, and . . . I felt like maybe I could make something more of my decision.” Her.

“First of all, don’t use that name like a weapon against me,” he says, pointing at me.

“I believe you’re still in there,” he says against my mouth. “Come back.”

Maybe I was afraid to trust him with something so personal as my devotion.

My mother told me to be brave. But if she had known that her death would make me so afraid, would she have sacrificed herself so willingly?

“Come on, Insurgent,” he says with a wink.

“Insurgent,” he says. “Noun. A person who acts in opposition to the established authority, who is not necessarily regarded as a belligerent.”

“Do remember, though, that sometimes the people you oppress become mightier than you would like.”

Tobias steps out

almost unnoticed. Almost, except I notice him, because I have trained myself to notice him.

You will know that it is time when there are many among you whose minds appear to be more flexible than the others. The name you should give those people is Divergent. Once they become abundant among you, your leaders should give the command for Amity to unlock the gate forever, so that you may emerge from your isolation.”

I feel that I recognize her.

“And there is much I am happy to forget.”