Newt

Keepers

Alby didn't even hesitate with his decision. After they explained what happened, he just nodded and said "Fine. He's a Runner." Newt was shocked. He'd imagined more resistance from Alby. It was like he didn't even care.

"Doesn't it bother you?" Minho said angrily. "I came up with this shuckin' key. I could be a spy for all you know." Newt's head spun around in surprise. The kid seemed to want to get sent off the bloody Cliff.

"You're too stupid to be a spy, shuck face. Ya wanna be a Runner? Go ahead. Ya wanna get yourself killed? Be my guest." Alby seemed completely uninterested in the entire conversation. With every word out of his mouth, Minho's face turned a darker shade of red in fury.

Newt grabbed Minho's arm, pulling the boy back before he could do something he would regret. He turned around and faced him.

"Go," he whispered before facing Alby again. He didn't know what came over him, what gave him the right to think the way he did, but Newt suddenly felt like Alby's equal, and he wasn't going to let him act this way.

"What the bloody hell was that?" he said, trying to keep his voice calm. Alby's eyes widened, an arrogant grin flashing across his face.

"Well look at this. Greenbean thinks he can talk to me like that. Come on Greenie, didn't know you had that fire in you."

Newt clenched his jaw. "Minho just did something that all of you, all of us, haven't been able to do for months, and you just say fine?" Alby rolled his eyes. He actually rolled his bloody eyes.

"Well somebody give the shank a medal." He started to walk away, but Newt grabbed his arm and forced him back. The humour left Alby's eyes and real anger replaced it.

 "Greenie-," he started, but Newt was done listening to him.

"I am not a Greenie, so stop calling me that. My name is Newt. I am a Glader. I haven't been here very long, but I'll be damned if I let you talk to me like that. I've been through too much for you to treat me like a bloody child, so shut up and listen to me!" His voice rose progressively with every word, until he was towering over Alby, words flowing through him with a fire he didn't know he had. He felt powerful. He felt alive.

Alby stood his ground, but the anger seemed to have left him. He finally nodded. "Alright Newt," he said the name slowly, testing it out. "You're right. Minho, the key, all this klunk isn't sitting right with me, but I don't know what I'm doing. I just don't know."

Newt wasn't expecting this. He'd just assumed that Alby had everything under control. Now that he though about it, that was a bloody stupid assumption. The kid may be their leader, but he sure as hell wasn't perfect.

"I think we need to change things around here," Newt said quietly, the idea already building in his head. "I don't remember much from the outside world, but any good community has some form of government. Now I'm not talkin' about making you the bloody president, but I think this place should be a bit more organized."

 Alby didn't argue. He actually seemed interested. "What did you have in mind?"

Newt felt himself buzzing with excitement. He had ideas flowing inside him, images of what this place could be.

"I think we should have one person in charge of each job. Builders, Sloppers, Slicers, Cooks. Someone should be in charge, keep them all in line."

"Keepers," Alby grinned. "I like it."