Glader Girl

4

**A/N: I am doing a big time skip in this chapter because I need for the plot to develop, and that isn't going to happen with a whole week of pining. **

Newt- The girl had been with us for a week now, and in that time her leg had healed to the point she could start working, and we could place her with a Keeper. So far though, she had excelled at the jobs we put her through, even working with Winston and the Slicers. It had scared us a bit, seeing her pick up a large knife and gut a pig with no hesitation, even Winston backed away from her. She seems to really like working in the Garden's with me and Zart, always smiling and looking up at the sun when it beats down on us. At the moment she was helping the others set up for the bonfire tonight. Her leg isn't a hundred percent healed, but it's been enough for her to not need crutches. I smiled as she and Minho had their usual banter back and forth, seeing who'd admit the other was right. Bloody troublemakers, both of them, I thought. She had been more open with us all too, which was a good thing, although no one knew her name still. If I'm honest, I don't think the other guy's mind calling her "Princess" because it suited her. She gained a couple other names too; Frypan and taken to calling her "Miss Ma'am" something he came up with when he watched her excel with cooking. Alby had taken "Little Lady" and ran with it; he hardly called her anything else.

She and Alby have an odd relationship. Even though he's our Leader, she likes to follow her own tune; she follows the rules, but on her terms. We all joke that she could "overthrow" Alby, which he overheard one time, but it made him laugh, "I'd put her in charge in a shucking heartbeat, if she really wanted the job!" Other than that, she fits in no problem. But Alby had taken to letting her boss us around, not that we minded. She's tough, but sweet as can be. Even when she makes a demand, she's nice about it, when she scolds us for "slacking off" it holds no bite. But we respect her the same way we respect Alby. Even though I'm Alby's second, if he's not around, she all but has my job. I watched on as she chased Minho around, trying to smear dirt on his face, yelling at him for whatever he said to her. She gave her all in the chase, tripping Minho and managing to smear his face before he got her down and tickled her.

"Oh, you're so dead, Minho! NEWT! MIN-MIN IS BEING MEAN TO ME!" I cracked up when Minho started complaining about his nickname, walking over to them and trying to not double up from laughter. "Min, you know better. Be nice to our little Princess," I told him. He started going on about how unfair this was and saying some other crap he didn't mean. I reached out to help her up, brushing off the dirt on her arms, as she stuck out her tongue in victory, and cuddled up into my arms. "Come on now, ya'll! Save it for tonight," Alby said, joining us and rubbing Minho's head, messing up his hair. "Why don't you go shower up, Little Lady, and I'll help finish." She thanked Alby, booped my nose, and walked off. Even though it's been a week of her being here, I still get nervous whenever she goes to use the showers, and originally, Alby and I wanted a second one built, but we didn't control the pipe situation, so we let it be. Thankfully, the boys didn't even attempt to joke about it, and they all stayed away when she needed the showers. Anyone in there, left immediately. We had a code for it, to avoid any accidents, and it all worked out fine.

"Newt, were you listening, slinthead?" Minho said. "What, did you say something?" I didn't hear him, maybe he's messing with me. "Ugh! Newt, I know she's gorgeous and all, but man, have you got it bad!" Alby chuckled and wacked the back of Minho's head, telling him to shut it. "What are you going on about?" Minho gave me this look like he couldn't believe what I just said. "You bloody stare at her, all the time!" He yelled, mocking the way I talk in the most dramatic way possible. "I don't know who's worse, you or Gally!" Minho said to Alby, throwing up his hands and walking away with him back to the firepit. At his words, I got this odd feeling in my chest, like something clawing on the inside, trying to get out. I glanced around and saw Gally over by one of the trees, putting up a swing, at our Princess' request. If anyone is wrapped around her finger, it's Gally, and we all know it. He hides it well enough, but he always does what he's told when she asks anything of him.