Glader Girl

8

Julia- Waking up was a bad idea. As I thought, napping yesterday messed me up, so now I don't feel refreshed, like I usually do. But I'll be working the Gardens today, so I know that'll improve my mood. And of course, I smirked, looking up at Gally's sleeping face. I wriggled in his arms, wanting just a few more minutes of snuggles before we have to greet the day. He let out a tired groan and tightened his arms around me, pulling me closer. "Morning," I whispered into his neck. "Ugh, no, not yet." I giggled and sat up, straddling him, and running my hands slowly down his bare chest. His arms shot up and snatched at my waist, his eyes were still closed, but he was smirking. "Now, I'm up," he breathed. I leaned down and kissed him, he responded immediately, but he was slow, still trying to wake up.

"We gotta wake up," I complained, jumping out of the hammock to get dressed. This, I knew would get Gally's attention. Sure enough, I looked over my shoulder at the sight of him watching me, looking me up and down. "Don't even think about it," I told him. He pouted and flopped back down. "I couldn't have you yesterday, that's not fair!" Lacing up my boots, I walked over and placed his hand on my cheek, kissing the palm and cradling it. "Maybe later if you get up now," I told him. I let him go and left the hut, going over to the Mess-hall for breakfast. Chuck and Newt were with Thomas, walking over together. Thomas almost reached the front first, but I bumped past him, "Move," I said. "There she is!" Fry greeted me, handing me my food. "Have a good one now, ma'am!" "That's an unspoken rule here; our Princess gets breakfast first," I heard Newt say. I turned around and leaned on his shoulder, scoffing at the look on the Greenie's face.

"Thomas will be joining us today, so be nice, love," Newt told me. I popped a grape in my mouth and pretended to be offended. "I'm always nice, Newt," I chided him. He pulled me closer to him, laughing. "Don't worry, Greenie, she's tough, but she's a big sweetheart if you show proper respect." "Yeah, she's really cool," Chuck chimed in, beaming up at me. Thomas wasn't looking at me, but at my neck. "You got a bruise," he pointed out. Newt snorted, stifling a laugh. I smirked at him. "I know," I said. Next thing I knew, I felt Gally pull my hair back and kiss the mark he left last night, probably darkening it. When he was satisfied, he wrapped an arm around my waist to lead me over to our usual spot. I glanced over my shoulder at Thomas, who had been staring, gob smacked. I laughed. "See ya, Greenie!"

Thomas- "What the hell..." I trailed off, watching them walk away. Newt smiled. "Two years they've been together. Gally was the only one she showed any interest in; they were each other's from the start. And she had him wrapped around her finger." I glanced at Newt as she spoke, he was smiling at them, but there was something in his eyes when he watched Gally attack Julia's neck, almost wistful. "The place needs a little love," he said. Then he smirked at me, "Now you know why the no flirting rule is so important, yeah?" I nodded, not wanting anything to do with that. I didn't know how to feel about Gally, but the guy's intimidating; I'd probably get killed, despite the no harming rule, if I did anything that seemed remotely as showing interest. I studied her though; watching her eat, perched on Gally's lap. She is beautiful; she's like the sun, bright and glowing, and intense. I noticed her nails, sharp like a cats' and she probably isn't afraid to use them, either. "I'd look away before Gally notices and then knocks you on your butt," Chuck whispered, pulling at my elbow. Shaking my head, I sat down with him and Newt as he told me the names of all the other Gardener's and what my day would look like.

After we finished eating, Julia bound over to us, jumping onto Newt's back. "Hey! Take it easy love, I only got one good leg," Newt scolded her, but he was beaming up at her, her long hair spilling over his shoulder. She was smiling at him too, and I could see the bond they have with each other. I briefly wondered why Newt was allowed to be so affectionate with her, but Gally probably trusted him, and Newt doesn't seem like that kind of person, so I left it alone. She followed Newt over to the vines of food, each of them picking a side, and began picking anything that was ready to be eaten. I started asking questions, thinking of possible ways to escape from here, but Newt shut down all of them. "Anything you can think of, we've already tried. The only way out is through the Maze." Then he threw a bucket at me and told me to go get fertilizer. Julia snickered. "Go on now, Greenie," she said, pointing behind her.