Twisted

Chapter 31: Something is Off

I sat at the table in the mess hall, a hot cup of coffee clutched between my chilly hands. I had stopped listening to the conversation around me. Thomas was arguing with Gally about the plan to go into the city. Magnus and Jasmine were deep in conversation. Frypan and the Hispanic man, I found out was named Jorge were chatting with Brenda. Newt slid down the bench to sit across from me. 

"Hey love." He said with a small smile, his big brown eyes x-raying me. 

I gave him a halfhearted smile, that slipped right away and my body sagged. He frowned, and slid his hand over the table top, prying my hand off the mug and holding it tight in his. 

"Charlie, Love...it's so good to actually see you. Tell me about what you have been up to." 

I shrugged. I was not feeling very chatty or very peoplely right now. After that awful memory dream last night I just lay in bed for the longest time. Gally finally gave up trying to get me to sleep so he grabbed some blankets and took me up to the roof. We lay snuggling curled in blankets and watched the stars. It was my favourite thing to do when I couldn't sleep. We stayed there all night, Gally dozed for a bit, when he woke up and we watched the sun rise together. 

"Well...how about you show me around? Come, Tommy and Gally are...discussing the details." He left no room for arguments, he stood up and pulled me with him. 

"I'm taking Charlie." He said with a wave, and pulled me from the mess hall. 

He looped my arm and we just wandered in silence for a while. I kept glancing at him, he seemed off. Maybe it was me that was off. Our year of surviving, I had no idea what their group went through. But he looked pale, with dark bags under his eyes. He looked exhausted.

"I missed you Newt." I finally whispered, his physical appearance made my weary heart soften. I couldn't be too closed off. I hadn't seen him in a year.

I placed my head on his shoulder, I felt him kiss the top of my head. We continued to wander. We found ourselves on the roof. I led him over to the edge and sat down, throwing my legs over the edge. He followed my example. We looked out over the city. The view was pretty cool, being able to see the outside city and The Wall and into the Last City. I placed my head on his shoulder again, when he placed his arm over my shoulders. 

"So Love, tell me everything."

I was quiet thinking how to answer his question. Up close and in the quiet his voice sounded as weary as he looked...as I felt right now.

"Start from the bloody beginning. It's been a long year, and I only saw you once." 

"Didn't look my best, hey?" 

"No you didn't." His voice was sharp all of a sudden. Making me flinch and pull away to sit up straight. He sighed.

"Sorry. It ..it was.." he cleared his throat, "it was just hard seeing you like that." He finally said.

"If I could punch RatMan I would break his nose!" He spat.

And I cracked a small smile.

"Only if I get to hit first."

He cracked a small smile. Making me smile slightly. With a sigh I started to tell him everything. The door opened behind us and Thomas and Frypan were walking towards us. They smiled and plunked down. I was squished now between Thomas and Newt. Frypan on the other side of Newt. I saw something flash across his face, frustration maybe? But he blinked at it was gone and gave me a nod to keep going. I did. With a few tears slowly sliding down my cheeks, I told them everything. Everything I could remember from my last year. The good and the bad...and the ugly. I told them about Hans and his breakthrough.