How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Seventeen

- Dancing in the rain?! -

As Newt and I approached the group, I noticed the boys standing idly, staring out as the rain poured down. They looked almost defeated, as though the storm had sapped their energy.

"Oh, come on, guys! Are you seriously just going to stand around doing nothing every time it rains?" I called out, making them all turn their attention to Newt and me.

"Well, yeah. What else can we do?" Zart asked, his tone genuinely curious as he scratched the back of his head.

I grinned mischievously. "Oh, I don't know... maybe dance in the rain!" Before they could react, I darted off, twirling through the downpour with outstretched arms. The raindrops splashed against my face, cold and exhilarating.

The boys exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and amusement. Undeterred, I began to sway to an imaginary tune, laughing as I spun around.

It wasn't long before Newt, ever the one to indulge in a bit of whimsy, joined me. His movements were awkward at first, but his grin was infectious as he mirrored my spinning. When he grabbed my hands and spun me around, the boys erupted into cheers and whistles.

"Go get 'em, tiger!" Theo hollered, his voice laced with teasing.

When Newt pulled me close, I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks, but his awkward laughter eased my nerves.

After a while, soaked but grinning, we wandered back to the group.

"Why'd you even bother changing if you were just going to get drenched again?" Andrew asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

I shrugged, water dripping from my hair. "Because it's fun, and I don't care about getting wet."

The boys exchanged a look before bursting into laughter.

"You're definitely something else," Minho said with a smirk, ruffling my wet hair.

"Hey, hey, hey! Watch the hair!" I teased, swatting his hand away. "We all know your hair is sacred, Minho."

The jab earned another round of laughter from the group.

"Alright," Newt interjected, his tone half-serious. "You should go change before you catch a cold."

Before I could respond, I sneezed—a small, involuntary sound that sent the boys into hysterics.

"Told you so," Newt said smugly, making me playfully stick my tongue out at him.

As I turned to leave, Newt stopped me, his arm gently blocking my path. "Here, take this," he said, slipping off his hoodie and handing it to me.

"Thanks," I murmured, touched by the gesture. I headed to my hut, changing into a brown tank top, denim shorts, and Newt's oversized gray hoodie. The warmth and faint scent of him brought a small smile to my lips.

When I rejoined the group, the rain had finally stopped. Frypan, Minho, George, Winston, and Zart were sitting on the ground, engrossed in a game of cards. Nearby, Newt lounged in his hammock, chatting with a couple of the boys.

"Hey, look who finally showed up," Alby said, his tone teasing but warm. "Feeling better now?"

"Yeah, much better. Thanks for asking," I replied with a smile, walking over to Newt. He made room for me in the hammock, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close. I rested my head against him, the moment feeling blissfully calm.

"Well, well, well. Look at these two lovebirds," Minho teased, his trademark smirk in full effect.

I rolled my eyes playfully, ignoring the heat rising in my cheeks.

"Leave them alone, Minho," George chimed in, shooting him a look.

"Yeah, let them be," Frypan added, grinning.

"Totally," Theo said with a sly smile, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I couldn't help but giggle, the sound soft but genuine.

Surrounded by laughter and warmth, I let myself relax. Even in the chaos of the Glade, moments like these felt like a precious reprieve.