How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Forty

- Telling Alby -

"Hey, Lizard!" I smile as I limp over to Newt and Alby, wincing slightly with every step. "Morning, Love," Newt greets with a smile as I stand beside him. "Morning," I nod, before turning to Alby. 

"Say, uh, Alby..." I start, but the words seem to stick in my throat.

"What is it, Y/n?" Alby asks, his concern evident as he looks at me. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself before continuing. "It's, uhm... I have something to show you," I say, handing him my sketchbook. My hands tremble slightly as I pass it over to him, and I watch nervously as he opens it.

His expression shifts with every page he turns, his eyes scanning my sketches in silence. Then, as he reaches the last page, he stops, and his eyes meet mine. "You remember?" Alby asks softly, not taking his gaze off the book.

I open my mouth to respond, but the words fail me, and I just nod. My throat tightens with emotion. "I... I'm so sorry for not saying anything," I manage to say. "I really wanted to, but I was too scared. I didn't know if I could trust you guys yet."

Alby closes the book gently and turns to me. His expression softens, and he places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Hey, it's alright," he says with a calm smile. "I understand. I'm just glad you came to me with it and didn't keep it to yourself."

A wave of relief washes over me as I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Thank you, Alby," I say quietly, offering a grateful smile. Alby nods and hands me back the sketchbook, his expression understanding.

"Now, let's go grab some breakfast, yeah?" Newt suggests, putting an arm around my shoulder as we start walking toward the kitchens. "Oh, yes please!" I exclaim, my stomach growling in agreement, making both Newt and Alby laugh softly at my enthusiasm.

As we reach the kitchen, I spot Theo sitting at the table and walk over to join him. "Hey, She-bean!" he greets with a wide grin as I sit down beside him. "Hey," I smile back. "I'll go grab something for you to eat," Newt says, heading over to Fry to get our food.

"Wait, where's George?" I ask, glancing around the room and noticing his absence.

"Oh, he said he was feeling good after all and went into the maze anyways," Theo answers with a shrug. "Though he did look kinda pale..." he adds with a hint of concern.

A knot forms in my stomach as I worry about George. But I try to push it aside, reminding myself that we all have to take care of ourselves. "Here you go, Love," Newt says, walking back over to me with a plate of food. I thank him, my stomach rumbling again as I start eating, grateful for the warmth and comfort of a meal.

As we eat, the conversation shifts to our plans for the day. The mood lightens, and we talk about everything from the maze to the things we hope to accomplish. For the first time in a while, I feel a sense of calm, surrounded by the people I trust. Despite the lingering fear and uncertainty, it's moments like this that remind me there's still hope—hope that we'll make it out of this place one day.