Jealousy // Gally x reader

Chapter Three- The Meeting

When we enter the room, Chuck is told to wait outside. My throat drops to the pit of my stomach.

Did I do something wrong?

I scan the room, noticing the 10 boys that surround me. These must be the 'keepers'.

The man in the middle, a darker boy with grumpy brows but a contrasting, docile manor, points to the awkward chair in the middle of the room. I make my way to it and place myself down, sitting uncomfortably with my hands in my lap, praying I wasn't in trouble.

I notice one familiar face in the group of interrogators, Gally. I smile at him and feel a breath of relief when it's reciprocated.

The voices of the members are overlapping once again, my eyes darting as I fail at trying to make sense of the multiple conversations.

"Alright, that's enough." The boy, who I assumed to be their leader by his assertive tone, spat. The room instantly settled. My view faltered between Gally, who was looking at the others, and another boy. He was wedged between Gally and the leader of the group, his sunshine plastered hair being swatted from his eyes.

He was smaller than the rest, not by height, but he was slightly straggly and skinny. I could tell he was strong though just by the way his arms were positioned across his chest.

He was smiling at me, the only one who was actually looking at me. He offered a small, awkward wave before the meeting continued.

"Hello greenie, I'm Alby." The leader presents himself, to which I reply with a shy "Hello". He immediately returns to his dominant demeanour and stares down his friends.

"Alright you shanks, we need to establish some rules. This is the first girl we've had, and I doubt you shuck-faces will leave her alone."

I frown deeply, not only by the reassurance that I'm probably going to be targeted, but also as the last shrivel of hope that there's another girl is dried up and ripped from my grasp. I suppose Chuck would've introduced me to them if they had existed.

"Here's what I propose." He continues. I sit forward, eager to hear how I was going to be 'protected' from the obviously compulsive hoard of 50 guys waiting for me. "1- She will be given separate shower times to the rest of us, and someone will stand guard outside, making sure no one peeks." Everyone nodded in agreement, including myself, but I truly thought that this rule would be an obvious one. No fucking way I would shower next to a herd of teenage boys just waiting for a quick look, I'd rather shove a tampon in my eye.

"Great. Number 2- no constant coming on to her." I sighed happily; thank God, I will finally catch a break.

This rule however was not so agreed on. A few of the boys protested, saying things like 'ah come on, a few jokes won't hurt anyone', led of course by the prick from before. Billy. I sat there, mouth open at the disbelief and disgust of them, hoping Alby would straighten out.

Instead, he decided that the rule would be changed to if anyone tried anything with me, and if they did, they got a night in something called the 'pit', which didn't sound too appealing. I opened my mouth to express my opinion but quickly shut it. I guess I'll just have to hope they can hold their tongues.

With that, the meeting was adjourned. The boys quickly pooled out of the cramped room, leaving me and the lanky boy I was observing. I stood up abruptly, cracking my back, and turned to leave. He grabbed my wrist, and I spun around, fist curled up just in case. He looked taken aback at my random anger so instantly dropped my arm.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He said, his low voiced laced with a pretty British accent. His eyes dropped to his shoes and I started to feel bad. I nudged him playfully.

"That's alright."I smiled, trying to make him feel more comfortable in our awkward first encounter. "I'm Newt" He replied, smiling. I couldn't hold in the laugh that left my idiotic mouth, so played it off as a cough.

Still sputtering I managed to say, "what, like the lizard?". He nodded and laughed softly. I heard something outside, so of course I discreetly peered through the small window. "Alright, fatty? Don't you have some klunk to shovel?" One of the keepers said, nudging Chuck, causing him to almost topple over.

I saw the young boy protrude into his hunched shoulders as the keeper returned to his friends, being greeted with high fives and laughs.

We made our way outside, little Chuck leaning sorrowfully against the hut. "You alright Chuckleberry?" I asked softly, ruffling his hair in attempt to make him smile. He shrugged and avoided my eyes. He wiped his face and my heart fell.

That rotten boy made him cry. I pulled the puppy-eyed boy into my arms, hugging him hard. "Feel better?" I asked, unable to hear his muffled reply. "Oops" I said, releasing him and laughing a little.

I could feel the burning stare of the awful boy who'd caused sweet little Chuck to cry. The little boy wasn't exactly skinny, but that in no way changed the way I felt about him, meaning it shouldn't change how he feels about himself.

I turn my attention back to Newt, who's looking around awkwardly. "I should get back to the trackhoes, but if you need anything don't hesitate to ask shebean!" He said cheerily, before pondering off back to his group of workers sitting in the dirt.

"Hey how come there are two keepers for the trackhoes?" I asked Chuck, noticing another boy working beside Newt who was also in the meeting. "There isn't." He replied sharply before continuing.

"Zart is the keeper of the trackhoes, Newt is second-in-command for the glade, alongside Alby" "Ah I see", I stroked my chin softly, trying to navigate the plethora of rules that accompanied my stay in this unfamiliar paradise.

Speaking of rules, Alby appeared behind us, and decided to enlighten them for me. "Greenie, you should know that here in the glade we only have 3 rules. Number one: Do your part, we don't have time for any freeloaders. Number two: Never hurt another glader, none of this works unless we have trust. And finally, never go beyond those walls. Got it?"

I nod and he walks off, satisfied by my reply.