Flicker ~ newt

6. New greenie

Newt
Two months.
Elaine has been in the glade for two months.
It feels like just yesterday she came up in the box, this morning she came into my room she was exited and fidgety.

"Maybe it'll be another girl? No offence but I've been drowning with men." I laugh

"Maybe. But don't get your hopes up." We have talked a lot about her being the only girl.
We still don't understand why this has happened, if it was just a glitch or mistake either way she is very much over living with only guys.

I can see her now as I look up from my spot on a bench.

"Gally I'm serious!" She is practically yelling, her and Gally are standing less than a meter apart and she looks pissed.

"So am I princess! It's not gonna happen!" He takes a step forward she doesn't back down though standing her ground even tho she is tiny compared to him.
I don't want to step in she can look after herself I'll just keep an eye on them to make sure it doesn't escalate.

"Do it! Now!" She yells stepping towards him, they are chest to chest now.

"Fine!"

What?

"Thanks Gally!" She turns skipping over to me.

"What the hell was that about?" I ask leaving my breakfast on the table having completely forgotten about it.

"He was just being stubborn about making the knew building, he thinks it's 'unnecessary' as if right! He is just so bloody annoying sometimes!" She finishes her rant and sighs picking up a piece of apple from my plate popping it in her mouth then standing. "I have to go meet miles and chuck, see you later?" She doesn't wait for a response, turning and walking towards the sloppers.

"Okay?" I say to no one in particular.

My head turns as I hear the sound of the box coming up.

"Laney!" I call "new greenie!" She turns instantly and runs to me.

"Isn't it too early?" She asks.

"They come at different times each month it's not exactly at the same time," I answered as we walk the short distance to the box.

"I really hope it's a girl," she is practically bouncing around in excitement at her first time getting to see the box come up. New greenies aren't allowed to watch the person come out of the box in their first month, it can be triggering we learned that the hard way.
I laugh at her nervousness.

"Oh shush you bloody shank!" She teases. I was about to say something back when the light turns green and the box doors open.

Everyone is here now peering down to see the knew greenie.

In the box I see a dark haired boy, shaking and raising his hands to protect himself from the sun. I hear a small sigh come from my right, I don't even have to look to know it's Elaine.
Gally moves past everyone jumping into the box.

"Day one greenie rise and shine." He says as he roughly grabs him and chucks him at us.

"Be careful Gally he's probably terrified!" I hear Elaine say sternly.

I remember me saying something like that when she came up in the box.

The greenie gets to his feet. He looks as Elaine said absolutely terrified.
He turns pushing past us.
Elaine yelps in pain as he elbows her harshly in the face.

"He got a runner!" Yells someone

"Are you okay?" I ask Elaine as she cups her face in her hand.

"Yeah it's fine come on we have to go get him before he does something dumb like run into the maze!" I can see the greenie slip and fall right on his face, everyone laughs at him but not Elaine, she starts running towards him.
She only gets a few feet before I grab her hand.

"Look Alby's got him." I say pointing to we're Alby and Gally are dragging him to the pit.

She nods, her face already flared up and red.

"Come on we have jobs to do." I take her hand guiding her to the garden.

"This is like super weird now. Why am I the only girl?" I simply shrug I don't have an answer for her.

Elaine

Me and newt have been garnering for a few hours when I see Alby wave us over, tapping the blonde boy to my left on the shoulder i indicate to Alby.

"Come on." I say putting down the shovel and wiping the dirt off my hands. Offering my now clean (ish) hand to help Newt up
He grunts in response then takes my hand.
I pull him to his feet and we start walking over to Alby and the knew greenie.

"Green bean meet Newt and Elaine, Newts in charge when I'm not around," Newt and I shake the greenies hand.

"It's a good things your always around then, listen that was some dash you made earlier, for a second i though you had the chops to be a runner. Till you face-planted" I laugh but try to conceal it with a cough, fooling nobody.

"Runner?" Questions the greenie.

"Newt can you get chuck for me, El stay with him for a bit until chuck gets here," I nod once turning to the greenie as Newt and Alby walk away.

"Hey greenie, it's nice to meet you I'm Elaine, but most people just call me El," I smile at him and he gives a shy smile back.

"Hey Elaine I'm- I don't know." He said clearly confused.

"That's why I didn't ask for your name, but don't worry you'll remember it soon enough." He nod's.

"What happened to your face?" I snort.

"You ask a lot of questions, uh you have sharp elbows and I have a slight hight disadvantage." I smile to try and show him there was no real harm done.

"I did that? I'm so sorry I was just scared and I-" I cut him off before he can say anything else.

"It's okay! When I came out of the box I kicked someone in the face because he accidentally touched my thigh. That guy is now one of my closest friends." I say.

"How long have you been here?" He asks as I sit down on the grass gesturing for him to join me.

"Two months"

"Why does everyone keep calling me greenie?"

"What else do you want us to call you?" He shrugs i continue "It's just a name we call people before they remember their name. And for the month after until the knew greenie comes up."

"Does that mean a knew one comes ip every month?"

"You sure do ask a lot of questions. And yeah there is a knew one every month."

"One more question." I inwardly role my eyes.

"Ask away."

"Are you the only girl?" I knew that was coming.

"Do you see any other girls around here?"

"No..." he says

"Then you just answered your own question. Oh here comes Chuck and Newt" we stand as they get closer.

"Hey blondie, chucky." I nod to them moving over to stand by Newts side.

"Good luck with this one chuck, he asks a-lot of questions." I whisper shout laughing as Chuck and the greenie start walking away.

"How was it?" Asked newt.

"Did I ask that many questions?" I turn to Newt my eyebrows furrowed. He laughs and turns away walking to the homestead.

"Wait Newt! Did I actually?" I call after him.

He turns back to me still walking and smirks.

He is so adorable.

"Oh shuck of!" I yell laughing.