Inventing Love ♡Newt♡

CH.08

That morning Nick decided to test how fast she could run by running laps around the Glade. So far she had run five laps which told her that she had good stamina.

Newt and Minho walked up to Zart, Winston and Fry who were watching her run.

"She lost the bet?" Newt shook his head with a smile, "The first time something she invented didn't work."

Zart looked at him confused before realising, "Oh, no. The weed killer worked, she's doing this for fun."

"What are you shuck faces doing? There's supposed to be a gathering!" Alby cut off any conversation as he joined them.

"We're watching Nick run laps." Winston answered, keeping his eyes on Nick.

Once Alby had watched Nick for a bit he and Minho shared a look, nodding in a silent agreement.

"Nick!" Alby shouted, making her skid to a stop and look around for him, "Come here!"

Once she had spotted him she ran over to them, "Yeah?"

"The gathering for your job is starting now." He informed her as they made their way to the Gathering room, "Just wait outside until we call you in alright?"

"Alright."

Nick stood outside leaning against the wall as everyone else walked into the Gathering hut. She had no idea how long she would be waiting for so she chose to sit on the floor instead playing with her necklace.

Ben wasn't allowed in the meeting either but he was sleeping since he didn't have to run for the day. He had eaten breakfast with them but after he had quickly made his way back to his hammock.

Clint was in the Med-Jack hut doing something since he also wasn't allowed. Only the council members were allowed into the Gathering room unless told differently.

Inside the Gathering room Alby had silenced everyone as he and Newt stood in front whilst the others were sat.

"You all know how this works." Alby spoke, "Stay quiet until it's your turn and when it is, just say how well she did and what you think for her job."

"Zart, she was with you first, what do you think?" Newt asked, nodding to signal that he can speak.

"Nick did an alright job but it was obvious she wasn't enjoying it. Either way I think she should be a Keeper, Keeper of the inventors."

A few mumbles of agreements swarmed around the room but silenced once they saw Alby's glare.

"She has invented something for every job so far so it's clear to anyone that Nick being an inventor is the right job." Zart continued, "Plus she's the first girl here and we need to have a girl's opinion on the council."

Alby looked around seeing the others nodding along with what Zart was saying. "Alright all in favour of making Nick the Keeper of inventors stand up."

With Alby's words everyone stood up including Gally which surprised most. Considering they didn't have the best relationship since Nick first came up most of the council assumed he would be against it.

"Good that. Anything else anyone wants to add on before we bring Nick in?"

"I think we should make Nick a backup Runner." Minho blurted out.

He already knew Alby was on his side because of their silent agreement from earlier but he wasn't sure how anyone else would take it.

"No." Newt immediately rejected the idea thinking the others would be on his side except everyone else stayed silent.

"And why not? You saw how fast she is and it's most likely the only way to stop her from going into the maze without permission."

"Greenies don't get to be Runners, Ben had to wait two months to be a Runner."

"Nick would only be a backup, we need more Runners out there if we want to escape any time soon." Minho persisted.

"Not Nick."

"It's a council decision, Newt." Alby stopped their argument, "We vote."

"Fine, stay standing if you disagree with Nick being a backup Runner."

Everyone immediately sat back down making the decision clear to Newt. He scoffed, shaking his head and sat down in his seat.

"Jeff, go get Nick." Alby ordered.

Jeff walked out of the hut seeing Ben who was now awake talking to Nick as she scratched the back of her neck. It was something they had all noticed she did when she was nervous.

"I don't know Ben, I mean what if I get a job I'll hate." Nick worried, "Or- or what if I did shit at all the jobs and I'm a slopper."

"Well, were you horrible at every job?"

"No but-"

Ben cut off her worrying, "Then you will get a job. Plus I remember you saying that the other jobs were okay except Track-hoes so I doubt you're one of them."

"I guess you're right." Her hand fell to her side.

"There ya go." He smiled warmly at her, noticing Jeff standing by the door waiting for them. "Now go get your job."

Ben turned Nick around to face Jeff and with a deep breath she made her way into the Gathering hut.

Once she was in Jeff shut the door sitting down on his stool whilst Nick sat on the stool Alby had pointed to.

"Will the Keeper of Nick stand up." Newt grumbled.

Both Alby and Minho stood up, making Nick look at them both confused.

Seeing Nick's confusion Alby spoke up, "Your job. You are a backup Runner and the Keeper of inventors. Meaning you're a part of the council and will attend gatherings giving your input. Just like other Keepers you are in charge of yourself and any others that get the job of the inventors."

Nick smiles but glances at Newt who smiled back at her but she could see he wasn't happy about something. She assumed it was to do with her being a backup Runner.

"One tiny thing, how did I end up being a backup Runner without trying out for the job?" Nick looked at Minho and Alby for answers.

"You're a fast Runner and we need more people helping out in the maze." Minho smiled, "Welcome to the team."

"Not that i'm not happy about that but i thought Greenies couldn't be Runners?"

"That's why you're a backup so you can do your own job but you're ready to help when needed."

"Gatherings over." Alby made his way to the door, "Everyone back to work."

Nick made her way out after a few boys and ran over to Ben who was waiting outside for her.

"So?" He asked enthusiastically, "Come on. Tell me before I burst."

"I'm the Keeper of inventors and a back up Runner!" Nick exclaimed.

Ben wrapped her in a hug spinning her around, "I told you!"

Nick laughed as he spun her around before putting her down on the ground.

Minho was talking to Newt although he wasn't listening as he watched Ben and Nick. A pang of jealousy ran through him as he continued to watch them.

"Dude." Minho hit his shoulder with the back of his hand, "Are you listening?"

"Yeah something about your hair?" He guessed looking away from Ben and Nick.

"No. For once I was talking about something else and you weren't even listening." Minho complained. He looked over to where Newt had been looking before, "Seriously? Stop being all jealous, she's allowed to have friends."

"I'm not jealous." Newt grumbled, "I don't care about it anyway. They could be dating and it would matter to me because it's not like she's dating me."

"Definitely jealous." Minho sighed walking off.

"I'm not jealous." He noticed Minho had walked off and followed after him, "I'm not jealous!"