Injured Feet & Rickety Hearts {Book 1 Completed}

//Chapter 6//

I hung out with Newt all day, I was ok doing the work with him, all we had to do was help the Track-hoe's and I went with Newt to Speak with the keeper, which is the leader, of the cooks. His name was Frypan and he was nice as well, he seemed awfully busy though, surprising.

It was getting to the afternoon now, people were for some reason heading towards the homestead, but not everyone, maybe 10 or so people. I was confused to see what they were doing, was this another routine, did they eat in there or something?

I was sitting by one of the trees outside the deadhead as I watched them go, Newt had gone off real quick to speak with one of the runners who had returned about 15 minutes ago so I was just sitting on my own watching people go.

I learnt a little more from Newt today while working with him, he told me who the keepers were and when breaks where, everything was run with great care, working like clockwork so everything was the same. How repetitive. He even told me about how their slang works, its actually kind of cool.

"Hey, you"

I looked up at the sound of a younger voice, I furrowed my brows, where the heck did that come from? I leaned forward until I spotted the source of the noise. Standing by the back of a shack close by was a portly boy with brown ringlets for his hair, he had a happy grin on his face as he jogged over, he looked about 13 or younger. How could the creators send up someone so young?

I hesitated slightly before lazily lifting my hand and waving softly. He didn't seem like a threat, at the moment I only trusted Newt so it was a little hard relaxing around other people. The boy smiled brightly at me before dropping to sit down a few feet in front of me.

"I'm Chuck, Newbie. I was the Greenbean before you came up? settling in ok?"

I knew from the first rushed words that came out of his mouth that he was a talker, great, the complete opposite of me. I didn't really feel like talking but... I guess I should, I couldn't sit here awkwardly, I hated that more than talking.

"Hey, I'm Malaya. But Newt seems to call me Laya. I guess I'm settling in as good as your gonna get."

I said blankly and Chuck smiled again, he was just about to speak again when a familiar voice rung out and interrupted him.

"Chuck. Not pestering her, are you?"

I looked up at the accent and rolled my eyes at Newt. Maybe he should be my guardian, he's the nicest out of everyone I've met so far. Chuck turned around and gave an innocent smile before jumping up, he gave me a wave goodbye before running off towards the homestead. What a funny boy.

"That was Chuck, he could talk the ear off a dead guy."

I giggled warmly as I watched the boy go, how scary it must have been when he came up, he must have been terrified. Life is just so unfair, he didn't even get to live a normal life. Or a life he remembered at least.

"Hey, Laya. You'll have to come with me now, we have to go to a gathering to find out who your guardian is."

Ohh yeah, I forgot about That. I remember Alby saying something about a gathering and then Newt was talking about having to go to a meeting. I sighed heavily before pulling myself up from the ground, balancing myself before walking over to his side.

I was slightly nervous about the meeting, I sort of shut myself away. I guess I was afraid people would see my weaknesses, I played tough but I guess deep down I knew I was just a scared little girl, I did my best to hide that part of me away. But sometimes it's harder than I would like.

I didn't attempt to make conversation, nor did I want it. I appreciated Newts attempts to make me feel better but right now I didn't want that, I guess I really was just afraid. I bit my lip as we neared the homestead, the quietness around me was the perfect opportunity to round myself up and put on a brave face. After all, that is what I'm good at.