Sticks and Stones

Chapter 13: Right Arm

Minho and Frypan raised their brows, glancing at the two new beautiful girls, and Rachel rolled her eyes- it wasn't hard to guess what the pair were thinking.

Newt also looked faintly amused by their reaction, although he kept glancing at Rachel a little wistfully as she stood sandwiched between Sonya and Harriet as Harriet put two fingers to her mouth and whistled sharply.

"We're clear, guys!" She shouted into the mountains around the car block. "Come on out!"

Rachel looked around in awe as she saw small figures hiding at various points up the mountain, one of the figures shouting to the others: "Stand down!"

The figures all lowered their guns, peering down at the group as they in turn looked up in sheer amazement.

Sonya meanwhile turned back to her friends, hugging both Rachel and Aris as she murmured with a happy sigh: "My God, you're alive. You're really alive."

She patted Aris's face, making the boy grin, and Rachel smiled as she caught Jorge eyeing Aris, almost with new eyes. She had to snort. 'Men... and boys.' She thought wryly, before she caught Newt glancing at her. As their eyes met, she smiled at him and a small one tugged at his lips in return.

Harriet gestured at the whole group, and they followed her and Sonya through the car block, heading into a tunnel. Rachel and Aris walked beside the pair, feeling more comfortable amongst familiar friends. The rest followed a little more slowly, less sure of the new faces as Thomas looked around warily.

"Back it up, Joe!" Sonya called as they reached the end of the tunnel, and they watched, impressed, as a man pulled the last car out from its position blocking the tunnel entrance. Rachel was surprised when they walked out and saw several soldiers, coming down from their posts in the mountains, and climbing into several jeeps.

"Wow." She murmured, impressed.

Sonya shot her an amused smirk, while Harriet told one of the soldiers: "We're taking them to base."

"Wait, so, how did you guys get here?" Aris asked curiously as they walked.

The Group A kids trailed behind, Jorge and Brenda coming up behind them, while Harriet explained to Aris and Rachel: "The Right Arm got us out."

"Wait, wait." Thomas suddenly cut in as he walked faster to catch up to the four.

Harriet stopped beside a car, looking back at the brunette boy with raised brows. Thomas asked, undeterred: "The Right Arm? Do you know where they are?"

Sonya also raised her brows, glancing at Rachel, who saw the look and made a face. It had clearly asked: 'Is this guy for real?' and Rachel nodded back at her friend. Harriet meanwhile took it better, simply smiling and opening the jeep door.

She looked at the Group A boys expectantly, saying simply: "Hop in." while Sonya dragged Rachel to ride shotgun with her.

As the boys clambered in the back, Sonya opened the front door and asked her friend quietly: "So, who's the cutie?"

Rachel glanced at her in surprise, before turning beet-red as Sonya wiggled her brows and added slyly: "The one who can't stop looking at you for more than five seconds."

"Shut up." Rachel muttered, her face burning with embarrassment. Sonya laughed as she climbed in, while Harriet joined the three as Rachel got in after Sonya.

"Who's the blond?" Harriet also asked Rachel softly as she settled beside the brunette girl.

"That's what I asked!" Sonya laughed, while Rachel's face became, if possible, even redder.