ASUNDER (I) : tmr newt

51: I'm Afraid

Michelle 51

"You are late," Gally notes as I walk into the Homestead.

The room we were working on had a person fall through the roof. Again. Construction has been halted on top of the building while we rip open the walls. If people jumping on the floor above causes it to rip out from beneath them, we need a better support system.

"I am exactly on time," I tell him, even though I am an hour late. "I see you finally cleaned up the mess."

Yesterday's job was to remove the floor above us, and rip down the walls. The door and the window were good to stay, which makes me somewhat okay with the situation at hand. It feels less like we are starting from scratch. Reinforcing the interior shouldn't take more than the day. It'll take another to drywall it and paint it. As far as I can tell, we will be doing it for the rest of the week. Which is fine with me; the longer I put off building this room, the farther I can be away from Leo and Dawn.

I mean, I haven't talked to Leo in awhile, but Dawn seems okay now. Or at least, not okay but okay for me to talk to. I think she gets it.

"No thanks to you," he grabs my arm, dragging me away from the crowd of boys sticking up the wall. One of which is David, who only looks at me through the door frame. His blue eyes stare me down as I am ripped out of sight.

His eyes are the same colour as mine.

"What were you doing yesterday?" He demands. "I have half a mind to report you."

"I was with Dawn," I mutter, once again ripping myself from his grip and backing against the wall. He is so demanding. Where was I, and what did I do, and why wasn't I here? I have half a mind to deck him, although I think we are on the same team. "Newt sent me looking for her. Some shank beat the crap out of her."

Gally looks taken aback, stepping away from me. "You're serious?"

I nod carefully. "It was bad. She won't say who, but she's pretty mangled."

"They're going to launch an investigation." He tells me. "They'll think you did something."

I didn't, and he and I both know it. Dawn wouldn't rat me out either. If she would've, I'd already be in the Slammer again. All I have to do is keep my head down and pretend I don't know anything. Realistically, I don't know who did it. All I know now is that Dawn and I are somewhat talking to each other now.

"What's your cover story?" He asks me.

"I saw her climbing the Walls," she begins. "She said she was fine so I left."

He glances at me with a weird glint, but before I can explain, the door shuts behind Alby. I don't flinch at the sound, by I look up to stare at him. He crosses his arms over his chest, before looking at Gally.

"I see news travels fast," he steps closer to us, swinging his arms forward so he can crack his back.

"I wanted to know where Michelle was yesterday," Gally tells Alby, staring him down. "She wasn't here after all. I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me when you were talking my Gladers for personal errands."

"It wasn't personal," he tells Gally, before looking at me. "You saw her climbing the Walls last night?"

How much of this conversation did he overhear? "Yes."