Losing Hope

Sixteen

A few moments later, I was walking around with the new kid, when Newt slowly came towards us. I stopped walking, explaining to the Greenie that he was the second-in-command in the Glade. "Feeling better, Greenie?" Newt asked as he reached us. The boy nodded, then looked up at me.

"I was about to give him the Tour, wanna assist me?" I suggested, and Newt smiled, nodding.

"Sure," he said, and he started walking to the Homestead with us. We then walked to the Bloodhouse, explaining quickly to the kid what the jobs were and how it worked to be assigned to one. Newt wrapped his arm around my shoulders for support as we were walking towards the Gardens, and I didn't pay attention to it, still focused on my explanations. The little kid cut me off.

"Are you two, like... a couple?" he asked, and I looked down at him, frowning.

"No. Why do you ask?" Newt said hesitantly, and I didn't dare looking up at him. The boy shrugged, looking down.

"I don't know. I remember... That when people are holding each other this close, it means they're in love," the boy mumbled, and I had a small laugh.

"Oh no, he's just holding himself up. You see, he injured his leg while working, and now he is healing, but he still needs a little help to walk," I explained, looking up at Newt. He smirked, looking down at the kid.

"It's a good thing you remember that kind of thing, though. Some of us didn't remember that on their first days," he said, and the kid smiled brightly.

"Really?" he asked, and I nodded. We continued the Tour, the kid asking questions then and there, and we answered in the less detailed way possible, to make sure not to scare him off again. We were reaching the Homestead again when Alby came up to us.

"So? How are you feeling, Greenie?" he asked, smiling nicely at the kid. The boy half-hid himself behind me, and he laughed, bending down at the kid's level. "No need to be scared of me, kid. I'm the nicest guy around here. Except maybe Newt," Alby said, and I looked at Newt next to me. Alby noticed how Newt was holding himself on me, and frowned. "I thought you didn't need your crutch anymore?" he asked, and Newt shrugged.

"Not when I'm working. Different when I'm walking around," he simply said, and Alby nodded.

"Well go get it. I'm gonna have a chat with our Green Bean," Alby said, and looked down at the kid. He looked up at me, unsure. I did my best reassuring smile.

"You'll be fine. I'll see you tonight, okay? We're gonna throw you a big party," I said, and he nodded, then Newt and I went over to the Homestead.

"How was I?" I asked, and Newt smirked.

"Amazing. I like how didn't lose your cool at all when the kid said we looked like a couple, considering how much you love me," he joked, and I rolled my eyes, punching him in the ribs. He scoffed at the hit, then laughed. "Aw, come on Lily, I was kidding."

"I know. I just felt like punching you. Alright, go get your third leg," I said, pushing him off me as we reached the entry to the Homestead. As I waited for him, Gally came by  the Homestead, carrying a box for the Med-Jacks.

"Hey, Caroline. How does it feel to not be the Greenie anymore?" he asked, and I shrugged.

"Not that different. At least he's nice to me," I said, crossing my arms on my chest.

"Aren't we all?" He asked, and we laughed. "Don't forget, you promised me you'd fight with me tonight," he said, walking in the Homestead. I frowned.

"When did I promise that exactly?" I asked, and he answered without turning around.

"On your first day!" he said, and I nodded, sighing. He was right. I had to fight him. Well, that could only be good.

Soon enough the sun was down and the bonfire was lit up. The Greenie seemed to have loosened up a bit, but he was still very shy around the boys. I was chatting with Minho, Newt and some Runners, when Gally shouted my name. I turned around, seeing him in the fighting circle. I rolled my eyes.

"Ready to get your ass kicked or you're going to chicken up again, Shank?" he asked, and I scoffed, getting up.

"I'm not scared of you Gally," I said, standing up and handing my mug to Newt. Minho cheered, and the little group followed me as I walked over to Gally. I walked into the circle, facing him. He smirked.

"Alright! You can't get out of the circle. Is that rule simple enough?" he asked, and I rolled my eyes, bending in a ready to fight position.

"Bring it," I said, and he laughed. Without a warning, he ran to me, his shoulder hitting me straight in the stomach. I let out a breath as he turned and threw me on the ground. I fell straight on my back, but quickly stood back up, facing him again.

"Was I too rough?" he asked, and I didn't answer. I ran to him, grunting as I went to copy his first move on me. He seemed to expect it, but he held his leg up to kick me too early. I stopped abruptly, letting my feet slide in the sand. I fell on my back, but not before grabbing his foot and holding it against myself. When my feet reached his other foot, he fell down face first in the sand. I pushed him off me, standing up. I turned to face him, dusting the sand off me.

The boys went crazy, cheering and shouting encouragements to the both of us. Gally turned to sit on his butt, smirking up at me. "Not bad," he said, and he held himself down to kick his leg around. I jumped just before his leg got to my feet, kicking the sand when I came back down. The sand hit him right in the face, and he coughed. I smirked, bragging around, arms lifted up. I walked over to Gally and offered him my hand.

"You're not too hurt?" I asked, and he rolled his eyes, grabbing ahold of my arm. He pulled himself up, but didn't let go of my arm and he kicked my heel. I was sent flying on the ground, the air fully knocked out of my lungs. I grunted, looking up at him.

He leaned down on me. "Never declare yourself the winner too early, little girl," he said, smirked, and I shook my head, trying to hold back my smile.

"Get off, Shank," I ordered, pushing him away from me. I stood up and dust myself again, raising my hands up again. "Alright, you win," I said, and the boys cheered on him. And I shook my head, laughing to myself, before walking back towards my friends.

"If you ask me, that last move wasn't really fair," Newt said, and Minho hit his back.

"Of course, if we ask, you'll say she won," Minho said, and Newt scoffed, shaking his head and looking away.

"Whatever. I promised I would fight against him, now that it's done he can stop annoying me with this," I shrugged it off. I grabbed my mug from Newt and chugged it down, coughing almost right after. "Sand and that drink isn't a good mix," I complained as the boys laughed. We resumed our little chats, while the grunts and cheers kept coming from the fighting pit.