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The raven haired girl awoke to the round of the sirens. The box was coming up. When she finally dared to open her doe eyes she found Newt sat at the end of her cot, no doubt waiting for her to get up so they could both be there when the Greenie arrives.
The tall boy watched her honey eyes open, as they did he smiled lovingly at her tired little face, a light dribble stain running down her chin. "Come on, princess. Time to get up." He told her, turning around to get her shoes, newly-washed mustard shirt and hairbrush.
Athena groaned as she sat up, rubbing her eyes with her scrunched up fists. Newt set her trainers by her feet before getting her to stand up. He walked behind her and lifted her dirty white shirt over her head. Whenever he helped change her shirt he made sure there was no way that he could see her chest. He was too respectful to abuse her vulnerable state. Once he had pulled the new shirt over her he turned around to let her change her underwear, hearing a quiet "done" once she was finished. As quickly as he could he brushed her hair through and tied it in two buns at the top of her head.
"Thank you, Newt." The lanky boy kissed her cheek in return, helping her slide into her shoes before they left the cozy treehouse.
The boys were already surrounding the box in a crowd by the time Newt and Athena had gotten there. The box was starting to open, and Newt and Athena made their way to the front of the crowd. "Athena coming though!" Newt shouted, causing everyone around them to part and let her though. Her cheeks felt as though they were on fire, but she tried to concentrate more on the boy inside the box.
His arm was shielding his eyes from the sun, while staring up at each of the gladers staring down at him. He was already a sweaty mess and there was a pile of vomit in the corner.
Gally jumped into the box, getting up into the new boy's face. "Day one greenie, rise and shine." He pulled him out of the box and chucked him onto the grass, causing Athena to whimper. She hated when the boys got rough with each other. They were picking at the Greenie laying on the grass, laughing and teasing.
It appeared to be too much for the boy before he got up running, sprinting away from them. Athena went to follow him, but Newt held tightly onto her shoulders. "No," he whispered into her soft hair, "let him go." The boy was fast, moving quicker than she used to see Newt run before his accident. Laughter erupted around her as the boy fell over, his head above the ground and staring at the four walls that confined them. Sarcastically they clapped as he stood up, his mouth open in shock.
They threw him into the pit Incase he tried to run again before Alby could talk to him and give him the usual questioning before showing him the glade. Newt and Athena watched as they spoke and the boy stared around cluelessly. "I feel bad." Said Athena, pulling one of the leaves off a branch. "You always do, sweets." Chuckled Newt, grabbing her hand before dragging her over to the two.
"Alright, Ably?" Newt asked, his English accent standing prominently. "Greenbean, meet Newt." Said Alby. Newt and the new boy shook hands as they eyed one another. The new boy hadn't noticed the little girl cowering behind Newt's tall body. "When I'm not around he's in charge." "It's a good thing you're always around then." Newt joked, nudging Alby. Athena smiled up at the new boy after she stepped away from Newt. "And this is Athena." Alby introduced. "Only girl here. Also, she's off limits. Don't go getting no ideas. Wanna find Newt, it's easier to find Athena first. They're always together." The boy stared down at her, his eyes becoming soft upon seeing her. "You was really fast when you ran away, Greenie." Athena told him. "For a second I thought you had the chance to be a runner, until you face planted." Newt agreed, his hand resting on Athena's right shoulder.
Alby laughed, while the other boy stood there confused. "Runner?" He asked. Alby and Newt stared at each other before Newt turned towards Athena. "Could you go find Chuck for me, sunshine?" "Mhmm!" She hummed before waving them goodbye, going off to fetch the friendly boy.
Athena was near the walls, collecting all the sticks she could find to put onto the fire. Greenie and Chuck seemed to be getting close to the walls. She dropped her sticks as the Greenie got too close to entering the maze than she liked. "Um, Greenie, you're not allowed in there!" She ran in front of him, spreading her arms out as though her width would stop him. "I'm just looking." The boy bluntly replied, looking over the girl as though she wasn't there. "Well you're looking too close." She tried to remain strong, "please, just go back a bit, if anyone sees you this close-" Athena was cut off by Gally, who had pushed the new boy away from the wall at a thundering pace. Newt came running towards them at the commotion. He dragged the staring girl away from the couple fighting as Alby tried to calm down the Greenie.
"Baby, what on earth were you doing?" He asked, getting onto his knees to be eye level with her. He took one hand into hers and rubbed tenderly at her knuckles. Her tiny palms held nail marks from where she'd squeezed her fists together so hard. Newt kissed the sore patches before looking up at her, awaiting a reply.
"He kept getting closer to the maze!" She mumbled, looking down. "I didn't want him to get hurt, so I got in his say." She finally looked into his chocolate eyes, her own getting teary and bloodshot. "I'm sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing." She cried.
"No, no baby you did." Newt pressed her fragile body into his own, rubbing circles with his fingertips across her back. "Just get me next time, okay? You're too little to fight people off, princess." She smiled lightly, tightening her arms around his neck until he took the hint and lifted her up and back over to her sticks.
