Mary: The First Girl

11

I sat there for what seemed like hours, waiting for Newt to come back. The clock on the wall proved it was actually only twelve minutes, but it felt like an eternity. 

He opened the door gently, and stepped in, arms full of blankets. 

He looked around, and finally found me at the desk. He looked slightly uncomfortable, but was now dressed in sweats as well, with a thin cotton T-shirt.

"Hey, Mary. You can take the bed, I got blankets for the floor." He said, setting the blankets on top of the bed, before turning to me. 

"Oh!" I blurted, relieved, "You don't have to do that. I'm in your room, I should take the floor." 

He shrugged, and shook his head. "It's alright. I will." And with that, he tossed a pillow down on the ground, and shook out a blanket, spreading it across the small room, and then setting another on top. 

I didn't argue. Standing up from the desk chair, I walked over to the bed and sat down, crossing my legs and leaning my elbows on my knees. 

He looked up at me, and much to my discomfort, I realized his eyes lingered on my chest before meeting my face. He looked flustered. 

I took my elbows off my knees, and sat up straight, embarrassed. 

I saw the flash of him in the crowds again. 

"Uh, how's this gonna work?" I finally said, as he crossed the room to sit beside me. And it was only then, as he approached, that I realized how much bigger he was than me— and how difficult it would truly be to fight back, if or when it's needed.

I tried to ignore that thought, and looked up at him through my long lashes. 

He seemed to think for a moment. "Obviously, I fought for you because the vote was ridiculous...I could never... Uh, bloody hell, I don't know. You'll work in the fields with me for this month, I suppose, unless Alby decides he wants to put you to work. And we should try to keep of appearances when we're out there," He nodded at the window, "But otherwise, just try to stay away from the other guys, alright?"

I nodded, not knowing what to say next. 

"If I act differently out there, just know it's to keep you safe, alright?" He said. 

I nodded, and finally found my voice. "Thank you, Newt. Uh, thank you." And suddenly, I felt the undesirable urge to hug him as I realized I narrowly avoided a terrible fate. And so, I did just that, leaning in and wrapping my arms around his chest quickly. He took a second, and did the same. 

"No problem, Greenie." He replied, and then stood up, walking over to his pile of sheets on the floor. 

"You good to go to sleep?" He asked, seeming to examine my pajamas. 

I nodded, suddenly aware that I wasn't. I was starved. I hadn't eaten today, and god knows when I ate before that. But I didn't say anything. He had done to much ready. So instead, I slid under Newt's covers and rested my head on the pillow as he flipped the light out. 

"Good night." He mourned. 

"Night." I said back, embracing the darkness.