Then She Came

Newt 8

I stuck the shovel into the dirt, leaving it in an upright position before I had pulled a string of twine out of my pocket to tie an overbearing stem from the tomato plant to a post. 

"Ey, Newt?" I hummed in response, looking over my shoulder quickly to see the Green Bean standing there, the edge of his shirt being worried between his fingers. Was he nervous? "Well today's my second day. Alby said I couldn't ask any questions until today." I nodded, finishing the knot and turning to face him. But he look ashamed of himself. "I was asking Maya a lot of questions yesterday and now I feel bad about it because I broke the one rule Alby made me promise to follow." 

He kicked at the dirt, his head bowed and his cheeks growing redder. 

"It's a'right, Green Bean. As long as Alby doesn't find out."  He looked up at me, a hint of a smile on his face. "D'you remember your name yet?" He shook his head. 

"Can I ask you questions now?" I chuckled and turned to face him again. 

"Save those for Alby." His grin falters but he nodded and ran off. I stared after him with feelings of sympathy. That boy was to young to do anything much other than being a Slopper. 

• • • •

"I REMEMBER!" A shout rang out through the Glade and everyone looked towards the Deadheads to see the Greenie jumping up and down excitedly. Maya and Alby stood next to him with alarmed faces from his sudden outburst. The Greenie looked around and blushed a deep red. "Sorry!" He called before turning back to his two companions. 

I chuckled and turned back to shoveling more fertilizer. My shirt stuck to my skin with sweat. The temperature was always the same, but that day felt so much hotter then the days before it. I bought a dirt covered hand across my forehead, brushing the hair out of my eyes. 

"Hey, Newt. Meet Chuck!" I turned around at Maya's voice but the pair of them burst out laughing. 

"What?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at them. "Is there something on my face?" 

"Yes, actually." Were Maya's eyes watering? What the shuck is so funny? "You have a bunch of dirt on your forehead. It looks like you face planted into the ground!" She doubled over in laughter and I frowned and brought my hand up to wipe it away "No! You are just going to make it worse!" The Greenie, Chuck was laughing so hard he had fallen over. Ok, it really wasn't that funny. "Here let me help." 

My breath caught in my throat when she brought the end of her shirt up to my forehead, revealing her pale ribbon of skin littered in scars from her past battles. "You ok there, Newtie?" She asked, smirking. 

"Uh, um, yeah, totally." I stuttered and I could feel blood rise to my cheeks. I shot Chuck a look as he was rolling on the ground, his mouth open in inaudible laughter. Tears were streaming down my cheeks and glared at him. 

"Got it." She said, coming back down from her tiptoes and lowering her now dirt covered shirt. She smiled at me but it turned into a smirk when she saw how red my cheeks were. "Come on, Chuck let's go to the Homestead so I can show you where I work. 

Chuck slowly got off the ground and sulked as he followed Maya away from me. Jeez, he already thinks I am a joke. 

The sun started to set and I let out a breath in relief, I was done for the day. I immediately went to the Homestead to grab clean clothes that I could change into after showering. 

The lights seemed to hum when I walked in and the sound followed me as I limped up the stairs. As soon as I reached the door that belonged to my room, I swung it open and then closed it behind me, immediately taking my shirt off. I sighed at the feeling of the air coming into contact with my warm skin. I threw the smelly shirt into a corner of the room and pulled out a clean shirt. 

"OH MY GOD!" I looked up quickly to see Maya standing on the threshold of our room and the hallway, her hands over her eyes. "Newt, your shirtless." She said, stating the obvious causing me to chuckle. 

"I know that." I said and stood up. "Does it bother you?" I smirked. 

"Well, when you look like that it does." Maya said quietly and removed her hands, but only to look everywhere but me. Her cheeks were the color of strawberries.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, I mean, you could see my ribs and faint scars, but really, it's nothing to be ashamed of. 

"You look like a freakin' chiseled god, Newt." She squeaks before hurrying out of the room. I stare after her, confused and then look down at my torso. I really didn't understand what she was talking about. 

I threw my shirt on, still dazed, and headed to the bathrooms to shower. 

"Man, you gotta man up and just make a move." Ben says, shoving a piece of chicken into his mouth. "Nothing is ever gonna happen if you just sit there and ogle her." 

"I don't know what you are talking about." I say, looking over my shoulder again to Maya who was waiting in line for her dinner. 

"Dude, it is obvious, but to like everyone but her. Just make a move. It is clear she likes you too." I looked back over to Ben and gave him a bored look. 

"I don't like her!" I insisted. He just smirks at me and then smiles over my shoulder towards Maya. 

"Hey there, May's." He grins cheekily and she frowns. 

"That nickname, never again." 

"You got it, May's." She scowled and shoveled peas into her mouth. 

AHHH ANOTHER CHAPTER. THREE CHAPTERS IN A WEEK? WHO AM I? I don't know but I'm liking it. Anywho, this was kinda just a filler chapter but I like it.