Fearless (1 of 3)

Alby wakes up

Summer...

"I am bored," I whined, stretching the 'o' in the word while hitting my head against the side of the ladder that I was holding for Winter so she won't fall. I am doing a great job as you can see. Fully focused and ready as always. The ladder shook due to me hitting my head and Winter upon it shrieked in surprise. She let go of the screwdriver she was holding and it fell next to my foot. I leaned down to pick it up. "You dropped something," I said with a sheepish smile holding my hand up to give her the tool back. 

My sister cooled me down with an icy stare. I might have almost knocked her off of the ladder, so I might have deserved that. But in my defense, I am really bored. I have never spent a full day in the Glade. Well, not since I became a full-time Runner. I never took a day off and now when I was forced to do so it was killing me. 

"You are a danger to society," Winter growled, glaring down at me from the ladder. She looked around. Her grip on the ladder was pretty tight. Her knuckles were even turning white. So much faith in me she has. "You know what...PETER!" She called for a shaggy boy that was carrying some planks over. He instantly dropped what he was holding and looked up at Winter panicked. "Take those planks where they are supposed to be and then get your ass here, you will be holding my ladder." She told him and he nodded sprinting in action. 

"Hey, but I was helping you!" I pouted, looking up at the girl with a short pixie cut. She looked down at me with a raised eyebrow. 

"You think after that stunt I want you to help me? You almost knocked me down. Not even Gally has done that yet." I looked down ashamed. I was replaced by Peter who gripped the ladder to keep it in place. "Go see if Newt doesn't need your help. But please for the love of the shucking Creators don't cause famine here by ruining the food the Track-hoes grow there somehow." I huffed and started marching towards the gardens where Newt was helping Zart with collecting the stones that Teresa threw yesterday. 

"Hi." I greeted happily causing both boys to look up. Zart's eyes grew in size when he saw me while Newt just chuckled. 

"Hey, love. What are you doing here?" He asked wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. 

"Yeah, Winter said she will keep you as far from here as possible," Zart said frantically. Obviously scared for his precious veggies. Don't fret boy, I haven't touched a thing yet. 

"I almost knocked her off the ladder," I admitted solemnly. Zart frowned slightly while Newt rolled his eyes. 

"I see, alright fine. Zart can you finish this by yourself?" Newt asked turning to Zart who nodded immediately. 

"Sure, yeah, right. Just take her away from here." I huffed when he said that. Newt nodded, brushing his hands against his trousers and he walked over to me. 

"Come on you trouble magnet." He said leading me away from the gardens. 

"I am not that bad, am I?" I asked sadly. "I mean I blew every job I was given today, I feel useless." Newt tilted his head to look at me. He gave me a soft smile. 

"No, no. You are perfect. You are just not used to working in the Glade. You are a Runner and you are good at it. Doesn't mean you are useless in other jobs." I know he was just trying to cheer me up because I was pretty much worthless in other jobs, other than being a med-jack. I would do that today but they already have Teresa there. Winter wasn't happy about leaving the new girl there with Alby but Jeff promised he will be there as well, just in case. 

"If you say so," I mumbled. Newt looked like he wanted to say something but suddenly the ground shook. Like literally shook. I gripped onto Newt's arm to steady myself as we both wobbled a bit, trying to maintain our stability.