AN: I'm really sorry this took longer than the others, I've just had SERIOUS writers block. I finished as fast as I could. Enjoy!
The next morning after breakfast, Newt had walked me over to the Gardens and shown me the ropes. Being a Track-Hoe seemed okay. It was almost lunch and I hadn't broken anything, myself included. I would probably end up being in the Gardens with Zart. I was lucky. I didn't totally suck at Track-Hoes and might get a job I actually liked. More importantly, one that didn't require me to go anywhere near Gally or Ross. Newt still hadn't told me what they'd decided, I would definitely interrogate him about it later.
By lunch time Newt and I had planted seeds in three different plots, hoed, watered, and I had only hit myself in the face with a gardening tool once. Quite the accomplishment, though the hoe would likeIy leave a nasty bruise on my forehead. I was starting to feel a bit dizzy, but I ignored it for the sake of not wanting to seem weak. The heat didn't help either.
Newt left to get us lunch. I kept working to distract myself from my headache. Maybe I should take a break. I was wearing short sleeves, but I felt like I was wearing layers. I looked up from planting tomato seeds to see Newt walking back with the sandwiches and I smiled. I was starving.
He came up beside me and sat down with the sandwiches. I laid down my trowel and joined him, picking up a sandwich.
"So how am I doing so far?" I asked, then took a huge bite of my sandwich. The sandwich helped. Maybe I was just hungry. He smirked.
"Brilliant. I reckon if you can go without any mass murders in the next half hour, you'll end up with Zart and this lot here." I chuckled.
"I'll really have to restrain myself." Newt smiled. I wonder what my smile looks like. Suddenly I realized I've been here practically a week and haven't asked anyone about my appearance. I set down my sandwich. "Newt, what I look like?" I questioned. He looked up from his lunch. He stared at me for a few seconds then set down his sandwich too.
"I'd say you look about fifteen, maybe sixteen." Newt smiled, like he was remembering some inside joke, and then it was gone.
"Alby says I look sixteen, maybe closer to seventeen." I nodded in agreement.
"Stand up." He said. I obliged and he rose too, standing directly in front of me. "I think I'm about 6ft, you're probably about 5' 8'. You've dark, blonde hair that goes down to about your..," he paused, and glanced down. I felt my face heat up.
"...chest. You've got a light tan and a few freckles on your face. You've been attracting the bloody attention of nearly every shank here." He smirked and gave a short laugh at that, as if he found it amusing. I frowned. Newt sobered, then continued.
"Your eyes," He moved closer, looking into them. Newt couldn't have been more than six inches from me. "They're more than one color actually, it's rather nice. They're blue with green, but around the edge, they're a sort of," Newt moved closer, smiling. "Hazel." He breathed. Suddenly, I heard someone shout. We both stepped back quickly. I turned to face the intruder. It was Gally. He stopped in front of Newt, the smug look on his ugly face told me the shank knew exactly what he just did. I scowled.
"Alby wants a word with you, Newt." Newt glanced at me, which Gally must've noticed. I glanced down and noticed one of Gally's hands was bandaged. Shank had probably punched someone in the face. "Your little girlfriend stays." Gally smirked. Newt scowled at him. "Slim it, shank. Go find Alby in the Homestead. I'll watch Goldilocks." I really would need to restrain myself from committing a murder.
"Liz." Newt corrected. The two boys exchanged a look. "Watch her." He said, looking at me. Newt walked off towards the Homestead. Gally turned to me.
"So how's your day been runnin' Princess?" Gally smirked and kneeled down next to me. I had gone back to my tomato seeds.
"Fine." I muttered. I wanted this job and needed to focus.
"Aww, it's almost like you don't want me here." I put down my trowel and glared at him.
"Shouldn't you be building something?" I asked. Gally's smirk left him.
"Some kid nailed my hand with a shuckin' hammer an hour ago. Clint says I can't use it, so Alby told me to take a hike for the day. I'm all yours." He winked. I edged away from him slightly, moving to the next row of plants. He frowned, but stayed where he was.
"What did Alby want with Newt?" I had asked in an effort to change the subject. His face lightened.
"You haven't left the Gardens since breakfast. He probably wanted to make sure you haven't killed someone with a rake." I frowned.
"I'm damn well about to." I muttered. Gally clicked his tongue.
"Touchy, aren't we? What's got you in a knot, Greenie?" I chose to ignore this rather than encourage him. I stood up and looked over the plot, I had finished the last row. Gally rose with me. He must've taken my silence as a reason to continue, because he persisted. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you didn't like me." His tone was light, but his eyes were dark and narrowed.
"How long did it take you to come to that conclusion?" I snarled. Gally grabbed my shirt collar in his fist, yanking me forward with his good hand. He was taller then I was, and pulled me a good inch or two off the ground.
"About as long as it'll take for me to-"
"Oi! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Newt yelled. Gally dropped me and I fell, then tripped and stumbled backwards. Instead of the soil though, I felt a strong pair of arms catch me before I hit the ground.
"Thanks." I muttered. Newt eased me back up, then glared at Gally.
"I ask you to keep an eye on Liz for me and you bloody strangle her?" Newt demanded.
"You're welcome." Gally scowled, then headed off towards the Homestead.
"Are you okay, Lizzie?" Newt questioned.
"Perfect." I grumbled, brushing myself off. "Just perfect."