Chapter 3

She had fun with Legend. He was slightly naïve and well… dumb, but that probably was the fault of his age. "How old are you anyway, youngling?" She knew he must have been younger than sixteen given the nickname.

"Fifteen. Do you remember your age, greybeard?" He made sure to say her nickname as annoyingly as she had said his.
She had wondered about it for a second. "I…" C'mon. She closed her eyes quite desperate. If she couldn't recall her own name then how was she supposed to remember her age? And then she saw it. Huge, multi-storey light blue cake with lavender seventeen written on top in braw handwriting, she could almost feel the taste of blueberry icing on her tongue "I'm seventeen."

"That's shucking cool. At least you're sure they won't call you younglings." Legend noticed.

"Yeah, but they still might call me greybeard. I don't really know what's worse at this point." She chuckled. Legend laughed with her, his vivid, green eyes shone brightly with joy.

"Newt's back." He said suddenly, looking over her shoulder and she immediately turned around. As Legend had said Newt was coming their way. He had his hand slowly brush his hair roughly, ruining up his coiffure. And with his messed up hair she couldn't deny he looked hot. But she also noticed how exhausted he looked right then, and frustrated.

"Hey, sorry it took so long. I hope Legend took good care of ya." Newt smiled warmly at her. She knew he was trying to hide something behind it. She decided to ignore it for now.

"I guess so. But don't leave me with him again. He's too annoying." She smirked at the boy.

"Ow, see who's talking, greybeard. Beside it wasn't that bad." He raised an eyebrow at her as if he was daring her. Newt was definitely taken aback by the name Legend called her by.

"Well, next time I just want your food." She stuck her tongue out at him, and he rolled his eyes playfully.

After a while Newt asked her to go with him. Legend promised to continue to annoy her the next day and with an ironic eye roll she went away. She wanted to ask Newt many questions about the meeting, but he was quicker.

"Do I want to know… ya know about gre-" She cut him off as soon as she got the idea of what he was saying.

"Nope, definitely not." They walked in silence for a while before she spoke up. "Where are you taking me?"

"To the homestead. You gotta sleep somewhere, love." He smiled cheekily at her. She rolled her eyes.

"How did the gathering go?" She asked and he looked down. "What's wrong? Why are you so tense? Don't you think I should be?" He chuckled. Somehow that put him at ease. At least she thought so.

"Well… you're quite a surprise to all of us. Not having a girl for year and a half and now… We were trying to figure it out. To be fair some keepers thought it was only a bloody rumor." She listened as he explain.

When he got to an Alby part she had to bite her tongue to keep herself from acting impudent. She hadn't exactly met the guy yet, but she was already wary of him. "He's just overprotective of the Glade. When he gets to know you you'll see he's actually quite likeable." Newt defended Alby after telling her his reaction to her arrival.

"Let's hope you're right." She sighed. They finally made it to the homestead and he surprised her by opening the door for her. He told her to go upstairs and then quickly followed her. She went through long corridor painted grey or really dirty white, she couldn't tell.

"Here." He called out, when she passed the door. Of course he had already opened them for her and she mattered a 'thank you'. She quickly noticed that the room already had its owner, though, if it were to be true it was very tidy, not clothes were scattered on the floor and everything seemed to have its place.

"Whose room is it?" She asked knowing he entered right after her.

"Mine." Her eyes widened. She turned around to face him, but not before she'd got control over her breathing.

"Well, I honestly appreciate the offer, but don't you think it's a little early? I mean we haven't even gone on a date yet." She grinned trying to look confident. It must have worked for Newt became cocky himself.

"I kind of took you to dinner, love." He chuckled.

"Not fair!" She protested smiling at their little game. "I ate it with Legend. If it's that way then it's only fair I stay with him." She challenged him.

"Sorry to break it to you but he ain't have a room." She raised her eyebrow.

"Then where does he sleep?" She was really confused now.

"Oh, right… yeah, I apparently forgot to tell you…" He rubbed the back of his neck, his cockiness completely gone at this point. "Only keepers and those in command have their own rooms. The rest sleeps outside on hammocks." He explained and she slowly nodded.

"And I'm staying with you, because…" She trailed off.

"Because you're the first girl and we don't know what those slintheads might do, I mean they're good guys, but still, we don't wanna take any bloody chances." He said. "And you're staying with me, by the way, I'm going to sleep outside and you can have my room until we figure something out." He added.

"But…" She felt guilty for taking his room. "It doesn't seem fair to you." She stopped being playful somewhere along the way, too.

"Nah, it's nothing I can't handle. I'll just grab a blanket and I'll be as good as the rest of those shanks." He assured her.

" 'Kay 'kay." She looked as he opened his wardrobe and took few things out of it. He handle her a shirt and a pair of pants.

"You can sleep in those if you like. Tomorrow, we will figure something out." She nodded with a shy smile.

"Thanks." He smiled warmly. He had already opened his mouth, when they heard awful, scratching noise and she jumped looking around herself. "Whoa, love, calm down." He walked up to her grabbing her by both arms gently. "It's just the maze. It closes for the night." He tried reassuring her. She shivered in his grip as his eyes desperately searched hers.

It took her few moments to calm down. " 'Kay, I'm alright." She exhaled as if she was holding her breath this entire time.

"You sure." Newt didn't let go of her. When she looked at him and nodded he pulled back with an expression she couldn't read.

"Thank you, Newt." She truly meant it. She should be terrified and confused, and she was, but he made it easier somehow.

"Don't worry 'bout it. It will take you some time, but you'll get used to it eventually." He clearly misunderstood what she made, but she refused to clarify.

"I guess… How long did it take you?"

"Hm…" He rubbed the space above his upper-lip. "I'm not sure… I just… I remember I was talking with someone and sometime later I noticed they had closed without me noticing." His radiant smile made her believe him. "It's gonna happen to you to."

"I don't think I want to get used to it…" She wrapped her arms around herself and looked out the window. It was getting dark, but she noticed a group gathered in the middle of the Glade. "What are they doing?" She turned her head to Newt and once again he walked up to her. He stopped few inches behind her.

"Oh, you see usually when the new greenie comes up we have bonfires to celebrate their arrival and to make them feel welcomed."

"And I don't get one because…?" She turned to him with annoyance written all over her face.

"Because your arrival was kind of unexpected and we had to have this gathering and it messed up our plans so we had to postpone it. You'll get one tomorrow, though. Beside Alby wanted to get to know you better before we introduce you to the rest -" She interrupted him recalling what he told her about Alby.

"To make sure I'm not a threat."

"I know it's difficult, but you need to understand he's just trying to take care of this place." But she didn't want to. "He's trying to keep those shanks safe. But when you two will get each other this bloody prejudice thing will go away."

"Sure." She nodded. She doubted this Alby was trying, but Newt definitely was, so she could at least pretend to try for him.

"You should get some rest. I'll come for you in the morning. Goodnight." He smiled last one time at her and she fully turned to him.

"Goodnight." He walked out the room closing the door behind him soundlessly.

She sat on the bed and caressed the soft fabric of the shirt he had given her, when she realised one of the most important things. She opened the door and ran after him screaming.

"Newt, wait up! Where's the bathroom?"