Three days later, Minho and I were back early. As we came into the Glade, we paused, resting for a moment. I caught my breath and looked up, scanning the Glade. We were still a distance away, but I could see that everyone had gathered around the Box. I looked at Minho and nodded towards them, asking a silent question.

"Greenie day." He breathed. "Later."

We ran to the Map Room and got to work, reciting words under our breath as we scribbled down directions as legibly and as quickly as we could. Finally, we set everything down. I sighed. Gesturing towards Minho, we switched and compared what we'd written. Identical. Except for the writing, of course. Minho's handwriting was nearly unreadable chicken scratch. Mine was much neater, but practically small enough for a magnifying glass. Minho chuckled as we walked out.

"I don't know if it's a girl thing, or what, but you gotta start writing bigger, shank. I swear, I'm gonna get them to bring up a microscope so I can read your tiny little letters." He teased. I grinned. We leaned against the outside of the hut, looking towards where the others were welcoming the new Glader.

"Guess we just missed the alarm." He commented. The two of us started to head over, then he stopped me. Minho frowned.

"Maybe you shouldn't...I mean, the shank will already be freaking out, you might make it worse." He managed. I raised an eyebrow. "I know. But what if he...I don't know, tackles you or something?"

"So I'm supposed to avoid him forever." I scowled. Minho cringed.

"Just, I don't know, give him some time to adjust or something. At least wait until dinner?" I sighed.

"Fine."

I sat at one of the tables in the Homestead, waiting for dinner to be ready. I was starving. I was kind of far from the line, but it was hot outside and it was colder over here in the back. It was me, and a few boys clanking around in the Kitchen. Everyone else was probably still fawning over whoever new guy was. Poor sap.

I glanced towards the direction of the Box, where they were all still gathered, wondering when they'd come over for dinner. It had been a long day, I just wanted to eat and sit with my friends. Well, and one sort of...Newt. I couldn't tell what we were, but we'd agreed not to mention it to anyone. At least for a little while. Mostly because we didn't want to deal with questions and Minho probably told everyone anyway so there was no point in making any weird announcements.

I tapped my pen on the table, then went back to drawing in my notebook. I'd done it inside the back cover, not wanting to waste any of the pages on my nonexistent art skills. That, and no one needed to see how bad I was at drawing faces. Even I couldn't tell who some of these were.

I closed my notebook when I heard voices. I turned to look towards the doorway. The others were drifting in, and almost last was someone I didn't recognize. The new boy. Everyone else got in line for dinner, and I started to gather my stuff and put it back in my bag. Then the Greenie saw me and walked over. I pursed my lips, but stopped packing my stuff.

"Hey." He said, sitting next to me. "I'm Michael." I nodded. Michael moved a bit closer and we shook hands. Wait, why isn't he asking why I'm a girl? Or something like that, I don't know.

"Minho, I think, said you couldn't talk, or something. Do you just...write, I guess?" He asked. There's the answer. Minho, poor shank, must've gotten Greenie watch and debriefed him. Or at least, gave him enough information that he didn't run around screaming.

"S-i-g-n." I told him. I figured I'd start with letters, since most of the other boys knew the alphabet. I still wasn't sure why so many of them actually knew sign language, but I assumed either they knew me previously and had tried to learn it, had gotten it from exposure and context clues, or whoever put us here didn't want me talking and had ingrained it into their brains so I could have communication. The last one made me shudder. I didn't like to think about what they might've done to us.

"And that always works? Have you been here a while?" Michael asked.

I shrugged and pulled my notebook back out, glancing at the dinner line as I wrote. Greenie better wrap it up or there won't be any food left.

"I like to get to dinner early." I wrote, trying to make my handwriting a little bigger. I'd rather have signed, but he was new. I figured I wouldn't confuse him anymore in case he didn't know what I was signing. But if he can't read, that's his problem. I pushed my notebook over. He leaned closer and glanced at my writing.

"No, I mean here." Michael clarified. "In the Glade."

"Like a month." This was awkward, I hated small talk. Not to mention I'm hungry and he just stared at me in silence while I was writing my response. Michael looked surprised.

"Really?" He asked. "You've been here that long?" I shrugged. It didn't seem that long to me. Not compared to the others, at least. I nodded.

"And you're just sitting over here by yourself?" Michael questioned. I raised an eyebrow.

"It's just...you're the only girl." He stated. I frowned. "And Minho didn't mention...but you've been here a while and you don't...I mean, no one's asked-no one's tried to..." Michel trailed off. I frowned. I didn't like where the conversation was going.

"Why? What are you asking?"

"No reason." He started. "I was just wondering...I mean, if you're not going out with anyone, did you want to go out with me?"

Okay, are you kidding me? Michael seems okay, but he's been here for literally under an hour. For all he knows I could be a total psychopath. He could be a total psychopath. Probably not, though. I sighed and shook my head. He frowned.

"What, do you have a boyfriend?" He asked. I closed my notebook.

"I-"

"He doesn't need to know." Michael cut me off before I had time to tell him my answer.

"There are a ton of guys here and you've only had one?" He continued. "I wouldn't buy that." What, now he thinks I'm sleeping around with everyone? I haven't had any. That came out of nowhere, what the fuck's wrong with this guy? By this time he had gotten a lot closer, again demonstrating his disregard for personal space.

"What do I have to do convince you?" His tone was still curious, and somehow it felt as though part of him couldn't tell how he was coming across.

"I don't-"

"So you don't have a boyfriend? Then what's wrong with me?" Michael kept pushing. Well, that escalated. That had been a bit rougher and he was almost scowling at me. I scowled back at him. This is getting out of hand. Sorry, Newt.

"I do, actually." I told him. "And I think he would be pretty mad if he-"

"If he found out I was giving you something better?" Michael suggested. What do you know, he is good at sign language. "You know what, you probably don't even have a boyfriend. Who is he?" He demanded.

"I shouldn't have to-"

"Unless you're lying." He challenged. I rolled my eyes.

"N-e-w-t. Happy?" I signed, trying my best to sign angrily. Sometimes I hate it, not being able to talk. At that moment Newt walked through the doors. He was back early. Newt saw me and Michael, then frowned and walked over.

"No." Michael scowled. "I'm not. Even if you're telling the truth, I'm the better option and you know it." Newt reached us, then leaned down and kissed me. After a moment of surprise, I kissed back. He sat behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. Michael stared. I turned around and Newt grinned.

"Sorry I'm late, I know you like to get here early. Greenie bothering you, love?" He asked. Newt scowled at Michael, who cringed, uncomfortable.

"Got something to say, have you?" Newt said stiffly.

"Sam says you're her boyfriend." Michael snapped. "Is that true? " Newt raised an eyebrow.

"No, I just snog all my friends as greeting. It's how the British say hello, haven't you ever been to England?" He remarked. I suppressed a smile.

"Although, it does surprise me that she brought it up in what I'm sure was a completely casual conversation." Newt started. "But that couldn't have been what was going on here because I asked her not to say anything. So what I'm hearing is she only told you because you were hitting on her after she asked you not to, which I'm sure she did. Were you making a move on my girlfriend, Michael?" Newt glared at him.

Michael's smug look disappeared, quickly replaced by a look of anger. He glared at him, then stood and started storming off towards dinner. Newt watched him, then his gaze softened and he relaxed. I turned to face him.

"Are you alright, love?" He asked. I nodded.

"Fine." I signed.

"I'm sorry if that's too fast, or if you don't-if you don't want to be...I know that was probably an excuse." He sighed. "I just, you looked like you were having an argument and once I heard him I knew he wasn't going to leave and-" I kissed him, cutting him off. When he pulled away, he was smiling.

"Thank you."

"So that, that means you want to be my girlfriend?" He asked, making sure. I smiled and nodded.

"Brilliant." He managed. "That would've been awkward."