AN: Sorry it's a bit late. You can blame mild writers block for the delay. Enjoy, read, and review!
-Sir
Two months. I'd been gone for two months. It didn't feel like two months. It couldn't have been two months. Two months.
"Sam?" Newt's voice interrupted my internal mental breakdown.
"Are..are you doing alright?" He asked. His voice was careful and gentle, as though he thought if he spoke to loudly I would shatter into a million pieces. He'd started being careful and cautious and watching me move and eat to make sure I was doing alright. Alright meaning not mentally disturbed.
That was to be expected, I suppose. For all he knows, I could lose it out of nowhere. Not to mention I've only been "back" for about fifteen minutes. I glanced around at everyone eating dinner, looking for the new boy Newt had mentioned. I saw someone I didn't recognize, but he was looking at me before I looked at him. He was kind of creeping me out. Newt noticed, and scowled.
"That's Jared. Don't go near him. He's a right bastard, I expect he'll be worse around you." He answered. I raised an eyebrow.
"You know, I don't think I've heard you swear." I commented. Newt looked indignant.
"I swear all the time, what do you mean?" He protested.
"Bloody doesn't count. It's adorably B-r-i-t-i-s-h." I concluded.
"That's a real swear. And I'm not adorable." Newt pouted. I smiled. He really wasn't helping his case.
"O-of c-course not." I grinned.
...
The next day, a sharp ringing noise pierced the afternoon air...and I jumped out of my skin. Newt chuckled. We had been taking a walk around the Glade.
"Are you alright, love?" He asked.
I turned to look towards the sound of the alarm.
"Wh-What was-" I started, raising my voice slightly to be heard over the noise, then cleared my throat sharply. I winced. Talking didn't really hurt, but it was rough because I hadn't spoken in ages. I wasn't used to it.
"It's the Greenie alarm." Newt said, saving me from trying to finish the rest of my sentence. "The new boy's coming up from the Box. You don't remember the sound?" I shook my head.
"Come on." Newt started heading towards the sound and I followed him, confused. We stopped at the edge of the gathering that had begun forming around what, although I couldn't see, was presumably the Box.
"I'll be right back." Newt disappeared through the crowd. I frowned. The alarm was louder from here, closer to the Box. I moved to cover my ears, but someone grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front of the crowd. I squeaked in surprise, then heard laughing. Newt smirked at me, his eyes full of laughter. He still hadn't let go of my hand. I rolled my eyes at him, then lightly nudged him in the ribs, annoyed.
"Did I scare you?" He asked, still smirking. I let go of his hand and crossed my arms.
"Maybe." I mumbled, not looking at him. Newt bit his lip, and I could tell he was trying not to laugh again. "Not f-funny." I grumbled. Newt smiled. He looked down at the Box, then his face fell slowly. He looked at me.
"You know, we might want to wait and give the guy a chance to adjust before he sees you." He spoke nervously. I raised an eyebrow. He looked like was about to defend himself, but then he just pursed his lips.
"The Greenie's already going to be mental from being in there and I don't want you hurt. Being the only girl, you'll likely just make him even more nervous. Don't you think it's best you wait until he's...calmed down a bit?" Newt said as he led me out of the crowd. I was about to protest, then I realized he was probably right. I didn't want get knifed or something by the new kid.
I sucked in a deep breath, then let out a short puff of air, frustrated. But I nodded. Newt smiled and kissed my cheek.
"Thank you." He said softly. I sighed, then gave him a half hearted wave and pushed back away from the Box.
I walked up to the Homestead and stood by the door. I cast a look back towards the Box. It was likely better this way, easier. I'd go and say hi to the new kid once he'd calmed down. It's not like he'd be anything special, so what was the point anyways?
Resigned to watching from a distance, I sighed and leaned against the wall of the building.
"Don't like crowds?"
I jumped, then turned towards the voice. Jared. I shrugged.
"Me neither." He said. "Not that you'd be much use over there anyways."
"Wh-What?" I scowled. He smirked.
"You'd probably just get in the way." He said. "Girls aren't good for much, hon. That is, besides...well." His eyes ran over me, slowly taking in my entire figure. I tried not to feel self conscious. "There's a few things I can think of."
"I'm...ex-excuse me?" I tried to calm down. It was worse when I was angry. Jared rolled his eyes.
"I mean, they could've at least sent us one that knew how to talk, but...I'm willing to overlook that annoying little problem of yours. Besides, we could be the last people on earth. It'd be our job to, uh...repopulate, if you know what I mean." He winked. I made an effort not to look like I wanted to shoot him. Everyone was still gathered around the box, though from what I could tell the Greenie had finally arrived. I glanced around, looking for someone that could come by and save me from this conversation.
"No one's around, babe." He said suggestively, misinterpreting my action. "How about you and I take a break and go do it in the Deadheads? It's not like your little boyfriend's gonna show up any time soon." Somehow interpreting my expression as a go-ahead, Jared leaned forward and closed his eyes. Admittedly not my best course of action, I panicked and punched him. Likely due to the element of surprise, he fell to the ground.
"You little bitch." He groaned. I scowled and walked off, heading towards the Slammer, figuring maybe Alby'd go easy on me if I walked myself in instead of making him track me down when Jared complained about me. I looked back, but he was dumb enough not to follow. Thank god too, because if he had been smart enough to realize he was half a foot taller and had probably fifty pounds on me he might've actually put up a fight. He probably could've knocked me out. God, I'm an idiot.
In hindsight, I probably could've just walked away, but I was too shocked by what he was saying to think straight. I shook my head, trying to clear it. Considering what he'd said, it was worth it. Punching might've been a bit of an overreaction, but I don't want him going any further.
Realizing that when Alby found out I might be locked up for a while, I turned and walked to the kitchen. I mean, since I woke up I haven't actually felt hungry yet, but...just in case. I glanced back to make sure Jared wasn't planning to attack me, but he was heading towards the MedJacks. Stomping more like it, he was seething.
I snuck into the kitchen. Stealing an apple, I let myself in the Slammer and sat down. A short while later, presumably after they had calmed down the new kid, the door opened. I looked up. Newt, Alby, and Jared stood in the doorway. Jared with a bandage stuffed in his nose. I snorted.
"Explain yourself." Alby demanded. I frowned.
"Jared's an asshole." I answered. Newt raised an eyebrow.
"I said, explain." Alby repeated. Jared seemed to understand I had insulted him and resumed his earlier death glare.
"Sam, all we know is Jared's side and he said you two were just talking then you punched him out of nowhere." Newt stated. "Unless that's what happened, which I doubt, you need to give us a reason."
Jared scowled at him.
"J-J-Jared said th-th-that...I-I..." I answered, still angry.
"Would you rather sign?" Newt asked. I shook my head.
"I don't want to say it out loud and have...it was inappropriate and offensive." I replied. "Offensive to me specifically, I might add."
"She doesn't what?" Jared asked Alby. After a moment of indecisiveness, I stood up. Walking to Newt, I pulled him away from Alby and told him what Jared had said. Once I had finished, he was clenching his jaw so hard I thought his teeth might crack. He was angrier than I thought he'd be.
"What the bloody hell made you decide to say that to her?" Newt exploded. "You can't possibly say that was unprovoked!"
"I'm not letting her out until I get a straight answer from her." Alby said firmly. Newt glared at him.
"Sam was perfectly within her right. He was being extremely offensive and if Jared had said that about her to my face I would've aimed much lower than his nose." Newt responded. Jared growled. I made a serious effort not to look accomplished.
"He didn't physically hurt her and she punched him first." Alby looked at me. "You're spending the night in the Slammer."
Jared looked smug. Newt looked angry as well as personally offended. Going off Alby's expression, it seemed like this kind of stuff had happened with Jared so many times before that he just didn't care anymore.
"Alby, you can't side with him. Trust me." Newt insisted.
"And you can't preach about order then try to let your girlfriend off easy." Alby retorted. "She stays."
He had a point. But it was still Jared's fault.
I'd have to wait until tomorrow to meet the new Greenie.