After getting bowl of stew from Frypan I sat at a table Newt called the keepers table with Newt, Winston, Zart and a few others I hadn't met. When I arrived at the table all conversations stopped. I'm not sure whether here everyone was greeted with wide eyes and gaping mouths or these boys just weren't used to the company of a girl. I'd say the latter.
"Hello Greenie" it was Alby who decided to break the awkward silence "how was the tour?"
"Hey Alby" I greeted kindly "it was okay" I answered sitting down next to Newt "I'm still bit confused about everything though"
"Aren't we all" a voice chimed in behind me.
I turned around to see a tall muscular guy of Asian descent walking towards the table followed by another tall guy with blonde hair and blue steel blue eyes
"The names Minho" the shorter, dark haired boy said as he sat down across from Newt "and this shank here" he said nodding towards the taller boy who was now heading towards their table with a steaming bowl of stew "is Ben"
"Hello Ben!" I let out a bit too enthusiastically causing him to almost drop his food. I really needed to learn to talk quieter
"sorry I didn't mean to scare you" I said in a much quieter tone
"It's ok" he said while looking at his feet. He quickly glanced up at me before returning his gaze back to his feet "um, do you mind if I sit next to you?"
"Of course not" I replied with a smile earning a wolf-whistle from Minho. I'd known the guy a solid 15 seconds and already he was getting on my nerves. Ben clearly embarrassed by this, quickly sat down and stuffed his mouth full of food.
"okay time for some serious talk" Alby announced to the table ceasing all conversations not that there were really any to begin with.
"Now I was going to call a gathering to discuss this" Alby began "but I'd much rather get this over and done with now. We need to decide where our new greenie will be staying" he finished
"Well I don't think she should be bloody sleeping outside" Newt stated "who knows what any of these shanks could try on her"
The thought scared me. All of the boys I'd met so far seemed nice enough but you can never be too sure.
"Yes but who's to say that wouldn't happen if she bunked with a keeper" Minho added "not naming any names"
"Winston" Ben coughed earning an eruption of laughter from the whole table even Winston himself who even though he was glaring at Ben still couldn't hide his grin.
"What about Alby?" Zart asked "he is the leader and all"
Everyone turned their heads towards Alby
"Yes I know as the leader I'm the obvious choice, but I'm far too busy to be looking after her all the time"
Wow no need to sugar coat it Alby I thought to myself.
"I vote that Newt takes her" Alby finished
Everyone around the table nodded their heads agreeing with the leaders recommendation
"Is that okay with you Newt?" Alby asked
"Yeah I'll take the greenie, you better not bloody snore though" he said to me with a wink
"for your sake I hope not" I said with a chuckle
After finishing up dinner I followed Newt back to our room. It wasn't very big and all that was in it was a desk and chair with some scattered papers and a lamp on top of the desk and a hammock hanging along one of the walls.
"it's not much" Newt said as we entered "but it's better than sleeping outside with the rest of those shanks"
I still didn't know what a shank was or what a lot of other words the boys were using were, but I didn't want to sound silly in front of Newt so I thought I'd save the questions for a later date.
"So where will I be sleeping?" I asked turning around to face Newt and in answer to my question he held up another hammock.
"Where do you want it?" he asked
"ah, near the window please" I answered
After trying and failing to put up the hammock a number of times Newt set it up in about 2 minutes while telling me not to bother trialling with Gally because I've already proved myself hopeless with building.
"What are you talking about trials?" I asked confused
"oh yeah" he replied "starting tomorrow, you'll spend a day with each keeper until we find a place where you belong best. Tomorrow you start with Zart and the track-hoes"
"Well then I better get my beauty sleep if I'm going to be up bright and early for Zart"
"That's right" Newt replied with a smile "goodnight greenie"
"Goodnight Newt" I said already on my way to a deep sleep