Chapter 7
Hello again, I want to give a big thanks to everyone that has reviewed as well as followed this story. Your reviews are much appreciated(: Anyways, I shall know move onto the next chapter. Enjoy.
Once everyone walked away from the Doors I lingered behind, unshed tears were burning my eyes as I stared at the ground. I really wish I had not seen that, the image of Matthews scared face will forever be burning into my mind. About 3 minutes passed before I came back to reality and turned my back on the Doors to head back to the Homestead, my plans for the night were to either drown myself in medical books or to drink myself into a stupor, either one sounded ideal to me. I drug myself up the stairs to the sick room that was no left completely empty and I sat myself at Clints desk and pulled out the same book I was reading yesterday, since I cracked open this book I've learned alot and if I want to be useful in the future I needed to know more so I zoned out the rest of the world and stuck my nose in the pages.
To be honest I wasnt sure how many hours had passed since I started reading but I was interupted when I heard heavy footsteps climbing up the stairs. I poked my head out from behind the wall and saw Newt holding a blue mason jar filled halfway with a amber colored liquid, I looked at him and raised an eyebrow,
"I really hope youre not planning on poisoning me." I stated and earned a chuckle in responce, he handing me the jar and shook his head.
"Im not gonna bloody poison you Peyton, I figured after seeing that today you could use a drink. Took me three shucking hours to come and your arse. Have you been up here the whole time?" He asked as he crossed his arms and leaned in the doorway. Bringing the jar to my lips I nod before taking a sip, the moment it touches my tongue I swallow it down quickly since I'm afraid I'll spit it out, I make a face and cough due to the burning sensation,
"Oh god! What is this stuff? You are trying to poison me you lying slinthead!" I hold the jar away from me and he laughes at me,
"Its strong isnt it? Its Gallys recipe, It takes like fire but it gets the job done. It gets easier." He motions for me to take another and I shake my head once again before I bring it to my lips again only this time I dont let it touch my tongue. I hand him the jar and he drinks from it too.
"So, what time is it anyways?" I stand up and stretch my stiff back, I walk past him and look out the little window, the sun is setting and I can smell the cooking dinner.
"Oh wow, it's getting dark already?" I would say its probably around five in the evening and he walks up next to me,
"I told you I've been looking for you for a bloody long time. To be honest half the boys were too scared to come find you, they thought you would bite their heads off. Stupid shanks." He looked at me and a frown pulled at his face, I look back at him after I feel him burning holes in the side of my face.
"I can tell you want to ask me something..so go ahead." I cock my head to the side ever so slightly as I wait for him to spit out what he wants to say. He runs a hand through his blonde curls before looking me in the eyes.
"Are you okay? Seeing a banishing is always hard on the newest person here. When we.." He stops himself for a second almost as if hes trying to find the right words to say, "earlier, after it happened its like you, shut down. If anything is bothering you you know that just about every shank here will listen to you if you need us to." He gave me a look of concern and I shrugged in responce.
"Except Gally." I deadpan and he tries his hardest not to crack a smile before pinning me again with his eyes, I sigh and slump my shoulder,
"Yes mother goose, and im fine really. Just..shocked. Ive never seen that happen to anyone before. But im okay now, I have to move on." I step away from the window and change the subject
"Lets go eat. See where the rest of the night takes us." I grab the jar back from him and I keep it to myself.
We walks through the Glade to the area with the tables and by that time I had a nice warm feeling in my gut and I felt at ease, I guess you could say I had a little buzz going on. I looked around and noticed I wasnt the only one nursing an alcoholic beverage so I didnt feel too out of place. I sloppily plopped myself down at the table and the boys all looked up at me, I graced them with a wide smile
"Hey boys." I say and they look at me with amused smirks as their eyes switch between my face and the jar in my hand.
"So it seems our girl here has finally got her little hands on something dangerous." I look up and see the Keeper of the Runners himself standing at the table, I raise an eyebrow at him
"Your point being?" I ask before I interupt him, "You know what? Dont answer that, I dont feel like having you ruin this nice feeling I've got. This is the best i've felt all day and I dont want you and your sarcastic comments bringing me down." He smirks at me and shakes his head.
"Now youre just assuming things. I wasnt coming over here to ruin your good mood. I was just a little surprised that you would like it. Its not for the faint of heart." He chuckles at me and I cross my arms.
Jeff pipes in with a shit eatting grin on his face, "I feel like we should have ourself a friendly competition. A drink off to be exact. What do you say Peyton? Want to show this shuckface here that youre tough?" He nudges me with his elbow and I rise up to that challenge, I look to Minho and I smirk,
"Sounds fun." His smirk becomes something more as he gets a fierce look in hi eyes and he sits himself across from me,
"Oh Red I hope you know what you just got yourself into." By that point the entire Glade was tuned into our little decleration of war and Gally himself placed two jars in front of us, one for Minho and one for myself. I look up at Gally's smug expression and it almost makes me want to punch him but decide thats probably not the best idea,
"Whoever loses their klunk first loses." He looks to me and I try to keep a tough exterior but he chuckles,
"Minho here is one of our finest drinkers, besides myself obviously, he may be a shuckface but can hold his liquor. Have fun." I steps back and I take a deep breath in preperation. I take my jar and he takes his, I decide to let him set the pace so once he takes a shot I follow suit. As the burning liquid goes down my throat I scrunch up my face but I dont let it stop me. Soon we both have an empty jar, then two then finally three sitting in front of us. By that time my cheeks are probably dusted with pink and I feel pretty intoxicated, Minho sat there with a satisfied smirk on is handsome face which just pissed me off.
"Don't give me that look, you havent won yet." I hear my words slurring slightly as we keep at it. Now a majority of the gladers have left out of bordom except for Gally, Newt, Clint, and Jeff. Minho and I were neck and neck and finally Clint had to step in.
"Alright you two youre done, its a draw, if either of you keep going youre going to kill yourselves. Plus Minho you have to run the maze tomorrow." I set my jar down and im glad for the intervention, I was starting to feel naueous. Minho groans and he looks to the Keeper of the Med-jack with an angry scowl,
"Fine, whatever." He looks to me and he pushes himself up rather sloppily "This isnt over Red I will beat you." Newt shake his head at the Runner and he calls over a few of the other Runner to help their keeper into bed. I wave him off with a just as sloppy gesture, I try to stand but I cant and fall back into a sitting position,
"This is waaaay to hard." Clint and Jeff help me up and Newt tells them to get me safely to my bed. I almost trip on the leg of the bench but I dont faceplant like I expected,
"You guys are the best, thanks so much for helping me." I slur happily and they grumble at me about how this was a stupid idea and Im going to regret it in the morning. Once they get me to my hammock I fall onto it and curl up before they even have the chance to remove my boots. They leave me to my drunken sleep with small smiles. I didnt even care that I would feel like death in the morning, I had a good time.
YAY so that was fun! I totally just pictured myself having a drinking competion with Minho so that helped with writing that scene. I really enjoy writing Clint and Jeff as Peytons older brother figures in this story seeing as shes now a med-jack and the only female, shes gotta have someone look after her. Lord knows what shell get herself into...but please review thakssssss(: