GG Ch3
Alby- "We need to see her other injury, so we know how to treat it, and how long it'll take to heal," Clint said. I had woken up to the sound of crashing, screaming, and crying; the girl had tried getting up without help and taken a nasty fall. I looked at Newt, who was biting his nails, staring at the hut in concern. "Wait, they sent her extra clothes, right? Grab a pair of pants and cut them short," I said to Newt. He nodded and went inside to talk to the girl, then came back out, grabbing a pair of black pants and a knife, then went back inside to give them to her. The four of us stood in silence a few moments until she called for us.
When we walked in, we all froze; covering half her thigh was one, large, bruise. "Bloody, shucking, hell! No wonder she's in pain!" Newt exclaimed. Clint and Jeff looked it over, glancing at one another. "This is pretty shucking bad, Alby. She must've fallen hard or something to get a bruise this bad." "But what about the other bruises?" I asked. "We think she either had them beforehand or got them from fighting the assholes that put her here, because not only are they random, but some are obviously from hands." Newt inhaled sharply through his teeth, anger on his face.
"Are you okay?" I asked. She didn't respond, just looked at the floor, miserable and holding back tears. "I'll get her food. Newt, I want you to stay with her today. Got it?" He smiled at me and patted my shoulder. I knew I could count on him, so I walked out. While Fry finished cooking breakfast, I found Gally and asked him about the hut. "If we work in our shifts and follow our old blueprints, should take a month or two." I nodded and slapped him on the back. "Good that. Newt talked to her about sleeping outside, said she doesn't mind." Gally nodded and walked over to the others while Fry reached me, handing me the girls' food.
"Easy now! Try to relax, it feels weird the first few times." I turned and saw Newt with the girl, trying to help her walk on the crutches again. I frowned, seeing her bruise from all the way over here. Dark black and blue clearly visible against her tan skin. I jogged over, wondering what was going on. "Said she wants to be outside," Newt answered, then he turned to her, "Do you want to sit at the tables?" She looked over and frowned, shuffling about, uncomfortable. I noticed everyone looking at her, but they stopped when they saw me glaring. I looked back at her. "Well, little lady?" She shook her head and gestured over at the trees. "Okay, nice and easy now, love," Newt spoke gently to her.
Jeff tucked a pillow under my arm, and I followed Newt as he stuck close to the girl, making sure she didn't fall. It took a few times, but eventually she got it, now using the crutches by herself. Newt sat her down and took the food from me. "Newt!" We looked over to see Gally walking over. "Fry dished your food too," he said, handing it to him. I noticed the girl smiling at Gally and watched him out of the corner of my eye. He looked at her and asked if she was okay; she said yes, but rubbed her leg, wincing.
Gally's eyes winded at her bruise, then looked at me. "Shuck if I know," I told him. "Little lady, Gally here is the one in charge of building your hut. So, don't worry; you're in good hands," I said, knocking the back of his head. He fakes a swing at me, and we started wrestling, which made the girl giggle. We all looked at her, surprised, because she looked happy for the first time since getting here. Newt smiled at her, then at me. "Alright, let's leave her be. Newt, I'll check on you two later." I walked away, pushing Gally with me. Once we were out of earshot, I turned to him, "She seems to like you." I said it casually enough, but he still looked shocked. "I don't know why, I haven't done anything, I swear, except help her." I snorted. "Gal, chill. You're not in trouble, just making an observation." He sighed, deeply, then looked over at the girl.
While she ate, Newt was talking to her, making gestures around the Glade, occasionally pointing at some of the Gladers. Must be giving her the lazy tour since she can't walk. "I think Newt likes her, or at least thinks she's pretty, because he smiles at her too. Keeps calling her "love"." I raised an eyebrow. I did notice that, but I assume it's because he's the kindest out of us all. Thankfully, I could trust Newt, that's why's he's my second. But even I couldn't deny she was attractive, so he was probably right. Taking the chance to tease him, I smirked at Gally and asked, "What about you? You think our little newbie's pretty?" Gally looked offended and angry. "That's not shucking funny. I worry about her; she's injured and surrounded by idiot boys. Anything could happen." This angered me, but at the same time, I know he's right.
"I need to eat and get ready to work. See ya, Al," Gally said, already walking away. I smirked. Oh, this girl is gonna shucking kill us all.
*Time Skip*
Gally- We worked non-stop until lunch, and even then, we worked hard. My fellow Builders didn't mind the short break, they knew I wanted this done, but I knew not to rush. I'd rather her hut be built slow and careful, then rushed and ruined. Absorbed in my work, I didn't hear someone come up behind me, until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned, and there was the girl, watching me with curious eyes. "Hey Gally!" I jumped, not realizing Newt stood behind her. "You tryin' to kill me, shank?" Newt rolled his eyes, then nodded over at the girl. "She wanted to watch, see what you're doing. That alright?" I looked at her and she met my eyes. A soft smile appeared on her face as she raised a brow in question. "If I'd be in the way, I can go." My heart stopped for a split second; it had been some time since she spoke. This time, her voice was gentle, warm, and it pulled at you, made you want to listen to her. "You can stay, just don't interrupt, Princess." Newt stiffened at my tone, but the girl just giggled and rolled her eyes.
"Yes, sir," she responded, then she walked back a bit before settling on the ground. I ducked my face away, heat flooding my cheeks. Her words were sarcastic, but they sounded like a soft purr when she said them. This is the kind of stuff I was worried about; flirting, anything being mistaken for innuendos or showing interest. I know that's not what just happened, but Alby's words came back, "She seems to like you." I don't think it's like that; she's probably just more comfortable around me because I didn't hesitate in helping, even when she didn't want it. Besides, she doesn't even know me. I focused on back on work, familiar territory. Thankfully, the guys didn't pay her any mind. They looked at her here and there, but there were no interactions. That didn't stop me from following their every move; ready to step in if they went near her. Newt seemed to be doing the same, his eyes watching us all, frowning when they'd look at her too long.
She kept quiet, maybe a question or two, but she mostly focused on watching us. It wasn't until later, when she handed me the ruler I was looking for, that I realized she was watching me. I could feel her eyes on me when I turned my back. But anytime I went to look back, she'd be watching something else or focused on Newt. Then I noticed the way she'd smile at Newt; it was a tiny smile, always at the corner of her mouth. He seemed to like when she did it, a big, goofy, grin would appear on his face and his eyes would light up. But it was nothing like the smile she gives me, oh no. Those smiles were bright, big and beautiful, shuck knows why, but they made me feel warm, and I didn't mind them. I heard her giggle, then the sound of bleating. I turned to see one of the goats nuzzling her, making noises as she petted it. Newt looked on like it was the most incredible thing he'd ever seen. She petted its head, then told it to go home. Surprisingly, it obeyed without a second thought and bound back over to its pen.
"Little Princess knows how to give orders, I see," Alec said, laughing. She shrugged while Newt nudged her. "Maybe you'll end up working with the animals, love." Alec snorted. "With all that blood and all? Shuck no, wouldn't want to dirty that pretty face." The way he smirked at her when he said this bothered me, and I frowned, ready to fight him, if need be. "Shuck it, Alec. What did I tell you about mouthing off?" He glared at me. "Whatever," then went back to work.
The girl smiled at me, then nodded, as if to say thank you. "No problem," I mouthed to her. "Newt, I need to move around, I feel restless," she said in a tired voice. Grabbing her crutches, Newt stood up, holding out his hand for her to grab. I noticed how small her hands were when she grabbed Newt's, not that his were much bigger, but hers were almost delicate; I'm not sure if it's a girl thing, or if it was just another testament to her perfection. I remembered holding them in my own hands to cut her bonds, so small they were swallowed up. I looked down at my hands after waving her and Newt goodbye; they were large, I'm often told I'm built like a barn, and they were rough from all the work I do. "Those hands could hurt someone, do more damage than help." The long ago memory of Alby's words popped up out of nowhere, and I shook it off. But then I remembered all the random bruises on the girl's legs, the Med-jacks claiming some of them came from hands.
I growled at this; the girl didn't deserve that; she didn't deserve those injuries. Who could hurt someone like her? I looked over at the girl; Newt had taken her over to see some animals that were in the outside pens, and she was smiling. It was in that moment that I vowed to make sure she'd never be hurt again. Until she learned to trust us all, I'd keep her safe. I'm not sure why I feel so committed to this, but something about this injured, beautiful girl alone in this place, surrounded by guys, put me more on edge than her arrival had. "Done staring, Gal?" Alec said, gaining my attention. I hadn't realized I was staring so long; the other Builders were all looking at me. "Need a towel to wipe all the drool off your face?" Alec taunted me. I chose not to respond and just went back to work.