Variant | Newt

7 | divide

I held back a groan and kept my focus on Newt, who was thinking over his options.

"Come on, Newt," I said more kindly, dropping my voice so quietly to be sure Gally wouldn't hear me this time, "take a break and get some painkillers, and see where that leaves you. No need to push yourself so hard, okay?"

Newt's chest rose and fell as he mulled over my proposition. Finally, with his eyes only on me - at this point, we acted as if Gally wasn't even there - Newt scratched the back of his neck and gave in. "Alright, then. A short break, but then I'll be back."

"A short break," I agreed, nodding in approval. A loud smacking noise caught us both off guard.

Gally had slapped a bandana against the work bench, and eyed us with distaste. "You two done yapping so I can get back to work?"

"I hate to leave you with him," Newt whispered to me, making a sour face as he glanced at Gally, who was rolling his eyes at us.

I sighed. "I'm sure Gally's bark is worse than his bite."

"Shut it, Missy," Gally retorted, "You're not staying either."

Newt and I locked eyes with one another, confused and shocked by Gally's blatant words. Newt stepped up first, cocking his head at Gally. "And why's that?"

Gally eyed his pals nearby, the other two boys already snickering at whatever their leader had planned to say. He spit out a wad of saliva at his feet before smirking at me. "Well, I'd hate for her to chip her manicure."

Newt grabbed my wrist lightly and tugged me into his side, muttering, "Come on, Y/N, it's not worth it. Gally's got klunk for brains anyhow,"

"Yeah, greenbean, listen to him," one of the other Builders mocked, puffing his chest out as he crossed his arms.

I looked over the Builder's area, seeing if there was anything that I could craft. I wasn't sure if I was the DIY-type, but it couldn't be that hard, right? I mean, most of the furniture builds around the Glade were noticeably crude - at the very least, I was sure I could match their designs.

"No, I think I'll stay," I decided, pulling my wrist from Newt and approaching Gally with a stoney expression. I held my hand out expectedly, hoping he would pass my the nearby hammer that lay on the workbench.

Gally's tongue flicked over his top row of teeth as he smirked down at me, almost like he was impressed with my will to not back down. That, or he was excited to see me fail.

"Alright, greenie, it's all yours," Gally chuckled darkly, slamming the hammer's handle into my palm with more force than necessary. I almost grimaced, but gripped the hammer and snatched it away from him. As sarcastically as possible, I muttered out a sickeningly sweet, "Thank you."

"Go on, then, Newt," piped up one of the other boys, "she's done this to herself."

"Ain't no use in babysitting her no more," said the other.

Newt's jaw clenched, but I sent him a confident nod. I needed to fight this battle myself.

Still, Newt eyed the Builders threateningly, almost daring one of them to fight. "Be on your best behavior. All of you, I mean it."

"Yeah, aye aye, Captain," Gally sneered, mockingly saluting Newt with a lazy flick of his wrist.

Newt startled walking away, and I did my best to control the attitude I could feel flaring up in my chest. "So," I began, looking over the scraps of wood along the work bench, "What are we building?"

Gally laughed, a hearty, mocking sound that echoed from his chest. "Oh, no. We aren't building anything. You said yourself," he stabbed my upper chest with a pointed finger, "you wanted to stay. So, build away, greenie."