Jealous

chapter ten

"Why do we need to talk?" he asks.

"Because, you're acting weird."

"I'm not acting weird."

"Yes, you are. You won't talk to me and everytime I come near you run away."

"We're talking right now."

"Only because you have nowhere to go," I say. "You skipped work today. Would you care to explain?"

He's silent, thinking about his answer. "I just didn't want to go today."

"But you love the gardens. You wouldn't miss a day unless it was really important."

"I just couldn't."

He really isn't making this easy.

"Newt, what's going on with you?"

"Nothing."

"Just tell me."

"It's nothing."

"You can talk to me."

"Nothing's going on."

"I'm just trying to help."

"This isn't helping."

"Okay, we don't have to talk about why you've spent your day pacing under a tree, but I'm not letting you leave until we talk about something."

Newt gives a loud sigh and rolls his eyes. "Fine. How's the greenie?" he says in a mocking tone.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"You know what I said, how's the greenie?" he asks in the same mean tone.

"Why would I know?"

"You seem to be spending a lot of time with him."

"I haven't seen him since breakfast."

"Aren't you guys dating or something?"