The First Glader

16

Alby studied her carefully. "You're wondering if you're related."

Ada's breath caught. "I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to." He gave her a small, knowing smirk. "I'm not stupid."

Ada sighed. "I don't know what to think."

Alby leaned his head back against the planter box. "I think they send us up for a reason. All of us. You, me, George, Newt. And now Gally. Maybe... maybe they wanted us to figure something out."

Ada picked at the wood grain, brow furrowing. "If they send another girl up, it'll change things."

"Probably," Alby said. "But maybe that's not bad."

Ada looked up at him, eyes shining faintly in the moonlight. "You think I could handle another girl?"

Alby grinned. "I think she should be terrified of you."

Ada gave him a playful shove. "Shut up."

He laughed quietly, then turned serious again. "But yes. I think you could. I think you'd welcome her, even if it scared you. Because you're not actually afraid of change—you just pretend you are."

Ada stared at him.

For someone who didn't talk as much as George or analyze as much as Nick, Alby could cut straight to the truth with a sharpness that surprised her.

"You're good at this," Ada murmured.

"At what?"

"People."

Alby chuckled. "Only when I like them."

Ada raised a brow. "You like me?"

"Don't get cocky," he said, nudging her. "You're alright."

Ada laughed—really laughed—and Alby looked satisfied with himself for pulling it out of her.

They sat in silence for a while, watching fireflies drift lazily above the gardens. The night was soft, unthreatening, almost peaceful.

Finally, Alby said quietly, "If they do send another girl... I'll help you. I'll have your back. You won't have to carry that alone."

Ada smiled, heart warm and aching. "Thanks, Alby."

"Anytime."

He stood, brushing dirt from his pants. "Come on. You should get some sleep. Tomorrow's gonna be a long day."

Ada rose beside him, stretching.

But before they parted, Alby hesitated.

"Hey," he said softly. "No matter what happens next... you're not alone here anymore. Not ever again."

Ada swallowed past a knot in her throat. "Yeah," she whispered. "I know."

And for the first time since she woke up in that metal Box months ago—

She actually believed it.

It happened on a quiet afternoon, the kind of day where nothing urgent demanded their attention. The sky was bright but softened by thin clouds, and the Glade was soaked in that lazy warmth that made even Newt fall asleep in the grass after lunch.

Ada had taken a moment to herself near the tree line, sitting with her knees pulled up and her fingers idly picking at clover stems. She wasn't hiding—just thinking. The kind of thinking she had to do away from everyone else or it never happened.

George found her anyway.

He padded over at an easy pace, hands stuffed in his pockets, curls falling into his eyes. "You ditching us, sunshine?"