╭┈─────── ೄྀ࿐ ACT ONEˊˎ-
╰┈➤ ❝ [𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟎𝟎𝟓] ❞
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୨⎯ "You're delusional, Minho." ⎯୧
ᵀʰʳᵉᵉ ʷᵉᵉᵏˢ, ˢⁱˣ ᵈᵃʸˢ ⁱⁿ
As the sun dipped below the towering walls of the Glade, casting long shadows and painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, the group of teenagers gathered near the dining area. Madylin had convinced Gally to whip up some extra of his drink so they could play a game of 'would you rather.' It was a good distraction from the stress they had daily.
The rules were simple: Each person would take turns asking a question, and the others would have to answer or take a drink. And the questions, oh the questions, were getting juicier by the round.
Nestled between Newt and Nick, Madylin felt at ease in their company. She gazed around at the group of boys she now considered her family, each one with their own unique personalities and charms.
Her gaze eventually landed on Minho, who stuck his tongue out at her. The two had become best friends since her arrival in the Glade, bonded by their shared humor and determination to protect everyone.
As the game progressed, the teasing among the boys escalated, each trying to outdo the others with clever questions.
Halfway through the game, Winston interrupted with a weird observation. "Hey, has anyone noticed how Madylin and Nick kinda look similar?" he quipped, earning a chorus of raised eyebrows and skeptical looks. Winston proceeded to explain his theory, pointing out similarities between the two's facial features. "I mean, they both have those sharp eye shapes, the freckles, and other stuff," he argued, his hands gesturing animatedly. "The only obvious difference is that Madylin is a ginger and, well, a girl, while Nick here rocks the blonde hair and dude vibe."
Minho couldn't help but chuckle at the comparison. "Yeah, I can see it now. They're both some ugly shanks—" he teased, a smirk playing on his lips, as the other boys erupted in laugher. "Maybe they're long-lost siblings separated at birth."
"Rude." Nick whined as Madylin sent Minho a middle finger.
Madylin raised an eyebrow at the absurdity of this idea, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well if Nick is my brother, then I definitely deserve some sort of compensation for being related to him," she retorted jokingly.
Nick rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh please. Being related to me would be the best thing that's ever happened to you-" Madylin mocked the boy, earning a wink from him.
Newt chuckled at the banter unfolding before him. He leaned closer to Madylin, "I'm not sure about you two being siblings, but one thing's for sure - you both share a talent for stressing out too much," he quipped with a warm smile, his brown eyes meeting Madylin's blue ones.
Nick flashed a crooked grin. "Hey, stress is our middle name," he declared confidently.
Gally, with his serious expression, softened with amusement as he chimed in. "If stress had a face, it would definitely be yours, Nick," he remarked with a chuckle, earning laughter from the group.
❈
Madylin swayed slightly as the moonshine worked its magic, filling her veins with a warm, fuzzy glow. The night air seemed to shimmer around her, the stars and moon lighting the sky. As she weaved through the Glade's bustling crowd, her steps became lighter, her laughter more carefree.
She spotted Gally, Nick, and Alby sitting in a circle, deep in conversation. Without hesitation, she ran over to them and plopped herself down in the middle, much to their surprise.
"Hey, gentlemen! Brother-" Madylin eyed Nick with a smirk, her words slightly slurred from the moonshine. The three boys looked at her with a mixture of confusion and amusement. "Gally! Come dance with me!" the ginger girl chirped as she swayed on her feet. "I bet you'd be fun to dance with— with your muscular arms." she continued, giggling as she reached out to touch his arms. Nick chuckled in amusement while Alby gave Gally a playful smirk. Gally's brows shot up in surprise.
"You're a bit too tipsy for dancing, Mady," he remarked, trying to keep a straight face despite the hilarity of the situation.
"Oh, come on, Galpal! Lighten up!" Madylin pouted, her lower lip jutting out in a playful sulk. She was known for her spirited nature, but tonight the moonshine had amplified her antics to a whole new level.
❈
Newt and Minho were engaged in a hushed conversation, their heads close together as they observed Madylin's antics with shared amusement.
"Come on, man. You can't deny that you have a bit of a crush on her," Minho teased, nudging Newt with a knowing smirk as they watched Madylin twirl around in a dizzying display of exuberance.
Newt rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You're delusional, Minho. She's just a friend. Besides- Half the bloody Glade has a crush on her." But as they watched Madylin interact with the other boys, Newt couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. He didn't want to admit it, even to himself, but he had developed feelings for the girl who had brought light and joy into their bleak existence in the Glade.
Before Newt could say anything else, the small ginger girl draped herself over Newt's back and shoulders with a giggle. "Hey, what are you guys talking about?" she slurred, her breath warm against Newt's ear.
Newt stumbled a bit, but quickly regained his balance. He couldn't help but feel a flutter in his stomach at the closeness between them. He swallowed nervously, exchanging a glance with Minho, who raised an eyebrow in silent amusement. "Uh, nothing important, Love. Just..."
"Just gossiping about you, love," Minho interjected smoothly, mocking Newt's nickname for the girl, earning a playful swat from Newt as Madylin's laughter filled the air once more.
"How much have you had to drink, love? You're a bit... all over the place," Newt remarked, changing the subject, as he tried to steer her towards a quieter spot away from prying eyes and Minho followed behind.
"Not enough!" She declared, her hand reaching out to tug at Newt's sleeve. "I wanna dance— Newt dance with me!" she whined, dragging the 'e', as she pouted.
Newt exchanged a helpless glance with Minho, who shrugged in amusement. "Looks like you're her dance partner for tonight, shank," Minho quipped.
Ignoring the knowing smirk on Minho's face and unsure of what to do, Newt led Madylin to a clear space by the fire. The crackling flames casting a warm glow over their figures as the boys played handmade instruments in the background. The small girl laughed and twirled around the bonfire, the light from the flames danced across her face, highlighting the freckles dusted across her nose. Newt couldn't help but smile as he led her in a clumsy dance, his heart fluttering.
The bonfire crackled and popped, casting flickering shadows over the faces of the onlookers as they watched the scene unfold with equal parts amusement and curiosity.
Minho walked over to Gally, Ably, and Nick, deciding to join in on the conversation. The Korean boy exchanged a smirk with Gally as they watched their friend struggle to keep up with Madylin's wild movements.
Alby leaned in towards Nick, his voice low with a touch of concern. "Think she's gonna be okay? She seems a bit... out of it," he murmured, casting a glance at the pair dancing by the fire.
Nick watched Madylin with a mix of fond exasperation, his lips quirking in a half-smile. "She'll be fine. Newt's got it under control," he reassured Alby. They were having fun.
Meanwhile, Newt and Madylin twirled and laughed, their figures illuminated by the warm glow of the firelight, the music swelling in a gentle melody that seemed to match the rhythm of their erratic dance. "You're pretty good at this!" Madylin exclaimed.
Newt chuckled, feeling more at ease than he had in a long time. He couldn't help but notice the way her eyes sparkled with joy, her freckles standing out in the flickering firelight. Madylin stumbled against him, her grip tight on his arm, and he held her close, guiding her through the dance with a mixture of tenderness and exhilaration. His eyes crinkled at the corners with a smile that reached all the way to his eyes.
Minho and Gally observed the duo with amused expressions. "Looks like someone's having fun," Minho remarked.
Gally nodded, his lips quirking in a faint smile. "She's something else," he agreed, his gaze lingering on the ginger and blonde as they laughed and danced under the stars.
As the dance continued, Madylin's laughter filled the air, her carefree spirit infectious to everyone around her.
"He looks happy," Minho commented, "I haven't seen him smile like that since before..." He trailed off, a somber expression crossing his face.
Gally patted Minho's back in understanding. "She's good for him – for all of us," he stated. The two boys weren't the closest but they understood each other. They both had a problem with expressing their thoughts and emotions. For Minho, he'd just keep pushing forward, ignoring it, and for Gally, he'd turn everything into anger and defensiveness. Yet, the pair could talk to each other.
Minho raised an eyebrow at Gally. "How long do you think until they finally admit their feelings for each other?" he questioned.
Gally let out a sarcastic sigh. "Hopefully soon. I can't bear to watch them trade shyness with each other forever," he joked.
❈
Newt's heart raced as he spun Madylin under the starlit sky. For a moment, everything else faded away, leaving only the two of them in their own world.
"You're not so bad yourself," Newt teased in response to her compliment, his voice soft but filled with genuine affection.
Madylin smiled softly at Newt, her heart swelling. They slowed down their dance, catching their breath together.
"Thank you." she whispered. "I like dancing with you."
Newt couldn't take his eyes off of her sparkling blue eyes. There was something about her that drew him in. Without thinking, he reached up to brush a stray hair from her face. "Me too, love." he murmured, lost in the moment as they gazed at each other.
Madylin's expression changed as a shadow passed over her face. Unease crept into her eyes and she leaned into Newt unsteadily. "Newt, I don't feel so good..." He helped lower her gently to the ground and knelt by her side, his brows furrowing.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly as her face had grown pale.
Minho was at their side in an instant. "What happened?"
"I don't know, she said she didn't feel good," Newt replied worriedly. He turned back to the small girl who was hunched over. "Where does it hurt?"
Madylin winced. "My stomach...ugh, I think Gally's drink isn't agreeing with me."
Minho frowned and suggested getting her back to her hut to rest it off, to which Newt nodded in agreement. Sliding an arm behind her shoulders and beneath her knees, he carefully lifted the small girl, concern for her etched on his face.
Madylin leaned her head against his chest weakly. "I'm sorry," she said softly.
"Don't apologize, you've nothing to be sorry for," Newt reassured her gently before exchanging looks with Minho. Minho walked alongside them keeping an eye on her. As they made their way through the Glade, Madylin's breathing was shallow and her face was covered in sweat.
After carrying Madylin to her hut, Minho held the door open for Newt as he brought her inside and set her down as gently as possible on her bed. While Minho went to fetch water and a cloth, Newt stayed by Madylin's side, soothing her feverish brow. "Just rest okay? you'll be alright," he whispered to her, his hand lightly grasping hers. Her weak grip pleaded for him to stay, even as she shuddered in pain.
Newt exchanged a look with Minho who nodded in understanding. "I'll let Nick and Alby know she's resting," Minho said before leaving the room and closing the door behind him. With privacy finally achieved, Newt soaked the cloth in cool water and gently dabbed it against Madylin's hot forehead. Her breath still came in shallow gasps as beads of sweat covered her pale skin.
"The moonshine really hit you hard, didn't it love?" Newt said softly. He brushed a of her ginger hair from her eyes, frowning.
"At least I had fun first." Another wave of nausea washed over her and she groaned, "How am I going to work tomorrow?"
Newt gave a small smile before quickly turning to a frown again. "You're not going to work tomorrow—"
"What about the Greenie? Nick wanted me to get them from the box..."
"Love..." He dragged, "You. Need. To. Rest."
Madylin wanted to protest but another wave of sickness overtook her senses. She closed her eyes tightly and focused on controlling her breathing while Newt continued dabbing her forehead gently with the cloth.
After a few moments, the tension in Madylin's body began to ease and her breathing became more steady. She opened her eyes to find Newt watching her with a concerned expression. "Thank you for staying with me," she murmured softly.
Newt gave her a gentle smile. "Always. How are you feeling now?"
"A little better," she replied, a hint of color returning to her cheeks. "The cloth is helping." She reached out and held onto Newt's hand tightly. "I'm glad you're here."
Newt squeezed her hand back, his heart aching at the sight of her weakened state. "Get some rest. I'll be right here."
Madylin nodded and closed her eyes. Newt continued cooling her forehead, lost in thought. While he was worried for her health, a part of him was also thankful for this quiet moment. It gave him a chance to process his feelings without distraction. Seeing Madylin sick tugged at his heartstrings in a way he wasn't used to. He cared about her deeply, and the possibility of losing her shook him to his core.
As her breathing steadied in sleep, Newt allowed himself a faint smile. Even now, he couldn't help but admire how the moonlight danced across her features that made her beauty hard to ignore. He gently traced along the side of her face, his fingertips lingering a moment too long against her soft skin. This close, it was impossible not to notice every freckle, every detail - and wish to memorize every detail of her face to memory.
With a sigh, Newt reluctantly withdrew his hand and composed himself. There would be time for such thoughts later when she was fully recovered. For now, ensuring that she got enough rest was his top priority.
Noticing Minho approaching from outside the small window, Newt silently got up from Madylin's side, careful not to disturb her. "I'll be back." She nodded sleepily and he exited the hut.
Minho looked up expectantly. "How is she?"
Newt let out a heavy sigh. "She's resting now. Her breathing has steadied." He ran a hand through his hair anxiously. "I think she has poisoning, Min. She drank too much and her small body couldn't handle it."
Minho nodded grimly. "Keep and eye on her, make sure there's no worse reaction. And no more alcohol for that shank!"
The boys shared a brief smile at that before their faces turned serious again. The Glade had fallen quiet as the others went to sleep. Only the occasional crackling of the dying bonfire broke the stillness.
"I'll grab an empty bucket in case she starts to-"
"Ew! Don't. Even. Say. It." Minho interrupted with a gag.
"Vomit," Newt smirked. Minho gagged again, doubling over and clutching his stomach.
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I definitely do."
"You're a drama queen." Newt chuckled as he watched the Korean boy glare at him.
"And you're a loverboy." Minho sassed back.
Newt's face reddened. "Just go to bed," he nudged Minho in fake annoyance.
"Go cuddle your girlfriend," Minho teased as he walked away.
"Don't forget tomorrow is Greenie day—"
"Yeah yeah," Minho waved off Newt's reminder.
AN: I'm trying to add different perspectives as I go and show quick glimpses of Madylin in the Glade before Thomas the Train arrives. I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Next chapter, I'll be introducing a new OC and will add him to my cast once it's posted.
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