Bonfire Night

The bonfire started half an hour ago and I've finally managed to show up to it.

Once I saw it had been lit from the tower, i started to really dread going down there. After A LOT of arguing in my mind about not wanting to go and to just hide away and pray Newt doesn't notice my absense, I reminded myself that I told Newt I would go and the last thing I want to do is let down my first real friend in this place.

Most of the gladers are sitting on logs, talking and laughing with each other. There's a few at the table which is filled with jars of what I'm assuming is the 'special drink' some boy makes and there's a huge group of boys surrounding a circle, watching and cheering on 2 boys fighting in the centre of it.

As I look around, I catch sight of Newt sitting on a log with 2 other boys.

I feel hesitant to over to him. I don't want to interrupt their conversation and I'm kinda scared to meet the boys he's sitting with.

Before I can chicken out, turn around and leave, Newt notices me and waves me over. The boys he's sitting with look to see who he's waving at and see me.

Fan-fucking-tastic, they've seen me now so there's no way I can disappear without looking like a coward.

I walk over to them, trying to stop the red creeping up on my cheeks from the attention.

"Hey greenie, nice to see you've finally shown up. I want you to meet some friends of mine", Newt says patting the empty spot on the log beside him.

I sit down and look at the two boys next to Newt.

"Hey shebean, I'm Minho, Keeper of the runners at your service", the boy with dark hair says, giving me a charming grin. Wow, he's hot and I can tell he knows it by the confident tone in his voice.

Before I can greet him, the other boy greets me "Ignore him, he flirts with anything with a pulse unfortunately, purely because he knows it pisses off the others, including me. I'm Ben and I'm a runner", he offers his hand to shake it and I take it.

"Nice to meet you both, I'm no name for now, hopefully I'll remember it soon", I smile at them both.

I don't feel any hesitation or panic meeting Minho and Ben. Even though Minho flirted a little, it's clear that's just part of his personality and he seems like he's fun to be around. Did I mention Minho's hot? Because WOW.

Ben seems very welcoming, kind and also charming. He seems confident and funny and clearly best friends with Minho. They seem the type to banter a lot, which makes me eager to hang around with them more.

"So what do you think of the glade?", Minho asks.

"Honestly, it's quite beautiful, especially looking down from the tower, but it's quite intimidating knowing I'm surrounded by only boys", I reply. I'm not ashamed of telling them how I feel. They seem nice and I need people to start to open up to or I'm gonna go insane only talking to myself in my head.

"Yeah, it was a shock when you came up for us and we know there's some shanks a little too excited about it but don't worry shebean, we'll look after you", Minho says, looking at me with a slightly serious look to let me know he means it.

"That's good to know. By the way, is shebean gonna be a nickname I won't be able to live down?", I say laughing a little.

"Yep. One thing you need to know about Minho is once he gives you a nickname, it's gonna stick with you until you die", Ben says, side eyeing Minho who smiles mischievously.

"I'm guessing your nicknames not a good one then", I say teasingly to Ben who grumbles. I hit a nail on the head with that one.

"Your smart shebean. Want to know what it is?", Minho asks, he already knows what I'm gonna say.

"Don't you dare Minho", Ben warns.

"Ben you should know by now that if you tell Minho not to do something, he's one hundred percent going to do it", Newt says laughing at Bens misfortune.

"Tell me Minho", I say excited.

"My nickname for Ben is twinkle toes", Minho says, with the proudest look on his face.

I try not to but I burst out laughing. "Twinkle toes?"

Minho and Newt start wheezing with me, whilst Ben's ears go red in embarrassment. He smacks Minho round the back of the head, which only causes him to laugh harder.

"Yep, twinkle toes. I came up with it when I was walking through the forest one night and saw Ben sitting alone. He saw some bugs, a couple crawling up his leg, and pulled out these shucking weird dance moves to get them off. I've never seen something so funny in my life", Minho tells the story, still laughing and clutching his stomach. I lean on Newt for support as he struggles to breathe from laughing.

Ben gets redder every second from embarrassment, but also laughs a little, the events of that night clearly replaying in his mind.

"Well I'm not the only one with a nickname I hate", Ben says, looking to Newt who immediately stops laughing, his smile completely gone.

"Ben keep that shucking mouth shut", Newt says.

"Oh yeah I gotta tell you Newt's nickname too. I call him-", Newt swiftly cuts Minho off.

"Don't you dare", he says with a glare.

Minho ignores him." I call him Mama Newt, because he's constantly mothering us. He hates the name but I think it's very fitting, don't you think?"

Newt huffs in annoyance, but we can see the small smile he's terrible at hiding.

"That's cute I love it. I've got a nickname for you Minho if you wanna hear it?", I say with a teasing grin.

Ben and Newt immediately light up.

"Yes, do tell us"

" I can't wait for this"

I wait for Minho's reply. He looks more curious than worried.

"Go ahead shebean, give it to me"

"From now on, I'm gonna call you Flaminho"

Newt and Ben start cackling and Minho lets out a confused laugh. "What's the reasoning for that name?", he asks.

" I don't why I know this, but there's these pink birds called Flamingo's and you give off strong Flamingo vibes, hence Flaminho", I explain.

Newt and Ben laugh harder, clearly loving the new nickname. Minho looks at me proudly.

"I accept that nickname and i will wear it as a badge of honour. Your good at this shebean, I think we're gonna get along great", he says, shaking my hand.

"I don't know how I feel about this new friendship", Newt says warily. Ben nods in agreement.

We laugh and talk for a while longer when loud cheering distracts me. I look over to see two boys fighting in the circle of boys. One very tall boy with short hair pushes a shorter boy out of the circle, causing everyone to cheer loudly.

The tall boy catches me looking over and frowns, causing me to look away. He seemed annoyed at me. I haven't even spoken to him and he seems pissed off with my presence which confuses me.

"Who's that guy in the circle giving a look that could kill", I ask the boys.

They all look towards the boy.

"That's Gally, he's the keeper of the builders", Newt tells me.

"Don't worry about Galpal over there, he glares at everyone, especially greenies", Minho says with a shrug.

"Yeah he doesn't like change, so he likes to scare newcomers", Ben adds on.

"He's a moody shuckface most of the time, don't let him intimidate you shebean, he's all bark no bite", Minho finishes.

"Wow he sounds like a treat. Love the nickname Galpal but I have a feeling he would skin you alive for calling him that", I say, glances at him again.

"That's why I call him it. It pisses him off big time but I'm untouchable because of the you can't harm another glader rule", Minho replies, chuckling.

"Speaking of Gally, here greenie, try his signature drink", Newt says, passing me the jar he was drinking from.

It's a weird yellow/orange colour. It doesn't look appealing and I have a feeling it won't taste great either.

"What's in it?", I ask.

"We don't know", Ben says simply.

"He refuses to tell us, it's a secret he says he will never tell", Newt adds on.

"It looks like he's pissed in it", I say, causing the others to laugh.

"Just try it and tell us what you think", Newt says, sharing a smirk with Ben and Minho.

I put the jar to my lips and take a sip. It burns my throat. I start coughing and scrunch my face in disgust.

"That's. fucking. vile", I say in between coughs.

They laugh at my misfortune.

"You get used to the taste after a while. Want a jar?"Minho asks.

"No thanks, that's awful. I'm gonna go to bed, it's been a long day", I say yawning.

"Alright shebean, see you tomorrow", Minho says, waving goodnight,

"Night greenie", Ben says.

"Night Flaminho, Night twinkle toes", I say grinning at them both.

"I'll show you where my room is", Newt says getting up. We start to walk off when I hear Minho shout out to us.

" Sharing a bed with the new girl Newt, you sly dog!"

"Don't have too much fun!" Ben adds. Both of them giggling.

Many boys hear them and turn their attention to me and Newt walking away together. Making me wanna be swallowed up by the ground.

"Shut up you shanks, I'm sleeping in the hammocks!", Newt shouts back.

We make it to the Homestead and Newt takes me upstairs to show me where his room is.

"I washed the bedding for you and the lock works just fine. There was also a box with your name on it I put just over there. I'll come wake you in the morning for breakfast", Newts says with a smile.

"Thank you. Goodnight Mama Newt", I say with a grin.

Newt sends me a playful glare "Goodnight Shebean".

He shuts the door but I don't hear him walk away until after I've locked the door. That's sweet, he wanted to make sure I'm safe before leaving, no wonder Minho calls him Mama Newt.

I walk over and open the box. It's filled with some clothes and toiletries. Thank god they put pads in here. I get changed into some clothes comfy enough to sleep in and close the box.

I get under the covers. This bed is actually quite comfy, I feel bad that Newt had to give this up but not too bad because I'm exhausted.

I close my eyes and replay events of today in my mind and sooner than expected I fall into a deep sleep.

Author's Note: This chapters a bit longer than the others but oh well. Due to the fact I'm basically an insomniac I was able to publish 2 chapters on the same day. I'm planning on posting another one tomorrow. Hope you enjoy xx