This is my first fanfiction, I hope you like it. Don't forget to comment your thoughts or ideas!
The Garden Bench
It had been a year since it happened, their final battle to freedom. Newt remembered it all too well. The dreams and flashbacks still hunted them. But life was as good as it would get; Thomas and Brenda had finally gotten together, and Frypan was back in the kitchen.
One night, Newt and Minho were sitting by the fire talking.
“Man. I gotta tell you something,” Newt said, fidgeting.
“What?” replied Minho.
"You gotta promise me you won't bloody tell anyone, but I just have to get it out."
“Well, hurry up shank.”
“You know that girl, Sindy? I work with her in the gardens and, I really like her. I, just don’t know how to talk to her. Like, we've talked, but we haven't talked. I mean, who could love a shank like me? Someone with a limp?” Newt looked into the glowing fire.
Minho looked at Newt, “Don’t you ever, say that about yourself again shank. your limp is part of you, you can’t change that. Yeah. We’ve been through some tough times, but that don’t mean a shuck thing."
Newt looked up at Minho, “i know but-”
“But nothing. And if you haven’t noticed. Sindy can’t stop staring at you. You should see the way her eyes watch you.” Newt looked into the night, as if he might see Sindy there right now.
“Her eyes shine like no others when she laughs.” He sighed.
Minho got up and left Newt to his own thoughts, “You look like you’re ready to make out with her eyes shank.”
Newt sat and stared into the dancing flames. Could it really be true? Could Sindy like him as much as he liked her? he knew part of what Minho said was true. He just couldn’t get past the thought that someone could actually like him with his limp. Newt desperately wanted to talk to Sindy, but what if Minho was wrong? what if she was always staring at his limp, making fun of him?
A few days latter, he and Sindy were taking a break on a bench in the garden. He couldn’t help looking at her beautiful blue eyes, and the freckles sprinkled across her white cheeks. She smiled and cute little dimples framed her face. A slight breeze pulled at her long brown hair and wiped it around her face. Without thinking, Newt reached up and brushed it behind her ear. Blushing he pulled his arm away and looked at the ground, but sindy took his hand in hers. A tingle ran through Newt’s arm and he knew he was smiling like an idiot shank, but it didn't matter. They smiled at each other, and Newt pulled her into a hug, taking in her fresh scent. When they pulled apart, Newt quickly stood up, blushing again, and grabbed his shovel.
“Better get back to it,” he said. As Newt walked back to his work area he tried to hide his limp. After this, nothing could ruin Newt’s day. When his work was finished, Newt walked back to the circle of glader huts with a huge smile on his face.
“Well, if it isn’t Mr. happy,” minho announced.
“Slim it,” Newt laughed as he went to his hut. Their homes were just simple square structures, made from dark wood with not much more than beds inside.
That night, Newt told Minho what happened with Sindy.
"Shank's got himself a girlfriend," Minho laughed.
"Slim it Minho," he laughed. "And don't tell anyone, or I'll bloody kill you." Newt looked Minho in the eye.
"Sure thing, lovebird."
The next day Newt couldn't concentrate on his work, he was too busy brainstorming all the things that could possible go wrong if he asked Sindy to sit with him at lunch. What if he made a fool of himself with his shuck limp? All questions in his mind scattered when he watched Sindy laughing with her friends. He had to do this.
When she was alone, Newt walked over to Sindy. He could feel his face redden and his hands got sweaty.
"Hi Newt!" he loved the way she said his name.
"Hey. Um, I-I was wondering if, maybe, you wouldn't mind, um, sitting with me at lunch?" He looked at the ground, wringing his hands.
"Yeah, I'd love to!" Newt looked up at her bright smile.
"Great. I-I'll see you later," he turned and walked away, so she couldn't see the idiotic smile on his face.
Latter, at lunch time they sat down together at the glader table. Brenda and Sindy knew each other, so it was perfect that she and Thomas were eating together. As Minho sat down he winked and whispered "lovebird." In Newt's ear.
When they finished, Sindy asked Newt if he wanted to walk back with her. Newt hadn't thought about this happening. He was still self conscious about his limp, but he didn't want to hurt her feelings.
"Oh, um. I actually have to stop back at my hut. But, some other time," her smile faded for a second but then it was back.
"Ok. Some other time," she turned and walked away.
"What's that about?" Thomas asked. Newt just walked away. How could he ever be with this girl, if he couldn't even walk with her? It seemed silly, but he really was afraid of what she would think.
That night, Newt asked Brenda to talk to Sindy for him, make sure she was ok. The next day, Brenda ran up to him at lunch, "Newt! You haven't hurt Sindy's feelings, and she wants you to meet her at the garden bench after supper, Thursday."
Newt's eyes lit up, "Thanks shank," he did his best to hide a smile as he walked back to work. Today was Tuesday.
Thursday couldn't have taken longer to come, yet it took Newt by surprise. He couldn't stop asking himself what she wanted to talk about. He was worried she might be mad a him or something, but he hadn't come this far without knowing to have hope.
It seemed he couldn't finish eating fast enough, and then Brenda helped him "look nice without being too fancy," she called it. As he walked to the garden, his hands got sweaty and he had to keep wiping them on his pants. When he got close, Newt stopped to take in the scene. Sindy stood by the bench, surrounded by grapevines. Her long brown hair lay on one shoulder and she wore a simple summer dress. They sat down and chatted a little, but Newt could take it no longer.
"Sindy, why'd you ask me to meet you?" He searched her face for a hint to how she was felt, but came up with nothing.
"I like you, Newt. I really do," she started, "And, I think you like me too. But something's wrong. I'm not mad at you, and I don't know what's going on, but I do know you lied the other day. You didn't have to go to your hut. I just want to know what's going on," she sighed and look into Newt's eyes.
“I-I didn’t think you would want to be seen with someone like me, someone with a limp,” he almost whispered the last part and stared at the ground. Sindy reached over and put her hand on Newt's wrist, making him look at her.
"Newt, how could you think that? I don't care about your limp! I know there must be a story behind how you got it, and it must not be a good one. Maybe someday I'll hear it, but for now, you don't have to hide it. Lots of girls would consider themselves lucky to walk with you, I know I do," Newt had to hold back tears as he looked into Her eyes. The brilliant light of dusk making them sparkle more than ever.
Sindy smiled and leaned in closer. Newt's eyes fluttered shut as their lips touched. His skin tingled, and it felt like a million fireworks danced in his head.
Transfixed, he couldn't stop staring into her eyes, as they pulled away and smiled at each other.
"Ok," Newt said, breaking the spell.
"What?"
"Ok, I'll walk you home," she grinned and took his hand, standing up.
They had only gone a few steps when it started to rain. "I think, this is when I give you my coat," Newt laughed.
"You're not wearing a coat!" Newt wrapped his arms around her middle and leaned his body into her back, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"How's this?" They laughed, and started awkwardly running toward Sindy's house.
Newt laughed as he peeled himself from her wet cloths, forgetting about his limp.
"Thank you," Sindy reached up, kissed his cheek, and walked away. Newt watched her go into her house in amazement. Maybe his limp really didn't matter, maybe.
Newt got back just in time to see Minho finish putting out the fire.
"Where you been, shank?" He paused, "with Sindy?" Minho asked.
"How'd you know?"
Minho laughed, "you only look like that, after being with one person, lovebird!"
As Newt lay in bed, he couldn't stop replaying that night's magic. He couldn't believe it, of all the guys here to choose from, she had chose him. The boy with a dark past and a limp. He didn't think it was possible.