Minho Likes Chicken

Hot water dug into my back, relaxing my muscles. I relished the feeling of cleanliness as I scrubbed each and every part of my body. Massaging my head with shampoo and then finally rinsing. The soft fluffy towel I was provided dried my wet skin.


I lay in my bunker after Newt had locked me in and sprawled out, staring at the nothingness. Another day done, roughly seventy trillion to go. With nothing to distract me minutes blurred into hours. Eventually I couldn't tell if my eyes were open and I let sleep snatch me from the world.


"I love you. Please know that I love you." My eyes snapped open and I gasped shooting upwards. Newt jumped at least three feet and screamed.


(25 days until the next greenie)


"What the fuck!" I yelped.


"What in the bloody hell was that all about?!" Newt was trying to recover from the scare.


"What do you mean?! I panted holding my chest. "I just heard this fuckin' weird voice in my head! I though some crazy chick was right by my ear!" Newt had nearly composed himself.


"I was just wakin' you up you lunatic!" I scrambled to my feet, even though everything in my body begged for me not to.


"No! You don't understand! I heard a chicks voice!" I tried to make him understand. "I swear to God if there is one!" Newts eyebrows furrowed, his voice cracking as he said.


"Oh great. So know you think I sound like a lady!"


"No! I swear Newt-" He cut me off.


"Alright that's enough. You've been hanging out with Chuck to much." He motioned towards the door. "Come on let's just get you to work." I protested.


"But!"


"Slim it." Huffing I stormed to the bathroom to change. After a delicious Frypan breakfast I headed off to the fields with Newt. Zart, the awkward boy from the gathering, was the keeper. He assigned me pulling weeds next to him.


My mind was still stuck on that ladies voice. As I worked I kept one hand on the back of my neck, rubbing it repeatedly. It seemed like my nerves were still buzzing from the mornings wake up. A voice pulled me from my obsessive thoughts.


"So we never got to meet officially but I'm Zart." He was set up working by my side and gave me an earnest smile along with a small wave. I felt the corners on my mouth climbing up my face. He seemed okay even though he looked big and brooding. Zart continued clipping his scissors at one of the plants.


"Hi. I'd tell you my name but I forgot it." I laughed at the last bit." He gave me a warm look.


"Hey it happens to the best of us." Zart seemed nice, maybe even kind? He reminded me of one of those candies y'know, first they're sour than they're sweet. We worked side by side in the mornings start of heat. My fingers moved nimbly, ripping little weeds out of the earth.


By the end of the day I was exhausted. My hands dusted with dirt and blisters had carved themselves into my fingers. I straggled over to the kitchen, salivating over thoughts of cold frosty water. After getting my food I passed by Zart table. I gave him a tired smile adding a quick nod. This earned several whoops and shouts from his table.


"Woo hoo!"


"Zart has a girlfriend!" Several boys jostled him around patting him on the shoulder.


"No way!"


"Nice man!" Zarts face flushed a brilliant scarlet and he couldn't bring himself to look at me.


"Ooooh Zart and the greenie sittin' in a tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G." The other boys joined in crying the chant out loud. Zart sank his head in his hands from embarrassment. I stopped and visibly rolled my eyes.


"You are all children." The boys howled in my direction. I turned towards my table annoyed from their reactions. Still, it was something to take note of. Perhaps it was something I could even use to my advantage. I sandwiched myself between Chuck and Newt, letting out a long held sigh. Minho joined us shortly after. He leaned forward from across the table.


"How was your first day at field work Greenie?" I propped my pounding skull up with my hand.


"It was lovely." I grumbled my heavy lidded eyes threatening to close on me. Newt laughed.


"Guess you're not meant for the track hoe life after all."


"I guess." I pouted. "And it sucks cuz the track hoes were actually decent human beings towards me." Chucks chest puffed up, his face tightened.


"Victor and all those guys are jerks Dude." He glared at Victors table. "They better watch themselves the next time they say something" The whole table looked at him in silence before erupting in laughter. Chuck pursed his lips. "What's so funny?!" Minho cackled, pointing at him.


"No offense Chuck but you're like barely five feet okay. You're basically a shrimp." Newts eyes crinkle as he grinned from ear to ear.


"The-" Newt snorted. "Wee little fat shank wants to fight Victor." He banged his fist on the table to stop his guffaws. Even though I had joined everyone's chuckles I elbowed Newt sharply in the ribs. I placed my hand on Chucks shoulder.


"You're sweet Chuck, but I don't think you'd stand a chance against Victor." Chucks face fell. I patted him, making my voice cheery. "I can handle that jerk just fine by myself okay. You don't need to worry about protecting me." I shook him a little to be playful. "Okay?" He twitched his nose and mumbled.


"Okay." Everyone gobbled up the fried chicken made by the cooks. I ate the vegetables served on the side but picked around the meat. I stared at my plate, envisioning chicken gizzards, popped out eyeballs, bones, and blood. Newt nudged me his eyes showing his concern.


"You've got to eat." I shook my head.


"Uh uh no way." Newt pressed on.


"Why not?" I pressed my lips together.


"It's disgusting. The bones, the blood, it was alive once you know."


Minho looked up at me face stuffed with chicken. He wiped the grease off his mouth and raised his brows.


"It's food Greenie." I turned my face away from it.


"If it's a farm animal I don't want it." Minho smiled, speaking incoherently with a whole face of food in his mouth.


"Goof den more fo me!" He snatched my chicken and started tearing the bones away from my piece.


"Knock yourself out man." A warm and heavy hand rested itself on my shoulder. I flinched while turning to see who it was. Gally took his hand back quickly, like he'd been burned.


"Sorry." He grumbled. "I need to talk to you about something." Newt retorted with an edge on his voice.


"Well then you can say it right here." Gally leered at him. Newt motioned back at him. "Go on."


"Fine." Gally snapped. He met my eyes, staring intensely at them. "The builders are trying to build a shack for you so you can be away from the guys. I need to go over building plans with you." He turned his head towards Newt. "Oh yeah it's a real hot topic. Now can I talk to them." Newt took a swig of his drink and muttered.


"Yeah go ahead."


"Great." Gallys voice spelled out his annoyance.


I got out of my seat and Gally led me to the main room in the homestead. We sat all the way across from each other on the one couch provided. Gally pulled out a folded sheet of canvas paper. He layed it all out and handed it to me. I accepted it, looking it over. My fingers traced the pencil lining of his designs.


"You made these?" His voice twinged with annoyance.


"Uh yeah." I made a face at him.


"Don't get sassy Drama Queen I was trying to give you a compliment. These are good." I scanned the rest of the paper. "You can like really draw." His voice lost it's aggression.


"Oh. Thanks."


"You're welcome." I replied. "I like this one." I pointed to one of the designs. It had a ladder leading up to it, a door, a pointed roof that looked like it was crafted out of hay, and a lone window to peer out of. It looked sweet. Perfect. I thumbed at the scribbles. "It looks kind." Gally gave a laughing scoff.


"A building can't be kind." I glared at him.


"Yeah well I said it looks kind you Dong. Not that it is kind."


"Oh." He scratched the back of his neck mumbling. "Well I like that one too. It's supposed to be a treehouse." I folded it up crisply and handed it back to him.


"I want that one." I got up to get ready for bed.


"What, is that it? Well thanks for being so grateful your highness!" Gally exclaimed. I turned my head giving him a smirk.


"You're welcome." Heading towards the door I called over my shoulder. "Goodnight Gally." I'll never know if he replied or not because I had already slipped out the door.

Comment