Count On Me ➵ Newt [1]

SEVEN | ukulele

▬News about my new role as a Keeper spread around the Glade like wildfire. Everywhere I went people were talking about it, either in low, hushed voices or aloud. Of course, I wasn't naive - I knew some people would be unhappy about the new arrangements, and a few Gladers were even accusing me for planning George's attack myself just so I could be Keeper. It was fucking ridiculous. But overall, most of the boys seemed fine with it. Some even congratulated me as I walked around the Glade, offering me a smile or muttering 'Good job'.

I was in the Homestead, tidying the medical supplies in the back room when I heard someone enter the room. I glanced up and saw Newt leaning against the doorframe.

"So... Keeper eh?" He said, his cheeks scrunching up as his lips twitched into a smile.

I tucked my hair behind my ear and looked away. "Yeah."

"You don't seem very excited about it," he observed.

"Well, no one else wanted to take the job," I shrugged. "And besides, I'm not comfortable with drawing too much attention to myself. You know that."

"Then why'd you take the role?"

I shrugged again. "Like I said, no one else was willing to step in."

"Well, no offence to Clint and Jeff - they're both amazing - but I honestly think you'd be a great Keeper."

"Oh..." I smiled nervously at him. "Thanks...?"

"Oh yeah!" Newt exclaimed suddenly. "I forgot what I came here for. Frypan found some sort of wooden instrument in the box last week. He asked around if anyone knew what it was, but no one had a buggin' clue."

"Wooden instrument?" I said, confused.

"Yeah. Come on, I'll show you."

He led me out the Homestead and towards the kitchen, where I could see Frypan chopping up some vegetables. The cook looked up as we approached and gave us a broad smile.

"Ayy, my man, how's it going?" He greeted. "And Rosa, how are you?"

"A lot worse after you called me Rosa," I said, then smiled to let him know I was joking.

"Hah!" He barked. "But Rosa is a nice name."

I shook my head. "Oh, hell no, it's not. Just call me Rose."

"When you two are done bickering..." Newt muttered. "Anyway, Fry, show Rose here the wooden instrument you found last week. You still have it?"

"Yup." Frypan stepped back from his chopping board and went to the back of the kitchen, where he rummaged around. A few moments later, he returned, carrying what looked like a miniature guitar.

"Wait, I've seen that before," I said suddenly. I didn't know how or why, but the memory came to me as I spoke.

"I'm not surprised," Newt smirked. "Frypan has been asking everyone he met about it ever since he found that in the Box. Bloody annoying."

"No, I mean - I've seen that before... before I came here."

Newt and Frypan stared at me. I shifted uncomfortably on the balls of my feet. Was telling them that a mistake? What if I wasn't supposed to remember the instrument at all?

"So you've used this before?" Frypan asked.

"Yeah," I said. "It's called an ukulele."

Frypan snorted. "You've got to be shucking kidding me."

"I'm serious." I leaned across the kitchen counter, took the ukulele from his hands and strummed it. It worked perfectly fine, though the notes were slightly off key. "I think I've played this before when I was younger. Might explain why I recognize it."