Dawn 74

Dave and I are sitting together on break when Newt comes up. He seems nervous, paler than usual (which is odd since he's pretty pasty to begin with). "Dawn, do you have a minute?"

"Not really," I am still trying to figure out what to do with Michelle.

Alby might banish her today. At least, he said he would. As of now, she's playing it cool and Gally is supposed to go talk down Alby. That was the only thing I could think to do with both Newt and Leo out for the count. I'm not very good with plans.

I could've told Minho, but I didn't want him to worry. He's already got a lot on his plate since he is training Ben today for his re-entrance. This morning he threatened to literally split Ben's head open. We've got enough trouble on our hands without getting him more strung out.

"It's important," Newt bites the inside of his cheek, a habit he seems to have picked up from Leo.

I didn't tell him about the situation either, since I thought he'd tell Minho, and because he was trapped in the Med-room for most of yesterday.

"Who's getting banished?" Dave asks. "Is it just her?"

Just, as if more than one.

Newt's face somehow becomes paler. "What are you talking about?" He's not a very good liar.

"Michelle told me some things," Dave clarifies. He couldn't have heard yesterday about what I said about Ben. What did she tell him about us? Enough, I guess, to compromise us. When Dave stepped up to help yesterday, I assumed that Dave thought Alby had caught him and Michelle in a compromising position, and that's why we're hiding her. Although, I don't know why I believed that. As far as I know, she's only doing Gally, but I could be wrong.

Especially since they shucking broke a structure because of how pissed they were at each other, and then suddenly teamed up once they found out Michelle was in danger. She has at least shacked one of them is my guess, but I doubt both. They don't seem that mad about it.

Newt doesn't miss a beat. He sits on the ground next to us staring at Dave. "What things?"

This is very different from the soft Newt who assured me that Alby banned girls and boys from touching for good reason. This isn't frustrated Newt, or certain and quick to action Newt. He is speaking a kilometer a minute, and he keeps fidgeting with him hands.

"He rattin'?" Dave looks to me, and I almost snort. As if Newt would rat us out on something like this.

"Please, the only reason any of us are still alive is because of Newt," I tell Dave, looking at Newt. He gives me a faint and thankful smile as his cheeks flush.

"It was a combined effort," he assures Dave. "But now isn't the-"

"Please, at least four of us would definitely be dead by now if not for him, you can tell him." I roll my eyes, playfully shoving him.

Dave pauses, looking back and forth between us. I doubt Dave knows Newt well. Though he is well liked, Dave doesn't have many close friends. He gets along with all the Cooks, all the Builders, and from what I gather, a couple of the Sloppers.

He's always nice to the Greenie who showed up before us, even though Frypan hates it. The kid, Chuck, is always stealing food.

"Michelle told me that she could accidentally get at least three people banished," Dave says. "But, now, if I am counting correctly, she's at five."

Five? I can only think of four. "Who's the fifth?"

"That's what I don't know," Dave doesn't continue, and he must mean himself and Gally. As two of them, but I'm confused. For certain, it's myself, Michelle, Minho, Ben. Adding him and Gally on would mean six. He's missing one of us, or I guess two if he can only think of four.

"We're at a few more than five," Newt seems sad about it, but he's right. "I'm not entirely sure Alby won't have a few more heads in, just because the shank's bloody pissed. He's already locked up Leo."

"I get that he's pissed," we've been lying to the poor chum for like, two shucking weeks now. I'd be right off my rocker about the whole mess too, if I were him. "Not like there is much we can do now."

"So, this is about Ben right?" Dave asks, trying to clarify. "I mean, I figured Michelle beat him up and you're all covering for her, but I don't really get why so many of you are protecting her." I think he realizes how self-serving he sounds and he is quick to fix himself. "Not that I think it's a bad idea. I know you all voted to save her when she was about to be banished. Shuck, I said I stole the screwdriver even though I didn't-"

"You didn't?" Newt seems surprised, which I guess is fair. I thought it was obvious that Dave was lying. He's a decent enough liar, but there was no shucking way he stole it. "I didn't think you were the kind to lie."

"I thought you were Mr. Rules. Suddenly a bunch of girls show up and you think its all different?" Dave asks.

Newt shakes his head. He's still Mr. Rules, but this is going to get a ton of people banished. Newt absolutely wants Ben gone for his violence, and at least wants Minho punished for going to town on the kid, even if they are friends. It's a can of worms though, but I'm not sure what I mean when I say that. One secret spills, and we are all banished for the dumb shucking 'girls don't touch boys' rule.

Dave continues. "Still, I didn't think more than five people would stick out their necks for her. I figured out that Ben attacked Dawn, but why not just rat him out instead of this whole fuss? What does he have on you?"

Newt looks at me, his eyes wide. I can't tell if he is surprised Dave figured it out this quickly, or worried that others have too, or if he is waiting to see if I answer him. I don't really have any good answer for this situation though. I shucked up, since I was shacking around with Minho, and now everybody is dealing with the consequences. If everyone had left me to solve this mess on my own, I'd have been fine.

"He knows I've been shacking somebody," when I see the gears in Dave's head begin to whirl, I stick my hand up in protest. "Not Newt, obviously. I guess, not obviously, but to be honest I know you better than him."

Which is saying something, since I barely know Dave. Even though I spend so much time with so many people, its all superficial. I don't have any meaningful friendships.

"Wait," I pause, turning back to Newt. "Did you say that Leo was in the Slammer?"

Newt nods carefully, and I find myself on my feet, sprinting. I was waiting for Gally to get back to me and tell me the plan, but I assumed they were still talking. What did he and Leo say to Alby? She is a klunk liar, so she couldn't have taken the plan. Gally set her up.

I find myself moving. It's only just past lunch. They have a few hours before they can banish her at least, so I have time. I need to talk to Minho. He will know what to do.

I find Minho, timing the intervals it takes for Ben to run across one end of the Glade to another. I find myself catching up to the speed of Ben, and even surpassing his legs as I sprint towards Minho. Once Minho looks up and notices me, he stops timing. He runs towards me, ignoring Ben to catch up to me.

"What's wrong?" He asks, looking over my shoulder.

I notice Newt limping along behind me, trying to catch up. Dave is nowhere to be found. "Did Alby come and talk to you?"

He shakes his head, panting slightly. "No why?"

"They are going to banish Leo," I begin. "I mean, I don't know the details, but it's about Ben."

Minho looks over at the boy, who stands close to us, listening to every word. His face has finally healed, but from the look on Minho's face, he might get a few more bruises. "Look what you've shucking done. All because you can't shucking stop getting shucked every night!"

Ben looks taken aback, though he spits out at Minho. "You're the one who broke the shuckin' rule! You touched 'em when you were told not too. You jacked dude?"

Minho tries to shove me off of him, but I rip him back. "Oh Minho, now is not the time to shucking pick a fight-"

"I ain't picking nothing!" He rips himself out of my hand, turning to stare at me. "I break one shuckin' dumb rule and he thinks he is entitled to you, like you're some shuckin' meal?"

Newt has finally caught up to us, his hands in the air. He steps between Minho and Ben, trying to get the guy to back off. I can't tell if Newt is going to hit Ben or Minho. It occurs to me that Newt doesn't hate violence. In fact, he seems more than fine with getting his hands dirty. He's just all about keeping the peace, since that's all we have.

"You hit Ben, and we are all shuckin' dead meat, alright?"

I watch as Minho's chest heaves up and down. What destroyed the boy who was so kind and funny when I first got here, and why can't I have him back?

"This ain't for your ugly shuckin' mug, alright?" Minho hollers at Ben over my shoulder, who is already leaping over Newt's shoulder trying to have at Minho. "This is for Leo, alright? Her life, not yours, alright?"

Dave arrives, with Michelle at his side. He moves to Newt quickly, pulling Ben off of him. "Will you go and fix this klunk? I'll handle him."

Newt nods, backing off.

I guess that's how the four of us head into the Homestead. Michelle, Minho, Newt and myself. Antsy from the fight, hearts racing, and either adrenaline or bravery coursing through our veins. Blood pumping loud enough that I can hear Minho's next to me.

"We're shucking confessing," Newt tells us, as if there is no other option.

I stop for a second. "You nuts?"

"If we don't, he's just gonna go nuts and banished her and a whole shuck load of shanks." Newt is resigned to the future. "And, I guarantee he'll banish Ben, who'll get you both banished too."

"I'm not letting Leo go down for me," Minho tells me. Finally, his voice is calm.

I guess I keep moving because I can't let her either. Somewhere along the way, I realised I like Leo. It's weird, and seems an odd fit for me, but part of me cares for these girls in ways that aren't simply about having fun. It's like what I have with Minho.

Michelle gulps, knowing she is next. I guess that's why she doesn't run for the hills. In all of this, she's shucked up the least. Which is why it sucks she's the first to die. I guess, its my fault, but I don't regret any of it. I hate that I am forced to pick between them and Minho, because we're all a family.

"You think he'll banish Dawn?" He asks, looking over at me.

Newt shrugs. I'm not surprised Minho doesn't ask about himself. It's in the air. Of course, Minho is one of Alby's top guys, but Minho broke the two shucking biggest rules, and lied about it. Doesn't help that Alby's raging.

I don't know what our plan is, but apparently, we are going to save Leo. And apparently, we're doing so no matter the cost.

~~~~~

Oooh, what'll he do? Intense!! Sorry that I'm kind of excited. I wish I felt badly, or maybe I don't. Only like, two chapters to go until the next book. I'm going to have the covers changed (you heard that right), and up soon. Wish me luck!

I'll see you soon in Michelle and Confsession