Boxes [The Maze Runner ~ Newt] [BOOK 1]

Something

CHAPTER SEVEN

Marie couldn't really like Newt.

This had to be a phase, and this crush would most likely end in a week or so.

But that's not what happened.

She really wished she could control her feelings. The thought of talking to Newt would seep into her thoughts during her first week of work. She nearly over-watered most of the plants and didn't notice she was kneeling in mud while tending to the planters. Marie tried to think about the annoying things of Newt. Like the way he said "bloody" in nearly every sentence. But that didn't work, she thought it was funny when he said it. Maybe his morning breath could take her mind off him, but she was one to judge, she had morning breath, too. There was just something about Newt that Marie fell immensely hard for.

Today Marie worked alongside a relatively short boy named Lou who had long blond hair that was barely held up into a ponytail. Together they pulled out carrots and onions from the ground and would hand it over to Frypan.

"So," Lou began, "you liking the job so far?"

"I am, actually," Marie answered as she patted down soil.

She looked over at Homestead where she saw Newt and Nick talking to each other, scribbling ideas onto a sheet of paper. Marie caught herself staring at the blond boy and immediately looked away, returning to the carrots she had been meaning to rip out of the ground.

"What are they doing?"

Lou looked over at the boys sitting near Homestead. "Oh, they must be planning for the Bonfire."

"Bonfire?" Marie asked keenly.

"Yeah," Lou smiled, "it's great. After being in the Glade for a year, Nick figured it'd be a good way of celebrating. This'll be our second Bonfire, and you showed up just in time."

"When will they be having the Bonfire?"

"Probably next week- maybe sooner if they don't take so long to plan."

A sudden rush of excitement washed over Marie after hearing that. She thought to herself that she finally had something to look forward to besides leaving the Glade through the Maze.

~~~~~

"You've been finding excuses to talk to him," James whispered to Marie as they were getting stew to eat for dinner that evening, "and you always glance over at him throughout the day," he said as Frypan plopped a scoop of food onto his plate, thankfully not hearing their conversation. "You like Newt."

"I absolutely do not!" Marie objected. She sounded so convincing that she nearly thought she had no interest in Newt whatsoever.

The two of them walked over to their picnic table and began eating, but James wanted to pick up where they had left off with their discussion.

"You always ask him to 'guard' you in the showers. Who knows what you two are really doing in there-"

"You are sick, James." Marie took a sip of her water. "Besides, I get worried that Gally and his airhead Builder buddies will do something to me when I'm alone."

"Gally hasn't shown any interest in ruining you even after what you did to that sad excuse of a tool shed," James informed the Greenbean. "And I associate with those 'airhead Builder buddies,' and I am offended," James remarked sarcastically, placing his hand on his chest, making Marie giggle.

"Fine," Marie sighed, "I like Newt, are you happy?"

James bit on the inside of his cheek and looked down at his plate of food, then back up at Marie and shrugged.