Out Of Order (TMR Fanfic)

Chapter Twenty-four

I had two more days off until Clint would allow me to return to being a runner again. It had only been about a day since I had collapsed but I was already starting to miss the maze running. When I ran, it made me feel free. I loved the adrenaline rush it gave me.

Chuck was too young to take part in one of the normal, more taxing jobs so Alby assigned him to be a slopper, at least for now. Sloppers basically just do the jobs that no one else wants to do. Cleaning the toilets, washing clothes, stuff like that.

I hadn't heard from Alby or any of the boys that were bothering me a few days ago so I assumed Alby already took care of it.

The runners had the day off as well, as did Newt. We were all given one day off every week. It was nice to have a break every once in a while.

It was cloudy today and it's rather cold. Maybe like in the 50's. I wore one of Newts jackets that he let me borrow since the box hadn't brought me up any yet.

Since Ren was off today, he asked if we could spend the day together, to get to know eachother since we would be running together again soon. I agreed of course. Ren was nice and he seemed to be a lot of fun, though, he didn't really talk to anyone else in the glade except me and occasionally Alby.

It was lunch time and Newt and Minho were sitting at our usual picnic table. Since I had decided to spend the day with Ren I walked iver to his picnic table, where he was sitting alone and I sat down across from him.

"Look who finally showed up," he joked. I laughed and moved my hair out of my face.

"Sorry, I had to give the Greenie a tour," I say looking back at Chuck who sat with a few other gladers at a table on the far end of the kitchen. He didn't look too miserable yet.

I glanced over to Newt and Minho. Minho was talking about something but Newt wasn't paying any attention. Instead he had his gaze fixed on Ren. His eyes filled with jealousy. What am I not allowed to have other friends? I laughed at this.

"What's so funny?" Ren asks, taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"Newt is giving you quite the death stare," I chuckle, looking back over to meet Ren's gaze.

"Yeah, I don't think he likes me too much," he said.

"Guess he doesn't want me having other friends. He'll get over it," I say honestly, a bit of annoyance toward Newt in my tone.

"I don't think that's it," Ren says with a slight smirk pulling at the sides of his mouth.

"What do you mean?"

"Nevermind," Ren says bawling up the crust of his bread. "Shall we get going then?" he asks, standing up.

"Sure. Where to?" I ask, standing up.

"You'll see," he says as he links arms with me and pulls my towards the far end of the glade.

We start to approach a tall tree house looking structure. Ren begins climbing up the ladder.

"Come on. What? Are you afraid of heights or something?" he asks, continuing to climb up.

"I just didn't know this was here. It looks so beautiful," I say climbing up the ladder after him.

We got to the top and I took a second to look around at the glade. It was bigger than I thought. The gladers, however, looked very tiny from all of they way up here.

I sat down next to Ren who was staring out into the open glade.

"I come up here to think. The view's great and it's quiet. Peaceful."

It was both of those things. I wished I had known about it sooner. Could have made less interrupted trips to the deadheads when I needed time to think.

"We'll have a bonfire tonight. Like we did when you first arrived. Galder tradition," he says looking back at me. I nod.

"Can I ask you something, Ren?"

"Fire away," he says smiling.

"Why don't you ever talk to any of the other gladers? Whenever I see you, you're always alone," I say, a bit of bitterness in my tone. I felt bad for Ren. He didn't have any friends, and he was always alone. It made me sad just thinking about it.

"They're just different, I guess. I don't know, it's like we speak a whole different language. I can't keep up with them most of the time. But with you, your easy to talk to. You think like me. And well," he pauses, "your hot," he joked. I let out a laugh and roll my eyes.

"Oh God, not you too," I say sarcastically, nudging him in the ribcage with my elbow. He laughs at this.

The rest of the day we spent laughing at eachothers weird glader stories. Mostly his, because I hadn't been here all that long. Just a few weeks. Though it seemed like I'd lived here my whole life. Maybe that's just because I can't remember. Or maybe I just didn't want to.

The sun was about to set when Ren and I headed back down to the ground to join the other gladers at the campfire.

I saw Newt sitting with Minho. They were both silent. Newt looked upset, but I couldn't tell why. Did he really hate Ren that much?

Ren went and sat down with the other runners next to the fire. I sat down next to Newt.

"Hey, Newtie," I say trying to cheer him up. He smiles.

"I love when you call me that," he says, his smile turning into a smirk. "Yoy have fun with your new boyfriend today?" Newt jokes, a hint of jealousy in his tone.

"Ughhhh, he is not my boyfriend. Nor will be ever be. So just drop it okay," I say rolling my eyes. Minho looks amused by this and lets out a laugh.

I take Newt's drink and begin chugging it. What? Can't a girl have drink once in a while and not be judged? Clearly not.

"Woah, slow down there, darling," Newt says as he once again takes the drink out of my hands and takes a slip.

Hypocrit.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Eve, our hut has been fixed so you can come back," Minho says cheerfully. I nod. Newt looked upset by this.

"It's so much work moving all of my stuff back though. Would it be okay if I just stayed with you, Newt?" I ask, already knowing the answer. Newts face lights up.

"Yes! Uhh-I mean, yeah sure, that's fine by me," Newt says excited.

Minho looked a little disappointed but he'd get over it. The expression on Newt's face was priceless and I loved seeing him smile.