The Other Side

Chapter 3: The Glade

I woke up, eyes still closed. I had the weirdest dream! That a 'Minho' guy rescued me from the Labyrinth, the Clearing was replaced by the 'Glade', and there was Newt. Somehow I was sure that I've seen him before. What the hell right?

I rolled on the bed. I do that every morning.

This bed feels different. It's a little bit hard.

I looked at my watch. Shoot! I'm late! Perry must've ran already without me.

I stood up, and came with a sudden realization. I wasn't in my room.

I looked out the window and saw boys. The lots and lots of boys I saw yesterday. So it wasn't a dream.

"Good morning Maddie!" A boy said with a groggy morning voice. Newt.

"I need answers. Now." I said. He got up from the bed to my side.

"I'm hungry. Questions later." He said pulling me towards the door with him.

"No. You can eat later. Get fat, the hell I don't care. I just want answers." Pleaded, letting go of his hand.

"But I'm hungry now. And you must be too." He said. His eyes are darting on my body,was he checking me out??? "Since when did you last eat? Wait don't answer that. Let me guess, 204729438 weeks ago?" He said amusing himself.

Now that I thought about it, the last proper meal I had was yesterday's breakfast.

"Fine. Let's go eat first. But remember that I still have questions that are in the need of answers." I said crossing my arms

"Fine by me."

---

I met the 'keeper of the cooks' which I believe is the Head-Grub, Frypan. He says his name is Siggy, but everyone calls him Frypan.

Today's breakfast was eggs, bread, and bacon. Surprisingly the food tasted good. I didn't know boys could manage quite well living like this. Especially without girls to help them with.

Minho came to sit with us. He was hurrying, I guess he's going to run.

"Hey Greenie!" Minho said, taking a bite of his bread

Greenie?

"What's a Greenie? And can I eat it?" I said. They laughed and laughed. Newt even choked on his eggs. Wait, that sounded so wrong.

"Good job, Newt. She's a keeper." Alby said, coming by our table

"Keeper? Wait, you guys didn't do any-" Minho started

"No!" Newt and I both said

Minho laughed, and so did Alby

"That's sweet. Copying each other's words." Minho made a stupid puppy face. I swear, I will break this guy.

"How disgusting of you! We didn't do anything!" I threw my hands up in the air

"Yeah! She made me sleep on the floor for god's sake!" Newt said

"And you let her? Gee Alby, Newt's really into her." Minho chuckled. What is this weird feeling in my gut? Why is it suddenly hot in here?

"Slim it, Minho. Maddie and I both had enough of you." Newt said blankly. He didn't look up, just down at his eggs and bacon

"Maddie?" Minho's eyes got wide open "You guys have nicknames for each other?" Uh-oh, now they'll definitely think something's up

"Yeah." I said casually "He calls me Maddie, and I call him..."

"Newtypuss."

What? Newtypuss?

I looked up at Newt. Eyes wide open.

"That's right. You heard me: Maddie and Newtypuss." Newt said. Minho and Alby looked stunned and at the same time shocked

"Madison?" Alby questioned

"What? Friends do that. You also have one: Allybee." I said "Right? Newtypuss?"

Newt looked confused at first but got the catch

"Yeah! And Minho, we call you Minnieho." Newt said

Minnieho? That's so wrong.

"Yeah...no." The best thing Minho's ever said

"You know what? You're right! Let's not talk about this ever again." I said. Finally that's over with

----

"So tell me about yourself." Newt said as he took me around the Glade

"What about me? I don't know how it works here but, back in the Clearing our memories got swiped out of our head before we got up the Box." I said.

"It goes the same in here. We remember nothing but our names. So, what's your favorite color?" He asked slightly blushing . I couldn't help but to smile

"Green." I simply said

"Green? Why is that?" He asked. He seemed very interested in such a childish subject.

"I don't really know. Maybe it's because it reminds me of the trees." I said looking up in a tree. As if it could hear me and say thank you for the appreciation.

"Trees? So I take it you're a nature lover?" He asked now looking at me.

His eyes, piercing right at mine. It's as if I'm drowning.

"Yeah..." I said "You aren't?" This time, I asked the question

"I am." He said "Just not at times."

"Times? What kind of times?" I asked

"Difficult times. You wouldn't understand. Just forget about it." He looked as if he remembered something sad. I wanted to say more but he already was ahead. I just followed.

"So Second-in-Command huh? How's that working for you?" I broke the awkward silence

"Jolly good." He said expressionless

"What do you do?" I asked "Boss people around? Relax all day? Boss people again?" He chuckled with a bit of amusement in his voice

"From time to time I do those. But today I guess my job is to take you on tour and take care of you." He said

"Doesn't it bother you? Don't I bother you?" I said

"No. Believe it or not, I enjoy your company." He said. Did I just blush?

"Really?" I said

"Really. In fact I'm gonna leave you here while I make a run for the homestead!" He said, already running, or should I say limping.

"Hey no fair!" I said as I tried to catch up to him. Take note, tried.

---

Newt and I were in his room. He still is laying on the floor while I am on the bed. I feel bad for him, this is his room after all. I tried to switch places with him, but he said it would totally diminish his record of being a gentleman. I could invite him to bed instead, but that would mean sleeping with him. Which I don't want to.

I mean he's a nice guy, it's just...no.

"Hey Newt?" I whispered. He didn't answer

"Newtypuss?" I whispered a little louder

"Yes Maddie?" He said. I can't help but to feel happy. He answered.

"Nothing. Good night." I said closing my eyes

"Good night." He said

"Okay." I said

"Okay." He said "Hey Maddie?"

"Hmm?" I said as I struggled to be awake

"I think I'm falling for you."