Blank Spaces (A Maze Runner fanfic)

Chapter 10 (Alice's POV)

Minho and Thomas are the first to finish breakfast and they start toward a small shed I didn't notice near the back of The Glade. Newt stands and motions me to stand as well. I stand and walk over to him. He walks over, with me trailing behind, to Alby. He smirks at me and I turn toward Alby. Newt's about to walk away when he grabs my forearm and turns me toward him. "Stay safe," he says,"okay?" I nod. He smirks and walks away. I smile and stare in his direction. Just thinking about him gets me all tingly. I realize I've been staring to long when I hear Alby chuckle.

"Ya got a thing for Newt, aye Greenie," he says. I look at him and blush, looking at my feet. He just chuckles again. "Ya know...he seems to have a thing for you too," he smirks. I look up slowly.

"I can tell, I guess I'm just doubting myself," I say. He smirks.

"Ain't you two sleepin' together."

"Maybe," I mumble. He laughs. Just then my sister runs over, breaking the awkward conversation.

"Lizzy, you'll be starting your search for a job today as a Slicer," Alby says. That name speaks no pleasance to me. "Alice, you'll go to The Gardens," he says. Now that sounds much more pleasant. Alby instructs my sister to where she'll be doing her job while he escorts me to mine.

"I can take care of myself," I say, rolling my eyes.

"I know, I know," he says,"it's just, Newt would kill me if you got hurt again. Your sister might have a hand in that too." He smirks when mentioning Newt. I blush again and turn forward, keeping my eyes dead ahead. "Speaking of Newt," he says just as Newt jogs over to us. He smirks at Newt and then looks at me. "Now you to listen, the only thing dirty about The Gardens is the soil, let's keep it that way." My face turns a deep crimson.

"Don't worry Alby," Newt says,"I'm not gonna shuck her." Last night pops into mind. Yet. Look on his face when he says that word seres my memory. That lust of knowing he's turning me on. The mischievous gleam in his eyes. I really need to stop. I tell myself this over and over, but I know it's no use. I just smile.

"Good," is all I manage to get out. Alby just looks at me and chuckles.

"All right, you two get to work," he says and begins to jog the other direction. Newt smirks at me.

"C'mon, shank. Sadly, I don't get to help you on your work today; but I'll introduce you to Zart the Fart. That's what I call 'im at least, but I think you should just call 'im Zart," he says. I nod and we walk over to a guy who's yanking at some weeds in between some of, what look like, herbs. He stands up. I'm slightly taller than him. None the less he looks of authority. Not to be messed with, so I just smile. "Zart, this is Alice. Alice, this is Zart. Now both of ya shake hands, be nice," Newt says. I laugh a little and Zart chuckles, sticking out a hand.

"Nice to meet ya, Greenie," he says. His voice is deeper than most of the guys here, but not as matured as Newt's or Alby's. I'd say he'd be about 16.

"Pleasure," I say.

"All right, I'm goin' back to my post. See ya guys later," Newt says as he jogs away.

"Okay," Zart says,"so today I'm gonna show ya 'round the place, then we're gonna have you take over weeding. Sound good? Good, let's go." He leads shows me around the entire garden area. Alby wasn't joking when he said that the people who put us here only send the seeds and they go from there. They grew everything they had!! Corn, potatoes, herbs, exedra exedra. It all lead back to the herb garden where he put me on weeding duty. I crouched down and begin yanking at the weeds in the ground, being careful not to pull up a plant. This gave me time to think. Why am I wasting my time here? I know I want to be a Runner, I should just tell them that and spare the time and energy. But something's up with the Maze, I can tell. What's out there? What are they protecting us from? What the hell is going on with this place?!?! I thought the entire time I was weeding. I got all of the herb gardens done by the time Zart came to get me. "Nice job, shank," he says,"well? You're dismissed. Go on now," he says with a smile. I laugh and decide to go take a shower. As in walking out, I bump into Newt.