I wish that I could wake up with Amnesia...

10 - Nothing Lasts Forever, Nothing Stays the Same

I went to bed early, avoiding any more confrontations. And with all the Glader gossip about Newt and me, I was too embarrassed to talk to him. Even if he did like me back. 

By the next morning, I realized things had changed.

For one, Gally was the legit shucking leader. Somehow, he had formed some alliance with some of the Gladers to support him, like the Baggers - some of the strongest teenage boys in the Glade. I had to actually respect the slinthead. Even fear him - because the word banishment circled around the Glade. 

I'm not like Thomas - banishment from the Glade did not sound appealing to me. 

Thomas had been made a runner a few days ago, but this morning, I saw him out and about with Luke. I didn't want to say anything, because Gally likes to just show up at bad times. Gally told me to stay away from Luke, so I would. Why Luke wasn't in the kitchen and Thomas weren't in the maze, I wouldn't know. And I didn't care.

While working in the gardens, I saw Newt get up and walk over to me, working beside me. Shuck, now I actually had to talk to him.

While trying to go through various ways to start small talk with Newt in my head, he spoke up. "Calum spent the night in the Slammer, and he's still in there," he whispered.

"What?!"

"Shh," Newt said. "Gally's interrogating him. I guess after he asked some questions to you, he got help from some of the Baggers and interrogated Calum. Like Calum is hiding something." Newt chuckled. "Klunk, I think Tommy is bloody hiding something."

"Really?" I asked. "I mean, I know Thomas is weird.."

"He's more than weird. I mean look." Newt nodded towards the direction of Thomas and Luke walking and talking. "He made it a big shucking deal about wanting to be a Runner, and he's not even in the bloody maze right now. He's going to get in trouble with Gally. I mean, we all have to do our part. If he thinks he can just get off easy by being a runner.." Newt shook his head.

"And Luke," I said. "Isn't he supposed to be in the kitchen?"

"I'm going to go talk to them," Newt said, standing up. "I don't feel like dealing with a banishing today. Want to come with?"

"Really?" I asked. "I mean.." I stood up and leaned into his ear to whisper. "Gally told me to stay away from them last night."

"You'll be okay if you're with me." Newt smiled. "Oh, but stay away from Calum in the Slammer. I don't know if you were thinking anything. I mean, you visited Luke, so I didn't know-"

"I won't visit Calum in the Slammer," I said. "But if I wanted to, would you cover for me again?"

"No." Newt laughed and started walking out of the gardens. I followed him and we walked over to Luke and Thomas. "Hey Tommy," he said. "Luke."

"Hey guys," Thomas said.

"You hurt your leg, Tommy?" Newt asked. "Incapable of running today in the Maze?"

"No, I was just talking to Luke," Thomas said.

"Well don't bother the shank," Newt said. "You both should get back to work before Gally comes and banishes your bloody selves."

"Gally wouldn't do that," Thomas said.

"Really?" Newt asked, irritation in his voice. "You do realize Calum is in the bloody Slammer, right? And it's because of the four slinthead greenies, singing their little campfire songs last night." Luke looked red in the face, and Newt nodded. "Yeah. We all heard you."

"Calum shouldn't be in the Slammer," Thomas said. "He didn't do anything."

"Well, you both are next - and if you really want that death wish, by all means, continue what you're doing - nothing," Newt said, and walked away. I followed him back to the gardens. "You didn't say anything."