Runner Runner (Newt)

party hard or go home

"Light em up!" I hear our leader's voice boom. I see a couple of the guys lighting the wood up to start our bonfire. We all shout and cheer.

Alby is our leader. The first person that was brought to the glade. He was here for a whole month by himself. I look up to him as a father figure and sometimes a older brother. He has always been there for me.

We shuffle to Minho and the other gladers. The runners always stay together sometimes we will conversate with other gladers but we usually stick with the runners. We listen to Scott trying to tell a few jokes but they were god awfully bad. Gally's secret drink recipe is amazing after a couple of sips. I sat on Ben's lap nervously. I hope he doesn't drink too much tonight. He is even more violent when he is drunk. I shook my head making the thoughts leave my mind. I watched Minho stare down at Newt and the greenie. Chuckling to myself a little. Minho might be a sassy, sarcastic, jokester but he can be serious at times. I look at Newt pointing and the greenie examining us. Must be showing the jobs and people.

Newt is the guy second in charge. I've had a crush on him since I came up from the box. Literally fell in love with him at first sight. He was the first one to greet me, so it started in the beginning. He showed me everything. Alby, Chuck, Minho and Newt are the only people I can really trust in this glade. It's hard to trust the others when all they do is flirt with you, are friends with your boyfriend, or is your abusive boyfriend. Newt is a sweet, caring, fun, loyal, honest and the most understanding person I have ever met.

He was a runner before. We use to race each other to different sections or back to the doors. I miss that time we shared and joked around. Of course I was stupid and chose to be with Ben. I always thought Newt wanted nothing to do with me like that. Ben was just there I guess. Newt and I were still friends just distant. I remember one day he went on a run alone and didn't tell me. I knew something was up because he normally ask me to go with him. It was getting late in the day and I was beginning to worry. Alby ran into the maze, dragged Newt out. He was hurt bad and unconscious. Since I cared about him I stayed with the med-jacks day and night till they forced me to eat and shower. But I spent the night there holding his hand waiting for him to gain consciousness. When he did I still stayed there. Then he started to force me out to eat. Ben didn't like that so he got violent teaching me a 'lesson'. But he was my friend. The only thing that stayed with Newt was the limp.

I've tried asking him what happened in the maze but he changes the subject or gets quiet. It was like that day he went into the maze and out came a different person. Things changed from there. It was a sudden change too, he was keeper of the runners so Minho got a promotion and so did Newt I guess. I was brought back to reality with the greenie being shoved in the back.

"What do you say greenie? Wanna see what your made of?" Gally shrugs.

Gally is keeper of the builders. Hard as a rock but puts his opinion out there. Has lots of anger issues is all I can really say, when things don't go his way. Tall, muscular, and intimidating just like Ben. But he isn't violent like Ben is. If you can see through his words he does actually care for the other gladers. He just has a hard time expressing his feelings.

"Alright greenie, rules are simple. I try to push you out of the circle or try to last longer then five seconds." Gally gets into his stance. The others laugh and surround the dirt ring. The stupid shank is actually going in there?

"Please don't die." I repeat.

"Ready?" Immediately the greenie is pushed out of the circle then shoved back in with everyone's help. Ben picks me up and I instantly shut my eyes but am placed on the tree stump. I open my eyes slowly and watch Ben walk towards the circle of guys.

"Boys." I mutter not thinking anyone can hear me.

"That is what we are." I turn around and see Newt leaning on a tree smiling down at me.

"Not helping the greenie newtie?" He walks over to me and sits.

"I think he got this one. Has to fly from the nest at some point. I don't really want to get involved with Gally anyway." He hands me a drink but I decline. I've had enough and Ben is tipsy already.

"Come on greenie. Not done yet." Gally dances around.

"Routing for the greenie?" Newt ask.

"Just want Gally to get a taste of his own medicine."

"Stop calling me greenie." The greenie says getting up. The oohs and ahhs erupted into the crowd.

"Stop calling you that? What do you wanna be called? Shank? What do you think boys? Look like a shank?" Gally teases. Greenie out of anger pushes Gally but gets tossed to the ground.

"You know what? I think I'm settled with shank." The greenie gets back up and pushes Gally then lets go tripping Gally over.

"Go greenie." Newt and I shout.

"Not so bad for a greenie, huh?" Greenie walks towards Gally but gets swipped off his feet and hits his head hard on the ground.

"Had to open his mouth?" Newt mutters shaking his head.

"Not the brightest?" I smile.

"Hell no." Newt looks at me and burst into laughter as I join in.

Everyone gets quiet. The yelling and and laughing stop. My motherly instincts hits hard. My eyes dart to the crowd scanning it. The greenie is still on the ground laying there. I stand up worrying if he is alive or dead. Did Gally kill him? Newt stands next to me but the greenie then gets up and stumbles around.

"Thomas." He mumbles. Everyone takes a step back.

"I remember my name. I'm Thomas." He shouts.

"Thomas!" We all shout and cheer. The boys surround and congratulate him.

All of a sudden we hear the griever scream. My hand automatically grabs the first thing it latches onto when I'm scared. Turns out to be Newt's hand this time. He rubs his thumb on the back side of my hand to comfort me. I smile softly at him and he does the same. I let go right away when I see Ben wobble towards us. I stiffen up and Newt noticed. Looking from petrified me to drunk Ben.

"Hey babe, ready for bed? Hey Newt thanks for watching her for me." Ben shakes Newts hand then hugs him.

"Not a problem at all. You get some good sleep." Newt let got of him and walks of to me.

"Goodnight Ember." Newt hugs me.

"Night Newt." I smile into his chest. He leans into my ears.

"I will protect you. Don't worry. Don't be scared." He whispers into my ear.

I shutter thinking grievers or Ben? But I don't ask. I simply smile. He lets go of me and runs off to his room. Ben and I walk to our hammocks. He pushes me up against the post and kisses me rough.

"Not right now Ben, the guys are coming in." I push him off of me.

"You only show that kind of shit to Newt. You're such a slut."

His hand connects to my face and walks over to his hammock and lays down with his back facing me. I stand there for a minute taking it all in. The burning sensation on my cheek stings. I lay down in my hammock carefully and start to cry. Will this ever end?