The Maze Girl [On Hold]

Chapter Two

Copyright © XsugarfreeX. Property of James Dashner.
Not edited, sorry for mistakes.
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"What's on the menu today, Frypan?" Alby asks, slapping his open hand on a plank of wood they use for a table. I follow shortly behind him, keeping quiet as to not embarrass myself in front of the Gladers anymore than I already have.
Chuck told me that last night I had been screaming for 'Isaac' again, but wouldn't wake up. Even after Thomas yelled 'look, it's Isaac!', still no avail. Minho even mentioned that he considered sleeping in the Maze because I was 'so shuckin' annoying'.

"River, you there?" Alby asks, waving a hand in front of my face. I blink a couple of times before clearing my throat and nodding, grabbing a small bowl and filling with with an oaty mush Frypan put together for the Glader's first meal. After thanking him I stand between Alby and Gally and we begin eating in complete silence. Not awkward, but rather soothing.
     Since last night at the wall, I haven't spoken to Newt. It was a strange feeling to be with him, but it felt so perfect. Too perfect to end so soon, we both would've made it last longer if Minho hadn't come and remind us to get in bed. I would've stayed there all night if I could.

"Builders, we're on a tight schedule today. Before the next Greenie arrives, we've got to add onto the Homestead. Slicers, we need to get some more meat in the kitchen for Frypan. That task can be held off a bit longer but we've gotta start preparing those bloody animals before-"
"Ugh!" All in a matter of seconds, I'm slammed to the hard ground, being crushed by a body on top of me. Newt. "I-I'm so sorry. I'm clumsy sometimes-" I ramble on, more focused on Newt's body pressed against mine than the fact I'm quickly running out of oxygen from his weight. As if time itself became slow motion, we stare into each others eyes full of something indescribable. A feeling of comfort and familiarity floods my body and I feel paralyzed, like I never want to look away. Last night felt the exact same, every time I'm with him I feel like I'm in my proper place, like I was made for his arms. It's only been a day yet I feel this pull between us, something I don't have with anyone else. Whatever exactly is going on, I'm not sure, but I need to find out, especially with this whole Isaac thing going on.

      Gally coughs bluntly and Newt is the first to snap out of it, shaking his head and hopping off of me, giving me a hand and helping me to my feet. A couple Gladers surrounding Frypan's Hut chuckle at the awkward moment and Newt continues on as if nothing happened, keeping a hand rested on my lower back all the while. I wipe off some bits of gruel from my jacket and wait for Newt to continue his orders. After sending the Gladers off to their assigned jobs, Newt calls for Alby who comes jogging over from the Infirmary.
"Ah, ready for the famous tour, Greenbean? Afterwards we'll get to find you a job." Alby chuckles deeply, placing his fisted hands on his hips. Newts smiles cheekily from my right, his hand not having moved an inch from where he left it after the fall. Not that I'm complaining.
"Erm, sure. I-I guess." I reply nervously, knowing I don't have a choice anyway. Newt lightly squeezes my hip, sending shivers up my spine before saluting to Alby and walking towards the gardens.
"What's up with you two?" Alby ask sceptically, raising an eyebrow as his kind eyes bore into mine. After giving him a questioning look, he continues. "I mean you shanks are acting kind of lovey, don't ya think? You got Newt all Jacked in the head, all he talked about last night was you. You sure you don't secretly love him?"

"Yes, I'm positive." I say innocently, trying my best to flat out lie to him.
"Don't even try that with me, River, I know you're lying." He states sternly. We begin walking to our first stop in the tour as he forces me to continue talking.
"It's weird, Alby," He raises an eyebrow. "It's like I feel connected to him somehow. Every time I look at Newt it's like the world stops around us, and every time we touch it feels as if I was made for his arms. I know it sounds cheesy but it's true. I don't know how but it just is." I finish with a sigh and he places a hand on my shoulder, looking at me with a genuine smile.

     "If that's how you feel, than I believe you." I smile at his words and step over a small muddy patch in the ground. "Only problem is what the other Gladers with think of you two. They've all already got the hots for you, you know that right?" I blush and push a loose strand of hair behind my ear, biting my lower lip and looking up at him.
"I'm sure they can get over it."

Once Alby finishes taking me on the tour to meeting everyone, he tells me to start my first day of training with Newt and the other Track-Hoes at the Gardens.
"Alright Greenie, know anything about gardening?" Newt asks with a small smile towards me, squinting in the burning sunlight. I shake my head and wipe the sweat off my forehead with the back of my sleeve before taking the sweater off completely, leaving me in a white tank top covered in dirt stains like everyone else's. "Okay, I'll show you from the beginning. Let's start with weeding, it's pretty easy for your first day. And since you only have a week at each station I suggest we get into the harder stuff within the next couple days." I nod and he crouches down beside what looks like a tomato plant, around it is a bunch of green weeds and wildflowers. He motions for me to crouch beside him and I do, moving in close to him as if something was physically pulling us together. He instructs me to pull out any weed, so grabbing hold of a stem, I yank until it breaks at the base.
"Almost, love." He chuckles, digging his fingers into the soft soil and pulling out the roots of the plant. He places one arm on either side of me and grabs my hands, guiding my fingers into the soil and pulling out a weed and its roots. "There." He whispers, his breath running over my ear, making me shiver again. He does a couple more with me, savouring each moment together.

By sundown, I've had eaten, taken a shower, and changed back into my old clothes. Newt and I watered some plants but that's pretty much it. Gardening seems easy, but then again if you make one mistake and you'll have thirty starving Gladers after you.
Newt moved my hammock into his and the other Keepers room in the Homestead, saying it was to keep an eye in me so that I didn't get into trouble. And that if I started acting up again, he'll be the first to help me. Minho fell asleep first, probably from all the running he does out in the Maze. Alby, Gally, Clint, Winston, Zart and Frypan followed close behind, leaving me awake in the darkness.

     "Hey," I jolt at the whisper and turn my head to see Newt sitting upright on his hammock, kicking his feet back and forth nervously. "Do you feel the same way?" He asks, not bothering to elaborate though I knew what he meant.
     "Would I let you do that stuff if I didn't?" I giggle quietly so not to wake the others.
"What do you think it means? I mean you're screaming for this Isaac guy, yet I get this feeling every time I'm around you..." He trails off. Through the darkness I can make out his silhouette lying back in the hammock, resting his hands above his heads in a relaxed position. "What if WICKED is trying to make us fall in love and then take one of us away from each other or kill one of us, leaving the other to suffer. What if it's all a trick, River?"

     "Well what if if isn't? What if this is what love feels like, and we just don't remember experiencing it before to know for sure? We're waisting time trying to protect each other from ourselves when we could be happy." I finish with a yawn.
     Newt sighs, "I guess I'm just afraid.".

     "Of what?" I ask, feeling sleep slowly take over me. Newt's hand reaches over and latches onto mine, his voice being the last thing I hear before falling into oblivion.
     "I've only known you for one day, and I'm already afraid to loose you."