Desire ❃ newt

cнapтer 26

The next morning, someone gently shook me awake.

"Kameron, wake up." It was Chuck—the kid seemed to be able to find me anywhere.

Groaning, I leaned forward, stretched out my back and arms. A couple of blankets had been placed over me during the night—someone playing the Glade Mother.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"You're almost too late for breakfast." Chuck tugged on my arm. "Come on, get up. You need to start acting normal or things'll just get worse."

Chuck was looking at me with eyebrows raised.

"Sorry," I said as I stood up, acting as normal as I could. "Just thinking. Let's eat, I'm starving."

"Good that," Chuck said, slapping me on the back.

They headed for the Homestead, Chuck yapping the whole time. I wasn't complaining—it was the closest thing to normal in my life.

"Newt found you last night and told everyone to let you sleep. And he told us what the Council decided about Thomas—one day in the cell, then he'll enter the Runner training program. Some shanks grumbled, some cheered, most acted like they couldn't care less. As for me, I think it's pretty awesome." Chuck paused to take a breath, then kept going. "That first night, when he was bragging about being a Runner and all that klunk—shuck it, I was laughing inside so hard. I kept telling myself, the sucker's in for a rude awakening. Well, he proved me wrong, huh?"

But I didn't feel like talking about it. "Je just did what anyone else would've done. It's not his fault Minho and Newt want him to be a Runner."

We made it to the kitchen and grabbed a quick breakfast, taking two empty seats at the big table inside. Every Glader going in and out the door gave me a stare. Other than a sprinkling of dirty looks here and there. Then I remembered Gally.

"Hey, Chuck," I asked after taking a bite of eggs, trying to sound casual. "Did they ever find Gally?"

"No. I was gonna tell you—someone said they saw him run out into the Maze after he left the Gathering. Hasn't been seen since."

I dropped myfork, not knowing what I'd expected or hoped for. Either way, the news stunned me. "What? You're serious? He went into the Maze?"

"Yeah. Everyone knows he went nuts—some shank even accused you of killing him when you ran out there yesterday."

"I can't believe ..." I stared at his plate, trying to understand why Gally would do that.

"Don't worry about it, dude. No one liked him except for his few shuck cronies. They're the ones accusing you of stuff."

K couldn't believe how casually Chuck spoke about it.

"Ya know, the guy is probably dead. You're talking about him like he went on vacation."

A contemplative look came over Chuck. "I don't think he's dead."
"Huh? Then where is he? Aren't Minho and Thomas the only ones who've survived a night out there?"

"That's what I'm saying. I think his buddies are hiding him inside the Glade somewhere. Gally was an idiot, but he couldn't possibly be stupid enough to stay out in the Maze all night. Like Thomas."

I shook my head. "Maybe that's exactly why he stayed out there. Wanted to prove he could do anything Thomas could do. The guy hates us." A pause. "Hated us."

"Well, whatever." Chuck shrugged as if we were arguing over what to have for breakfast. "If he's dead, you guys'll probably find him eventually. If not, he'll get hungry and show up to eat. I don't care."

I picked up my plate and took it to the counter. "All I want is one normal day—one day to relax."

"Then your bloody wish is granted," said a voice from the kitchen door behind me.

I turned to see Newt there, smiling. That grin sent a wave of reassurance through me, as if I were finding out the world was okay again.

"Come on," Newt said. "You can take it easy while your little friend is in the Slammer."

I nodded and headed out the door, Newt leading the way. Suddenly a day with Thomas in prison sounded excellent. A day to just sit and relax.

Though something told me there was a better chance of Gally bringing me flowers than of passing a day in the Glade with nothing strange happening.