Be Mine

Chapter 8

   I've been in the Glade for about a week now. I've tried almost all the jobs and as of now, I'm a Med-Jack. Newt said that would most likely be my permanent job since I was good at it and that's what I wanted to be.
That's it, I thought. I need to talk to Minho about being a Runner.
   Today one of the Slicers came in with a nasty cut on his right hand. It took nearly fifteen minutes to get rid of most of the blood and to properly clean the injury so it wouldn't get infected. I wrapped his hand in bandages but I was sure that he would have a scar after it healed.
   Towards the end of the day, Jeff said that I could take a break. I walked out of the hut and took a deep breath. I looked at one of the doors of the Maze and saw someone run into the Glade. Minho.
   Now's my chance, I thought. I sprinted toward him. I knew that I liked to run but I didn't realize how fast I was. I grinned. I could definitely be a Runner.
   "Whoa, Addison," Minho looked at me, shocked. I was surprised at how easily I could come to a stop after running so fast. "Shuck, you run fast," Minho commented, looking impressed.
   "Thanks," I said, barely out of breath. "Can I ask you something?"
   "Sure," Minho said. "Just hold on a second, I need to go to the Map Room. I'll be out in a few minutes."
   "Okay," I agreed. Minho disappeared into the room and I sat down outside.
   "Hey Addison," a familiar voice called out to me. "What are you doing here?"
   "I need to talk to Minho about something," I replied.
   "Oh? Is everything okay?" Newt asked.
   "Yeah, everything's fine," I said.
   "Dinner's ready. Want me to wait for you?"
   I shook my head. "No, it's okay, you go ahead and go. I'll meet you at the kitchen later."
   "Well okay then," Newt seemed suspicious but I gave him my best smile. He returned my smile, but I could tell it was fake. Damn it, he's on to me, I thought. After what seemed like forever, Newt left.
   About a minute later, Minho came out of the Map Room. "Oh, hi Addison."
   "Hey, Minho," I stood up.
   "So you wanted to talk to me?"
   "Yeah," I was unsure of where to start. Should I just come right out and say it or should I gradually try to bring it up?
   "So..." Minho said.
   "Okay, I know that you're probably hungry and tired and don't want me to stand here like an idiot and waste your time so I'm just going to come right out and say that I want to be a Runner," I said really fast.
   "You want to be a...Runner?"
   "Yes."
   Minho looked mildly surprised, but he frowned. "I don't know, Addison. You're really fast, but the Maze is dangerous."
   "WHAT?!" I shouted. "I'm obviously perfect for this job! You said it yourself! I'm fast! You run in the Maze! So does Ben and at least four other guys! Is it too dangerous for me just because I'm a SHUCKING GIRL!?"
   "N-no!" Minho stammered. "I-I just don't want you to get hurt."
   "OH SO NOW I'M CARELESS!?"
   "N-no! That's not what I m-meant!"
   "Oh really?! So I can't go in the Maze just because I'm a careless girl?!"
   "When the shuck did I ever say any of that!?"
   "OH SO NOW IT'S MY FAULT!?"
   "Addison, please calm down," Minho pleaded.
   "OH SO NOW I'M STUPID!?"
   "What the bloody shuck is going on here?"
   "Newt, please help me!" Minho pleaded.
   "Whoa, what is happening?" Newt asked.
   "Addison is having a temper tantrum."
   "Minho won't let me be a Runner because I'm a stupid, careless girl," I folded my arms across my chest.
   "I didn't say any of that!"
   "Minho?" Newt turned to him. "Did you call her stupid and careless?"
   "No!" Minho cried. "Come on, Newt, you know me! Sure I'm sarcastic but I'd never say something like that to someone and mean it."
   "Eh, I wouldn't really say that but I believe you," he turned to me. "Addison, I don't think you should be a Runner."
   "What?" I already knew that Newt didn't want me to be a Runner but it still hurt when he said that.
   "It's too dangerous."
   I could feel tears form in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "Unbelievable," I whispered loud enough for the both of them to hear. I shook my head and ran to my room.
   The tears fell as I ran. I ran as fast as I could and didn't look back. I heard Newt and Minho call my name but I was not going back. I went inside my room and locked the door. I wiped the tears away from my eyes and sat down on my bed. Why couldn't they just let me be a Runner? I could do it. I'm stronger than I look. What do I even look like? I wondered.
   I heard a knock on the door. "Go away," I said, my voice shaking slightly.
   "Addison? It's Chuck." As soon as I heard Chuck's voice, I smiled. I had gotten closer to Chuck and he's now like my little brother. "I noticed you weren't at dinner and Newt and Minho said that you went to your room and weren't coming out so I brought your dinner to you."
   I got up and opened the door. "Thank you,Chuck."
   I took the plate and set it on my desk and went back to the doorway to give him a hug.
   "Are you okay?" Chuck asked.
   I frowned but then smiled. "You know what? Thanks to you, I'm much better now."
   "I'm glad you're okay. Good night, Addison."
   "Good night, Chuck," I said before I closed the door and locked it again.
   I was halfway through my dinner when there was another knock on the door. "If you're not Chuck, go away!" I shouted.
   "It's Newt."
   "Great, a better reason for you to GO AWAY."
   "Addison, please open the door," he pleaded.
   "Nope."
   "Addison, please?"
   "Uh-uh."
   "Please, Addi, please?"
   "Ughhhhh fine!" I got up and opened the door.
    "I'm sorry about earlier," Newt apologized.
   "Okay."
   "Also, your attitude was not appreciated. There was no need for you to yell at Minho."
   "Ugh, so I'm guessing you're waiting for me to apologize?" I said. "Then fine, I'm sorry. Okay, are we done talking?"
   "No," Newt said simply.
   "What now?" I asked impatiently.
   "I don't want you to ask to be a Runner anymore. I thought you wanted to be a Med-Jack."
   I sighed. "Newt, I've always wanted to be a Runner. I lied about wanting to be a Med-Jack."
   "You lied to me?" Newt asked, looking hurt.
   "Yes," I started to feel guilty. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just that I already knew that you weren't going to let me be a Runner, so I decided to tell you that I wanted to be something else."
   "So that you could be a Runner behind my back?" Now Newt was angry. "You do realize that I'm second in command and would find out sooner or later, right?"
   "I-" I didn't know what to say.
   "Have you lied to me about everything else too?"
   "What? Newt, no I-"
   Newt turned around and headed out the door. "Bye, Addison."
   "Newt..." I whispered, the tears I'd been holding back began to fall.