Another Girl (Book 1)

Chapter Three- Silence

"Hey, Greenie!" Alby motioned me over during dinner. I was relieved, yet it made me uncomfortable. I hadn't spoken to Newt since he told me off about his ankle, but relieved because I had somewhere to sit.

To make matters worse, I was seated between Thomas and Newt, so I ate my dinner in silence.

"How's the Glade?" Thomas asked, startling me a little.

"As good as it gets, I guess." I shrugged, not looking up. I poked absently at my dinner. It seemed as if my shoes were the most interesting on earth. Thomas must've sensed I wasn't feeling very talkative because he made no attempt to talk to me further.

Although it had been a while since I ate, I had no desire to eat food because of the weird feeling in my stomach. Even water sounded disgusting me although my throat was dry.

"Everything okay, Greenie?" I glanced up and saw that Alby was looking at me with concerned eyes.

"I'm fine." I gave him a fake smile and must've pulled it off because he smiled back and kept eating. I forced myself to eat even though it didn't make me feel any better.

I didn't mean to push any of Newt's buttons. I was just curious. But the fact that we left on the wrong foot didn't make me feel good in the stomach. I thought Newt was one of the nice and calm Gladers, so it was kind of frightening watching him lash out at me like that.

It was Teresa's voice that snapped me out my thoughts. "Where is she going to sleep?"

"In the same room as you probably." Alby told her. I noticed Newt was just as quiet as me and I wondered if he was just as uncomfortable.

"Well, I'm out for the night. See ya shanks." Minho got up from the table and headed to bed.

Thomas yawned. "Me too. Night."

Soon Alby, Chuck and Teresa followed leaving me and Newt sitting there. I subtly scooted away and stared back at my food. Finally after what seemed like hours, I left the table and walked to where I saw Teresa head.

I heard footsteps behind me and it didn't take a brainiac to figure out it was Newt.

I was right. "Samantha."

"What?" I asked harshly, not bothering to look back. I kept walking.

Newt grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face me. I looked at the grass. Knowing him, he was staring at the top of my head as if they were my eyes.

"I'm sorry," he muttered out.

"Yeah, okay." I said, taking his hand and removing it from my shoulder. I let go of his hand and went to the where Teresa had headed.

~•~•~•~

The next morning, I sat next to Teresa and Minho at breakfast. Nothing had changed between me and Newt, we haven't even looked at each other since last night.

Newt sat down and I kept my head down. The taste of eggs suddenly didn't taste good. It was like everything I do is okay until the slinthead shows up then it takes a sour turn.

Did I just use some Glader slang?

"I can't believe we have to have a shucking Gathering because this one wanted to run off in the Maze." Minho groaned.

"Aw, thanks." I said sarcastically, looking up at him.

Minho looked at me. "Wow, spicy."

"I'm both sweet and spicy." I smirked at him.

"Where's the sweet part? Because so far I've heard you: ran, spent a night in the Slammer and who knows what else." Minho added.

"The sweet part is I haven't ran off again." I said giving him a sarcastic smile. I suddenly looked at Newt for some reason and faced Minho again.

"Has someone finally out-sassed me?" Minho asked with a fake gasp, putting his hand to his heart.

"Maybe," I said, flipping my hair. Minho and I laughed and shook his head in laughter. It felt good to laugh, I think it was my first time laughing since I got to this shuck place.

Slinthead? Shuck? The Glade is going to kill me.

"Newt, you alright man?" Alby asked. I had just realized he hadn't spoken a word since we spoke. He was silent and it made me uncomfortable.

"Yeah..." Newt mumbled out. He pretended to have his mouth full. I felt uneasy. Newt was staring at me and I felt my face turn red.

I got up and left without a word. I went to my usual spot and laid against a tree. I sighed quietly as I looked up at the sky thinking about everything that had happened.

I woke up in a Box. I was left with about fifty boys and another girl. I tried to run into a Maze. I was stopped. I was put into somewhat of a jail. I was given a Tour by Newt. I asked a simple question to Newt. I was confronted by him and now we're not talking to each other.

And the worst part is I could've fixed it. I could've forgiven him and apologized too. But I didn't. And I don't know why I won't. If it's so unsettling to me, why can't I just apologize and move on?

I groaned in frustration. My head started to hurt from all the thoughts swarming in my head.

"Hey," a voice said softly. I dreaded the recognition of the voice. It was Newt.

"Hey." I said simply, still looking up. I couldn't even bear to look at him.

"I'm sorry for lashing out at you." he told me and I could feel him sitting next to me. "It's just...it's a touchy subject."

"It's fine," I said. I finally gained enough courage to look at him. He was looking at me.

Newt sighed. "It was three years ago. When it was me and Alby. I hated the Glade. Everything about it. So I climbed the maze walls and jumped off. I tried to kill myself in the Maze. If it wasn't for an vine to catch me, I wouldn't be here today. Alby dragged me to the hospital in the Homestead to get me treated. I broke my ankle and my limp is a constant reminder of that day."

"I'm sorry to hear that." I said quietly, barely audible but Newt seemed to have heard it. We were still looking at each other and were both leaning in.

"Newt!" Minho's echoed throughout the Glade. Newt and I jumped back and he stood up brushing dirt off his clothes.

"I've got to go. Goodbye, Samantha." And with that, he was off.

Did Newt and I almost kiss?

I rested my eyes and I leaned against a tree, letting sleep take over me.

"Take her to Group A." she said, motioning a guard to take me.

"No!" I tried to resist, but I was so young I had no chance. I sat next to a boy with blond hair and brown eyes.

I felt really scared and pulled my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around my knees. I felt tears well into my eyes.

"Who are you?" he asked. He had a British accent.

"Samantha. And you?" I asked.

"My name is Newt."