Well it has been two weeks or so, I am SO sorry. Finals piled up and right as that happened I got the flu and was out of school for a week, and then I took finals and then break. So needless to say, this chapter is short... but filled with A LOT. Next chapter is gonna be long and shocking! I promise!

Guys I will not stop writing, don't ever think that. I may have long pauses like this but I will never stop writing.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of James Dashner's from The Maze Runner series, I only own Ruby. Everything else belongs to him and his AMAZING work.

Chapter 10: Talk To Me

Ruby sat by Newt's bed, leaning back in her chair and staring blankly ahead at the wall. Her tear streaks had dried and only her body was left shaking.

Other Runners from the day were scattered on the mattresses in the room and on benches that were moved inside. The day had taken a toll on the back-up Runners, as most had never run before, and didn't know how to manage their time wisely in the Maze.

It was dark outside and almost everyone was asleep, except for Newt and Ruby of course.

"You alright?" He asked, taking her hand.

She pulled her hand away and looked down, "What the hell do you think?"

Newt nodded and looked away, he knew exactly what she was feeling. His body was on fire it felt like, his joints cracked and his muscles ached as he rolled over on his side to face Ruby. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her countenance was one of sadness and anger.

"Talk to me, birdie-"

"What do you want me to say, Newt? That I wish I could turn back time and stop Otto? Or that I wish I could have kept a better eye on him? There's nothing to say, he's just gone."

Newt sighed and attempted to reach for her hand again, huffing as she pulled away harshly.

"I'm only trying to help." He muttered.

"Well you're not. Nothing is and nothing will help,"

"Maybe if you'd tell me what you're thinking it would help!" Newt whispered harshly, wincing as he sat up on his elbow.

Ruby glared at him, "You wanna know what I'm thinking?" She asked, "I'm thinking Otto has been ripped to shreds by Grievers and it's all my fault!"

Newt frowned, "It was Otto's own bloody fault, he ran into the shuck Maze! It was his choice!"

"I could have stopped him, don't you get it? I fell asleep, Newt! I was supposed to be watching him because I knew he wasn't asleep, but I fell asleep and he ran as soon as I was getting up! If I had-"

"If nothing!" Newt grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, whispering, "You said it yourself, the Greenie is bloody gone, Ruby! There's nothin' you can do now, it was his buggin' shuck mistake and now he's dead. You can't go back and fix it now!"

The still quiet room was now filled with the sound of Ruby's palm connecting with Newt's cheek. He turned his head, panting in shock and covering his stinging cheek with his hand. He didn't know whether to be shocked, angered, or saddened.

"I could've 'bugging' done something, Newt! And I don't need you to remind me that I can't fix anything now, got it?" She whispered, shoving him back and storming from the room, not even bothering to shut the door.

Someone had followed her out into the darkness, not even bothering to grab a lamp. With a small squeak she let the person roughly pull her around the side of the house, even though she struggled against their grip and had no clue as to who it was.

In one swift motion they spun her around and pushed her against the side of Homestead, pinning her arms to her side. Ruby had a sneaking suspicion of who it was, and she was confused as to why he had followed her out here and how he had even gotten up without falling over.

Lips were on hers before she could say anything, roaming hungrily over hers in swift, timely motions. She melted into his kiss, struggling for breaths between the parting of their lips.

Ruby's tears made her way onto her tongue, and the guilt overtook her, why had she slapped Newt?

The anger and the fear, that was why, but it was no excuse.

She began to kiss back, placing a hand on the back of his neck and pulling his face closer to her.

Just as his hand traveled to the bottom of her shirt was when she pulled away and placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.

"Newt, we can't," she said, panting and sniffling, wiping at her eyes.

There was a low chuckle, with a hint of coldness to it, "You liked that, babe?"

Ruby's heart plummeted and all color drained from her face. Barely could she make out the whites of Reid's blue eyes and the sneer on his face.

"I knew you'd kiss me-"

"I didn't kiss you, you kissed me, creep!" She shrieked, pushing him away, feeling even more embarrassed that she hadn't figured it out that it was him before he attacked her now swollen and puffy lips.

"You kissed back, and you kiss good," he growled, rubbing his hands together.

"Touch me again and I'll-"

"Kill me?" He teased, tugging on her belt loops, "Alby won't stand for that, you know it."

Ruby continued to push his probing hands away, whimpering slightly as his thumb trailed along the hem of her pants, sliding in them frequently.

"Let me go," she growled, shoving him away after he had managed to begin tugging her pants down slightly.

Reid chuckled, "Remember our deal? You do what I want, and your little Lizard won't get hurt."

The tears came back, but she quickly blinked them away, not wanting Reid to catch her at a vulnerable spot as he had done earlier.

"I remember, but I wish you hadn't drug Newt into this." She glared at him, "He didn't need to be."

"Hey, what's yours is mine. And I guess that includes him, doll."

The sound of the door opening made them both jump, "Ruby!" Minho called out, his footsteps drawing closer to the side of the Homestead porch.

Turning back she saw Reid had disappeared back around the corner of the house, vanishing in the darkness. Wiping her eyes, she made sure there were no more tears left on her face before she made her way back to the front.

Gally and Minho were just about to go looking for her when she came into view. Immediately she ran to Gally, throwing her arms around his neck and holding him close.

"Want us to stay up with you?" Minho asked as he patted her shoulder.

Ruby chuckled, "That'd be nice."

"What happened in there?" Gally asked as they sat down on the steps.

Ruby sighed, "You heard all that?"

Minho laughed, "How could we not?"

"We know you're upset, but Newt is too, you didn't have to take it out on him." Gally whispered.

Ruby looked away, her face turning red and the tears threatening to come back, "But he didn't have to remind me that I couldn't save Otto."

"Hate to say it but you're being way too hard on yourself. You didn't have to watch the kid, no one put you in charge of that." Minho said as he twirled a small pocketknife in his hands, "S'not like you were his mom-"

"I know, but he was my Greenie, and you're supposed to help them. Not lead them to their death." Ruby said as she massaged her temple.

"You didn't do that, you just happened to close your eyes as soon as he made the decision to run for it." Gally said.

"It was his decision." Minho accentuated, chucking the knife into the soft, green earth.

"But I shouldn't have fallen asleep." Ruby whispered, pulling her knee together and resting her chin on them.

"The kid must've put up one hell of a fight," Alby said as the Runners trailed behind him, examining the blood.

"Kid looks like he was dragged back and forth from the entrance." Minho said nonchalantly, kicking aside a long rag of Otto's torn and bloodied shirt.

Newt was silent as he studied the scene, Otto must have stood at the doors for a good hour before he was attacked. It looked like he had escaped the Griever's several times and was drug back each time, blood was smeared all along the ground in the corridor, there were even bloody handprints dragged along the wall.

Bending down he picked up Otto's bloody sock, it would go along with the other sock they had found the day before in one of the outer corridors. He stuffed it in his small bag, keeping it to match with the other one back in the Map Room.

Ruby woke up back in her own bed, realizing that in fact the events of the day before hadn't been a horrible nightmare. It was real.

Otto was gone.

Her encounter with Reid had also happened, and her pace quickened at the thought of ending up alone with him again.

"Newt. . . ." She whispered, shaking her head and looking at the ground.

"He's out running." A small voice said from the end of the hallway. Ruby peered over her shoulder and met the solemn, blue-eyed gaze of Ben.

"Oh, I slept in that long?" She responded quietly, standing and stretching. Peering down at her small box, it was then she realized that her collection of girl necessities lay untouched, the box collecting dust as it sat there in the corner. She hasn't even touched it, never needed to.

"Yo!" Ben shouted as she turned back to him, "I'm going to visit Wes."

Ruby winced, "I would go, Ben, but I really don't want to get sick." She said remorsefully, Ben nodded in understanding and left.

Sighing, she decided it was probably time to face the Glade again, and whatever life had planned for her. She grabbed her book and reached for her box, stuffing a tampon in her boot, just in case.

"Your Gathering tonight at dusk, be there," Alby said as he sat down across from her.

"You thought about my idea at all?" She asked.

Alby huffed, "Slim it and be patient."

Ruby rolled her eyes and nodded at the older boy as he trudged away. Opening her book, she pushed her plate away and picked up where she had left off, sucking in every word.

Runners returned, meaning Newt had also returned. Making sure he wasn't around, Ruby darted for the bathrooms, slamming the door behind her. Just as she thought she was safe, someone pulled the door out from behind.

"How're you, birdie?"

Ruby glanced at him in wonder, "How can you stand to be around me?"

Newt frowned, "What do you mean?" He shut the door and locked in behind him.

She glared at him, "You know what I mean."

The boy looked away, a deep red creeping up on his face. His forehead was still sticky from sweat, and his cheeks pink from exhaustion. He wiped his nose and walked to the sink, "I don't know."

Gasping quietly, she caught sight of a bruise on his cheek, "Newt, did I do that?"

"What do you think?"

Ruby pulled him to her, hugging him, "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Newt stood motionless, breathing slowly as she squeezed him tighter. She didn't deserve his attention, right? After all, she had slapped him the night before.

He coiled his arms around her and breathed in her scent. She was right, how could he stand her right now? He knew why, but he couldn't bring himself to say it, he was too scared.

Newt left first, followed soon after by Ruby. Just as she caught up to him, Alby grabbed her by the arm, "Time to go,"

Newt winked at her with a smile, "Bet you get put in the crops, birdie."

The girl rolled her eyes and spared one more hopeful glance at Newt, then turned to follow Alby.

The hut was dimly lit with torches and a lone chair sat in the middle, just as it had the night of Newt's Gathering. Hesitantly she took a seat and only looked Alby in the eye.

"Welcome, Ruby. After much consideration, we've come to a decision." Alby said as he looked to his left. Gally stood and smiled, approaching Ruby with an outstretched hand.

"Glad to have you as a Builder." He said as she took his hand gratefully, shaking it and smiling.

"But," Alby continued as Gally stood next to him, "We've also taken into consideration your idea as becoming Keeper of the Records-"

"I never said anything about becoming a Keeper?" Ruby interjected as Gally shot Alby a playful look.

"You ruined it, shank." He whispered to the leader.

"Slim it," he growled, "Well, that's what you'll be."

Ruby furrowed her brow, "A Keeper? You want me to be a Keeper?"

"If you're up for it." Alby said in a serious tone, "Now, Keeper of the Records won't be as intense of a position as the others, but keep in mind it's still important."

"What all do I need to do?"

"Keep a list of all the boys we have, their age, and position. As for supplies, we'll be in charge of gathering a list to send down in the Box every week for new things, you'll be in charge of writing down what he have and how much of it we have. That means updating me every week before the Box comes back up."

Ruby sat on the edge of her seat with a smile, "That it?"

"No, like you said, this is something the Creators can't take away." He paused and pulled a decent sized book out of his back pocket, throwing it at her, "You write down everything worthy of being written, and when we escape this klunk-hole, we'll show the world what they did to us."

So... that slap, huh? Harsh. But hey, more drama the better, right? SO READY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER! So ready guys. It'll be good!

I am so sorry for that wait you guys.

-Mrs. Frodo Baggins

Kendall