It's been 3 days since the Greenie showed up and I have already started to get more respect around here without having to put on a tough act. I can be my normal self around all of the Track-Hoes and most of the Keepers, plus some of the other Gladers. At lunch Newt kept complaining about the Greenie. I just laughed and reminded him that Chuck is just a hyperactive child. Zart gave me a 5 minute break today and said that I could choose when I wanted to use it. I waited until 5 minutes before dinner, which is right after the sunset. Now I am sitting in the tree watching as the Runners return one by one. I see Minho run in just as the sun starts to set. The sun set isn't as breathtaking at the sun rise, but it is still pretty. Once the sun disappears over the Wall I climb out of the tree and walk to the Homestead. Half way there I see the Greenie sitting alone. I am walking towards him when I hear my name being called. I turn in the direction of the voice and see Minho waving me over as he laughs with Zart, Newt, and Winston. I smile and start walking to them. Then I remember the dream I had. This exact thing happened. I turn back to Chuck and yell,
"Hey Greenie!" He looks up at me, "Come here!" He smiles and walks over to me.
"Hi Echo." He says. "What did you want?"
"Nothing. You just looked so lonely over there, I thought you might want to come eat with me and my friends."
"Okay!" He says excitedly.
I lead him to Minho, Winston, Newt, and Zart.
"Hey boys." I say as I sit next to Zart. "Can the Greenie sit with us?"
"Sure." Newt says a bit reluctantly as he scoots over to give Chuck a place to the kid sits down the table falls into an awkward silence. Minho gives me a look and I roll my eyes at him.
"So, what was so funny earlier?" I ask
"Nothing." Minho says rudely.
There is another awkward silence.
"We should play a game." I say, breaking the silence.
"Like what?" Winston asks.
"Truth or Dare." Zart suggests.
"Sounds good to me." Minho says and we all agree. "But the Greenie can't play." He adds.
I give him a look and turn to Chuck. "Sorry kid. Your gonna have to sit this one out."
"That's fine. I can watch you guys play it though, right?"
"Of course you can." I tell him. Minho starts to protest, but I shut him up with a glare and a kick to the shin.
"Who starts it?" Winston asks
"I say that the person with the most acne starts it." I say smiling as everyone looks to Winston.
"Ha. Ha. You're so funny Echo." He says sarcastically. "Newt, truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"I dare you to lick Zart's face."
"I can't. There's no way Zart would-"
"I don't care." Zart says, cutting him off.
"What?" Newt asks, surprised.
"I am giving you permission to take the dare."
"I hate you." Newt says
"I know." Zart says as he closes his eyes in preparation. Newt leans over to Zart and licks his cheek. Everyone at the table bursts out laughing except Zart and Newt. Zart is wiping off his face and Newt just looks disgusted. When the laughter dies down Newt turns to Zart.
"Zart, truth or dare?"
Zart looks worried, but he still says, "Dare."
Newt smiles. "I dare you to run 3 laps around the Glade."
"Oh. Okay, that's not too bad." Zart says, looking relieved.
"Naked." Newt adds.
"Like... Fully naked? No clothes naked?"
"Butt. Naked."
Zart gulps and looks at me. I shrug my shoulders. He sighs and stands up from the table.
"Echo." He says as he takes off his shirt. "Truth or dare?"
Unlike the boys, my pride won't be wounded if I don't choose dare and I really don't feel like having to do anything crazy right now.
"Truth.
"Which Glader do you like?"
"You mean, in that way or as a friend?"
"As in who would you kiss and date and stuff?" Now he has moved onto removing his shorts and boxers. I look at the table so that I don't see anything I don't want to. When I hear him run off I look back up to find the rest of them looking at me expectantly.
"Oh! Umm... I guess Shadow." I tell them.
"You mean that mystery guy who helps you through some weird dreams?" Winston asks.
"Yeah."
"You don't even know who he is." Newt says.
"So? Knowing his name wouldn't change what I like about him. I remember this quote from some story outside the Maze, 'Whats in a name? That which we call a Rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.' It basically means that names don't matter and I think that it is true."
"He could just be your imagination though."
"I don't care. My answer stands. I like Shadow. Winston, truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"I dare you to only talk in random noises from the rest of the game."
He moos like a cow and at me and I smile. He points to me.
"Are you asking me truth or dare?" He nods. "Alright. Dare." He points to me and then to Newt and then makes kissing noises and faces. "You want me to kiss Newt?" He nods again. I look over at Newt.
"What if I don't agree to that?" He asks
"Then too bad." I say and then I grab the collar of his shirt and pull him towards me. I press my lips to his for a few seconds before letting go of him and pulling away. His face is bright red.
"So you like Newt!" Winston practically yells.
"No, slinthead. You dared her to kiss him, so she did." Minho says for me.
"Oh..." Winston says.
"And you just lost." I tell him.
"How does someone loose at Truth or Dare?" He asks.
"By not going through with the dare, not answering the truth, or giving up on the dare. You just stopped doing what I dare you to do and that counts as giving up so you lost." I explain to him.
"Oh klunk." He says right as Zart falls to the ground next to us, gasping for air.
"I did... Your shucking... Dare." He pants out as I throw him his clothes. Once he is fully dressed and recovered he sits down next to me.
"So what did I miss?" He asks.
"Well Echo likes Shadow and Winston made weird noises and then Echo kissed Newt and then Winston lost the game." Chuck blurts out.
"What? You kissed Newt?" Zart says and looks at me for an explanation.
"It was a dare. Anyway. Zart, truth or dare."
"Dare."
"I dare you to give me one free day from work and I get to choose which day to use it."
He sighs. "Fine. Minho, truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"I dare you to give me a piggy back ride to my bed."
Minho stands up and squats down in front of Zart to happily hops onto his back.
"I am getting tired too. I think I am gonna head to bed." I tell Newt.
"Good idea." He says and then all of us make our way into the Homestead.