Hello there fellow Gladers, another chapter for you lovely lot! Dedicated to all my 'fans' (if that's the right word). Enjoy, its short and sweet.

Sadly, we are nearing the end and on the note of sequel I haven't written that much :( , that means that updating will be a lot slower than normal so I can get ahed.

Appreciate any activity on the story!

See ya next time,

queenofthetear x

Chapter Thirty-Four

People are unhappy when they get something too easily. You have to sweat-that's the only moral they know. ~ Dany Laferrière

Waking up to Newt beside me was a surprise and a half. Especially since he had insisted on sleeping on the bare floor of the room when I had asked him to stay. It was strange to feel the comfort of another human, the warmth, the security. Maybe I would eventually get used to it.

What did puzzle me was why on earth he was in my bed?

I could have laid there all day, staring into his handsome face, are noses all most touching that I could almost count the amount stars on his face. But, morning duty called, and I needed the toilet.

At first, I tried to wriggle my body away from his as softly as I could, trying to not to wake him up. The only problem with that plan was that Newt's arms were firmly wrapped around my waist. And, in the process of freeing myself, he only pushed my body closer to his. I bit my lip to stop myself from groaning, the urge there.

"Newt," I whispered, my voice rising. "Newt? Wake up."

The boy moaned in his sleep, his eyes squeezed shut tighter. How deep of a sleep was the kid in? I, again, softly calling his name, this time using my free arm to shake him awake. His strong arms now wrapped protectively around my waist, and he let out a small snore – completely and utterly lost in his slumber.

"Newt, you shank, wake up!" That got him up. His eyes snapped open. He blinked once. Twice. Thrice. Then shook his head.

"What you call me?" he asked half asleep.

"Nothin'," I giggled, burying my head in his chest. Then I ask the question. "Why you in my bed?"

Newt bit his lip and sucked in a breath of air. "You were havin' a nightmare, and wouldn't shut up until I lay here. I couldn't wake you up to make you stop, it was the only way."

I thought about it for a moment. I couldn't quite recall the whole aspect of the nightmare, it may have been a good thing that the details were screwy. It may hint that there wasn't a memory involved.

"Well, then," I said. "Next time at least use the blankets to cover yourself."

I lifted Newt's arm from my waist and wriggled my body over his, lifting my injured leg up and over the side.

"Sorry about this," I grunted as I tried to get out of the bed. "I'm busting for the toilet."

I inched closer off Newt's body, anticipating my other leg to fall over the side and take the weight. Oh, how I was much mistaken.

I fell out of the bed. On to the floor. Landing in a heap. I grimaced in pain. I needed to stop getting into those type of situations. I grabbed the side of the bed and hauled myself up on to it.

"Clarke, you alright?"

"No, of course I'm not alright. Everythin' bad keeps happenin' to me, and my bladder is gonna burst if I don't get to that toilet block."

I got up from the bed again and aimed my arm for my crutches. I grabbed hold them and hobbled out of the room as fast as my legs would take me. Halfway down the stairs, I remembered something and called up for Newt to come down.

"What?" he called from inside my room.

"I need you to stand guard," I shouted back.

"Can't you get someone else, I'm still recoverin' from your weight."

"Newt," I whined. "Come on, I'm literally gonna die. Besides, I don't trust anyone else."

A pause. "Give me a sec."

I heard a thud, then footsteps across the floor. By now, the point of needing the toilet had gotten so desperate I was sure I wasn't going to make in time to the toilet block. Finally, he came from the room and pounded down the stairs towards me. I huffed in response, carrying on down the stairs of the Homestead. I limped out of the building, making my way straight for the block that held these facilities. I urged Newt behind me, who seemed to amble along taking in the amusement of my desperate need to be there.

"Finally," I breathed, racing in as best as I could. "Stay there," I threw over my shoulder, as I took the furthest stall from the entrance.

"You done yet, some want to come in," Newt yelled through the building.

"I'm comin'." I opened the stall door, hopped along the doors, washed my hands, grabbed my crutches and left the building.

"Why do you insist on doing this every day?" Newt asked as he followed me towards the Kitchens.

"Because, I'm a girl and there are boys around, where there are some who can't be trusted with a fly."

We grabbed our breakfasts and, instead of heading to the usual spot, Newt leaded me towards the Map room. He pushed the plates into my grasp, turning to open the door with one of his keys that he produced from his pocket. The locks clicked open and he pushed the heavy door open. Newt walked back to where I stood, grabbed the plates from me and gestured to go inside.

I followed him inside to the dingy room, placing myself on a chair that hadn't been tucked in. The Runners must have left in haste for this chair to be left like this – the room was always kept in an orderly mess.

As soon as the plates hit the table, we gobbled the food up, not letting our tongues savour the taste. Once we were finished, Newt took the plates and dumped them beside the door to be taken out when we left.

"Right, let's get down to business," he said as he opened the first chest of maps.

"Do you see anythin'?" Newt asked, pushing the map once more in my face. "Anythin' at all?"

"Nothin', it's just a map." I sighed, yet again failing at whatever I was supposed to be finding. "And a route, does it resemble somethin'?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Bets me, just thought you would know."

I narrowed my eyes, truly looking into his eyes. "You know, don't you?" I jabbed his side with my finger, him flinching from the reaction. I jabbed again. "Tell me, tell me, tell me!" I pestered, continual smacking his arm and he fell from his chair.

"Enough, I don't know so I how am I supposed to tell ya?" He said, attempting to get back onto the chair.

"Think somethin' up." I waited for his answer. "Fine, it looks like a letter. Happy?"

Newt glanced at the page in front of his, his mouth parted slightly in disbelief. I arched my head, certain I saw a hint of confusion flash before his eyes.

"That is it, isn't it?" I urged, intrigued to the expression.

"I think that's enough for the day," Newt said. He grabbed the papers that we were using throughout the day and placed them back into the chests that they came from. One day, when one of these Gladers pisses me off to the point of no return, these maps will be the first thing I screw around with.

"Before we go," I started, leaning back on my chair. "We need to talk about us."

He retook the chair beside me, leaning in closer, grabbing a lock of my hair and twirling it in between his fingers. "What about us?"

"Well, that's thing, what is there between us." I said. "I'm confused. But, not in a bad way."

"Then, in what way?"

I sighed. "Is it a one just the spur of the moment? Or … you know … in another way?"

Newt took my hand from my lap and firmly placed it within his. "Clarke, even though it's been a little over a week, it's felt like a lifetime. Maybe the spur of the moment is what we need. We aren't in a typical situation, we are all abnormal kids in an abnormal world. And this abnormal shank, here, likes the most abnormal shuckface that has ever walked among us."

"You do."

"Yeah, she's magnificent in every possible way. Why do you doubt that?" Newt asked.

"I'm not sure, I don't think – in my past life – that anyone has ever liked me as much as that. And called me weird when professing it." I laughed. I slipped my hand out of his and placed it on the side of his face. "Newt?"

"Hmm."

"Do you think we're taking things to fast?"

"Never."

"There are many things that have happened within this blasted place, but you know what, I think this was the best," I say before I smash my lips hard against his. And that's, ladies and gentlemen, is how apparently I fell in love. Being called an abnormal shuckface.

What a romantic.

We broke apart for a gasp of air, smiling and giddy with joy. Newt mentioned that we should leave before the Runners turned up, and set in motion restoring the table for them to use.

I rose from the chair I had been sitting on for most of the day, my bum sore from the continual sitting. I stretched out my limbs, the aches and pains pulling at my muscles. Two days I've been feeling the pains from my night in the Maze, sitting down all yesterday took its toll as well. Who would of thought that a day of doing nothing and sitting there could have that much effect?

I dragged myself along the tabled, grasped the crutches and hobbled out of the room. Newt closed the doors a soon as I left, the lock clicking shut. He took the plates under his arm, leading the way back to the centre of the Glade. On the way, we passed some of the Runners who were going back to write up their maps for the day. They murmured a few words as they passed to Newt, loud enough for only him to here. In my normal state, I would have strained to hear what they were saying, not today. I don't think the energy was in me anymore to even try.

There wasn't much need for convincing to be told I needed go to bed. The yawns I gave throughout dinner clearly identified it. I made it up the stairs, and for an unknown reason, found myself sitting in the room where Aris lay. An enigma, like me, that boy was. If he did wake up, I hoped he was different to what he was before.

"You don't know what you've let yourself in for, Aris," I told him. "I know who you are, I think. Please don't remember who you are, it won't help you or anyone else."

I sat there for a while, watching the kid. In a way, it was relaxing to see him there. There was no chaos within in this room, only peace and serenity – in a weird sort of way.

I left when twilight turned to darkness, my eyes yarning for sleep. Back in my own room, it didn't take me long to fall asleep, the slipping away easier.