When I woke up, I found that someone had laid a thin blanket over me, and Newt was sleeping in the chair next to my bed. I smiled, sitting up. The bed creaked and Newt looked over at me. Hmm. Guess he wasn't sleeping after all.
"Hey, Jamie, you're awake." I took his hand and stood up. I stumbled and Newt caught me, one arm circling my waist. I gritted my teeth, forcing down my instincts to reach around, flip him over my shoulder, and run. As soon as the adrenaline rush faded, I found that I actually did need his help to stand. There weren't any more bandages on my head, but it still hurt and I was dizzy. Putting my right arm over his shoulder, he kept his arm around my waist, and we walked outside.
Newt was met with some jealous glares and I was thrown multiple hungry looks. I chose to ignore them and he led us to another shack-looking-building. Inside, the boy that had carried me to the other shack was standing there, his back to the door. Alby, I think his name was.
"Alby, this is Jamie, the Greenie." With me no longer needing support, Newt stood next to me. Alby turned around and looked me up and down. It wasn't how the other boys looked at me though. No, it seemed as if he was merely deciding if I was dangerous or not. After a second, he nodded and stuck his hand out.
"Jamie, was it? I'm Alby." I took his outstretched hand, and in a flurry of motion, he was sitting on my back with me pinned to the ground. I smiled and suppressed a laugh. He obviously had no idea what he was up against. Seconds later, I was sitting on his chest, pinning him very effectively to the ground. I had a sudden feeling that I'd pinned men before, some twice his size. I reached for the memory, but, like the last thing I almost remembered in the box, it flitted away, like a kite that lost its string.
Alby tried to get up as soon as he got over the shock of being pinned to the floor, but I held him there without a problem. After about 2 minutes, to my surprise, he started laughing. I grinned, and Newt made a strangled noise. We both looked over at him.
"Jamie...what...how...and Alby..." I couldn't help but laugh at the shocked look on his face.
"I seem to have finally met my match." Alby remarked. Getting up, I helped him off the floor. "No one's been able to unpin themselves, much less effectively pin me." he said as I walked back over to a very astonished Newt. I just shrugged.
"It wasn't that hard. Your form was relaxed and you were pinning my shoulders instead of my elbows or forearms." Alby looked at me with his eyebrows raised.
"Well well, it looks like we have a fighter in our midst." I blushed slightly at the praise as another boy ran in. He was young, a little chubby, and he didn't look any older than maybe thirteen.
"Alby, the Runners are back." Alby frowned.
"Why? They shouldn't be yet."
"I know, but Minho won't tell anyone why until you're there. Says he doesn't feel like telling the story twice." Alby sighed and started walking towards the door.
"Thank you Chuck. I guess I'll have to see to this myself." There was his name again. Minho.
"Who's Minho?" I whispered to Newt as we followed Alby and the little one - Chuck - outside.
"He's a Runner. He goes out in the Maze everyday with other Runners and they map it all out." I glanced at him; there was a sudden darkness clouding his face and a sudden realization hit me.
"You used to be one. A Runner."
Newt sighed. "Yeah, I was. I don't like to talk about it."
"Oh, I'm sorry." I needed a friend, so I couldn't push too far too soon. I always managed to do that. Did I? I couldn't help wondering where all my memories were. I had a vision of a box, draped with chains and a lock holding it all together.
"It's fine. Maybe another time." He smiled sadly at me, then frowned as Alby and an Asian guy started arguing. That must be Minho, I thought. We jogged over there, and I was shocked to see that he was drenched in sweat. Is the Maze really that big? I wondered. But I was overcome with a sudden urge to become a Runner. I didn't even want to try doing anything else. I was barely listening to their conversation until I heard my name.
"Alby, there's never been a girl here. She's going to need someone to watch over her as she works." Minho wanted me to stay safe? Alby laughed, a short, bitter laugh.
"Minho, she's not going to need a bodyguard."
"We can't have some shuckface idiot trying to take advantage of her."
"Minho, not only did she get out from under my pin, she pinned me back on the ground." The muscular Asian raised his eyebrows and turned to me for the first time.
"You really did that, Greenie?" I nodded. "Not even I could do that. And I have muscles." Minho flexed and I couldn't help but laugh. Scowling at me, he asked, "What's so funny?"
"This." I simply stated, and pulled back my sleeve and flexed; even Alby was surprised. Minho's muscles and mine were evenly matched. Newt let out a low whistle.
"Well, I guess she's ready to fight them shanks off, huh?" That made everyone laugh, even Minho.
"I'm gonna like having you around, Greenie." Minho said. I grinned at him.
"Don't worry, you'll be seeing a lot of me." I said and winked. He raised one eyebrow at that.
"Will I now?" he asked, looking me up and down. I could tell he didn't mean it and I started laughing.
"Yeah. I want to be a Runner." I said. That killed the mood. All the blood drained from Newt's face, and even Alby looked a little pale. Minho, however, looked interested, maybe even a little impressed.
"You want to do...what?" Newt whispered. Minho just laughed out loud.
"Greenie, I don't think anyone has been crazy enough to just ask to become a Runner. Not even me. And I'm pretty crazy."
"He is." Alby agreed. "Greenie, I'm sending you with Chuck for the rest of the day." He turned to the chubby kid; I'd nearly forgotten he was there. "Chuck, I expect you to bring her to the bonfire tonight."
"There's a bonfire tonight?" He looked excited and I couldn't help but wonder what the big deal was. I mean, it was just a big fire. Alby just nodded and turned back to me.
"Chuck will show you around the Glade, Greenie. Try not to disrupt anyone." Swallowing hard, I nodded. I won't disrupt anyone, I thought, as long as they leave me alone.
A/N: Thank you so so much to everyone who's read so far and to the people who have yet to read it! I'm glad that you guys like my stories. LeoIsMyJam to answer your question, "Is Jamie named after anyone?" Yes, she is. They wanted to name her James after James Madison (the US President) but seeing as how she's a girl, they changed the name a little to Jamie.