Clara felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She brushed it off, and it went away. A second later, her hammock flipped over, and she fell on the ground, groaning. Her eyes shot open to see blond wisps of hair and a pair of brown eyes.

"Newt!" Clara exclaimed, a tinge of grogginess and surprise in her voice. She took her pillow and chucked it at his face.

"I had to wake you up somehow." He joked, tossing the pillow back on Clara's hammock and helping her to her feet. "Cmon, Fry is serving bacon today. Let's go before everyone eats it."

After breakfast, Newt and Clara were deep in conversation when she spotted Alby near the Homestead, talking to one of the Keepers.

"I've gotta go." She said, cutting Newt off mid-sentence.

"Where are you going?" Newt asked.

"I need to talk to Alby real quick." She started making her way towards the Homestead, hoping to catch him before he left again.

"See you later!" Newt called after her.

Clara approached Alby and tapped him on the shoulder.

"What's up?" He said

"Can you call a Gathering?" Clara asked. She was hoping to ask about the prospect of becoming a Runner.

Alby raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I just need you guys to approve something."

"When?"

"Today, now if possible." Clara could feel herself getting nervous.

"Alright, I'll go get the Keepers." Alby shrugged "Go to the Homestead." Clara let out a breath of relief as Alby walked away. She headed into the Homestead, praying that whatever this was would go over well.

Soon enough, all the Keepers, including Zart, Minho, and Newt filed in and sat in a row of chairs facing her. Newt looked at her, the confusion and concern on his face very noticeable. Clara's heart began to pound.

"Alright, alright." Alby silenced the Keepers "I've called you here because Clara would like our approval for something. Go ahead, Clara." Clara decided that now was the best time, so she dismissed her doubts and took a chance.

"I... I want to become a Runner." She braced herself for rejection but she only heard mumbling. Everyone seemed pretty okay with the idea, nodding their heads. Except for Newt. His face was white as a sheet and the look of fear he wore made Clara's heart drop.

"How bout it boys?" Alby asked his fellow Keepers.

"Doesn't seem like a bad idea." Frypan said. The others shrugged. Minho had a grin on his face. Newt's eyes were trained on the ground.

"All in favor?" Everyone besides Newt raised their hands.

"All oppose?" No hands went up.

"Newt, why aren't you voting?" Minho asked his blond friend. "Everyone's supposed to."

"I... I don't know. I can't talk right now." Newt got up from his chair and walked out the door. Everyone silently stared at it as it closed.

"Um, so I guess since Newt hasn't voted, we can only keep it at a standstill for now. Let's wait a couple days to finish it up." Alby said, glancing at Newt's empty seat and back to Clara. She nodded in response.

"Thanks." she mumbled, quickly heading out the door.

Clara found Newt sitting back against a tree, his head turned towards the sky. He looked very troubled. She sat in the grass next to him.

"What happened back there?"

"You just tried to sign your bloody death wish, that's what." Newt ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Why would you do it? After I told you how horrible it was and not to do it?" Clara's eyebrows furrowed, annoyed that Newt thought he could control the decisions she made.

"Why do you care?" She snapped.

"Because I care about you !" Newt exclaimed "I don't want you to get hurt!" He looked at Clara with desperation. "That Maze is a death trap, and you just want to mosy on in and think you're untouchable! Well that's not how it works, Clara. It's dangerous out there, and you don't deserve to go through that." Clara was shocked by Newt's words, but they didn't sway her.

"I care about you too, Newt." She said, her tone softer. "And you don't deserve to worry about me all the time. I can take care of myself."

"I just... need to think about it." Newt got up, wincing, and waited for Clara to stand. " I don't want you getting hurt."

"I get it."

With that, the two friends went separate ways to carry out the rest of the day, not saying a word.