Chapter 5

Life got back to normal in the Glade. A new greenie came up each month, crops grew, and the boys and one girl continued to thrive.

Newt's leg healed, but not properly. He would always have a stubborn limp now. He wasn't made to be a Runner anymore, which was okay with Ava. So Alby made him his right-hand man. They listened to Newt if Alby wasn't there. He didn't want the responsibility, but he was made for it.

They still couldn't find an end to the Maze, but no one gave up. Even if it was small, there was always hope of getting out.

Ava had her place in the Glade. Alby had been joking around and calling her the Keeper of the boys. She had found her place and made sure there was harmony between all of the boys. When she wasn't helping the others with their jobs, she was holding them together. Keeping the gladers on their toes and making sure they didn't do anything drastic. She would even take the Greenies if they found it too much on their first day.

Last month they got Chuck. He was younger than most of the boys and didn't know what was going on. He couldn't keep up the first couple of days and no one wanted to try and help because he was younger. So Ava did. She took the young boy under her wing and taught him what he needed to know. After a week or two, he moved on his own so Ava let it go.

A new rule had been set with the greenies who came up. You could talk with Ava and be friendly, but if you tried to flirt or touch her in any way, there would be consequences. Not only were Newt and Gally always on high alert when it came to her, but others had begun to watch her. Minho and Frypan, even Winston and Zart. They watched her when she was alone, making sure no one tried anything. Ava didn't mind though. She felt safer knowing that people were on her side. Even though she had healed and continued growing after John, she still wasn't one hundred percent herself, and that was okay. Because she had her friends, her brothers. She wouldn't be anywhere without them.

It was Box day. A new month in the Glade. Ava had been here two years now, still no way of escaping. And still, no other girl to share her pain with.

"I swear we always find you in the weirdest places." Ava turned her head from the limb she was on and laughed, looking down at Newt who was standing under the old oak.

"It's quieter up here. Away from all you boys." She teased, moving to climb toward the trunk of the tree. Newt chuckled, arms crossed as he waited for her to climb down. "And it doesn't stink as much."

"Hey! I bathe." Newt exclaimed.

"Not regularly." She joked, coming down to the lowest branch that was under Newt. Actually, he was one of the cleanest ones there. She knew they didn't have running showers or tubs but they did what they could. He chuckled. "Box Day. New greenie. Could be your best friend." He stepped up as she swung herself down by her arms.

"Highly doubt that." She said, almost breathless as she swung. He reached up and caught her waist, and she let go, letting him guide her to the ground. Her hands held onto his shoulders as he set her on her feet.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Newt asked. She rolled her eyes, brushing off his hands and grabbing her bow and arrows.

"I've been here two years, Newt. Nothing has ever changed regarding the Maze. And every month that greenie is a boy. I was just a mistake when they put me up here."

"I've been here three years. And you are not a mistake, love. Never have been." She whined when he grabbed her pack that carried the apples she had been picking. He slung it across his shoulder. "I think you're what makes the Glade better. Everyone's different now that you're here. In a good way." She always blushed when he said love, never knowing if it was a nickname or not. But he only said it to her.

"I'll believe that when I see it." She mumbled and he just rolled his eyes. She could be so hard-headed sometimes. "Come on, let's get these to Frypan." He spoke, hefting the bag up once more. Ava smiled, following him through the Homestead. Even though it was Box Day, everything still had to be done. They still had to get on with their lives.

"Hey, Chuck!"

The young boy looked up from his perch, giving a small wave as Ava headed up the hill toward the dining area. Newt walked ahead of her toward the kitchens to deposit the fruit. She smiled, leaning against the supports. "Whatcha making?" She asked, noting how he was whittling as a piece of wood in his hands.

Chuck shrugged. "Not sure yet." He said, focused on the task at hand. She smirked before wincing at the loud gong. The Box was coming up. She turned to look, watching the gears begin to turn. She heard shouting and the boys began to run from their posts and head toward the Box. She rolled her eyes.

"Be nice!" She called to Newt and Frypan as they headed out of the kitchens to see. It was like they had never seen anything before every time it returned. But she knew the reasoning. One day it could be a way to escape. One day it could be their chance to get out.

"Hey. Where did the scarring come from?" Chuck asked Ava, looking over at her. Ava's hand absentmindedly touched the scarring, letting her hand graze across it.

"Hey! Watch what you ask!" Ava sighed and looked over at Gally. He had been coming to check on her before he went over to the Box. Ava rolled her eyes. "Go greet the greenie! He's fine!" Gally looked at her, before turning and heading to the Box as it came to a jolting stop, making the gears shift.

She turned back to Chuck. "Why are they so protective of you?" He then asked before she answered the first.

"Let's just say, I've been through some klunk since I've been here. They're my family. They take care of me. And I take care of them." She explained as she watched them open the doors and Gally jump in. They tried not to talk about it to any of the newbies. And Chuck definitely didn't need to know what happened.

"To answer the first question. Dunno. I already had a few before I came up and had a fresh one when I was coming up. Guess the Creators didn't want me to be too pretty up here. Get along with these ugly guys." She joked, making Chuck smirk.

There was shouting and Ava turned when she heard Zart. "We got a runner!" Everyone was laughing. She watched as the newbie was suddenly running across the land, before making an unfortunate face plant. Everyone was laughing and jeering. "Why do they have to crowd the newbie?" She rolled her eyes, before turning to walk over.

"You know that wouldn't always happen if you didn't start heckling him as soon as he came up," Ava spoke as she walked over to them. Gally looked over and rolled his eyes and Newt chuckled. Alby had already instructed two to take the newbie to the pit until he woke. "Alright, shanks. Back to work. We'll welcome our new greenie this evening."

Everyone began to move and go back to their own jobs. "Come on, Ava. I have you this afternoon. Gotta make some repairs to the dining area and sleeping quarters." Gally spoke, wrapping his arm around Ava's shoulder. "Let's not forget the leak in my roof. You need to patch that." Ava chuckled and told him, rolling her eyes as they headed toward the dining area. It would keep their minds focused until tonight. She looked back at Newt to wave to him but frowned when he looked at her. As if he was hurt that she had a job to do. Or was it Gally? She couldn't figure it out.

"He's awake."

Ava looked up from doing inventory on her own stuff, squinting in the sunlight. She noticed Alby walking about with the greenie. He still seemed stunned, which most of the greenies did. She chuckled, standing up and crossing her arms. The boy was built, strong, like he could stand to be a builder, but he was fast. He could be a runner if he was able. Ava had a tendency to place the newbies into their position before they even started. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes full of curiosity. The way he stared, taking everything in. His curiosity was going to get the best of him.

"He's an odd one."

"Aren't they all?" Newt asked, crossing his arms and watching her where she stooped over the box. Ava chuckled, pulling out the clothes they gave her, two pairs of pants and three new shirts. One was a tank top, thankfully. She moved so she was sitting down and staring at the clothes. "He just asks a whole bunch of questions." She folded up the clothes and put them back into the box, among the other feminine hygiene products they gave her.

"They give you ample amounts of soap, don't they?" Newt joked, noting the bottles of shampoo. She didn't use all of it in a month anyway, so she always ended up leaving it in the boys' parts of the showers so they could use it.

"Again. Maybe I don't want to stink like you guys." She said, pushing him playfully. He stumbled back, laughing, before reaching over and pushing her. She grabbed his arm quickly, and they got into a shoving match. She didn't mind the rules of no touching and no talking that Alby had made. But she had to tweak it. Everyone took it to heart the first few months, and wouldn't even stop to look at her. So she had to fix it. No touching that she deemed inappropriate, but if she instigated it, then it was fair. She liked roughhousing with the boys. It made her feel normal. Like she actually belonged in then.

She grinned as she took a low blow, taking her leg under his and pulling his bad leg out from underneath him. It didn't go well though, and she crashed with him, falling to the ground. Newt was dazed for a moment, falling onto his back with Ava on top, but then he laughed. She joined, her head against his chest as they fought off the fit of giggles.

"That's unfair, even for you." He mumbled, chuckling. "Going for the limp. How could you?!" He teased, looking up at him. She was recovering from her laugh, her hands on his arms as she pulled her head up to look at him, hovering over him.

"At least you play fair. All the others let me win." She spoke. Even Gally went easy on her. She didn't like being treated like she would break at any moment. Sure she had some tough moments, but that didn't mean she was weak. Newt chuckled, before taking the opportune moment. He grabbed at her arms and pulled, making her slip and fall with a quick shriek. She slipped onto her back as he hovered over her.

"Okay okay. You win!" She laughed, looking up at him. Newt laughed, looking down at her as he had her pinned to the ground. His eyes met hers as they lay there. He could feel his heart thumping against his chest, and if he listened close enough he could have heard hers too. He knew they were close. They had always been. But this was different.

"Come on. We should see what Alby's up to with the newbie." Ava finally spoke, though she didn't want to get up from where she was. She noted how close they were, as he hovered over her. Their eyes met, their faces so close she could feel his breath. If she just leaned in a bit more.

Newt swallowed thickly, before nodding and moving to lean back on his knees. Ava breathed and laid there for a moment, before looking over at Newt. Holy hell, what just happened? They both thought as Newt shakily stood up and reached his hand down to help Ava. Ava grinned and took his hand. She brushed her hands off on her jeans and pushed him again before both headed over to Alby and the greenie.

Alby chuckled when he saw the two walking over to him, before turning to the greenie. "Green Bean, meet Newt. When I'm not around, he's in charge." He said, clapping his hand on Newt's shoulder. Ava chuckled, crossing her arms.

"It's a good thing you're always around then," Newt remarked, turning to the newbie. "That was some dash you made earlier. For a second, I thought you had the chops to be a runner... till you face-planted. That was great."

"Newt," Ava warned, pushing his shoulder. The dark-haired boy looked at them, confusion still heavy in his eyes.

"Wait, a "runner"?" He asked. Ava looked at Newt. They tried not to talk about the runners to any newbies until they got their footing.

"And this," Ava looked over as Alby stepped over to her. "Is Ava. She's the keeper of all of us. But don't cross her. Or you'll have a bunch of boys on your ass." He explained. She smiled and gave a little wave.

"Wait, are you…." The newbie asked. It was always the first question out of their mouths when they met her.

So she nodded. "The only girl for two years now." She finished. "But don't worry. Just one of the guys. Except on certain things." She tried to make a joke, but the greenie just stared at her.

"Newt, Ava, do me a favor? Go get Chuck?" Alby asked. Newt nodded and the both of them turned to walk away.

"He's going to be a handful," Ava remarked as they walked across the land toward the kitchen.

"Why's that?" He asked, hands in his pockets.

"The way he focused as soon as you said runner? And his eyes kept drifting to the Maze. He's wanting to know what's in there. He's gonna figure out a way." She explained, jumping over a few rocks. Newt chuckled. "He'll do just like the others. Take one step in and turn his ass around."

"So you say." She smiled when she saw Chuck come into view.

"Aye Chuckie. Guess what?" Newt said, smirking. Chuck looked up. "Your turn to watch the greenie." Ava couldn't help but smile as the boy's eyes lit up and he turned to get the supplies that were needed. She turned and watched as Alby led the newbie up the watchtower. Something just felt off about him. She couldn't figure it out.

"I gotta go back out to the fields. You okay?" Newt asked. Ava looked at Newt before nodding. "Yeah, I gotta get my supplies back anyway. Gally's helping me fix the leak in my roof." She motioned toward her home. Newt nodded, before watching her go.

"Ava! Can you throw that rope up here?" Ava looked up toward the top where Gally was building. They were getting more boys so the sleeping quarters had to be redone. They had already finished her little home. She grabbed the pile of rope and tossed it up, watching as Gally caught it in mid-air and nodded his head. "Thanks." He called back down before going back to his work.

She looked back over the Glade once more, watching as Chuck was helping the newbie out, showing him the ropes. He didn't seem to be listening, interested more in the Maze.

"Duck! Throwing the rope down!" Gally called. Ava hadn't heard him, too focused on watching. She yelped at the sudden weight of the rope falling on her, wrapping around her. Gally peeked his head over the roof. "I told you to duck!" He exclaimed, moving to slide down the roof and to the ground. He reached over to help her untangle herself.

"Sorry. I wasn't paying attention." She mumbled, pulling the rope off her and tossing it to the ground. Gally raised an eyebrow, turning his head to where she had been staring.

"Ah. Have a crush on the greenie?" He asked.

Ava's cheeks turned bright red. "No! Why would you think that?" She exclaimed. He laughed. "Nah, couldn't be him? He's not your type."

"And what exactly is my type? Big lugs like you?" She joked back. Gally shrugged. "Dunno. You've been hanging around a lot lately. Maybe it is." She scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"No, but really. What is your type?" Gally joked, looking back to the greenie before her.

"I don't have a type." She mumbled, grabbing at the tools on the ground to distract herself from the thoughts flooding her head. Of a certain lanky, muscular, blonde-headed boy. Or of the fact that she was staring at the boy in front of her for far too long.

"Even the boys here have types. Come on." He smirked but didn't say anything else, not wanting to agitate her like he had done before. He turned to grab the rest of the rope, before cursing. "What the hell!?" He spoke before moving away from her fast.

"What? Did I step on your foot or something?" She asked, realizing she was alone. She turned around to find him, just in time to see him closing the gap between him and the greenie, who was walking into the Maze. "Gally!" She tried to call but he had already met up, shoving the boy away from the gate.

"Shit." She mumbled, dropping the tools and jogging over to where the others were now crowding. Gally had realized he might have overdone it, his hand out as he tried to calm him down. The greenie was furious, standing up and glaring at the group of boys that were now surrounding him.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys?" He yelled, acting like a caged animal as the others surrounded him. Ava moved quickly just as Alby and Newt came over.

"Just calm down, all right?" Newt tried to reassure him.

He wasn't having it. "No, okay? Why won't you tell me what's out there?" He yelled. Ava swallowed before stepping closer to him. She could feel the eyes on her. But she usually could calm them down. "Hey, easy! We're keeping you safe." She reached out to stop him. His eyes widened and he grabbed at her arm, pulling her harshly to him. She stumbled but came toward him instead. She saw Newt and Gally move quickly but she raised her other hand. They didn't need to make it worse.

"We're just trying to protect you." Alby raised his hand, trying to show they weren't going to hurt him. His grip was tight on Ava's arm, but she didn't flinch.

"It's for your own good." She spoke softly. He glared at her.

"You guys can't just keep me here." He yelled.

" I can't let you leave." Alby quickly said voice raised.

"Why not?" As soon as he had asked, the alarm sounded. The others turned toward the opening to the Maze as it began to close. A gust of wind hit them and Ava used her other hand to shield her face. "What the hell?" The gate then began to close. They stood in silence and watched it like it was new all over again. They were all used to it.

The greenie stared at it, before looking down at Ava and letting her arm go. Ava took a shaky step back, breathing heavily. Gally walked over to her but she shook her head. She was fine. Gally glared at the newbie. "Next time, I'm gonna let you leave." He mumbled, before pushing through the group back to his job. The others began to disperse.

"I'm sorry. I didn't…" Greenie started but Ava shook her head. "It's okay. It's all new." She told him, before turning to Newt and the others.

"Are you alright?" He asked, taking her arm in his hand and looking at where his hand had left a mark. "I'm fine Newt." She spoke softly, watching as he looked at the now-closed gate. He wasn't going to let it go. She could tell. He looked down at the redness on her arm, his fingers grazing over the bruising flesh. "He didn't mean to. He's just like all the others." She tried to reassure the boy, looking at him.

"Ava. Would you do the honors?"

Ava chuckled as she looked at the other boys, holding sticks that had been lit on fire and waiting around the bonfire. She let Alby light the arrow, before pulling the bow taut and aiming upward. She let it go, watching as the arrow sunk in the middle of the unlit bonfire. The others cheered and threw their sticks in, watching the fire go up. Everyone was cheering and she laughed.

Every month a greenie came up, and they held a celebration. They had been doing it for years. They all had begun to like it. It was time off from working and surviving. They were able to have fun. The music started up and everyone was enjoying themselves. Ava loved to watch them loosen up and have fun. It was the only time they'd ever come and talk to her like she was normal, and not the only female.

Except the greenie was nowhere to be found. He wasn't enjoying himself with the others, he was over away from the fire, away from everyone. Ava caught the bacon from Frypan when he tossed it to her, patting Winston on the shoulder as she walked past them. Gally already had the other boys in their circle, fighting. It was what he liked to do.

She watched as Newt walked over to the greenie, sitting beside him and handing the mason jar of clear liquid to him. She rolled her eyes. Gally's secret recipe. Always got them drunk.

"Whatcha staring at, chick?" Ava looked over at Ben and chuckled. He was one of the only ones she didn't mind hearing that from. "How's the newbie?" He asked as she walked over to the runners.

"He's already tried to get himself in trouble, going out into the maze."

"Is he on a suicide mission?" Mike, another runner, asked. She laughed and shook her head. "He's an odd one. Not like any of the other greenies." She remarked.

"How're you holding up?" Ben asked. He always felt like an older brother to her. Protective of her. they may not talk, but he always made sure to check up on her.

She shrugged. "As well as any female trapped in a bunch of sweaty guys can be." The others chuckled. Minho raised an eyebrow, staring at her arm. "Where'd you get that?" Ava looked at her arm, where the newbie had grabbed her arm and bruised it. It was the perfect shape of a hand, around her arm.

"Had a small run-in with Greenie. He tried to go into the maze and everyone was trying to stop him. I tried to help."

"Holy hell, I'll kill him," Minho growled and she quickly stopped him. "It's fine. He apologized. Easy, tiger." She reassured Minho. Her cheeks were flushed red. Minho sighed. "Shank's gonna get himself killed." He mumbled.

"Alright runner in shining armor." She teased, turning her head back. She turned and walked around the fire once more, chewing at her bacon when she saw Newt get up with the greenie. She smiled and walked over to them.

"There she is. Greenie, you've met Ava. She's our main Keeper. She keeps us all on track and makes sure we're taken care of." Newt explained to the greenie.

"Look, sorry about your arm. I didn't mean to." He apologized. She shrugged it off. "You wouldn't be the first. And probably not the last." She explained, falling in step with Newt and the newbie. The newbie raised an eyebrow, confused about what she said before listening to Newt as they walked around.

"And there we got the builders," Newt motioned to the group. "They're very good with their hands but not a lot going on upstairs."

" And then we got Winston... he's the Keeper of the Slicers." Winston looked up at his name, before turning back to Frypan. "And we got two med-jacks, Clint and Jeff," Newt said as the two passed them.

"They spend most of their time bandaging up the slicers," Ava remarked, arms crossed as they walked.

" What if I want to be a runner?" The greenie asked, looking at them. Newt raised an eyebrow

"Have you listened to a word I've just said? No one wants to be a runner." He exclaimed. Ava could tell he wanted to be. There was just something about it.

"And, besides, you gotta get chosen."

"Chosen by who?"

Ava stumbled as one of the boys fell into both her and the newbie. They had stepped too close to the circle. Newt put his hand on Ava's back to steady her as she reached down and grabbed the other by the shirt. Gally chuckled, eyes focusing on the newbie.

"What do you say, Greenie? Wanna see what you're made of?" Gally called, looking at him. The boys began to chant, trying to get him to compete. Ava rolled her eyes, leaning against Newt's side. He shifted, his arm around her back, hand placed gently on her other arm.

As soon as the greenie stepped into the circle, the boys cheered. Gally smirked. "Okay. All right. The rules are simple, Greenie. I try to push you out of the circle... you try to last more than five seconds." He instructed.

"Be nice, Gally," Ava called, her arms crossed, and leaned against Newt, who was watching with curiosity. The fight began, all the boys cheering as Gally instantly pushed him out of the circle.

Ava watched them, knowing the greenie wouldn't give up and she knew Gally wouldn't give up. Everyone was cheering as they watched before there was a collective gasp as the newbie knocked Gally to the ground. "That's not gonna be good." She remarked to Newt.

"Not bad for a Greenie." He taunted before Gally kicked his leg out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. Ava winced, watching them.

"Thomas." It was almost a whisper over the boys. The greenie stood up quickly. "I remember.

My name. It's Thomas!" He exclaimed.

Alby looked at them, before grinning. "Thomas!" He yelled as the others began to cheer, crowding him. Ava stood back, watching them. She sighed, looking around as she heard the Grievers moaning into the night. She just felt like something was changing. Something was going to happen. But were they ready?