The following day Eleanor woke up early, eager for once to do some work. After a quick breakfast she made her way to the gardens, loving the fact that Zart wasn't there yet. In fact, mostly everyone was still back in the Kitchens.

She could see that Alby was giving Thomas the tour, could see the scowl on his face even from where she was standing. That amused her. She didn't envy Thomas one bit.

The alarm took her by surprise.

She quickly shifted her gaze towards the box.

That couldn't be right. The box had arrived just the day before. She had never heard of it arriving two days in a row.

Soon enough, the rest of the Gladers had exited the Kitchens and were already making their way towards the sound.

She followed suit, confused as to what was happening. Everyone else seemed to be feeling that same way.

When she was close enough she spotted Newt. She opened her mouth ask him when-

"Newt, what's going on?"

Thomas had arrived with Alby, who was already giving out orders.

Newt walked towards Thomas and she followed, drawn to his calmness in stressful situations.

"Means a Newbie's coming up the box." He spoke when Thomas got to him, "Right now."

What?

She had finally reached them and was about to ask again.

"So?" Said Thomas.

Now that she observed him closer, Newt clearly didn't look calm. He was just very good at hiding his emotions.

"So..." Newt replied, took a look at her but turned back to the most pressing matter. "Greenie, we've never had two Newbies show up in the same month, much less two days in a row."

Before she could even utter a word, Newt had ran off, probably to gather the older Gladers.

Eleanor sighed and, knowing the box took a few minutes to come up and not feeling like answering Thomas' questions that she didn't think she could answer, she made her way towards Zart. She felt suddenly eager to do something to kill off some time... Something wasn't right.

When Alby and Newt reached the crowd again, she quickly made her way back to the Box. Finding a spot near the front wasn't easy but she managed to, while letting the older boys work the doors.

The Glade felt silent, aside from the rattling of the Box.

She could almost touch the tension around her.

No one knew what this meant, nor who or what would be inside that elevator.

Soon enough, the rattling sound of the Box arriving came and Newt and Alby took positions on opposite sides, opening the heavy doors.

Eleanor held her breath as Newt leaned over trying to get a look inside. She did so too, as much as she possibly could.

"Holy ..." Newt breathed, looking around and stopping at as his gaze crossed hers.

"What?" She managed speak through the nerves.

Why was he looking at her like that?

"No way." Alby murmured, not shifting his gaze away from inside the opening.

"What?" She asked, louder now, looking from one boy to the other.

A rumble of questions erupted around her and she was pushed forward as everyone tried to get a look inside.

"Hold on!" Alby shouted, and everyone instantly quieted. "Just hold on!"

"Well, what's wrong?" A boy yelled from somewhere.

Alby stood up looking at her.

"Two Newbies in two days, now this." he almost whispered. Eleanor was close enough to listen, his focused stare igniting fear inside of her. "Two years,nothing different, now this."

Just as quickly as he had looked at her, he shifted his gaze to Thomas.

"What's goin' on here, Greenie?"

Thomas looked just as confused as she felt. "How am I supposed to know?"

"Why don't you just tell us what the shuck is down there, Alby?" Gally's voice always made her shiver, this time was no different.

Murmurs broke out again and Eleanor almost lost her footing as they pushed forward once more. And then, Eleanor could finally see what their leaders were so shaken up about.

It wasn't just the long hair. It was clear.

"You shanks, shut up!" Alby once again yelled, losing his patience. "Tell 'em, Newt."

Newt gazed down in the Box once more, then at Eleanor.

"It's a girl," he said.

Eleanor drowned out the commotion that exploded after that, not able to take her gaze away from the laying girl that had entered her line of sight. Raven black hair covered some of her face but even from where she was, she could tell the girl was very pretty. Her form could be seen clearly. There was no mistake. She was a girl.

Why isn't she moving?

Eleanor tried to lean over without falling in, drawn to her.

Another girl.

She didn't know what she was supposed to be feeling. Why did she suddenly feel so scared?

As she looked up, she could see Gally lowering the rope for Alby and Newt.

"Wait!" She shouted.

Every pair of eyes focused on her, but that only spur her forward.

"Let me." She pleaded Alby.

She didn't care what they thought of her. She wasn't going to let those scary boys welcome her, with their scowls and strong voices, and stupid double standards.

Newt looked at Alby and gave a very small nod, giving him his approval but not making the decision for him. The older boy stared at her for a moment longer, then, finally nodded.

The Gladers let her pass and she made her way over, trying not to fall.

Gally barely moved out of her way, but he handed her the rope.

It took her longer to lower herself to the floor of the Box than it would have taken any of the boys, but she did so as quickly as she was able to. She was soon inside that place she had never wished to go back into.

The girl didn't move.

"I think she's dead." Someone shouted overhead.

Eleanor inhaled and pushed herself forward.

She had been right, she was very pretty. She was thin and clearly taller than her. She kneeled next to her form and took the hair out of her face. Her eyes remained closed and Eleanor gulped.

She could feel every eye of the Glade on her as she tried shaking her lightly. The girl didn't move.

"She isn't dead." She spoke as she saw her breathing lightly.

Eleanor sighed in relief. She tried shaking her again, a little harder this time. Still nothing.

"Hey." She tried.

The loud voices of the boys hadn't woken her, so she doubted hers would.

Her gaze went back up to Newt. She guessed she could trust him to handle her more than she could trust the others. The blonde seemed to understand and, quicker than she had been, lowered himself and was soon next to her.

"We'll have to take her up."

Once the girl was up, sprawled out in the grass, with a circle of Gladers around them; Eleanor kneeled next to her. She'd be dammed if they made her leave this girl's side.

Alby wasted no time.

"Greenie, get over here." His voice as demanding as always.

Thomas's eyes reflected his fear, but he made no comment, as he approached them. The Newbie took a good look at the girl, and although it wasn't as sickening as some of the Glader's gazes, it still made her uneasy.

"You know this girl, shank?" Alby broke off his reverie.

The younger boy looked shocked. "Know her? Of course I don't know her. I don't know anyone. Except for you guys."

"That's not ..." Alby started. Eleanor knew he was trying not to run out of patience. "I meant does she look familiar at all? Any kind of feeling you've seen her before?"

"No. Nothing." Thomas looked genuinely surprised.

"You're sure?" Alby insisted.

Eleanor could clearly see Thomas confusion, and she believed him.

"Yes. Why?"

"Give him a break, Alby." Eleanor said, knowing he would not stop otherwise.

She was mildly surprised he hadn't demanded an explanation out of her.

"Shuck it." Alby gave up. "Can't be a coincidence. Two days, two Greenies. One alive, one dead."

He was muttering to himself.

Newt tried reminding him. "She's not-"

"I know." Alby cut him off, "Might as well be."

"I swear she doesn't look familiar at all." Thomas declared, feeling the accusations on him.

Eleanor nodded to him, letting him know she believed him. She sensed that Newt was looking at her.

"Do you—"

Before he could finish, the girl shot up into a sitting position.

Eleanor jumped to her feet.

The girl frantically looked around, revealing big blue frantic eyes.

If she hadn't been just as startled she would have laughed at Alby's cry and Newt stumbling away.

The girl seemed to be in the middle of a panic attack, as she tried to take as many breaths as she could while looking around at her surroundings.

Scared as she was, Eleanor could see her lips moving almost unperceivably. She moved forward, kneeling towards her again, slowly, trying to look as harmless as she possibly could.

Her deep loud voice caught her by surprise, almost making her jump again.

"Everything is going to change."

Eleanor's heart beat loudly in her ears as the girl passed out in front of her, having enough reflexes to break her fall. But she jumped back as the girl's fist shot up just where her face had been seconds before.

There was something there, poking out of her fist.

Eleanor stared at it and lifted her own hand to take it out.

Newt ran forward and pushed her arm softly back down. His own scared eyes checked on her shortly before pulling the girl's fingers apart. His hands were shaking as he unfolded a small white paper.

The note dropped to the ground next to her, just as Newt did too. Eleanor barely took a look at his face before dropping her gaze to the words that were now spread out beside her legs.

She's the last one.

Ever.

The girl hadn't moved at all since she had gotten there and Eleanor hadn't stopped staring at her since she had finished work.

She was still scared from what had happened that morning.

The girl had been taken to the Med-hut and she had spent most of her time there, when she hadn't been working. She had been trying to ignore the whimpers coming from the bed next to her, with little success. Ben didn't seem to be doing any better.

But her mind couldn't take thinking about him at that moment.

The med-jacks didn't seem to mind her presence, and Alby hadn't said anything to Eleanor the times he had come to check up on the new arrival.

She had wished for another girl to come up that Box since she had gotten there, but not like this. Not like this.

She had tried to ignore all the boys' crude comments and the so called jokes about the new female. But her nerves had been on edge all day and she felt like her head was about to combust.

Newt walked back in at some point. He had been dropping by to check on the new girl just as much as Alby had.

This time, he brought Eleanor a poorly made sandwich that she knew he had made himself. That took a small smile out of her.

"Thank you." She said as he gave it to her.

He took a seat beside her in the only other chair the Med-hut provided. He didn't bother asking how the girl was. She didn't bother asking him if there were any news. They both knew the answers to those questions.

"I wish I knew her name." She said after a while.

Newt nodded to that. She felt a lot calmer, since Newt was there.

"You should go to bed." He said, "I have to watch her tonight. You can take my bed."

Eleanor looked up at him surprised. He immediately blushed but didn't say anything. She was about to say she could watch the girl, but she felt very tired and a bed sounded really good right then. The thought of curling up in a warm bed was so appealing, laying her head on a pillow, breathing in the smell of Newt-

Minho.

The smell of Minho.

She didn't sleep in Newt's bed. She slept in Minho's bed.

"Um, thanks Newt." She said awkwardly, her cheeks felt hot and she wished he couldn't tell what she had been thinking. "I'll wait for Minho."

The older boy opened his mouth to reply but stopped himself.

Seeming to reorder his thoughts, he tried again.

"You don't have to sleep with him, you know." He said. "I'm sure you'll be more comfortable-If you want a bed you can just-I…"

"Newt." She cut him, "Don't worry about me. As long as Minho doesn't mind, I'd rather sleep in his room. He…"

She thought for a moment.

"He calms me down." She admitted

"Of course he does." Newt muttered.

"What?" She said, not sure of if she had heard correctly.

"Of course he doesn't mind." He said louder, "I mean, he clearly enjoys it."

Eleanor stared at him, wondering where the barely concealed the bitterness in his voice came from.

"Newt," She spoke, "I know you don't- You and Alby don't like that I sleep with a Glader but with Ben and everything…"

There was a pain in her chest. She breathed and tried again.

"I would rather not sleep alone. And I know he doesn't say it, but I think he also needs the company." Eleanor continued, not liking the look on Newt's face. "I swear we don't- I swear we aren't… like... doing anything."

She didn't know why she was explaining herself to him, but she knew she didn't want him to think badly of her or to see disappointment in his eyes.

"I know." He said, breathing out. "I'm just worried he wants more than just sleeping."

Eleanor blushed immediately, "Newt, no. He is- we're friends. He's my best friend."

"I know, it's just…" Newt looked pained. "Minho is…"

"Minho is what?"

Both their faces snapped towards the door where the Runner himself was propped up against the doorway. A smirk adorned his face, but something darker shone behind it.

"Min." Eleanor exclaimed.

"Oh, hi man." Newt said.

"No, no. I wanna hear this." The Runner spoke, making his way towards them, not even gazing at the sleeping girl on the mat. "I am what exactly?"

His stare was boring into the Second-in-command and Eleanor felt uneasy. Sometimes he could look so menacing.

"I was just…" Newt spoke, "I mean, you're probably both just tired and-"

"And that's why I want more than just sleeping?" He said mockingly.

Newt paled and opened his mouth to speak but Eleanor beat him to it.

"Oh, c'mon." She sighed. "Don't start with your macho fights."

She jumped to her feet and grabbed Minho's hand.

"Let's go."

"Wait, no, I-"

"Minho…" The glare she gave him shut him up.

She was tired. She had been waiting for him to come all day. She only had a few hours of peace every day and those where when Minho was with her, so she wasn't going to waste them talking to Newt about whether or not they wanted to have sex with each other. That was a conversation she'd really rather not have that night, or ever.

With one last look at the girl and a wave to Newt, Eleanor dragged them out the door towards the Homestead.

"But I-" Minho started as they walked, resisting her.

"No." She replied, "I'm tired, I want to sleep."

"Shuck…" He gave up. "I didn't even get to see the girl."

Eleanor let out a strangled chuckle and hit him over the head. "Don't be gross."

"Hey!" He exclaimed, "I meant it literally."

"I know." She laughed.

She felt immediately better simply by being with her best friend.

"Although, apparently I'm gross and want more than just sleeping." He said mockingly, but Eleanor could clearly see he had been bothered by the comment.

"Minho." She tried sounding serious, "You're not gross. You're just an idiot."

She ignored his complains and continued.

"Newt's just worried, that's all. He's your friend. He's looking out for you."

"No, El." He said just as serious, "He's looking out for you."

Eleanor scoffed.

"He's clearly jealous." He spat.

Eleanor laughed at that. Could Minho ever have a normal conversation without joking?

"Right... 'cause he's so in love with me." She said, rolling her eyes.

"He is." His seriousness made her laugh harder. He wasn't laughing.

"C'mon, you idiot." She threw her arm around his shoulder, which wasn't easy considering the height difference. "Maybe, you're the one who's jealous."

"Yeah, right." He replied quickly, with a small smirk, but he looked tired just like she felt.