"Vivienne, whatcha doing here?" Jeff asked with a raised eyebrow scanning her slowly as if he were looking for injuries. He noticed she was holding her wrist with the other hand, while it trembled enough for him to notice. "Hey, what happened?"

"I was… do you maybe have some lemon balm or passiflora incanata?"

"What?" he chuckled nervously.

"Passionflower? I could use some tea," she confessed brushing and playing with her hair.

"I'll see what I can do. Meanwhile…" He'd already started working on the beverage. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"It's… where's Clint?"

"He's checking on the Greenie," Jeff announced while he looked through boxes Vivienne didn't recognize. Probably supplies… "How about some new mix? Kava, peppermint, with chamomile?" he suggested, but Vivienne grimaced only imagining the awful taste.

"I think it would be too much, you know? Besides, the last time I was here you didn't have kava."

"We got some today, wanna try it?" Vivienne took a moment to think about the offer. She could remember the herb, yet not the taste.

"What do I have to lose?"

"Some stress," he tried to put her at ease. She smiled thankfully and set on a bed. When Jeff was done he sat next to her with two mugs for both of them. "So… I don't have a penny, but I'd still like to listen to what got my favorite girl so worked up."

"I'm the only girl you know, Jeff," she nudged him with a heartfelt laugh. "Thanks… but I… it's nothing."

"Didn't seem like nothing to me," he said to the mug as he sipped the hot drink and grimaced, "Yup that one is not for me. So… will you tell me or do I have to stop giving you free tea?" he threatened playfully.

"Few days have been… hard, I guess. And with new Greenie around…" she sighed not knowing how to finish her lie. Greenie was nowhere to be found on her list of problems.

"You're worried you won't be in the center of attention?" Oh no, with my boobs and long hair I surely will play on some of the slintheads' nerves.

"I don't really know what's wrong with me, Jeff. It's not like I had put my trust in Creators to send up another girl or anything, but I just… I really don't know," she shrugged.

"Whatever it is you can always come here, you know that, right?" He nudged her like she had him before and she laid her head on his shoulders.

"Of course, I do," she smiled, but inside she felt guilty for lying to Jeff. After all, she couldn't have told him how afraid of Ben she became and how mistreated she felt by builders. With Ben she didn't exactly have a proof to accuse him of anything – besides she wondered if by any chance she hadn't led him on, and even if she hadn't then he was Minho's friend and a great runner – and with her colleagues she could have gone to Gally, but if he took her side – which he probably would – then they would have had more reasons to talk behind her back (after all that was what caused it) and she handled it pretty well on her own – or so she thought – she didn't want to hide behind 'Glade's elite', she wanted to feel strong and independent and for now she was far from those two. She decided not to take advices from anyone – she wouldn't know how to ask for them anyway - and figure those issues out on her own.

She left medjack's hut no longer after and having completely nothing to do she wandered aimlessly around the Glade. She stumbled upon Gally and Greenie.

"-and tomorrow you're with Winston," Vivienne heard Gally explain to the Greenie. "Hey, Greenie meet our very own Trouble!" he laughed putting a warm palm on Vivienne's shoulder and patted it slightly too hard, but she didn't mind.

"Yeah, we have kind of already met. How are you?" She turned her attention to the guy who still looked a bit shaken.

"Well… I don't remember anything, including my own name and-" he noticed he must have come off slightly harsh – not that Vivienne blamed him – so he cleared his throat and corrected himself, "But at least they got some pretty girls here."

"Actually I'm the only girl here." She ignored Gally's eyes daggering glare into Greenie's side, "But thanks."

"That… must get hard," he exhaled nervously.

"Nah, guys are great." She waved it off. "I heard something about Winston?"

"Greenie's with him tomorrow." Gally tore his eyes away and looked back to Vivienne.

"That job creeps me out. I have no idea how you handled it." His confession made her uneasy as she remembered Gladers' previous accusation.

"No, after I talked to Alby he said I could switch it and work for two days at every station," she explained quickly hoping to change the subject as she didn't feel to comfort and it showed.

"I don't blame him." His eyes shone, while he smiled. "I wouldn't want to see you get your hands dirty like that, either."

"Then like what?" Oh, those eyebrows are taking off. Vivienne grimaced. Greenie seemed too nice to hide any sexual overtone.

"I'm sorry I-I didn't mean anything by it. I just… I mean you're too soft to slaughter animals." Ouch. True, but… Ouch? "No, no I mean… Ugh, I'm sorry this came out all wrong…"

"That's fine, don't worry about it," Vivienne chuckled. She found his nervousness funny and refreshing from all the acerbity she recently went through. Yet, seeing Gally's cold and judgemental stares she decided to catch up with Greenie later. "I should go, but I see you at the bonfire. Let me know when you remember your name and if this one over here," she pointed playfully at Gally with a laugh to ease the situation, "gets too grumpy."

"Bye," Gally waved his hand in front of her with frustrated and dull expression and Vivienne almost cracked laughing right there. As she walked away she looked around for the things she could do. She was already at the Medjacks' hut, saw Gally, and ate lunch.

"Boo!" She felt strong hands cup her shoulders and pin her down. It was a miracle she didn't fall down.

"Oh my God!" She put her palm over her chest. "Minho, the hell are you doing?" she yelled still slightly shook.

"Oh, c'mon babe, I know you missed me," he winked and she rolled her eyes. She couldn't deny he made her feel much, much better.

"What is that?" She motioned on a wooden haft that stacked out from his pants.

"That?" He looked down and took out a dagger. "All the Runners have their weapons in case we stumble upon a Griever or to cut ivies to mark our way. Why?"

"Just curious. You wouldn't really use it against Griever, though," she laughed it off.

"And why not?" Woah, calm down! No need to get those panties in a twist.

"Because they're huge and deadly and you don't know how to fight!"

"Of course I do!" he scoffed, "Every Runner trains before entering the Maze."

"Trains what exactly?" She decided to dig in a little.

"Uhm… We jog, exercise, and practice combat," he explained folding his arms on his chest and bend his head to the side. "Why?" He squinted.

"Oh no, don't do that! I can barely see your eyes, anyway!"

"Babe?" He pressed.

"Could you maybe… teach me a little bit? Just in case…"

"I suppose, but in case of what? Vivienne no one… tried anything, did they?" His worried gaze studied her.

"I'll gladly keep you company, when you get lonely."

"No, no…" It would break you, Minho… "But… you never know. What if one of them gets hammered? Or if some animal escapes Winston and runs at me…" It came out squeaky as she had no idea what was rolling off of her tongue.

"Yeah, that makes sense…" he sighed, "But if you're serious then when are we gonna do this?"

"In the evenings? You ought to be recovered after running the Maze, right?"

"Yeah, that would work, I guess." He shrugged. "C'mon bonfire is gonna start soon. We'll talk about details tomorrow."

Bonfire seemed to be just what Vivienne had needed all this time. Minho got her to drink some of the moonshine and somehow she managed to stomach it, while he was cracking jokes, getting her mind off of stuff he could only suspect were bothering her.

Meanwhile, Gally got Greenie to spar with and won as quickly as the last time – she wondered if he was always kicking Greenie's ass.

"Don't you wanna try it?" she suggested, but Minho brushed her off.

"It's not really my thing, but how about you, babe?" Vivienne wasn't delusional, with so little muscle she wouldn't even manage to last five seconds in there unless Gally would go extremely easy on her – and her plan was to avoid head starts.

"Yes with those guns he wouldn't stand a chance," she flexed her arm but barely a hillock formed.

"Yes, with that lots of fat there you'd squeeze him real nice," Minho chuckled, and it took everything in Vivienne not to spill her drink at him. Still, she smiled, thinking it would soon change after her work-out sessions. "Oh, Ben's there-"

"-you go to him. I should find Legend," she interrupted quickly, trying to avoid an encounter with blond Runner.

"He's not here."

"What do you mean he's not here? Where would he go?"

"No, I mean… he's not at the bonfire. Younglings are not allowed for there's alcohol plus it's past their bedtime," he chuckled and sipped his beverage.

"Shuck, I gotta go!" If what Minho said was true she should have already been with Legend putting him to sleep.

"What? Why?" She didn't tell him as she already began walking away. She was almost at the homestead, when she stumbled upon Newt.

"Hello there, (A/N: General Kenobi wink wink anyone?) love. Why are you in such a rush? Bonfire is in there," he pointed out.

"Don't be a smartass. I'm going to your room to put Legend to sleep," she explained and tried to go on, but he stopped her.

"It's already done. Why do you think I'm late?" She thought for a second.

"Why… didn't you get me?"

"Couldn't find you, besides the kid was so tired he fell asleep before I opened my mouth." Vivienne tried to imagine Legend fall into a deep slumber without a story or at least some gossiping.

"Why are you even doing this?" Newt was visibly taken aback by her sudden question. Yet his answer was as calm as usual.

"It wouldn't be fair to throw him out like that. I mean, letting him stay is not exactly fair to the other Younglings-"

"-there are others?" Of course, there are…

"Of course there are! We wouldn't have made up names for just one kid," he said bluntly to which Vivienne couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Excuse you," she reminded him of Minho looking for the right name for weeks and others – including him – never calling her by her name.

"Alright, you're right… Anyway, as I suspect Legend told you, he won't be staying for too long. I'm willing to give him head ups, but he'll have to move out in few days. Glade isn't easy on anyone, and we may fool around and stuff but he's fifteen. He gotta man-up eventually."

"I guess you're right…"

"How do you like your new place?"

"It's great! I think I'll be lonely there until other girls start coming up, which if I were to be honest, I really doubt. Creators are playing some sick game with us and as you said it isn't easy for anyone – they don't and won't make it easy," she sighed.

"If this may be of any consolation… When you were out I brought your stuff there. You got some new ones from the box. There was this I'd say a bit small box – dark blue, velvet. Wanna see it now?" Vivienne smiled as curiosity took over her.

"Sure, let's go." She led him to her chambers excited to see what Creators got her. Calm down, you idiot, they would never give you something useful. They didn't even bother to send an extra bra! She was so deep in thought she didn't notice Newt getting ahead to open the door for her. Cute. "Thanks."

"I didn't know where to put it, so I left it on the bed," he confessed, rubbing the back of his neck. She picked up the little box and opened it with a click. Inside she found a beautiful, tricolored necklace in shape of a swan filled with petit crystals – prom white to gold to pink – and a note saying as little as possible

' – A.'

"I… I don't understand." Her eyes desperately searched for Newt's but his were stuck on the box as he dared to come closer.

"May I?" He took both the box and the note and studied it carefully. Vivienne anxiously, yet somehow patiently awaited his verdict. "A…? Does… seem familiar or… I dunno… Can you connect it to anything?" he finally spoke up, his eyes reaching hers, looking just as lost.

"I'm sorry, I… Like I said, I don't understand…" Newt didn't say anything, with a deep frown his gaze returned to the necklace. He took it out and put the box and the note back on the bed.

"Turn around," he ordered and Vivienne's eyes widened.

"What?"

"Turn around," he repeated and she did as he said. She had no idea what was going on until he started putting the pendant around her neck. Her palm traveled to the necklace and she placed two of her fingers on it – action felt so familiar – and she trembled under Newt's warm and soft touch as his fingertips brushed faintly against her neck. She turned back to him with a lost expression, her fingers not leaving the pendant.

"I… This…" Her fingers tapped the swan lightly. "This action seems familiar. I mean… putting my fingers on it… I just… have this feeling like I've done this before… Does it make sense at all?" Her eyes itched without a reason, but she ignored it.

"I have no idea, Vivienne, but… it's something." He nodded slowly, looking away from her. "We should tell Alby, not anyone else in case it's not important, but Vivienne." He calls me by my name… It must be serious. Oh, of course, it's serious you find something familiar it's more than they could have ever asked for, you slinthead! She was battling inside. "Can you remember anything else?" Her mind wandered to the woman's voice and guy's voice – mother and brother as she suspected – she thought if she could or should tell him.

"No," her mouth moved faster than her thoughts. Her voice was shaky, but it might have as well been due to the fact the pendant brought another bizarre thing to her odd life.

"Hey, it's alright. Sh…" She didn't get what the whole sh… was about until she felt her cheeks sting under the pressure of hot, salty tears. Newt moved slowly toward her, giving her time to back away, but she welcomed his embrace. Usually, her mind would have try to think of the last time she was hugged, but now she focused on the feeling of wiry arms wrapped around her petite body and a warmth that radiated between them. His hands were slowly caressing her back, whilst hers wrapped around his waist as she put her head in the crook of his neck. She was sobbing harder and harder and the only words leaving her mouth were,

"I'm sorry." And she was. She was sorry for lying to him. Newt was there, hesitant and respectful unlike many others, yet she couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth. Not yet… She knew eventually she'd have to confess, but she decided to take her time to gain his trust. Maybe then he would not judge her for remembering those little things. They ain't helpful, anyway. She tried to justify.

"You don't ever have to be sorry, not for this," he tried to comfort her, but she knew they were both referring to two different things. I'd tell you, Newt, just not yet.

Somehow, for whatever reason, she asked him to stay with hair and he obliged – not before making sure she was absolutely comfortable with it – helping her onto the bed and sitting on the side. She turned to face the wall – her favorite position so far – as he caressed her arm engaging her in small talks until she was too tired to reply.

The bed shifted at the loss of weight, wooden floor squeaked under light footsteps, and the door creaked. Vivienne was alone again, something she was supposed to want the space for a while, yet she wasn't so satisfied. Unlike Ben, Newt was careful and gentle, and she didn't feel overwhelmed by him. She wanted to get out of the makeshift bed, but she wouldn't know what to tell Newt. So, instead, she turned to her other side and shut her eyes. She cuddled up to her blanket and let Morpheus take her for a dreamless ride.

billweasley07 : Yeah I know you weren't, but I can't say if I'll kill him or not. You'll have to wait and see ;) Also I'm glad you find Ben creepy (he was supposed to be this way and I'm relieved I managed to achieve it)