I'm not allowed to be a MedJack. Not because I was terrible, I was actually alright. It was because people kept coming in with fake injuries so they could see me. Then, when Jeff found out and put a stop to it, they started giving themselves real injuries. Nothing major, but we don't have an unlimited supply of bandages. I was excused some time after lunch to prevent the appearance of more sliced and splintered fingers. There's no way Winston cut himself that many times, not on accident.
I stood by the entrance to the Maze, waiting for the runners. They'd be back soon, it was almost dinner. Chuck had teased me about waiting for "my boyfriend", but he didn't say who and refused to elaborate. I'd been getting friendlier with Chuck. I'd helped him out with his cleaning after I left the Medtent and had been walking around with him until he went to get his dinner. He was adorable and did enough talking for both of us, so I was happy to help him.
The first two runners, Greg and Andrew, I think, ran past me to a hut near the Homestead. The Map Room, I remembered. I walked towards it, and more Runners ran past me as I drew closer. I sat in the grass a distance away from it, close enough to see who had returned but far enough away I didn't get in trouble.
Ben ran past me. It was a wonder they all fit. Newt was next to last, Minho close behind him. The grinding gears of the Doors began to echo through the Glade. I winced as the Doors shut, the towering stone walls slamming together.
By the time they came out, dinner had just started. Slowly, the Runners trickled out of the Map Room. Newt and Minho were last. They stopped, looking down at me.
"Have you eaten?" Newt asked, frowning. I shook my head and stood up.
"I was waiting." I told them.
"What, for us?" Newt raised an eyebrow. Minho snorted.
"Us." He scoffed.
"What does that mean?" I frowned. Minho grinned. He looked exhausted from his run, but he still grinned. Even though he was breathing heavier than normal. So were Newt and the others, truth be told. Must've been a long day.
"You're hilarious." Minho said. "Come on, we should get to dinner. We don't hurry, there might not be any left." I looked at Newt, who was glancing towards where the others were eating their dinner.
"Go." I nudged him. "I'm gonna bother Minho." Newt looked suspiciously between the two of us, but headed off just the same. His stomach had won him over.
"You're gonna what me?" Minho winked. I scowled at him.
"Why are you being so weird?" I asked. Minho glanced over my shoulder, watching as Newt walked through the door.
"You think I haven't noticed?" He waggled his eyebrows. "You, my lady, have a crush. It's cute, really."
"On who?" I asked. I don't have a crush on anyone. I don't think I do. Do I? No, definitely not.
"Newt, duh." Minho sighed. Fuck. "I don't know why you'd want the Queen of England when you could have this," he gestured to himself. I rolled my eyes "but ladies choice, princess."
"I do not have a crush on him." I protested.
"Sure you don't." Minho smirked. "It's the accent, isn't it? It's not because he's a Runner, if that was it you'd have a crush on me." I raised an eyebrow.
"Why's that?" I asked. Minho looked offended.
"I'm faster." He stated. "Obviously."
"You were last today." I reminded him. "And you're exhausted."
"Last one, fast one." He said, which made literally no sense. "Besides, I could still kick your tiny ass."
"Not today, you couldn't." I shot back.
"Please. I'd bet even after a day in the Maze I'm still faster than you, Greenie." He insisted. "And anyone else."
"I don't know, a second ago you seemed pretty tired." I observed. He looked confused. More of a mock, exaggerated confused, but still. Over dramatically indignant might have been better.
"What, you think you could beat me?" Minho boasted.
"Out run a Runner? Definitely." I rolled my eyes. I felt like I could run pretty fast, but there was still a chance Minho would beat me. He did take me down that first day.
"Why don't we make a bet then?" He said. I shrugged. I didn't have anything else to do. Besides, maybe I could win.
"We'll race. From the Homestead to the Maze wall. If I win, I get a kiss. Lips, not cheek. I'm not leaving that loophole out there." I raised an eyebrow.
"Fine. But if I win, you kiss G-a-l-l-y. The next time you see him, no procrastinating." I told him. Minho looked completely disgusted.
"I must've gotten that wrong, you want me to kiss Gally?" Minho clarified, incredulous. "Gally? He'd kill me!"
"Afraid you'll lose?" I suggested. Minho pursed his lips. He sized me up, then smirked.
"I'm not worried." He decided. "I'm winning this thing. Let's go, princess." We headed over to the Homestead, then stationed ourselves in front of the door.
"Ready," he started. "Set...go!"
We sprinted. I slowed, but not enough that he would be too far ahead of me. Just enough. He reached the wall a decent amount of time before I did, practically slamming into it from the speed he'd been running at. I reached the wall and we leaned against it, taking a minute to calm down. I took longer than him, breathed heavier. Minho grinned.
"I do believe I've won this round, sweetheart." He smirked. I winced.
"Don't. G-a-l-l-y calls me that." I signed.
"I missed that last part. Doesn't matter though, it looks like I won't be hearing anything from Gally." Minho grinned.
"Don't act like you won the lottery." I frowned. So did Minho.
"Like I what?" He asked. I groaned.
"L-o-t-t-e-r-y." I spelled, exasperated. God, I missed talking with Newt. He almost never missed anything.
"Oh. Now, about that kiss." He leaned forward, then I kissed him. Chastely. Then I pulled away. Minho grinned.
"Why thank you, milady. Now, if you'll excuse me we should be-"
"Wait." I reached out and stopped him.
"What?" He whined. "I'm hungry."
"Do over. Rematch." I told him. Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow.
"Well Princess, the heart wants what the heart wants." He winked. I rolled my eyes. "Who am I to deprive you of my kissing abilities?" He brushed his shirt off.
"First one to the Homestead?" Minho remarked. I nodded. "On three."
"One." I took a deep breath. "Two." I'm so winning this. "Three!"
He darted ahead but I raced after him, advancing. I passed him and he sped up, suddenly realizing I wasn't as slow as he'd thought. I was just in front of him, then I surged forward. Unable to stop, I fell into the door of the Homestead. I shrieked, banging the door open and crashing to the ground. I rolled over onto my back, trying to catch my breath.
"Shuck!"
Less than half a second later, Minho crashed through. He tripped on my feet and practically fell on top of me. I shoved him off and he fell next to me, panting. I could feel everyone staring at us. It was the middle of dinner, after all. We didn't try to get up. We were still working on catching our breath.
"You're blocking the door, shanks."
I looked up. Gally towered over us. Oh, Minho's gonna kill me. If he survives, that is.
"Fuck." Minho muttered. I stood, dusted myself off, and held out a hand for Moinho. He stood by himself and I dropped my hand, grinning.
I looked at Minho.
"You cheated." He grimaced. I shook my head. Gally frowned.
"So are you gonna move, or will I have to-"
"Well folks it's been a pleasure knowing you," Minho announced to his audience. "But I must bid you farewell." He clasped a hand on Gally's shoulder. Gally stood there, aiming a confused frown at the hand on his shoulder. He tried to shrug him off.
"Goodbye." Minho saluted me.
"What-" Then Minho cut him off and yanked Gally's head forward and kissed him. As soon as he realized what Minho was doing, Gally shoved him off. Minho ran out at breakneck speed. Gally furiously wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.
"I'm gonna kill you!" Gally roared. He chased after him and the other boys, after they had gotten over their shock, erupted into laughter. I started to head to a table. Newt was frowning, but he smiled when I started to walk over. Then Nick walked through the door and the laughter quieted down.
"Sam." He called out, walking up to me. He put his hand on my shoulder, and I froze. "Can I borrow you for a second?" I could hear some of the boys snickering. Nick left, making it clear I didn't have a choice but to follow. We walked out the door to a tree a good distance away. He stopped.
"What were you doing with Minho?" Nick asked. I bit my lip.
"We were just having fun, I'm sorry I distrac-" He cut me off.
"No. Specifically. Because it looked to me like you just out-raced one of my best Runners." Nick stated. He smirked. I frowned.
"Well, yes, but I'm sorry, I wasn't-"
"Don't be sorry. You're done trying out for jobs." Oh god, were they going to kill me? He was going to kill me. At the very least, he was going to-
"Congratulations, Greenie." Nick held out his hand. "You're our newest Runner."
That's almost worse.
I stared at him. Seeing I wasn't going to be shaking his hand anytime soon, Nick clapped me on the shoulder.
"Let's get some dinner in you, Sam." He guided me back through the door. I sat down next to Newt, Nick and Alby across from us. Some of the other boys were still snickering, probably at how terrified I looked. Newt frowned.
"You alright, Sam?" He asked. I nodded.
"Don't feel nervous, you get the job you're best at." Nick said through a mouthful of food. "You'll do fine."
"You got your job?" Newt asked, surprised. I looked at Nick, who nodded.
"Runner." I signed. Newt looked shocked.
"You want to put her in the Maze? Nick, you can't be serious." He stated. "It-It's too dangerous and we haven't got the right numbers. She can't run alone."
"I'll put her with Minho then. He's got the biggest section." Nick decided.
"But-"
"She'll go with you tomorrow. You're Keeper, she should still try out." Nick cut in. "Just make sure she doesn't die like that last kid."
I felt the color drain from my face. Newt was still upset.
"Nick, you can't-"
"Drop it." Nick cut him off. "She's going."
Newt sighed. Both of them looked over at me. I frowned.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing." Newt muttered. Nick pushed a plate towards me.
"Eat." He commanded. "You'll need it."