I saw him the next day. He was laughing and walking with Zart towards me. Well, not towards me, towards his lunch which I just happened to be dishing out. I looked away before we would make some weird estranged eye contact and focused on the greens I was passing out. I handed a bowl out without even looking up.

"Woah, there Greenie."

I looked up to see the sly grin of a freckled faced Gally.

"Oh, Sorry, Gally."

"Don't sweat it," he smiled as he picked up a piece of his meal that had fallen onto the table. "Bowl too heavy or what?"

"Oh... I... I just... I guess so," I forced a chuckle.

He chewed a piece of food," I guess that's why your in the kitchen and not a Builder."

"I guess your right," I said anxiously as I saw Newt get closer and closer.

"Hey, what happened to you the other night? Seems you disappeared or something."

He means the bonefire. "Oh.. I just... I just was tired is all," I sucked in my breath as Zart and Newt stepped up to the table.

"Hello," Zart beamed, his chunky cheeks red from the sun.

"Hey, Zart."

"What's the meal of the day?," he questioned out loud as I held him his bowl.

"Greens," I replied.

"Looks good. Just makes me happy knowing it all comes from my little garden," he stepped away so Newt could get his bowl.

"Tired? Maybe girls are just wired differently then us, guys," Gally joked.

"I wouldn't know," I responded as I shakily held out a bowl to Newt.

"Thank you," he said softly before following Zart to a table.

"Greens? I can't believe Alby thinks this enough for a meal! I mean, I'm working hard for this Glade and this is all I get, seems a little unfair. Don't you think?"

"Uh... well... I think it's really good. I like Greens."

"Greens aren't a meal though," Gally argued.

I glanced past him to where Newt was sitting, talking with Zart, Alby, and Winston. He looked calm, happy, like nothing was different. To him nothing is different, I told myself. He has only ever seen you as a friend

"Am I right?" Gally laughed.

"Uh? What?"

I had not heard a word he was saying.

He shook his head," Must have gone deaf due to all that kitchen work."

"I can take it from here," Joe stepped up beside me and I gladly gave him control.

I turned and began the short walk that lead me back to my home when something tapped me on the shoulder. I jumped back, afraid from random touch, which was greeted by a squeal from the other person.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

I saw it was the Greenie, the new one. He looked startled by my action and was crouched in a defensive position. I loosened once I saw it was only him, thought I'm not sure who I was expecting.

"I'm sorry! I... I just..."

I took a breath to slow my heart," It's okay... you just... scared me is all."

"I... I'm sorry. I just... didn't know... what...," he looked away and fell silent.

He didn't know what to call me. I filled in the blank.

"Oh... well, can I help you with something?"

"I... I... just wanted to ask... ask you...," he slowly stood from where he was squatting. "I wanted ask about how you adjusted to this."

I snorted at the thought of me being adjusted, especially since I had just talked to Ben about this very topic yesterday. I was probably more messed up now then I had been my first few weeks here.

"Believe me, I'm not the one to ask. Alby would be my go to if I had any questions."

"No, no, no. I-I can't ask Alby," he fidgeted with his hands.

Can't ask Alby? Why not?

"Uhm... well, if you can't ask Alby then I'm definitely not qualified to answer," I half joked.

"How do you get used to all this?," he asked quietly.

I had no clue to how to answer that question. He really should be talking to Alby.

"I... I don't know. I'm not really used to it myself," I admitted.

"I mean, I know you haven't b-been here long, but that is just the thing to help me. I-I need someone who still remembers how hard this is. Alby is g-great, he seems r-really nice, but I can tell he has been here for a while."

"Alby was the first Glader," I told him.

"Exactly, he's been here so long that this is all he knows. I need someone who still remembers what this feeling is like."

I do remember, I was stuck in that feeling.

"I don't have any advice. I'm still trying to figure it out myself."

"I-I-I was told...," he looked down again," about... about h-how y-y-you... about h-h-ow you..."

"About how I don't remember my name?," I filed in and he nodded. Two months. It's been two months, why does this still feel so weird. Shouldn' t I just be over it now? Why can't it just be over.

"How do you live with it?," he asked lowly, still not looking at me.

"Is this really living?," I sighed and looked to the ground. I realized that may have sounded too harsh, I was about to explain further but when I looked up he was already walking away from me.

Was that too harsh to say? I hope not, I'm just being honest with him. The Glade is not real life, I can't believe it is or ever will be. I need to keep some hope, if not for name then for my future. Ben saw it.. the way out... Freedom.

I chose to sidetrack my walk and ventured to the Med hut and there was Clint.

He smiled," Hello there, Greenie."

"Hey Clint."

"Look who graced us with a visit," Clint called into the hut.

"Is is Alby? I need to talk to him about the new supplies."

"No, you goof. Get out here."

Jeff emerged from the hut and his eyes lit up," Well, well, well," he grinned.

"Hey guys."

"Well, come on in, " Clint and Jeff ushered me in.

"So, what brings you by?," Jeff asked.

"Thought I would try to tackle you again," I joked, remembering my first memory here. Alby, Clint, and Jeff with me screaming and fighting, terrified of everyone.

Jeff laughed, "How about the next bonfire, me and you in the circle."

I chuckled,"I don't want to embarrass you in front of the whole Glade."

"Ohhhh, dang! I would place a bet on that. Greenie would whip you in a second," Clint nudged Jeff.

"I doubt it," I said. " Jeff is way stronger then I expected."

"Yeah, you have no idea. I could whoop anyone in this glade!"

"Oh, really? So if I went and got Lee, you would be able to-..."

"Woah, woah man, not like that."

We all laughed, I had missed these goofballs. Talking to them made me feel a little better, see a brighter side to the Glade.

"How have you been, Greenie," Clint sat in his normal chair.

I shrugged, hoping the truth didn't shine through. "I've been good. The kitchen is fun."

"Really? Any wild secrets?!," he joked.

"Oh yeah. Loads of them," I chuckled and sat on the first cot.

"Good to see you're keeping yourself from trouble. No more accidents."

"None so far."

"Good, the Slicers keep us busy enough. Not to mention the Gre-...," Jeff glanced to me,"... the new kid. He nearly lost his whole arm off yesterday."

"Wait, what?!," I leaned forward.

"Yeah, you didn't hear?," I shook my head so he continued. "Well, he's apparently his wandered close the meat grinder and... like a newbie does, got too curious."

I cringed," I hate that thing."

"It does the job," Clint shrugged.

"Uh... what do you think of this new kid?," I asked them.

Clint shrugged again," Seems scared. Nothing unusual."

"Yeah, kid barely gets five words out without a pause."

"It's been three days... and he still doesn't have his name...," I said it out loud but it wasn't really meant for anyone. As soon as I said it, I looked away from them, realizing the situation I put us all into.

In my peripheral, I saw Jeff and Clint look to one another for a moment, trying to figure out what to say and how to proceed.

"Uh...," Jeff coughed. "Yeah, not yet. It... It takes some time."

"Longer for some," Clint added.

"Guys, it's fine," I tried to shake it off. "I'm not talking about me or anything," I folded my arms. "I just think it's weird that he hasn't gotten it yet."

"It's not weird, for some it's just a bit of a... a process, is all."

"Some? Some... like me?," I smirked and Clint blushed a deep red.

"No... Uh, no. Not like... not like you or anything. It... I mean, It just takes some people more time than others."

Jeff rushed to his defense," Yeah, yeah. I mean, some people know there names coming up in the cage, others just need some time."

Guys, guys," I held up my hands. "I'm joking, calm down," I giggled and the both took deep breaths.

"Yeah... I know," Clint played along.

"He is rally jittery though," I agreed. "He probably won't get a job with a knife."

"Definitely not," Jeff muttered.

"So you think a Slopper?," Clint asked.

Jeff shrugged, "Who knows? Maybe he'll be a Med-Jack."

"No fair," I pouted. " What if I wanted to be a Med-Jack?"

They both turned to me, their faces speaking louder than any words could have.

I smirked," Okay, okay. you're right... I would have been a terrible Med-Jack."

"And that is exactly why you're not one," Clint grinned and I smiled again, feeling at ease, peaceful... maybe even happy. Even if it was just for the moment.