Alby didn't let me explain at first. Mostly because Jackson took responsibility right away and admitted this was all his fault and I had nothing to do with it. Immediately I felt regret, I wanted to jump in and defend Jackson, take some of the blame, but every time I opened my mouth Jackson would cut me off and repeat he was the one who was wrong. Gally just looked smug in the corner and I scowled at him, why was he here? What was he doing? Alby knew we had broken the rules, so he took Jackson outside to listen to his side.

Gally stood in my doorway with the same stupid expression on his face.

"Glad you're okay," he said.

"Why would I not be okay?," I crossed my arms.

"Because there was a guy in your room after dark. He broke the rules."

"Jackson is a friend."

I wanted to say more, tell Gally off and that it was me who sought out Jackson. Me who invited him into my room. That this whole thing was my fault. They won't be too hard on him, will they? No, they shouldn't. I'll speak up if I have to, no way will I let him get hurt because of this.

Alby came back into the hut and asked Gally to leave, he did so hesitantly.

"How are you? Are you alright?," Alby asked me.

Why do they think I'm hurt?

"I'm fine."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

I bit my tongue, Jackson wants me to lie. Tell them he came uninvited... but that will look bad for him. I can't do that.

"Are you too upset to talk about it?," Alby asked, slightly awkward.

"No, no I'm fine. It just all happened so fast," I said.

"What happened?"

"Well... I... I woke up to a knock. Jackson, at my door. He came in and talked, then you all showed up."

Alby cocked an eyebrow," That's all that happened?"

"Yes."

"What did he talk about?"

"I don't know, it happened all in a blur."

"Did he try to hurt you?"

"NO! No, he wouldn't. You know Jackson, he would never do that."

Alby nodded," Okay, well we will have to get to the bottom of this tomorrow with a Gathering. For now, I'll stand outside your door, to help you feel safe."

"Oh... no. Alby, that's okay."

"I insist," he held up a hand.

I took a deep breath," What about Jackson?"

"I sent him back to sleep. You should sleep too, I'll be outside if you need me," Alby exited the room.

FUCK! THIS IS BAD!

I didn't sleep, I didn't even try. I laid in my bed motionless so that Alby would think I was sleeping but I couldn't even lose my eyes. My thoughts were running and I was trying to figure out what I would do tomorrow. Dawn crept into the Glade and I leapt from my hammock and left my hut. Alby stopped me.

"Where are you going?"

"I have work. You know, in the kitchen?"

"Oh, yeah. Okay... so you know that you'll have to go to the Gathering tonight, right?"

I gulped down my fear," Yes, I know."

Alby nodded and then I turned and hurried to the kitchen.

"Ayy, there she is! Girl I was wondering if I would have to wake you up myself," Siggy laughed.

I tried to smile but it came out as a grimace, so I just focused on work. After breakfast Siggy handed me a plate.

"I'm not hungry."

"Not for you, it's for the the boy in the Slammer."

"Slammer? There's someone in the Slammer?"

"Yeah, he was put there last night. Hop to it, girl. Need you back to start lunch."

I had taken meals to Gladers in the Slammer before but I practically ran there this time, almost spilling the food. And there, in the dirt tomb cage, sat Jackson.

"Jackson!," I knelt down in front of the door. "What happened?"

He sighed," Alby thought it would be best if I was in the Slammer... I agreed."

"Why? You're not even guilty!"

"Yes, I am," Jackson came to the door. "What did you say? To Alby?"

I looked to he ground, "I-I said what you wanted..."

"No, tell me specifically."

"I told him you knocked and came in but then they showed up right after."

Jackson nodded," Okay.. okay good."

"Jackson, this is not good. This is bad. You could get in trouble."

Jackson reached through the makeshift bars and took his bowl of food," I know that."

"Then why don't we tell the truth?"

"Because, it's better if one of us gets in trouble, and its better if that person is me."

"Why?," I asked, because he sounded so stupid.

"Because I'm a Bagger. People expect this from us."

"Jackson..."

"It's okay, I mean it," he took a bite and shook his head. "What is this?"

"Jackson, I'm being serious."

He sighed," I know. But just stick to the plan, it'll be okay. Okay?"

"I don't like it..."

"Well I do, and you owe me."

"Owe you for what?"

"For getting me into trouble," he winked, but before I could protest more he spoke again," Look you should get going. Thanks for the food. I'm okay, I promise. And once this all blows over we'll talk more about the... other situation, okay?"

"Okay. I... I'll see you tonight."

"I'll be there," he grinned and sat back on the floor.

I felt awful, this was terrible and nothing Jackson could say would make me feel better. I finished the rest of the day slowly, but Siggy asked Joe to take Jackson his lunch, so I didn't even have a reason to go and see him. I went to my room and laid down, I was so tried but the adrenaline of the Gathering was keeping me awake. Apparently I dozed off because I woke up to a knock on my door.

"Hello?"

"What?," I sat up and Newt walked into the room.

"Oh, hey... how are you?"

"I'm... okay. What time is it?"

Did I miss the Gathering!?

"It's after dinner. I heard what happened, are you okay?," Newt was concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing happened."

"what?," Newt looked confused. "I was told they found Jackson in your room?"

"Yeah, they did."

"It's against the rules."

"Well, if my memory serves, I saw you after dark in Glade too," I folded my arms. "Maybe you should get in trouble for breaking the rules."

"But I wasn't in your room."

"Who cares!," I shouted. "Would it have mattered if we were in the Deadhead? or in the Homestead?! or in the Kitchen?! It doesn't matter!"

Newt was taken back by my outburst and I sighed loudly, frustrated by everyone around me. "Just forget it, Newt."

Newt took a cautious step closer to me," Alby told me that he admitted to coming in without being asked...," I held my breath as he took another step closer, worried I would admit to everything and ruin the lie Jackson had crafted. "But that's not true is it..." I bit my lip and felt the warm taste of blood on my tongue, I looked down at the floor and gripped the hammock tightly. "Is it?," Newt asked, now standing beside me.

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

"What happened last night?," he crouched down beside me sounding calm and comforting, like he really cared.

I turned to him, which was a big mistake, I was always such a sucker for he big, brown, beautiful eyes.

"I just needed to talk to him...," I said barely audible.

Newt stood up quickly," So you are lying."

"Newt, wait! No!," I jumped up too.

"What is going on," he crossed his arms and his brows drew together.

"Newt, please. Just forget I said anything!," I begged him. "Please."

"What is going on?," he repeated forcefully.

I can't tell him, no. No way. Shit! Okay... uhm... well, he knows about Jackson, that it was lie. But he doesn't know why we lied about it or what we were talking bout. I can't tell Newt the truth, not about Ben. No one can know. Jackson shouldn't even know! I don't know why Ben even told me. But what do I say?! What do I tell him? Why did we lie!?

"I... I... just needed to talk to him."

"About what? Why so late in the night?"

"I... It was important."

"You have to better than that," Newt dropped his arms.

"I can't tell you why" I dropped my head.

"Oh...," Newt sounded hurt. "I... I, uhm," he cleared his throat. "Is it because... of... because of you two... uhm, you two...," Newt was stammering through his words, I looked up to him and saw he was flushed and not looking at me.

He thinks Jackson and I are together, like dating or something! GOD WHY!? WHY EVERY FREAKING TIME! CAN'T I HAVE A FRIEND!

"No, Jackson and I are just friends, Newt. I told you that."

"Then why are hiding the truth from everyone?"

"Because it's... no one's business..."

"If you guys aren't together, then why is it such a secret? Why not just wait until the next day to talk?"

I sighed and rubbed my temples," It shouldn't matter if were a couple or not. It's no one's business and I've already told you we're just friends. And I had to talk to him!"

"Why? What was so urgent?" Newt and I were standing practically nose to nose.

"I need to talk to him about...," I froze and then the next word out of my mouth slipped. "You."

Newt's face relaxes and he almost looked like he lost his balance for second before relaity came back and he regained function. Oh... god... why did I say that? I.. I couldn't tell him the truth... not about Ben, But this. Oh... bad... oh no. It's too late... I can't go back...

"Me?," Newt asked quietly, sounded perplexed by my answer.

"I... I...," in my head I was calm, but my body was not functioning, my tongue felt heavy but in a way my heart felt lighter.

"Why would you need to talk about me... to Jackson... in the middle of the night... in your room?"

No answer made sense. Nothing, I zipped through all possibilities in a fraction of a second, but no new lie could cover this up. The only thing that would make sense would be the truth... that I liked him. But I couldn't just say that, could I? No, that would be too weird! What if he laughed at me? Or told everyone and it became some big joke?

"Are you alright?," he asked and I realized I was just babbling to myself, speaking nonsense. "Maybe you should sit down."

"I-I... I'm fine."

Maybe I should just listen to Jackson, just spill it all out and be done with it. I have too much to worry about beside this stupid crush. Ben. Jackson. Me. I didn't want to keep thinking about it, especially if he was never going to see me as more than a friend.

I opened my mouth to let it all out, release the truth about how I felt. It felt really freeing, but my moment was stolen when Gally enetered my room.

"Hey... oh... hello Newt."

"Hey, uhm, Gally," Newt stepped away from me.

"I just came to the Greenie here for the Gathering."

"That's what I was doing too," Newt smiled, I couldn't tell if it was the truth or not.

"Well, they're ready," Gally grunted.

I peeked over to Newt but he was making a point to not look in my direction and I felt a little relief that I had kept my feeling inside, who knows what could have happened. The three of us walked in silence to the corner of the Glade where everyone was waiting. I hated being in that stupid room, it was so cramped and hot and totally stupid. I stood in the back again, where I had to stand when I was being punished the first time and Jackson was sitting up in the spotlight. Alby called the Gathering to order.

"We are here to discuss the event of last night. Many of you may not know but last night, I was informed of a Glader alone with a Glader of the opposite sex in the girl sleeping area after dark, which is a violation of two of the new Glade Rules."

"How do you know it even happened?," Clint asked.

"I witnessed it myself," Alby informed. "I followed the informant to the girl sleeping area where I found Jackson and... our female Glader alone."

When I heard the word informant, I looked to Gally who was siting near the front, I couldn't see his face but his posture said it all. He was proud of this, happy to be the one who could tattle on someone else, instead of being tattled on.

"I thought that being alone after dark was more of suggestion," Siggy said. "I didn't think it was a hard rule."

"It should be thought of like, taking extra food from the pantry Frypan. Not really a rule but recommended."

"Y'all better not be stealing from the pantry," Siggy warned the group.

"My suggestion for punishment is seven days in the Slammer, two meals a day."

"What?!," I accidentally blurted and Aidan pinched me, telling me to be quiet.

"I think one meal a day for 5 days," Zart offered.

"No way! These are new rules that need to be reinforced early," Tucker argued. "I think the seven days in a slammer with one meal a day."

"Maybe we should think of a different job for him. He's a bagger and supposed to enforce the rules, not break them," Mihno suggested.

"Yes, that sounds fair!," Gally agreed.

Oh no! NO! This is not happening.

"Seems a bit harsh, Jackson has never had problem with the rules before this."

I peeked over some heads and saw it was actually Newt that was defending him. Was he doing it because of what I said? Or because he knows that Jackson is just as guilty as I am? I wonder if our punishments will be the same?

"That is a valid point," Alby acknowledge Newt.

I looked to Jackson, he sat in his chair with his head down, not saying anything. It made him look guiltier, which is what he wanted, it hurt to see him look so miserable.

"I think seven days is fair," Winston said.

"But it's a new rule, hard to remember when we've had the same rules for so long," Clint spoke up again.

"But new rules have to be followed just the same," Gally called out.

"Let's take a vote, then," Alby announced. "All in favor of seven days in the Slammer, with two meals a day?"

I looked around and Tucker, Mihno, Zart, Gally, Winston,and Alby raised their hands. Majority. Jackson was going to spend seven days in the Slammer... because of me. He stood and Billy brought him to the back of the room, he didn't look up at me as we passed one another. I know he was just trying to play his part, but it stung.

"The last item needing the council's situation is the other party with the same violations: Alone with a Glader of the opposite sex after dark," Alby told everyone as I sat in the spotlight, feeling their judgement.

Looking around the room, I saw in their eyes, they all were basically thinking the same thing. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, not willing to take this lying down.

"My suggestion for punishment is four nights in the slammer, two meals a day."

"Wait hang on! Why did Jackson get three more days if it's the same thing?," Billy objected.

"Jackson was in the girls sleeping area, another rule broken. She is allowed in the girls sleeping area," Alby pointed to me.

Billy grumbled unhappily before Winston spoke up.

"I think we over use the Slammer as punishment and she should have something different, like Mihno said, demoted to being a Slopper or something."

They want to demote me?!

"Hang on a minute. I need her in the kitchen, we all have to admit meals go way smoother now that I have two assistants," Siggy said and was greeted with agreeing murmurs.

"Then maybe just for a week or something, make her a Slopper. Make her appreciate her job more," Winston urged.

"I like that!," Tucker called out happily.

What!? They cannot be serious!

"I'd rather be in the Slammer," I said loudly.

"Of course you would, so you can just sit all day. This way she still works and benefits the Glade, Alby," Tucker was trying to convince the room.

I looked around again, Jackson's head was still down. Siggy was shaking his head, no on board with the idea. Clint looked a little nervous. Winston and Tucker looked thrilled. Gally looked smug. And Newt looked... he looked not judgemental. He just sat there with his hands locked, leaning over his knees, his kind eyes beaming like sunlight at me. My eyes glanced back to Jackson who's head was still hung.

"You know, this wouldn't happen if you just treated me normally," I turned to Alby.

He looked confused," what?"

"I said, this would not happen if you just treated me normally."

"Uh... uhm... I-I..."

"Really, if you think about it," I looked over the room. "The whole reason this is an issue is because I'm a girl. And you all have not idea what that means. So you separate me, make a different sleeping quarter, different shower times, think if I even talk to another Glader that I'm in love with them or something. But I'm not really that different. I do my part, help the Glade, eat, shower, drink like you. But still, you make up new rules, isolate me more," I looked to Alby."And I get they aren't just about me or whatever... the guys here are developing and stuff. Okay? I don't care. I shouldn't be the one persecuted because no of you have ever seen a girl before."

"Enough," Alby cut me off. "Let's vote. All in favor of demoting to a Slopper for five days."

Tucker, Winston, and Mihno raised their hands.

"All in favor of five nights in the Slammer, two meals a day," Alby, Gally, and Zart raised their hands.

Alby sighed, visibly tired of this. "Are there any other suggestions?"

"I think two days of being a Slopper sounds fair." It was Newt, he wanted to demote me to a Slopper.

What? Seriously, why? I... I...

"Two days sounds better," Clint agreed.

"All in favor of demoting to a Slopper for two days."

Newt, Clint, Siggy and Winston raised their hands.

"Punishment is two day demotion to being a Slopper. Remember Gladers, this is about order, not anger. We are not here out of a grudge or pettiness, we are here to keep the Glade safe. No judgement leaves this room."

"No judgement leaves this room," everyone repeated after Alby and then all at once they stood and filed out. Jackson was lost before I could get to him, being taken back to the slammer.

Tucker stepped in front of me grinning," Looks like I own you for the next two days."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm the Keeper of the Sloppers," he jabbed his thumb into his chest proudly. Tucker was scrawny, like really scrawny, if he would lean over I'm sure I would see all his ribs. His messy mop of dirty brown hair on his head matched his large sluggish eyebrows.

"Okay...," I tried to step around him.

"I'll see you at sunrise tomorrow," he called after me. I stepped out into the humid night air, but everyone was walking away. I looked to the Slammer, and saw a glimpse of Jackson as he was put back into his cell.

Siggy walked up beside me and sighed," We'll miss you in the kitchen," he clapped me on the back and then walked off to the Homestead.

I felt so drained, it had been a terrible day. I wanted to go home and sleep and I really truely hoped that the next morning I would wake up in a different world, outside the Glade, away from everyone.