"So he ran with you yesterday and tonight? That's three nights in a row. Sounds like a tradition to me," Jackson teased me.

I couldn't help but smile, "It's so weird at how normal it all feels. We just talk now, I'm not really nervous anymore and he makes me laugh."

"You are crushing hard on this boy," Jackson sang.

I covered my face," I know!"

"You know you'll have to bring up... that conversation at one point or another," Jackson killed the mood.

"I know... but how? 'Oh yeah that was a lie because Jackson wanted to play hero, but at the same time it's true because I'm always talking to Jackson about you because I think you are an amazing person and I want to kiss you constantly'... Not really a smooth move."

"First of all, I was not playing hero," Jackson said sassily," and second of all, you have got to tell him at some point. this constant back and forth is killing me."

"Back and forth?"

"I've told you since forever that I think he's into you."

I covered my face and smiled," I know... I know."

"Just tell him, get it out in the open and if something bad happens, hopefully it's the day the Runner's find the way out of the maze."

I scoffed," That's a high hope."

"What did I say about being so negative?"

"You're right, I'm sorry. On the bright side, you get out tomorrow!"

Jackson shook his head," no tomorrow is my last day. I don't get out until the day after."

"Oh..."

"But we're getting close," he smiled. "But on the bad side of that, you know we have to keep away from each other, right?"

"What?"

"I mean when I get out, we can;t go back to being best friends."

"But we are best friends."

"I know that. But with this... label on me know, they'll be watching me extra close. That's why you sneaking over here every night is such a bad plan."

"I know, but that just... it isn't fair. We didn't do anything wrong. It's just so... stupid, and don't say this is a bad plan when you'd be going crazy without someone to talk to everyday."

"That's true and yes, it is stupid. But we have to live with it. It won't be forever."

"I know... but who else will I talk to?"

Jackson sighed," I'm taking that as you haven't spoke to Ben yet?"

"No... I've.. kind of been avoiding him."

Jackson rolled his eyes," You can't just avoid people. Especially in here. You tried that with Newt, see how that worked out, now you guys hang out everyday."

"So maybe it is a good plan," I smiled.

"All I'm saying is you can't avoid this. Neither can I, we'll have to do something."

"I know... but it's just so.. so... I don't want to do it."

"I know, me neither. Fingers crossed they find hey way out before the end of tomorrow."

"Fingers crossed," I held up my crossed fingers. I smiled," that reminds me, did I tell you wha Newt did tonight?"

"No, not yet."

"Well, after the run, he stayed back for a while and we talked, he talked about maybe starting an obstacle course in the Deadhead, just something else to pass the time. And... he brushed the hair out of my face," my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

"Really? Seems bold."

"Yeah, it's weird, like we've been having all these tiny intense moment on our runs, like my hand brushed against his but I pretended not to notice. And we stopped by the name wall again he told me that he would carve my name himself on the wall as soon as I had one."

"Sounds like he's falling for you."

"Don't say that," I chuckled.

"Talk to him tomorrow. Tell him."

My smile faltered," I... I don't want to."

Jackson sighed," Why? It seems to me that he likes you."

"But... right now I get to play it out in my head... and it's so beautiful. I don't want to ruin it by putting it all out there and being rejected."

"But if you tell him, it could become real and you won't have to play fantasy anymore. Come on, promise me you'll tell him once and for all, ending all this drama. We know he isn't gay... maybe?," Jackson shrugged. "There are no other girls here for him to fawn over."

"Jackson, if it was that easy, I would have done it."

"Come on, you owe me."

I groaned," Jackson..."

"Promise me."

"I... I promise I'll tell him."

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," I repeated reluctantly.

"You'll thank me later," he grinned.

A noise in close by caught our attention, it was the sound of steps.

"Go. go. go," Jackson whispered and I snuck away quickly, hurrying to ,my room and pretending to sleep.

I woke up, I felt paralyzed. I didn't want to get up, I didn't want to start the day. I promised Jackson I would tell Newt today... but how? Do I just blurt it out. Can I just avoid him? Jackson would be so mad... and he gets out tomorrow. Why today? What if I tell im and he laughs in my face! Newt's not that mean, right?

My hammock swung side to side and I felt fear grip me completely as if Newt was going to be outside my room waiting for me, which was crazy. I have to get up and go to work. Siggy is probably already waiting.

One foot on the floor then another, I wrapped my hair up in a tight bun and made my way through the Glade, which was sparkling with morning dew.

"Hey girl, I need you to go and get some water," Siggy told me right as I stepped in the door.

"Sure," I grabbed the bucket and left, cautiously peering around for signs of Newt. He wasn't anywhere.

Maybe it would be good to tell him while I'm working so he can't shout or anything. I can just say it and hide in the kitchen all day.

"We're making beans and eggs," Siggy told me.

"Eggs? Really?"

"Yes, ma'am. I have been stocking up on them for a long time now. So excited to use them."

"Sounds good. I've never had eggs before," I smiled.

"That's right. This will be your first time. I'll cook the eggs, you deal with the beans."

"No problem."

Breakfast was made and I was serving up dishes.

"Woah, are those eggs?," Hank asked.

"Yeah."

"Nice!," he took the plate with a smile. "Thanks."

"Eggs?," Newt stepped forward.

I fought through the buckle of my knees when he smiled. "Yeah, Siggy made them."

"It's so weird that you call him Siggy. Everyone here just calls him Fry."

"I know, but Siggy is his real name, he doesn't mind."

"Oh... yeah. Did you make the beans?"

"Sure did," I smiled felt a little anxious to hear his review.

Newt took a bite," Amazing," he said after swallowing.

I blushed," Thanks."

"So, I'll see you tonight, yeah?"

"What? Oh, yeah. I'll see you there."

"Great," Newt left for his table.

While Siggy and I prepared lunch, I was humming to get my mind occupied.

"You seem happy?," Siggy noticed.

"Oh, no. I'm just trying to stay busy."

"You should just enjoy the peace while you can," Siggy told me.

"What do you mean?"

"Can't you feel it... something," Siggy stopped cutting. "Like a storm."

"You think it'll rain?"

"No, no that kind of storm... like something bad is coming."

I had that feeling. It loomed over me constantly, but it had been eliminated once Ben showed me his secret in the Deadhead. I actually felt pretty decent, scared to talk to Newt, but that was it.

"All I'm saying is enjoy the peace. We got a new Greenie coming up and who knows what that means."

"Maybe it'll be another girl," I joked with a smile.

Siggy grunted," We'll see."

"I'm here," Joe walked into the room.

"Hey," I stood up.

"I can do that," he took the spoon from me and started to stir.

"Oh... okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye," Siggy smiled.

Stepping out meant there was only a matter of hours until I came face to face with my dilemma. I wanted to go and talk to Jackson but I couldn't, there were too many people. I have to figure this out, I took a deep breath, strolling through the Glade. I should do it before the run, I don't want to be all sweaty and gross. And I don't want to be struggling to breath and forget what I want to say. I should start by telling him... that... he's nice? I don't know. How do people tell other people that they like someone? Do I just spit it out or do I build? I don't think I can build, I'll get too flustered. I should just say it. 'Newt, I like you.' But what if that confuses him, what if he thinks I mean as a friend. Should I just get the courage and kiss him, see what he does? No, that's too risky, besides he might not like me. I need to prepare for that... the denial. I can't cry. Absolutely not. At least not until I talk to Jackson.

Ask I walked people kept saying hi to me, which interrupted my train of thought. I saw the Runners enter the Glade for unch, Ben was with them laughing. I tried to blend with the crowd as he passed me, which worked, he didn't see me.

Good, I took a deep breath, Last thing I need is another confession today.

I reached the wall of the Maze, I walked along side it, grazing my hand on the cement. I looked up to the right towards the Slammer, but Jackson must have been lying down, I didn't see him. I was walking towards the Garden, which normally put me on edge, but I knew Newt and the others were eating Lunch. The Garden looked so different with everything being rearranged, running past it every night I never noticed. I liked it. I walked through the past the rows of cabbage and carrots. I wonder what they do all day in the garden? With everything planted and weeded daily? What else is there? I looked at the corn and remember replanting it, when Newt and I were so close, when I thought I caught him looking at me. I smiled, maybe it won't be so bad to talk to him. I walked out of the garden and paused at the name wall. It had gotten bigger, more names since I had been here.

I stopped at Nick's name, I always wished I had gotten to know him more. Newt spoke so highly of him and Ben missed him still so much. It felt like he had died so long ago, when in reality it had only been a couple of weeks. I walked past, towards my house. Newt has been good to me, since the first day I met him. He was fair and kind. If I tell him that I like him and he doesn't feel the same, maybe we can pretend it never happened and just be friends. I can just bottle up my feeling about him until we get out of here and maybe find someone else. Jackson thinks it will be soon, but he has thought that since I've been here. Even if Newt and I can't patch things up, I've got Jackson. Siggy is my friend, so are Jeff and Cliff. And... Ben. I can maybe talk it out with him... I do miss him. But when I see him, it just reminds me of what's buried by my tree.

I get to my house and lay in my hammock, sleep slips over me without a second thought. I wake up in the dusk of the evening. OH NO! I need to shower! I hop out of bed in a flash and leave the room colliding with Newt as I do.

"Oh!," I trip over him and fall. Newt tries to catch me but ends up on the ground beside me.

"Oh," he groaned.

"Are you okay?," I stand up slowly, brushing off my knees.

"Yeah... I'm good," he sits up wincing.

"Are you sure? Is it your leg?"

"No, I'm fine," he stands. " Now I'm all stretched and warmed up," he jokes.

"Oh... haha, yeah. Uhmmm," I start to get flustered. "Maybe I could talk to you... b-before we run, if that's okay?"

"Sure, of course. What's up?," Newt gives me a dashing smile.

My heart flutters, You can do this, I tell myself.