It was now night and the bonfire cast a warm glow over everything. All the Gladers were happily talking and dancing while others wrestled in a ring. Gally seemed to easily beat every boy that went up against him. I sat by myself on a old log a little further back from the party. Newt seemed happy talking to his friends so I left him be and everyone else was too busy with the other Gladers. When Newt said that he was going to talk to his friends. I wanted to ask him if he could just sit with me for a while longer and we could talk and I wouldn't be lonely. I just said ok. I felt thirsty but I didn't want to drink whatever was in those glass jars that kinda looked like piss. But I also didn't want to inconvenience anyone by asking for something else. I guess that I'll just have to make it until morning without water. The tips of my shoes trace out shapes in the dry dirt , crushing some small seedlings and dried out grass in the process. How am I supposed to be friends with the Gladers when they all seem busy with their own lives? Will I just fade into the background after the excitement of a girl in the Glade dies away? I should try to make friends but the idea of going up and talking to them seems too hard to do. I don't need to be making myself depressed and anxious. I shake my head like that would clear out all my thoughts and focus on the boys wrestling. Gally was fighting a boy with black hair and tan skin that everyone seemed to be rooting for. The black haired boy glanced over at me and Gally used that moment of distraction to his advantage and threw him to the ground. Soon it grows late and everyone starts to clean up and head to bed. I wasn't yet tired after being in what I suppose was a coma for so long. Newt, along with everyone else, seemed too tipsy and tired to care about the "Greenie" who had faded into the background during the party. When the fire was extinguished and everyone had gone to bed, completely forgetting me, I pulled my jacket around myself a little bit tighter and headed off towards where I thought my hollowed out tree was.

. . .

I woke up to Newt shaking me.

"Greenie. Greenie! Wake up you shank! You're gonna' miss breakfast!"

"Huh?" I grumbled, my eyes still heavy with sleep and my body sore from laying on the hard ground with nothing but my jacket to keep me warm.

"Come on!" He started to walk away and I stare at his retreating figure, still confused until it finally hit me that I was about to miss breakfast.

I scrambled to my feet and chase after him. I punch him in the arm when I catch up and say " That's for leaving me by myself last night you ass." before I pull ahead and speed hobble to the kitchen. I need to get rid of this splint already.

The room was full of people. I awkwardly stood in the doorway as if they all started to stare at me when I entered even though not one lifted their head. I saw Newt standing to my side with an impatient look on his face out of the corner of my eye. I step aside to let him pass and closely follow him so that I looked like I belong. I grab my breakfast with a whisper of a 'thank you' to Frypan and sit at the base of the tree fort. When I see Newt walking towards me with his breakfast I feel my heart do a little leap inside my chest. What was that? I don't like him like that. Actually, I barely know the dude so I don't see how I could've already formed an emotional attachment to him. He doesn't sit beside me and he doesn't have his breakfast in his hands.

"Sorry for leaving you alone after the bonfire last night. I just got distracted and drank a little bit too much of Gallys secret recipe."

So that's what was inside the jars.

"It's ok. You shouldn't have to be by my side twenty four seven anyways. " I say even though I felt almost the exact opposite. He shouldn't have to follow me everywhere but it'd be nice knowing that I have a friend in a giant maze full of boys and monsters with no memories of myself.

"I'm going to eat with Alby, Nick, and the other keepers. Sorry for ditching you again but I need to make sure everything is still going smoothly. Plus some of them need convincing that you'll be able to do your part in the Glade. you know where to go after breakfast right?"

I nod my head, sad that I would be alone again but kind of curious about who Nick was. Gally talked about him when he tried to stop me from wandering away but I still have no idea who he is. When I looked at the table I saw Gally, Alby, and the black haired boy, but I didn't recognize anyone else. Newt walked away after getting no more responses from me and I started to eat my breakfast. I wonder if he was only being super nice and eating with me because he felt bad. Maybe I should ask. I reprimanded myself. I'm not his problem and besides, my feelings are stupid and cheesy ones that I should stop focusing on. No one cares. I feel angry at myself for thinking about bothering people like that. I'm so dumb. He apologized for leaving me alone last night anyways so I should be fine. Right? Everyone started getting up a little bit later so I shoved a couple more bites into my mouth and threw away the rest of my food. I followed the large group of boys until they split off, each one heading to his own job. It was then that I realize that I didn't know where the builders worked. I spun around looking for Newt while my breath quickened and the world around me started to blur together. I could feel tears gathering in my eyes and my lungs starting to feel like they had no more air. My stomach felt like a billion butterflies had tried to take off but could only go in small circles because they were trapped. Just like me. I'm stuck inside this maze with people who I don't know and who most likely hate me. I'm never going to get out and… and-

"Are you alright Greenie?" I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and Newts comforting voice behind me.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine. I'm good." I said even though it felt more like I was trying to convince myself about that rather than talking to Newt.

"You seemed a little bit freaked out. If you want help finding the builder's hut just ask. I'm always here if you need me."

My breathing steadied a bit more after hearing that. As if he said 'It's going to be ok. You'll be ok." instead. I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my jacket.

"Thanks. I'm just feeling a little bit overwhelmed from everything that's been happening lately." I do a fake laugh so that he doesn't worry too much. "It also would be nice if you told me where the builder's hut is. I got a little ahead of myself, thinking that I knew where I was going."

"Come on."

I walk as closely to him as I can without actually touching him. Our arms brush against each others and our steps are in perfect time. If I want to survive and show these boys that I can handle myself, I better stop being such baby, and soon.