Holy poop! Sorry guys Ive been dealing with life. Which in other words, ive been working a lot, my boyfriends dad just got married and that in turn gave me the worst hangover in existance. It literally lasted like 3 days, and I was working at the same time. Yeah, it sucked. But to the reviewer who asked me not to be one of those authors that update only once a month, I will try my very best. I do work a lot since I have bills to pay and to AwesomeArwen, I fail at life and Im sorry for spelling your name so wrong :P Anyways, lets move onto the next chapter.
Chapter 20
After I gave myself enough alone time and out of pure boredom, I left the sick room and decided to go see how Chuck was doing. I promised him I would ask him how his days have been going, trying to adjust and all but I have been so focused on Minho that I completely forgot. I walked past the gardens to the little stream that flowed through a portion of the Glade and right underneath the walls, we really had no idea how this whole place worked in things like flowing water but this stream was used to wash the clothes. I saw Chuck sitting at the edge throwing rocks into the water.
"Hey Chuck." I greet the boy and he looks up at me and smiles back,
"Oh hey Peyton, what are you doing here?" I sat myself next to him and kicked off my shoes to stick my toes in the water, today was rather hot. I shrugged and leaned back on my hands,
"I got bored. Theres not much going on in the Sick Room so I figured I would come see how youre doing." I nudged him with my shoulder and he went back to looking at the water, his big brown eyes took on a sad look.
"Hey, whats wrong? You can tell me." I urged. The boy shook his head and kept his gaze downwards.
"I just, I dont know, I dont like feeling so trapped. It scares me. You know?" He then looks up at me and I feel my heart lurch, I ran my tongue along my bottom lip before biting it.
"I do, I felt the same way when I first came up in that shuck Box. But trust me when I say it will get better. Were a family and we take care of eachother. Good that?" He nods in responce and I smile softly at him.
"So, have you found a group to fit in with yet?" He looks around at all the working boys and their different tasks,
"No not yet. Alby says that I might be Slopper material." I cringe, no one wants to be a Slopper but if thats all you can do, well then thats it.
"Well thats not so bad..." I trail off, I look up and see Minho working in the garden, his leather clad hands gripped a shovel as he stuck it into the dirt and pressed down on it with his foot. I got caught up in how good looking I found him to be that I dont know if Chuck is speaking to me or not. I watch as Minho stands up straight and wipes the back of his wrist across his forhead, the sweat drips down his face. My cheeks burn as he props the shovel against the post next to him and he proceeds to unbutton his shirt. I cant help myself as my eyes follow his every movement as he peels back his blue button up. His muscles shine with sweat and I swear my heart is going to explode. Watching him or being close to him makes me feel that way alot now and it freaks me out!
"Hey! Peyton! Are you listening to me?" I blink back to reality when a pudgy hand is waved in front of my face. I quickly snap my head to the side to look at Chuck and my eyes are wide and my face is even hotter,
"W-what?" I stammer and Chuck raises an eyebrow at me before looking ahead at what I was just gawking at before looking back at me,
"Were you just staring?" I curse inwardly at just how observant this kid is. I shake my head and run my fingers through my loose bangs.
"I have no idea what youre talking about. I um, I gotta go. Check with Clint and klunk like that." I scramble to my feet and hurry away from him.
Oh my god! Not only was I checking out Minho, again, but this time I got caught! By Chuck! What the hell is wrong with me?! Calm down Peyton, youre a normal girl who happens to be run by her hormones. Control yourself and and get over it. He's your best friend stop thinking about him like that for shucks sake!
I argue with myself as I hurry back towards the sick room.
Hours past as I busied myself with rearanging and organizing the viles and medines. I had managed to not only alphabatize them but organize them according to their purpose. I step back and take in my work with a pleased smile.
"Hey Peyton can you do me a favor?" I hear Clint call from the back of the Sick Room. I walk to him and he hands me a basket,
"Uh, you need me to get some more herbs?" He nods with a small smile and I groan inwardly. That would mean seeing Minho again. Man, I sound so stupid! He's my best friend and all of a sudden Im afraid to see him? Its pathetic. So I simply suck it up and head towards the gardens once again.
When I make it to my destination I walk past all the other Track-hoes and to the little section Zart planted just for us Med-Jacks. I crouched down and went through the written list Clint put in the basket. I have come to find that everytime he sends me on these little supply runs not only do I learn a lot more about which herb is which but I also like that it has become easier to identify them without having to look at the illutrations.
"Hey Red." I jump when I hear my familiar nickname from behind. I turn around and look up at my best friend,
"Hey Minho. Whats up?" I turn back around and grab small little bundles of Mint and well as others before standing up and wiping my hands on my thighs. I look back at the lingering Runner with and eyebrow raised.
"Youre shucking quiet today Minho. Are you feelin' okay?" I tilt my head to the side a bit and study his dirty face. He shrugs in responce. I watch as he fidgets a bit by scratching the back of his neck while not looking me in the eyes. Somethings up, Minhos not one to shy away from anyone. I narrow my green eyes at him.
"Spill Minho.." I say with a bit of an edge to my voice and cross my arms. He sighs and shakes his head,
"Nah, forget it, its stupid really. Come on, i'm done today and im shuckin' starving." He avoids my previous statement all together, which earns him an eyeroll.
"Fine shuckface but I have to gives these to Clint first." I push his chest so that he moves out of my way and he follows me back to the Sick Room.
I will get him to tell me whats bothering him, even if I have to get him wasted to do it. That method is not above me when it comes to my currently dodgy best friend.
Minho POV
I saw Peyton sitting down with Chuck, talking with the greenie. The kid has taken a liking to her. I glance over every once in a while as I work. I keep my mind focused on the task at hand and try my shucking hardest not to think about Running and my fellow Runners mapping the Maze out there without me but its easier said than done and all it manages to do is piss me off. I clench my jaw and grip the shovel so hard Im afraid im going to break the damn thing. I shove it roughly into the dirt and I hear a chuckle next to me. Looking up I see Zart laughing at me with an arrogant smirk on his face as he leans on his own shovel,
"What the hell are you laughing at shuckface?" I bark out and he shrugs.
"You Slinthead. Youre attacking the dirt like it offended you." I give him the finger and he laughes again before going back to his own job. I shake my head,
Stupid shucking shuckface.
I wipe my face with the back of my hand to keep the sweat out of my eyes, man today was shuckin' hot! I stick the shovel in the ground deep enough that I stays up on its own and I quickly pull off my shirt and stick it in my back pocket. I spare another glance at the red headed female and I catch her staring at me...again. It gives me the same feelings as last time. I get this fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach and a warmth that spreads all the way to my fingertips. Before I get the chance to shout at her for staring Chuck sticks his hand in her face and she quickly looks at him. I let out the breath I didnt even know I was holding in and rake my fingers through my hair before looking back to the ground.
What the shuck was that? Man up Slint head and stop acting like a litle boy!
I shout at myself and frown. Everything is confusing me now and it pisses me off even more than being stuck here unable to run.
Soon Peyton leaves Chucks side and I plant a bunch of seeds in the span of two hours. When I was done I was dirty and hungry. Ready for a shower and dinner. I saw Peyton walk past me and Zart and I swear she was avoiding me. What the hell? Not even a shucking hello? I approach her without really thinking it through, I dont even know what to say. I really want to ask her why she was staring at me but my mouth cant seem to get the words out, instead...
"Hey Red." I mentally slap myself and she jumps, which I chuckle from. Shes always been a bit jumpy. She turns and looks up at me with her big green eyes.
"Whats up Minho?" She asks and I stay quiet as I have an internal debate with myself about what to say. She turns back around and gathers some herbs before standing up and wiping her little hands on her pants before facing me again. She fixes me with a strange look before crossing her arms,
"Youre shuckin' quiet today Minho, are you feelin' okay?" She asks me and I sigh and shrug. She frowns.
"Spill Minho.." She uses that tone with me that usually makes me smirk, her sass is so entertaining but I shake it off,
"Nah, forget it." I tell her its stupid and that im done for the day, "Im shuckin' starving." She rolls her eyes at me and tells me she has to go see Clint first. Then she firmly places her hand on my chest and pushes me out of the way. I tense up a little when she touches me and I step to the side, after a moments hesitation I follow her to the Sick Room.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Hey guys Im so sorry its been such a long ass time since Ive updated. Ive been working and my boyfriend is getting surgery here shortly so I havent had many days off and ive also been writing other stories when I do have spare time. I know I know, ive been cheating on this story. But Im back(: This chapter was a bit fluffy and its also the start of Peytons feelings towards Minho, well the start of intense feelings. Not just questions. Anyways, please read and review and tell me what you think. I love you all so much(: