AN: Sorry it took me so long to update! I just got back in school and I have been extremely busy, but I will try to update at least once a week. Hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Newt had been in the Glade for two and a half months when Minho chose him to be a Runner. He'd settled on a job in the Gardens, and he and Alby had grown closer. Newt and Minho had also become close. However, Newt thought Alby liked Nick and he went to Minho for advice one day.

"What do you think I can do about it?" Minho said, his arms folded. "Convince Alby not to like Nick?"

The blond rolled his eyes. "Yes, Minho," he said, his voice dripping sarcasm. "That's exactly what I want you to do. Bloody hell!" Minho could be an idiot slinthead sometimes. Newt punched him playfully on the arm, and Minho shoved him just as playfully, but gently. Halfway across the Glade from them, Alby was helping the Builders, his shirt off revealing his muscles. "It's like he's bloody torturing me on purpose," Newt complained as they watched Nick sneak up behind Alby and wrap a necklace around his neck. What the bloody hell? Alby turned and smiled as Nick said something to him.

Minho watched him and laughed. "Man, you have it bad," he commented. "You're so shucking jealous."

"I am not!" lied Newt. "What's Nick giving Alby? A necklace? Friends, indeed." Newt snorted.

"Who told you they were just friends?" Minho asked.

"Alby," Newt informed him.

"Uh-huh. And here we have the problem." Minho grinned.

The blond stared. "What?"

"He's in denial," the Keeper of the Runners told him. "Can't you see? The same way you're in denial about your undying love for him, Alby's in denial about his undying love for our leader."

Tears filled Newt's eyes at the thought and he stalked away without another word.

Newt didn't talk to Minho for the rest of the day, or the morning of the following day. He watched Minho leave with his Runners, sighing and looking down at his plate.

That day's work was hard. Newt harvested plants and by the end of the day, he was all hot and sweaty. Nick, of course, flirted with Alby as usual. When he saw Nick wrap his arms around Alby's waist, he looked away, a lump in his throat. He knew Alby didn't like him.

As the sun set, the Runners returned one by one, or sometimes in small groups. Seven of the Runners returned and their Keeper had yet to return. Newt felt a pang of worry but ignored it, knowing Minho was fine. But then a half an hour passed and Newt began to truly worry. He knew he had to talk to Nick about it, but since he didn't like Nick, he went to talk to their second in command.

Unfortunately for Newt, Alby was talking and laughing with Nick, as usual. "Hey, Alby?" Newt said from behind him.

Alby turned and Newt was startled when the dark boy's face completely lit up. "Hey! What's up?" Alby asked him.

"What's up is that I'm worried about Minho," Newt told him.

Alby narrowed his eyes in confusion. "He's not back yet?" Nick asked him.

"No," Newt said, giving him a look that he hoped said, Alby's mine, shank, so back the bloody hell off.

Nick seemed to get the message and he glared right back. Alby looked back and forth between them, seeming to sense the tension. "I'm sure he's fine," Alby tried.

Right on cue, all three of them heard the familiar rumbling sound that signaled the Doors were about to close. Newt's heart leapt into his throat and tears filled his eyes. "Minho!"

Just then, a groaning sound came from the East Door. Newt gasped and darted towards it, faster than he knew he could run. He stopped at the closing door and willed Minho to run, though it looked like he had damaged his left leg. Minho made it just in time and Newt tackled him in a hug, almost knocking over the Keeper of the Runners. He completely missed the burning jealousy in Alby's eyes as he and Nick approached them, and the knowing smile that Minho gave their second in command.

"Minho?" Nick said. "What happened?"

"I broke my ankle, you shuck-face," Minho gasped out. "What does it look like? And, Newt, you can let go of me whenever you like." Everyone laughed. Newt was still clinging to Minho, unable to believe that he was okay. Well, as okay as he was with a broken ankle.

"Med-jacks!" Nick called.

Clint and Jeff came over. "What's going on?" Jeff asked.

"I shucking tripped over a rock and twisted my ankle," Minho gasped out. Newt could see the obvious pain in his eyes and tears filled Newt's eyes. The night before, Newt had just stalked away from his friend. What if Minho hadn't been so lucky today and hadn't made it back in time before the Doors closed? Newt couldn't stand the thought.

Minho looked over at the blond, worried. "Newt, you okay?" he asked.

Newt nodded, trying to keep his emotions hidden. "I'm all right," he answered.

The Keeper of the Runners squeezed his shoulder. "I'm fine, too," he said. "Don't worry about me."

But Newt did. He followed the group into the Homestead and sat beside Minho, taking his hand as the Med-jacks examined his leg. "Good news, Minho: you didn't break it," Jeff said, and Minho sighed in relief. "Bad news: you did sprain it, though, and sprains normally hurt worse." Minho winced.

Newt stroked Minho's fingers reassuringly. He didn't notice Alby looking down at their joined hands, his dark eyes full of jealousy. "At least you're alive," the blond said.

Minho nodded and hugged Newt. "All right guys...I think we need to give them some privacy." This from Alby, surprisingly, though he sounded like he was forcing the words out. "Let's go."

Clint and Jeff finished wrapping Minho's foot in a cast and left the room, leaving Newt alone with Minho. Minho smiled softly at him, his trademark smirk making no appearance. "You don't have to worry about me," he said gently. "I'm fine."

Newt was shocked at this sudden change in character. Minho never acted like this around him. He was like a totally different person - and Newt liked it. "I'm so happy you're okay," he said.

Minho laughed. "Well...not okay," he lamented. "Alive, though, yes."

Tears filled Newt's eyes. "I can't stand the thought of losing you after I just stormed away from you like that," he choked out, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"Well, I probably shouldn't have said what I said, either," Minho admitted, surprising Newt yet again. "I guess if I'd died, we'd both be at fault."

"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" Newt couldn't help smiling.

Minho's trademark smirk played on his lips. "Like what?"

"Like showing up in the Glade with a broken leg right as the bloody Doors were closing," said Newt. "Like showing me your soft side. Like saying that what you said was wrong - you never would have done either of those things if the rest of those shanks had been in here."

"True," Minho said. "But maybe I have a reason for that." Before Newt could ask what that was, Minho said, "I have one more surprise, if you think you can handle it." He grinned.

"What?"

"I think you should be a Runner."

Shocked, Newt said, "Wh - Are you joking? Me? A Runner? Why?"

"I saw you running towards me as the Doors were closing, shuck-face," Minho laughed. "You have strong potential to be a Runner. I'd like you on my team, Newt. You can start training tomorrow, if Nick and Alby agree and if you want to-"

"Of course I want to! If I have to work in those bloody Gardens for one more day, I'll buy a one-way ticket to hell," Newt informed him.

Minho burst out laughing. "You're a shuck-face," he declared.

"And here you're sitting with a bloody sprained ankle calling me the shuck-face," Newt said dramatically, shaking his head. "You're too much."

"Slim it, Newt."

"Slim it, Newt," the blond mimicked, but Minho just rolled his eyes. They joked around for a while, laughing despite Minho's broken ankle, and Newt suspected that was the time they truly became friends.

AN: Will update soon, hope you all liked it! :)