Chapter 2-Your hidden talent

I turn and look at the clothes sitting on the bed. As of right now, my clothes seem fine, even though they are a bit warm for the weather today. I'm wearing a dark grey long sleeve shirt with black jeans, and brown combat boots. My clothes were fine earlier, but i want something more comfortable to go to bed in. I look at the pile of clothes, not even bothering to look at the pants yet. There's a blue shirt, a green shirt, and a brown one. The blue one is more of a t-shirt, whereas the green one is more of a sweater. The brown one is like a thick strapped tank top, so i put that on. i decide to not worry about my pants or boots though, I'm not sure how cold it gets at night here. I have to admit, boys clothes are super comfortable. I might not wear my grey shirt anymore if all the clothes i have are this comfy.

After i get changed I'm not sure what to do. I look around the room for a while, but its small. I decide to go talk to someone. I go check Newts room first, but he's not there. Then i check Minho's room, which is also empty. Eventually i decide to walk outside.

I keep looking at the stone walls. For some reason they make me feel trapped. I don't like it, and I want to know why they're surrounding us. I want to leave. I watch the guys work for a few minutes, not sure what the jobs are, but wanting to see what I can do. I see some people chopping down a tree, a couple boys are fixing the roof on a building. A group of boys are working in the garden, and I see two feeding the animals. I don't see newt, Minho or Alby anywhere.

Im interrupted by a tap on my shoulder, and I turn around to see a boy standing there, who must be a little younger than me, and about my height. He may be slightly taller, and he has freckles across his nose, and dark black hair, "hey, Emmy, can you give us a hand? We're trying to get the apples in the tree over there, but the ones up high are on branches too thin for any of us to reach without it breaking. You're smaller than all of us, so you can probably climb higher than we can. Wanna help?"

I smiled and nodded. "Id love too!" For some reason climbing trees sounds like fun to me. I'm not sure if its because I've done it before and i don't remember, but it sounds great. I walk over with the boy to the tree. He points out where the fruit is, and I tuck my hair into the back of my shirt so it doesn't get caught on branches. I take a deep breath, and i start to climb. At this point a couple of boys come over to watch. im climbing so fast. My hands seem to find the perfect spot, and I know where to put my feet on every branch. Its not tiring at all. Climbing feels freeing to me. Maybe its because I'm semi thin and short, but i don't feel like the branches are going to break at all. I pause for a moment to look out through the leaves. I can see the walls more clearly up here, and just stare for a moment. My stomach churns slightly, but the feeling isnt as bad up here. The feeling of being trapped slowly subsided when I realize I'm not on the ground. Then I realize people are watching me climb and I keep going. Eventually i reach the fruit. There's probably a hundred or so apples around me. I pick one off a branch and toss it from hand to hand, not sure what to do now. I look down at the crowd of boys that are watching me, and an idea forms in the back of my head.

"Look out! Get ready to catch!" I shout down at the group. I toss down one apple. I think its Winston who catches it...or maybe its Clint? I cant tell. But i keep picking the apples and tossing them down. I keep doing this for maybe five minutes when there is yelling beneath the tree.

"Hey, hey, hey what's going on here?" A familiar British voice shouts. A few other voices are explaining it to him when i hear him yell again.

"Wait what?" He walks under the tree.

"Emmy? What the bloody hell are you doing up there? You're going to hurt yourself!" I look down at Newt, who's looking up at me. I'm not sure, but he seems concerned. His forehead is creased and he doesn't look happy with the fact that I'm about probably 30 feet off the ground.

"Hey Newt! Catch!" I yell and toss an apple down to him. He catches it and i guess he realizes what I'm doing. He looks at the apple in his hand and looks back up at me. i smile and wave at him. His expression softens and he waves back, but his eyebrows still stay slightly creased in concern on his forehead. I keep picking apples and tossing them down, until the tree is bare where i am. Eventually, i start to climb down. When I'm about 10 feet off the ground i see Newt watching me. The concerned look still on his face. i dont think he likes me climbing the tree. Maybe hes afraid of me falling. i climb down a few more feet so my feet are about 3 feet off the ground. I let go and drop to the grass. I look up at the boys. All of them are watching me, and the boy from before walks over.

"Nice, greenie. That's the most fruit we've had in a while." he holds up a basket full of apples, and i just shrug.

"It was no big deal. I guess i used to like climbing trees."

The other boys are whispering to each other and watching me. I glance over at one brown haired boy who looks at me, and winks. (Ugh, i don't want this) I think to myself. (That wink was honestly so creepy) I shudder slightly, and I duck my head down, I don't want this much attention.

"Hey Emmy, that was impressive. Its not a job here but maybe we can allow you to be our official tree climber." Newt walks up behind me. I punch him in shoulder.

"Hey!" He laughs, "What was that for?" i didnt realize it was Newt behind me. Oops. I thought it was creepy winking boy. I search my mind for something to say, to cover up my mistake.

"What if that's just a hobby of mine? What if i want to be a medjack?" I tease back.

He rubs his arm "why would you want to be a bloody medjack?"

I shrugged, "i don't know. I'm not sure what i want to do yet."

He smiles, "well, it looks like you've got a job as fruit collector for us track-hoes if the medjacks don't work out."

"I guess i do. Speaking of which, when do i get a job?" He lets out a small laugh.

"Well, you had the tour right? Alby showed you around the glad?" I nod. He grins and pokes me in the forehead.

"well, little miss Emmy, you can become a track-hoe after your job trials tomorrow" he says, tossing one of the apples I had thrown down to him into the air and catching it. "Who said i was going to be a track-hoe?" I ask

" I did." He says, "Because I'm a track-hoe, so i can keep an eye on you." He tossed the apple I had thrown at him in air and caught it again.

"Hm. that's not a bad idea. I could get used to working with you every day. You and Minho are the only ones I get along with." He looked at me, a slight smile creeping onto his face.

"Emmy, love, if you want me and Minho to protect you, just ask," He took a bite of the apple, juice running down his chin. I laughed.

"I never said I needed you to protect me!" I shout, still laughing, "And wipe your face, its not polite to talk with your mouth full!" I scold him jokingly.

"Hm. Oh. Sorry. I forgot about my manners in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a maze, but now that you're my bloody babysitter maybe I wont forget."

"Okay, fine. I guess manners don't really matter around here, do they."

"I would say not." He paused, and tried to wipe the apple juice off his chin, but he missed most of it.

"Did I get it?" he asked.

"Nope,"

"Oh," he wiped his face again."How bout now?"

"Hold on." I wiped the juice off of his face with my thumb, "there you go." I looked up at his face. He was giving me a weird look, but I couldn't look away from his eyes. They were a warm, dark brown. They made me feel safe. They weren't criticizing or harsh, they felt...kind. I felt like I'd seen them before. Like I knew him. He kept looking at me, and I realized neither of us had said anything. I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks and I looked away. He cleared his throat and took a step back.

"Well, um, sorry about my manners Emmy, but thanks for letting me know."

"No problem." I still couldn't look at him.

"What were we talking about again?" He asked, and cleared his throat for the second time, "Oh, right. Jobs." he said.

"Yeah," I jumped at the possibility of a conversation change. What was wrong with me. I barely knew Newt, and it seemed like I knew him so well, but being around him made me nervous. He put a hand on my shoulder.

"So tomorrow, if you don't mind ill wake you up nice and early, and you'll try out your first job choice around the glade."

"Okay. I think ill stick to something that has someone i know working it with me." I said quietly. Something was off. I guess I'm finding out that I can be shy at times. You'd think I'd remember that, but...wait...no I wouldn't.

Newt looked at me. "That doesn't leave you many options does it then?"

I shook my head.

"Well, I know Clint and Jeff a little bit, so that means I could be a medjack. I kinda know Frypan so I could help in the kitchen, I know you, so track-hoes, and Minho, so...wait...what does Minho do, Newt?"

He sighed, "I was supposed to wait for Alby to tell you this so you don't get any ideas, but, he's a runner."

"What's a runner?" I asked.

"Well, they just run around all bloody day,"

"That's it?"

"Yeah,"

I nodded. It sounded surprisingly fun, to just run as much as I want to. The walls make me feel trapped. The thought of just running for hours through the glade sounded amazing. I looked up at Newt. He didn't say anything. He just looked at the ground.

"Newt? What is it?"

"Nothing, i just don't really want you being a runner is all."

"Why not?" i asked. What was wrong with running? He didn't seem to hear me.

"Well, I mean you shouldn't bother being a runner yet. Greenies rarely become runners."

"Oh." I felt my expression fall, and Newt noticed. He rubbed the back of his neck

"I mean, Im sure you could, but you have to be here a bit longer usually. Its too for dangerous for greenies to be runners."

"Hm, why is it dangerous?"

"...well..the runners go through the maze, trying to map it and find a way out..." he still didn't look at me. His hair fell over his forehead and he looked upset. The maze? Does he mean the walls? They get to leave? The thought of being able to escape the glade where the giant threatening stone walls are sounded amazing.

"Why is that dangerous?" I asked. The though of running around the maze didn't seem that dangerous. It sounded great. I looked at Newt again. He just kept looking at the ground. He was acting like a little kid who got in trouble. He started fidgeting with the bottom of his shirt, where there was a loose string.

"Because I don't even like Minho going out there, and he's a tough shank. Its dangerous out there, people get hurt or killed all the time. I wasn't even supposed to tell you about anyone being a bloody runner yet, and I don't want you getting hurt out there. I swear ive seen you before and im trying to remember where, but I cant. I just know I don't want anything happening to you." He said it so quietly. My heart hurt. Ive only known him for a day yet the way he said it made me want to hug him all afternoon until he cheers up. I put a hand on his arm.

"I'm sorry Newt. But being a runner sounds great to me. Ive been sitting here all day and climbing the tree felt so freeing. When i was in the metal elevator thing i felt so trapped. Like I was being crushed. Its like that in these walls. I need to do something. I might not do it for good, but I need to see what's out there at least once. Can I try it tomorrow?"

Newt sighed. "yeah, if you want to. I cant bloody stop you. Just be careful, I don't know you that well but I don't want you getting hurt is all." I nodded. I don't know why I did, but I hugged him. I surprised him at first, he stumbled back a bit, then realized what i was doing. He hugged me back, wrapping his thin yet strong arms around me. It was comforting. It felt like I've known him from somewhere else. And after a few seconds I pulled away.

"Come on, no sad feelings. Lets go get some dinner or something, okay?" I smile and pull him towards the hut where everyone else was eating. We sat down with Alby and Minho, who raised an eyebrow at Newt and I, but didn't say anything. Instead, Newt mentioned how skilled I was at climbing trees. As I expected, this caused a lot of surprise from Alby, but he said I should be a builder. I could climb up the buildings to repair a roof or something. I told him id think about it, but a builder didn't sound good to me, and being a runner still seemed appealing. I didn't talk much the rest of the meal. Instead I just ate my cooked chicken and salad, and listened to the other conversations. The food was surprisingly good. Im not sure what they put on it seasoning wise, but it was delicious. When I was done, I told everyone I was going back to my room because I was tired. Newt and Minho offered to walk me back, so they came with me.

On the way back there was a long awkward silence. At one point I tripped and they both reached out to catch me, but I caught myself. I started blushing and they laughed a little bit.

Back to the awkward silence.

I had to say something. I decided to ask them what some of their words are.

"Hey Minho, what's a shank?" I asked.

He stopped and turned to me. "Well...its...it's how you describe someone that's a shank." He paused, his face changed as he started thinking, "I guess that isn't a good description, how would you describe it Newt?"

"To be honest I'm not sure. Its just something I learned, and everybody learned. I don't even know how the bloody word became something we say."

"Hm." I said, "Is it the same with the other words?"

Minho nodded, "Yeah, shuck, slinthead, klunk, its all kinda the same thing. It's just something that we know somehow."

"Oh. Well then, I guess ill have to learn it so I can sound like you shanks!" I joked, and punched Minho in the arm.

"Hey!" Minho shouted, laughing slightly. "Greenie, just, don't. Not yet. You've been here a day and it doesn't sound right when you say it," he said rubbing his arm.

"Now hold on there Minho, she did use the bloody word correct. I think she did a good job for her first day." Newt said in my defense.

"True, very true," Minho admitted. I smiled. These guys seemed to accept me already. And maybe Minho didn't enjoy my company quite as much as Newt did, but Minho was really cool. We kept talking all the way back to the homestead. Before I knew it we were outside my room. I said goodnight to the boys and waved goodbye, then opened the door, took off my shoes, and curled up in bed, not sure what to think of my day so far. I couldn't fall asleep, so I just sat there, thinking of names and matching them with faces to remember everybody.

I spent probably half an hour just sitting quietly in bed thinking about my day.

The quiet of my room was interrupted by a loud boom, that made me nearly fall out of bed. I jumped up, kicking the covers off of me and darting out of the room to find the others. I threw open my door and stepped out into the hallway only to run straight into Newt. Literally. He stumbled back a bit and I reached out to help him catch his balance.

"Oh my gosh, Newt, I'm sorry! Are you okay?" I asked, putting my hand over my mouth. I felt my cheeks turning pink with embarrassment. He nodded and laughed, rubbing his shoulder where my forehead had hit him.

"Yeah, I'm fine love. Why are you so jumpy? Did Alby forget to mention the walls again?" I raised one eyebrow at him and he sighed.

"That loud sound, that you just heard. Do you know what that is?" He asked. I shook my head no.

"Oh, alright, well. That boom means the walls are closing. It's so none of us can leave, and nothing else gets in." I nod. There was a loud scraping sound of stone against stone suddenly and I jumped, reaching out and grabbing Newts arm instinctively. He looked down at me and laughed.

"Oh...um....." I said, letting go of his arm. He shook his head, still laughing.

"Ya know Emmy, you're a complicated girl. You didn't seem scared when you came up in the box, but the doors closing scares you. Not to mention that I've seen you scare the klunk out of one of the other gladers when you looked at him, but you can be so shy that you barely talk." He shook his head, studying me. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Well, I mean, don't judge a book by its cover. I'm still trying to figure out who I am. I cant tell if I'm shy, or edgy, or kind, or mean. I think I'm somewhere in the middle? I don't know." I sighed, looking at the floor again.

"Hey, relax. Everybody is like that when they're the greenie. Now go get some rest, you've had a long day." He said, smiling and opening my door. I nodded and waved goodbye, before stepping in my room and closing the door. I turned to kick off my boots, which I forgot to do earlier, but I can see Newts outline through the wooden cracks in the walls. He reaches up, rubs the back of his neck and sighs. Gosh, I wish I knew boy body behavior better, but I cant remember anything. He and runs a hand through his messy blonde hair, then turns and walks away. I sigh, and flop back into my bed, and dream of Newt and Minho, the only people I know well enough in this strange place.

        A/N) okay, so there's that. The first two days are going to focus on Newt, but then the next few days will focus on some other characters. I'm honestly not even sure if 5 people will read this so for now, it's going to focus on Newt. However, if enough people read this and stuff I'll make stories that focus on the other gladers . So yeah. That's my first two stories, and I hope you guys liked reading it!