Love in the Maze (Newt x Reader)

6. You're a Runner

All the boys were staring at the door, not believing that Y/N, of all the Gladers, just walked out while wrecking all of them at once. "Well...", Alby stood up again, looking at his silent audience, "I agree with both Newt and Gally, but I believe Y/N made a very valid point. She did do something wrong, but it was also the right thing to do. We have lived by these rules for a year now, but she had followed those rules like the rest of us, then Ben and Newt would both be dead in the Maze. And speaking of which, how was Y/N in the maze, Newt?".
Everyone turned to Newt, waiting for his response. "Well...", Newt was still a little flustered from Gally's comment, but reigned it in and spoke. "Like I said, she saved my life by using her brain. Bloody brilliant, if I do say so myself! Y/N risked her life, as well as mine, so we could live through the night. She didn't give up when all I wanted to do was run. In fact... She would be great at running. Really fast, quick-thinking... I say we make her a Runner".

Now he had done it. The whole room went into uproar over Newt's request. Most agreed with the tall blonde, but the remainder sided with Gally who was fuming and yelling that Newt had gone mad.
"Silence, slintheads!!!!!", Alby was annoyed right now. His Gladers were now fighting over wether or not the Greenie should be a Runner or not. But Newt's argument... Alby had made his final condition.
"Alright, boys. Here is what will happen. No arguing with my final decision or else it's the Slammer and the Sloppers for you", Alby stared down the Keepers and Newt, they all gave a simple nod, some more hesitant than others. "Y/N's punishment will be to sleep every night, for a week, in the Slammer. With no food, water or company", the dark-skinned leader looked directly at Newt for the last part, knowing full well he would go and talk to her. Newt averted his eyes to his hands and grumbled a little curse no one could understand.
"But... From what Newt says, Y/N is more than capable to look after herself. She also sounds intelligent, and we all saw how fast she sprinted into that Maze. Because of this... Y/N will become a Runner starting the day after her punishments ends. Minho and Newt will alternate between training her. She is to be trained throughout the week of her punishment.
Y/N will be Newt's new running partner. And with Ben out, a new Runner is what we need".

The room went quiet. As Alby had asked, nobody argued or even said a word. They all just sat there, looking at Alby all surprised at what ended up being the decision. "Alright you ugly shanks, meeting's over. Go", Alby dismissed the Keepers and Newt, and walked out without another word. Newt left through the door with Minho, looking immediately for wherever the E/C eyed girl went. "I'll go find her, tell her about it", Newt said as Minho went off to check on Ben at the Med-jack hut. Newt already knew where she would be. After all, the both of them had only made it definite an hour or so ago.

And he was right, Y/N was sitting in the exact same corner as she was the first time he found her. He walked up to the girl and sat down, knowing she had heard him.
"So... How was it", she said quietly, picking at a leaf from the ground. Her voice was also laced with sadness, like she was upset or about to cry. It cracked Newt's heart to hear her voice not filled with it's usual joy, fire or wonder. Now it just sounded...heart-breaking.
"It was a bit chaotic after you left, let's just say that", the brown-eyed boy chuckled, remembering all the chaos that went on afterward. Y/N also laughed quietly just imagining the uproar that went on. 'But those boys were happy before I showed up... I'm the reason they are fighting, the reason why they're falling apart...', the Greenie thought sadly, realising all the problems she had caused. Tears welled up and just one, lone tear silently fell down her S/C cheek. Newt saw this and immediately turned to her and wiped away her tear. "Hey... What's got you upset, Love?", he questioned softly, his voice laced with concern. A beautiful girl such as her shouldn't be crying. Should EVER be crying!
"It's just that, I realise that I was the one who was causing you and your friends to fight. I was only a silly subject and I caused you guys to fight for no obvious reason. I'm sorry...", Y/N's bright E/C eyes were now sprouting tears by the second, letting them fall into her lap like waterfalls. Newt couldn't understand why such a lovely girl such as
Y/N would think she was some silly topic that didn't need any attention. 'She is so worth attention!', Newt thought angrily, mad at himself and the boys for making her feel that way.

Newt spoke up after listening to her agonising cries for a few seconds more. "Hey", he wiped her tears from her face and then cupped her cheeks with both hands, making her look into his deep, brown eyes. "You aren't just some silly subject that doesn't deserve attention. You had a right to speak up for yourself and you did! Gally just is loyal to the rules, that's all. Come here...", with that, he pulled her into a tight hug, where she let the rest of her salty tears fall onto Newt's shirt. He just held her tightly to his chest in a very protective way, as if when he let her go, she would be hurt again.
Y/N stopped weeping and wiped her face clean. 'Newt must think I'm a weak little girl now', Y/N thought shamefully as she pulled out of the hug and looked down at her hands.

"So... What's my punishment?", she asked, her voice laced with fear.
"Well...", he started off, "You have to spend every night, starting tomorrow, in the Slammer with no food, water or company. So unfortunately, I cannot come entertain you with the tales of the day till breakfast the next morning!". Y/N laughed at that, but was really bummed about her punishment. Oh well...could always be worst.
"Is there anything else...?", she hesitantly asked, afraid of the answer.
"Oh yes! Starting tomorrow ,as well, you start training to be a Runner".
Y/N looked up at Newt with a new light in her eyes, she couldn't believe it! "Are you serious!", she questioned to see if it was a joke. But it wasn't.
"No it's not, Love. Turns out Alby was impressed with your actions and you proved yourself. Also with Ben injured, we need a new Runner and I need a new partner, meaning you are now my running buddy!",
Y/N was overjoyed at this point. She really couldn't believe it! A Runner. Training. Running with Newt... Turns out today wasn't so bad after all.

"Me and Minho will train you, and after your punishment is over, you get to run in the Maze with us, like a real Runner". Y/N basically leapt into Newt's open arms and hugged him till infinity. Newt was surprised at first, but soon wrapped his arms around her smaller frame. Even though they don't remember doing this before, they once again felt that natural and familiar feeling all over them. Like they had hugged each other in their past lives a million times before. It just felt...right. They eventually broke away from each other standing up to leave. "Come on, dinner should be soon", Newt stated, looking at his Runner watch. Both of them silently strolled through the Deadheads towards the dining area outside the kitchen, enjoying the serenity and quietness the forest brought.
"Newt?", Y/N stopped walking, causing Newt to stop.
"Yeah, Y/N?", he responded
"Thanks"
"For what?"
"For defending me in the meeting when no one else would, it means a lot to me to have a friend like you",
Y/N once again hugged Newt tightly before the both of them strolled out of the forest, grabbing each others hands tightly as small, happy smiles grew on their faces.