Just about a week and a half in the glade with Andréa working as a Gardener, making friends with Minho, Chuck, and Newt, the cabin in the woods made just for Andréa was just about done, Andréa got her name up on the wall of names for the Gladers, she got some girls clothes from the box, and the food apparently had gone 'back to normal' as Minho had said.

Andréa didn't have much to complain about except for the looming decision on who she would have her babies with. Alby asked every other day and she always gave the same answer 'I don't know yet'. And she could tell the Keepers were getting anxious the closer they got to the end of the month.

Truthfully Andréa did have a guy in mind but she didn't want to admit it out loud yet. Well that was until now. When she sat with Chuck eating lunch.

It had been one of those days where Newt had to be by Alby's side and as usual Minho was out running so Chuck was her only companion for the day.

"Why don't you tell him?" Chuck asked. "I get it. You're a sissy. But I can hundred percent say that he is practically in love with you. Even Minho knows it."

"Yeah but what if he feels like I'm only using him to help everyone here?" A few days ago she had decided to tell Chuck her situation since he was like her little brother. She trusted him and she needed someone she could talk to. "I don't want that."

"Do you want me to talk to him?" Chuck offered as he finished off his plate. "And I can tell you whatever he says then you can decide for yourself."

Andréa smiled cheekily. "Could you? That'd be so much help." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before getting up and walking away leaving the boy looking like a tomato. "Thank you!"

***

"Just tell him that he's the one you feel safest around. That you can see being with him. That you like him." Chuck urged her after finishing up his drink from lunch. Andréa had finished her food in a hurry upon overthinking what Chuck would tell her during lunch.

"It'd be a lot easier if you didn't promise him to keep your mouth shut!" She argued, her arms crossed.

Chuck rolled his eyes. "But you can trust when I say you have to tell him."

Andréa bit her lip, thinking. She had a limited time frame. She had to choose and Newt was one of the only guys she knew let alone liked.

"If you don't believe me you could even ask Minho. They are really close."

Andréa sighed softly, her arms dropping. "I believe you Chuck." She walked towards him and ruffled his curly hair. "You're an awesome kid. Please don't ever change?"

Chuck grinned up at her. He finally felt like he had family. Like she was his sister.

***

Andréa found Newt and Alby talking near the treehouse and let out a deep breath before walking up behind them. "Uh, Alby?" Upon hearing his name, Alby turned around along with Newt to see Andréa biting her lip in a nervous habit. "Can I talk to Newt for a moment? Alone?"

Alby glanced at Newt who didn't know what she wanted either. He looked back at Andréa and gave into her silently pleading eyes. "Yes, of course." He looked back at Newt. "When you're done come find me. I'll most likely be with Frypan."

"Good that." Newt replied and Alby glanced at Andréa one last time before heading off towards the kitchens.

It was getting dark out, the sun just a bit above the walls. She had stalled herself most the day but eventually gathered the courage to finally talk to him. She knew this would have been a lot easier if she had another month or two because then she'd have formed a stronger relationship with the boys and she'd feel hell of a lot more comfortable with the daunting task laid upon her.

Noticing how uneasy she seemed, he dropped his emotionless expression and softened a bit. "Want to go up?" He pointed up the treehouse and Andréa nodded.

The two made their way up and instead of sitting the leaned forward on the wooden railings and watched the sunset.

"I've been stalling...all day." She gulped her eyes staying ahead. "It's not exactly easy to admit. And the task I have is not the most pleasing. But I've made my decision. And at least I get a decision." Her voice became stronger and she finally turned to him to see where he was on her speech. "I'm not willing to let this glade fall and take everyone with it. Especially you. Because in the days of being here you have supported me, helped me settle, and always managed to make me smile." She smiled lightly seeing that he was still trying to piece together what she was trying to tell him. "And it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if it was you. Because I really like you. And I trust you."

Without a second thought the blonde haired boy stepped forward and cupped her face in his hands. The sun lit her hazel eyes up beautifully and he smiled taking in the sight before leaning his head against hers.

Andréa bit the inside of the corner of her lips and let out a quiet breath. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his waist in a gentle hug.

"I'll always be there for you Andréa. And if it's me you choose then I'll accept my role in this twisted game forced on you."

Andréa pulled away, an adoring look on her face. "Really?"

"Yes. And I'll even give you a few days to adjust and be ready. Because their forcing this on you but I will not force it to happen faster then you are comfortable with."

Andréa and Newt were staring into each other eyes in content. They knew they had an attraction to one another and that they were good friends and partners.

If you asked Minho or Chuck they'd say it was easy to see they liked each other and that they would work out just fine. They spent enough time with the two to see that.

And just as the two went to lean in a commotion from down below startled them apart.

"What the-" Andréa started out softly as she leaned against the wooden railing and looking below along with Newt. They could see Clint and Jeff with a few other boys sprinting towards the north gate where a pair of Runners were struggling to get down the corridor.

Andréa glanced at Newt with a puzzled expression before hurriedly climbing down and taking off near the wall opening. "What's happening?" She asked Clint who stood at the threshold.

"He's hurt." He told her as he waved his hands and shouted at the hurt guys partner to hurry.

"How?"

"Now that's a dumb question." He retorted. "I don't know."

Newt finally reached her side and watched the boys finally get through. The uninjured boy dropped the injured one as he took deep breaths of oxygen that he seemingly couldn't get enough of. Questions were thrown to the boys in rapid succession before the uninjured boy collapsed and passed out.

"We need to get them help!" Andréa yelled you the crowd. "Back up and give the Med-Jacks space!"

Newt hurriedly started pushing people back while Andréa helped the Med-Jacks get the boys to their medical hut.

***

Christian -the guy who got hurt- eventually was able to talk after Jeff had taken care of his leg and his head. He was wrapped up, given some pills and water then he was good to sit back and rest.

In Chris' room stood Andréa, Alby, Newt and the now conscious Leon -nickname for Napoleon.

Leon sat beside his friend with a guilty expression plastered all over his face. He felt responsible for what happened and he didn't want to leave his side until Chris got sick of him.

"What happened out there?" Alby asked with his usual blank look save for the furrow of his brows.

"We heard these screeching sounds and we were far in there so we hurried and ran back here." Leon explained with a distressed look. "It scared the klunk out of us and Chris he tripped after his foot caught in some broken vines and he face-planted the ground. Hard." The fifteen-year-old boy cast a look at his friend, feeling bad he had taken the longer route to the glade because of how afraid he was and how panicked he was feeling. The stress of getting away and carrying his hurt friend had his brain scrambled and he forgot the route they used to travel in the maze. "I had to carry him back. But no matter the turns or distance that noise seemed to follow until it just stopped. But I didn't stop running." He shook his head. "I'm sorry buddy." He apologized to his friend. He let out a breath as he looked from his friend to his leader.

"It had to have been a Griever."

Alby, Andréa, and Newt looked at each other with varying emotions; Alby with pursed lips and slightly pushed together brows looking like he knew what the cause of this event was and sorrowful, Andréa biting her lower lip looking nervous, and Newt with furrowed brows as he glanced between the girl he liked and his leader in thought.