As usual, Minho set off into the Maze at top speed, whizzing through the endless pathway. As usual, he stopped for lunch half way through the day. As usual, he tried to focus on his job, finding a way out of the hell hole they lived in. But unlike any other day, he was distracted. He couldn’t tear his mind away from Pasty. The way she smiled, her sarcastic yet friendly tone of voice, the way her hair flew behind her as she ran. Everything about her made him want to smile in a way he never had since he arrived at the Glade. He couldn’t figure out why, but she made him feel better than he could ever remember feeling.

 He tried to convince himself that he was just glad to have another friend. It was nice to have a change from lots of boys. But deep down, he knew what he felt was much more than that. However, he tried to push his feelings to the back of his mind. It doesn’t matter what I feel. Why would she choose me when she could have her pick of any of the boys in the Glade? he thought to himself I bet she prefers strong, good looking guys like Newt. Or maybe she likes Gally? then he chuckled to himself nah. She would have to have low standards to like Gally!

 He felt a bit better, but couldn’t stop himself thinking of her. Despite this, he covered the whole Maze much quicker than usual, meeting the same dead end as always, and made it back to the Glade twenty minutes earlier than usual. Maybe it was the thought of Pasty that brought him back. He wasn’t sure. But when he saw her, laughing and having a piggyback from Newt, he wasn’t sure he was glad to see her. He felt his heart sink and he turned away, but she spotted him and bounded over like an eager puppy to greet him.

 “Hey, your back! I’ve been waiting for you. Have you had a good day? I can’t wait to run with you tomorrow.”

 Minho had forgotten about that and cheered up slightly at the idea of spending all day with Pasty, just the two of them. He felt his face, unwillingly, stretch into a smile.

 “Every day is the same in the Maze. You’ll find that out soon enough.”

 His face fell again and he began walking away.

 “Wait! Where you going?”

 “I have work to do.”

 “Can I help? I won’t be a nuisance, I promise.”

 “Tomorrow,” Minho replied impatiently. A look of hurt swept over Pasty’s face, but it was quickly replaced with a neutral smile.

 “Alright. I guess I’ll leave you to it.” And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away, and he headed for the Map Rooms. He snuck a few glances at her and realised she was talking to Newt, obviously about his rude behaviour towards her. Newt glanced over and caught Minho’s eye, but he tore away from his look and went inside the Map Room.

 Minho thought he was safe and tried to concentrate on sketching out the Maze map, but around ten minutes later, he hadn’t made any progress, and Newt entered the room, his arms folded. Minho couldn’t even bear to look at him.

 “Right, Minho?”

 Minho mumbled a reply of sorts and Newt raised his eyebrows.

 “What’s with you, hmm? Pasty was bein’ perfectly nice to ya and you were just plain rude. What’s your problem?”

 “What’s yours?” Minho snarled “Get out my face!”

 “Not til ya tell me what’s goin’ on. You ain’t yourself.”

 Minho suddenly felt tired. Tired of everything. He put his head in his hands groaning and paced the room. Newt’s eyes widened as though in sudden realisation.

 “This is somethin’ to do with Pasty, right?”

 Minho nodded slowly, not trusting himself to speak in case he blurted out everything he was feeling to Newt.

 “Well? No use bein’ an arse. Tell me. Man, I’m your best friend.”

 Minho sighed “It doesn’t matter what.”

 “It obviously does, or you wouldn’t be a makin’ such a fuss.”

 “Alright, alright,” Minho sighed “I like her. I like her a lot. I swear, even if I had my memories, I would never like someone so much. It scares me that she can have this effect on me after one day. I can’t stop thinkin’ about her. That’s all I thought about today in The Maze, and we know that can’t be shuckin good when you’re running for your life. I realised I need to distance myself from her, or we’ll all be in deep klunk. We can’t afford mistakes, and me likin’ her is a big one.”

 Minho gasped for air, having said more in the space of twenty seconds than he had in a long time. And more importantly, it was all real emotion, none of his usual cocky crap. He felt the need to sit down, and collapsed onto his knees in fear of the new side to himself he never knew he had. Newt just stared at him.

 “I don’t really know what to say to that.”

 “Neither do I,” Minho replied sarcastically, regaining his cool.

 Newt went and sat beside Minho on the floor and patted his arm awkwardly.

 “There is one piece of advice I have for ya.”

 “Oh yeah? And what’s that?”

 “Don’t let go of those feelings.”

 “But-”

 “Shut up and listen, slint head,” Newt warned. “I’m the one bloody tryin’ to help ya.”

 “Sorry.”

 “Alright. If ya think about it, who has she been closest to since she arrived here?”

 “You.”

 “Me and you. And tomorrow onwards, you’re gonna be spending every day with that shuck face. And yeah, she’s beautiful, but ya know I wouldn’t go for her, surely? That was why you were pissed with me, right?”

 His response was a slow nod.

 “Good that. What I’m tryin’ to say is if anyone is gonna have a shot with her, it’s gonna be you. But one thing I know for certain, she ain’t gonna like you if you’re forever givin’ her the cold shoulder.”

 “But she gets in the way…”

 “Only if you let her. Why does it have to be a problem? I’m not sayin’ you should dive in and declare your bloody love for her, but just keep it as a possibility, at least. Come on, man. Don’t lose the only good thing we have over nothin’, yeah?”

 Minho looked Newt in the eye and knew he was right. And he also knew how good a friend Newt was. He had an urge to hug him, and so threw his arms around Newt’s broad shoulders. Newt coughed uncertainly.

 “Umm. Yeah. This is weird.”

 “Agreed.”

 And with that, Minho let go and returned to making his map, the load off his back lessening slightly.

***

 Newt found Pasty sat alone on a bench near Homestead, staring into the distance. She looked sad, but as soon as she spotted Newt, her face was painted into the smile he normally saw her wear.

 “Hey Newt.”

 “Hey. You alright?”

 “Yeah. I’m just thinkin’.”

 “Any interesting thoughts in that head of yours?”

 Pasty laughed “Not particularly. You find out what’s up with Minho?”

 Newt wavered “He’s stressed. He…has a lot on his mind. The Maze ain’t nice, sister. You gotta be alert, ready for anything. He’ll be fine in the mornin. In fact, he might be better when he has you to watch his back.”

 “He don’t seem like he wants me to watch his back.”

 “Trust me, he does. And I reckon he’ll come and apologize sooner or later. More likely later, but he will.”

 “How do ya know?”

 “Pasty, I’m his best mate. You gotta trust me.” Newt patted Pasty on the back gently and left her to think some more. Meanwhile, Minho had finished making his Map of the day, and was getting ready to speak to Pasty. He tried to plan something sensible to say, to show he really was sorry, but he wasn’t used to thinking in that way, and nothing came to him. He was making his way to Frypan’s kitchen to get some food to help him think when he bumped straight into Pasty, who was seemingly doing the same thing.

 “Umm. Hey Pasty,” he said, shuffling his feet nervously. She didn’t smile at him.

 “Hello. Excuse me…”

 “Wait Pasty,” he said, catching her arm, which she pulled away sharply and glared steadily into Minho’s eyes, waiting.

 “I…I’m really sorry, ya know, about before. It…it wasn’t you. I’ve had a bad day. I wouldn’t normally treat anyone like that, especially not you. You’re the closest I’ve ever had to a true friend, other than Newt. I was completely out of order.” He squirmed, not knowing what to say next without giving his feelings away, but to his surprise, Pasty smiled and took his hand.

 “Apology accepted. If you can get me some food!”

 Minho glanced down at her tiny pale white hand, engulfed by his own large tanned hand. With a smile, he got brave and stroked his thumb lightly across her pale knuckles and squeezed her hand gently.

 “Anything. I really am sorry.”

 “I know,” she said, squeezing back as though to reassure him. Then they made their way to the kitchens, and for some reason, they didn’t let go hands.