[Thomas' POV]

"Let me show you." Alby's voice rang in my mind as I stared at his outstretched hand before me, offering to finally let me out of the prison they'd put me in. Shakily, I took his hand and followed him out into the place he called the Glade. Boys rummaged about, engaging in various tasks and talking amongst themselves. 

"We eat here, sleep here. We grow our own food, and build our own shelter." Alby explained, pointing out to various workstations nestled in the trees. "Whatever we need, the box provides." He motioned towards the metal crate which I'd woken up in, the sheer thought of it sending chills down my spine. "The rest is up to us."

"The box?" I looked back between to the godforsaken pice of metal and Alby in confusion. 

"Yeah. Then send em' once a month with fresh supplies and a new greenie. This month that's you." Alby explained, hitting my arm to catch my attention. "Congratulations." Before I could even process what Alby had said about the box, more questions swelled in my mind. 

"Sent up? By who though? Who put us here?" I asked. Alby looked to me sympathetically. He must have had the same questions every month. 

"That we don't know." He shrugged. I turned my eyes to the ground shyly, feeling Alby's stare on my skin.

"Hey you alright, Alby?" Another voice came and my head shot up immediately. I watched as Alby's smile grew instantaneously and then I glanced to see a tall, lanky blonde approaching, then someone a fair amount shorter trailing behind him. 

 "Geenbean, meet Newt." The blonde took my hand in his and smiled. "When I'm not around, he's in charge." Alby said. 

"Well, it's a good thing you're always around then." Newt stifled a laugh. "Listen, that was quite the dash you made earlier. Y'know for a second there I thought you had the chops to be a runner." He raised an eyebrow with a mischievous grin. "Till you face planted."

Before I could even question what a runner could have possibly been, Newt whimpered and pulled his arm in close to him, looking down at the person who'd dared to hit him. 

"Ah!" Alby grinned as a girl with Y/H/C hair and Y/E/C eyes appeared from behind Newt, shaking hands with me. "This is Y/N. She was the greenie before you." Alby explained and I looked to the girl, even more questions pouring into my mind. 

"I thought you said there were no girls?" I furrowed my brows, looking between the three. Newt stood awkwardly close to the girl, looking down at her like he was stupefied. 

"Guess I lied." Alby shrugged. "You two do me a favour? Go find Chuck will you?" Alby told Y/N and Newt and they nodded. I watched as Newt brushed his hand against hers, almost as if he were trying to grab it. 

"There he is!" Y/N piped up and took off like a rocket, Newt pursed his lips and rolled his eyes, quickly following after her.

"Look, don't mind them. They're pretty close." Alby grabbed my shoulder and turned me around, guiding me somewhere else. 

"I think close is an understatement." I muttered. It was obvious when two people shared some sort of connection that no one else could understand, and those two seemed to fit that picture pretty well. I looked back and saw Newt playfully pushing and shoving Y/N as they walked away. 

"Anyways, got something special planned for tonight. You'll see." Alby grabbed my shoulder again and lead me away, obviously tired of me glancing around the glade every chance I got.

"Light em up!" Alby hollered out to the boys who surrounded a mound of wood, all with flaming torches in their hands. All together, they tossed the flames at the wood and it ignited instantly, the flames soon rising high above their heads. Newt and Y/N were yet again side by side and I watched as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, only moments later to have her dragged off by some other boy. How she was the only girl in a place like this, I had no idea. But, she seemed to fit in just fine. When I looked back to Newt, the second-in-command seemed lost without his partner in crime. No matter where she went, Newt's eyes were locked on her, a small grin plastered on his face.

It wasn't long before I found myself situated against a log, staring out to the giant stone walls that trapped us in this place. 

"Hell of a first day, greenie." A familiar voice sounded behind me and then a body slumped down beside mine. He handed me some sort of vile concoction and his words just seemed like white noise, my mind atrophied from the day. 

"What the hell is that?!" I exclaimed, looking to the drink with a disgust I was sure I'd ever felt before. 

"I don't even know. It's Gally's recipe." Newt stifled a laugh. "It's a trade secret..." His voice trailed off as he turned to look at the fighting ring beside the fire.

I followed his gaze and sure enough, there was Y/N, in the ring fighting the tall, burly builder. Newt's face was plastered with both jealousy and admiration as he gazed at her from afar, as if it was only safe to do so that way. 

"Yeah, well he's still an asshole." I grumbled, watching as Gally threw Y/N to the ground, making her gasp for air. Newt's knuckles went white as he gripped the jar in his hand. I wondered why he hadn't gone running over there yet, but guessed he was too afraid to. Good thing he didn't, because just as quickly as she had been thrown in the dirt, the girl jumped up and threw herself at Gally, sending him stumbling backwards.

"She can sure hold her own." I scoffed. The whoops and hollers of the boys around the ring grew louder and louder, cheering on the girl. Now, it was if Newt wasn't even paying attention, completely entranced by Y/N and I knew there was only one way to drag him back to earth. 

"Alby said you two are really close." I said and the mention caught Newt's attention immediately. 

"I guess." He shrugged and tore his eyes from the fighting ring and back to the stone walls. 

"You guess?" I raised an eyebrow and caught his gaze for a few seconds before he darted his eyes away shamefully.

"Why don't you just tell her? Don't even try to deny how you feel about her. I can see it." I furrowed my brows and watched as Newt's face flushed red. 

"That's a lot easier said than done." His face went stolid and stared out into the dark. Here I was, not even able to remember my name, and I was trying to convince someone to admit their feelings. 

"What do you mean?" My questions had seemingly shifted from being all about where I was and who put us here to solely Y/N and Newt. The blonde propped himself up slightly and looked at me with a set of eyes I knew hid an intolerable amount of pain behind them. 

"You think that in a place like this, she hasn't heard the same thing from just about every other boy? She wouldn't believe me. Wouldn't believe I was being genuine, unlike the rest of the shanks around here who say they care just for fun." His question really did make me think. Being the only girl amidst forty or so boys, some had to have already admitted the same thing Newt wanted to.

"And listen, the truth is..." Newt muttered. "In a place like this, things like that don't last." Something about the way Newt said it was like a warning that made me refuse to ask any more questions about the girl. He went on to talk about the maze and I finally got the answers I'd been waiting for about the runners. After a while and being brought to the point where I felt as if my mind might just implode, Newt patted my back. 

"Alright, that's enough questions for one night. C'mon, listen, you're supposed to be the guest of honour!" He exclaimed, trying to drag me to my feet. I tried to rebuke but he tugged at my arm even harder. 

"No, no. C'mon, let me show you around." He insisted and I reluctantly followed him towards the crowd.

As Newt showed me around, he explained the various different groups of people, the builders, slicers and medjacks. 

"And where does Y/N work?" I stopped Newt and his face lit up, a small smirk crossing it. 

"Well, she used to work with Clint and Jeff, but boys started injuring themselves on purpose just to see her. So, she works in the gardens with me now." He said. "Bugs me every bloody day to convince Alby to let her be a runner." The blonde rolled his eyes.

 We stood beside the fighting ring now and I could hear the shouts growing louder. "You should let her. She seems like a good fit by the way you make it sound." I admitted and Newt's face dropped. 

"Did you not listen to what I said? No one should want to be a runner." Something about the way Newt said it definitely indicated that it was him stopping her from going into the maze. "Plus, she'd have to get chosen."

Before I could ask, a body slammed into me from behind, sending me stumbling forwards.

 "My bad, sorry." A soft voice met my ears and I didn't even have to look up to see who it was. Y/N was being pulled up off of the ground by Gally and she looked to me apologetically. 

"What do you say greenie? Want to see what you're made of?" Gally cocked an eyebrow and stood tall, everyones eyes fell on me. 

"Greenie, greenie!" Everyone started chanting and Y/N patted me on the back. All of the Gladers circled around the ring and Newt stood shoulder to shoulder with Y/N, taking her hands in his and wiping the dirt away, checking for cuts and bruises. I could see as Y/N's face visibly became redder as Newt wiped the dirt from under her eye gently. He cupped her face in his hands and said something, a wide smile growing on both of their faces before he finally let go. His eyes met mine and I raised an eyebrow at him to which he responded by sending a glare back that very obviously said 'shut up, greenie.'

Despite trying to not be completely annihilated by Gally, I couldn't help but keep glancing to Y/N and Newt. In a way, it was nice to see a relationship like theirs in a place like this, desolate and devoid of life. But, in another way, it was saddening. Newt looked to her like she was the only thing he saw. Yet, she never seemed as infatuated with him as he was with her. When she thought no one was watching, I knew Newt was. I could tell he heard every word she spoke, even when she thought no one else was listening. With him, she'd never have to be alone.

After being thrown into the dirt time and time again, I'd finally remembered my name and the fight was ended. I stumbled my way over to the fire where a few boys talked amongst themselves quietly. 

"Hey Thomas!" Y/N piped up and jumped down beside me. I smiled lightly at the girl. "You're pretty good! Wanna fight me next time?" A mischievous grin rose on her face. After seeing her fight with Gally, I wasn't sure I wanted to. 

Luckily, before I could answer, Newt slumped down in the tight space between us. "There you are, love." Newt threw his arm over Y/N's shoulder and pulled her close, ruffling her hair, earning a small laugh from her. They'd been apart maybe twenty minutes and Newt was acting like he hadn't seen her in days. Y/N seemed to shrink under Newt's arm and she pulled her legs close to her chest, crossing her arms over them.

For a while, the three of us talked about the Glade and what tomorrow might be like. It was almost as if Y/N was adverting her vision from Newt. I couldn't blame her, having someones eyes burning holes in your skin every hour of the day couldn't be pleasant. Her focus was on me as I spoke and Newt's was stuck on her. I may not have known either of them well, but I wasn't clueless. It wasn't like Y/N was pushing Newt away any time he came close. And it's not that she was ignoring him, she was just trying not to show how much she cared. When Newt finally finished what he was saying, silence swelled around us until Chuck came sauntering in, calling my name. 

"Thomas! I set up your hammock." He said proudly, waving for me to follow him. "I uh - better go." I muttered and stood up. 

"Oh, and Y/N?" I caught her attention and Newt gave me a puzzled glance. "Newt has something really important to tell you." I smirked and turned on my heel.

I sat in my hammock looking out to the walls yet again when I heard some people approaching the sleeping area. Most of the boys were already asleep and I knew it had to be Newt and Y/N. 

"Newt!" The girl whispered curiously, trying to catch up with the blonde who strode forwards. "Just tell me!" She pleaded and in that moment Newt caught my gaze and sent a forewarning glare. 

I shrugged with a smug smile and he rolled his eyes. Just as I had expected, a few hammocks down from mine, Y/N and Newt sat down in their own right beside one another. 

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Her voice was earnest and quiet, Newt shuffled around uncomfortably. 

"Y-Yeah..." He stuttered. 

"Newt, c'mon. I won't judge." She stifled a laugh and I could see her searching his eyes for some sort of truth.

His entire body was tense. So much so I could almost feel it from where I sat. He looked like he was about to burst, all of his emotions boiling up inside of him. 

"Fine! You really want to know?!" He spat and Y/N jolted back a little. "I like you! A lot! Ever since I pulled you out of that box! But I never told you because... because you have no idea what it's like... To like someone so much but know that they'll never see you the same way." Newt let out an exasperated sigh and thew his face into his hands frustratedly. Y/N gently pulled them away from his face. 

"I never said I didn't?" She mumbled and Newt immediately dropped his hands, his face softening. 

"I just - I thought after all of the other boys... you'd never believe me."

"Newt... Of course I believe you." She tilted her head and looked to him with sympathy. "I'm so sorry I didn't say anything earlier." She apologized, darting her eyes away. 

"It's not your fault." He shook his head and lunged forwards, wrapping his arms around her tightly. 

"THANK GOD! IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU TWO!" Minho cried out. "NOW, GO TO BED!" The few boys who were awake all laughed and I watched as Newt nestled his head into the crook of her neck as if it was the first hug he'd ever received. For a brief moment he opened his eyes and looked to me as if to say 'thanks for the embarrassment.'