"Thank you, Gladers, for meeting here today. We have many things to discuss, so if you would, please cooperate with us." Alby nodded his head, and took a seat, "First in the prosecuting chair is Brianne."

Another glader meeting, all about me. Great. Just the usual, really. This gathering is supposed to finalize my punishment. Why I still had to be punished, I don't even know? I almost died Saturday. That was punishment enough. But no, apparently making me crap myself scared wasn't satisfying enough for the haters. Meaning Nick hates me and doesn't think I'm worthy of acceptance in the glade, yet.

I stood, rolling my eyes, "Gets pardoned of crime; has to have another trial," I muttered under my breath, "My life."

"Huh?" Nick asked from across the room, as I sat down.

"I said, that its great to see your lovely face again. It's been a while," I smiled.

"Alright, So as most of you know, Brianne was nearly banished last week. But due to the realization of unnoticed, unjust judging, she has been pardoned of murder," Alby spoke with a certain underlying anger, "We come here today, to punish her, once again."

This comment sent the group of gladers into shouts of protests.

"Banishment is no longer an option, though?" Gally asked over the ruckus. The tone of his voice implying that he still wanted to banish me.

"Precisely. The death penalty has been removed." Alby answered, "Our extremely honest leader has decided to make up the punishment instead of having a group vote."

I almost laughed at Alby's outward distrust towards Nick, but I was angry so I held my laugh in, "What? You're kidding me, right? That liar almost killed me for something I didn't even do and you're letting him make up my punishment, again?!"

"Shut up," Nick gave me a quick look.

"Oh, heck no-" I began to stand up.

"Stay seated." Alby commanded. Hun please.

I stood, anyway.

"Brianne," Alby warned.

"Alby." I said back, in the same manner.

"Don't test me."

I sat back down. Rolling my eyes, I glanced over at the waiting Nick, "Continue."

"I think that Brianne is very guilty, so death is still an option-"

"But didn't we just agree that-" I was cut off.

"So, instead of an official pronouncement of condemned death, I say we send her on a little mission," Nick smiled at me and then his eyes flicked to one of the Keepers, but I'm not sure who.

"A what?" Someone asked from the crowd.

He's sending me into the maze.

"Brianne is going to be bait for our venture into the maze."

He's sending me on the trip that Newt warned me to steer clear of.

"What venture?" Somebody else asked.

"We're tracking down a griever and Brianne will come with us."

"That's funny." I laughed. He can't be serious.

"Which part of what I just said was funny?"

"I don't know- maybe just the part where it was actual crap." I looked around to see of if anyone felt the same way I did. The silence spoke volumes. Of what kind? I'm not too sure.

"I have no reason to stoop down to your level, Brianne. I mean, really, you're so immature." Nick gave me a taunting look, as he took his seat.

"I have no objection to that idea." Alby spoke.

The heck-?

"I do!" I yelled, raising my hand, "You can't tie me up and throw me to the grievers. That isn't fair!"

"Brianne, settle down," Alby spoke calmly.

"It's plenty fair," Nick was smiling as he spoke, "It'll be fun. A nice family trip."

I scoffed, "Family."

"While we're all meeting, I'd like to nominate the others for this trip."

"We didn't speak about this-" Alby started.

"Amelia, has volunteered to go on this expedition." She stood quickly and a few people clapped. God no. Not her, "And Gally too."

You're kidding me, right?

"Just send everyone who hates me on this trip, why don't you?" I laughed, but on the inside I wanted to cry.

"I will also be going," Nick pointed to himself, "And...." He looked around as if searching for another demon to go on the trip, "And lastly, Clare and Henry."

Oh my goodness.

Why did Nick have to go?

Okay. Yay! If the grievers don't kill me, then the psychopaths on the trip will.

But what about Henry or Clare? Maybe they'll protect me.

I looked over at the boy who stood, but only caught a glimpse of some curly hair.

"Meeting adjourned-"

"Not so fast, buddy. We have another trial to weigh." Ably said, motioning for everyone to stay in their places.

"Whose?" Nick asked, totally confused.

"Yours, shuckface." I answered, standing up. I gestured to the now empty seat, "All you. The tables have certainly turned."

Did I really just say 'Shuckface'? God, I'm turning into one of them.

"Now there's no need to be rude about this-" Alby started, as I plopped down in the seat that Nick had previously occupied, "That chair is for the leader."

"Oh, what? This one?" I crossed my legs, and leaned back.

"Yah, the one you're sitting in."

"Well, I'm not moving so build a bridge and get over it."

"Alright! Nick have a seat." Ably tried to move things along.

The leader scoffed as he reluctantly sat in the guilt chair, "This is klunk."

"You are being accused of unjust ruling and lying in our court of law, do you deny this?"

"Of course, I deny it."

"Lies straight from the liar, no surprises there," I slapped Ably on the shoulder, only to receive a glare, "Where'd your sense of humor go, my goodness."

Alby ignored me, "Well, we have proof that this theory is correct. Punishment is coming, of what kind? I'm not sure." Alby sighed, "We will vote privately as a council."

"I would never lie to the whole glade. Brianne isn't worth that trouble. She's a small, pathetic, little girl. She's no threat to me, but she is a threat to our community. The creators might have sent her." Nick reasoned, trying to gain back some dignity.

"The vote will be taken at another time. As of now, Nick will remain our leader." Alby announced, seeming to not even recognize Nick's outburst, "This ends our meeting. Gladers you are dismissed."

~~~~

"Minho!" I shouted, trying to catch up with him, "Minho." I slowed down when I finally caught up.

"Can I help you?" He asked, giving me a side glance, "Shouldn't you be talking to Newt?" He snickered to himself.

I gave the boy a warning glance, "I need your help."

"With what?- Look, I don't have the time to chat."

"Hey, buddy, you can calm down. We're technically friends, ya' know."

"We are friends. You're one of the lucky few," Minho smiled at me, "Anyway what is it?"

"Okay, so I know this might seem like an incredibly random question and I know that we're not that close, but I just really need someone to inform me on a few things-"

"Okay, what's it about?" Minho groaned.

I laughed awkwardly, "It's- uh, about Newt."

"What about him?"

"It's kind of personal, so I get it if you don't want to tell me-"

"Yes, he's a virgin."

"What?" I gasped, my eyes widening. Why did Minho just say that?

"Isn't that what you wanted to know?"

"No! God, no. That's not it at all." I tried to hide the look on my face. Yet, I couldn't help the tinge of joy that came with knowing that Newt and Amelia weren't close, close.

"Oh, awkward. Then I take that back; forget I said anything," Minho took a deep breath, "You were saying?"

"I-"

"Wait-what's more intimate than-"

"Not that intimate. Now, can I please continue?"

"Yah, go ahead."

"So as I was previously saying, it might be hard to answer-"

"He doesn't like Alby, don't worry."

"What?"

"What?" Minho repeated after me.

"I don't want to know anything about his sexuality!" I should have known that coming to Minho about a serious topic was an awful idea.

"Alright, sorry," Minho gave me a look of expectancy, "So continue."

"Are you sure you don't want to say anything else?" I tapped my foot.

"Nope, I'm all set," Minho smirked.

"Okay, I have only been here a couple of weeks and so I don't know what happened before then, ya' know with Newt. And I know that something happened-"

"You know about that?" Minho cut my question off, again. I'm going to kill this kid, oh my goodness.

"I know about what?" I asked.

"The thingy."

"Minho, what the heck are you talking about?"

"The thing."

"For the final time- what thing?!" I sighed, "I should have asked Victoria," I mumbled to myself, "I just thought you'd know more-"

"Brianne," Minho laughed, "I'm kidding, come on. Tell me."

"I wanted to ask you about Newt and Amelia's relationship! That's it. I wanted to know what happened; why they broke up?" I looked around, hoping no one was witnessing my lack of patience.

"Oh," Minho dragged that word out, "Thats not personal! Girl, I'm shocked you haven't asked about them sooner."

"I'm just curious about how they ended, because Amelia mentioned something the other day and now Newt was hinting at things last night and I just need to know."

"It's a really long story."

"Tell me it."

Minho contemplated his words for a few seconds, "I don't know the story."

"But you just said that it was a long story?!"

"It is. It's long because Newt wouldn't tell me what happened. I heard some yelling and crap, but nobody really knows what happened; other than them, of course."

"Well, what'd you hear?"

"Them fighting."

"Wow, thanks for being specific, ya' shuckface- What kind of a fight?" I just used a glader word for the second time today. Like I'm really saying them. Out loud. Kill me now.

"All I know, is that things with them were great. They were a literal power couple; they did everything together. But one night Amelia started fussing about how Newt only cares about himself, and they broke up later that evening."

"But what were they fighting over? You're telling me that things were fine, and then on one random night, they broke up."

"You've seen Amelia. She's crazy. Her breaking up with Newt over something stupid, really shouldn't surprise you."

"Trust me, it doesn't. But- okay, how did Newt take the breakup?" According to Amelia, 'he wouldn't be able to handle another breakup.' But what is that supposed to mean? What the heck happened the night they broke up?

"Are you asking me these questions, so that you can break up with him? Because if so, then I refuse to answer and you can leave-" Minho crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm not breaking up with him, don't worry. I just want to understand."

"Fine, he took the whole thing awfully. He didn't really talk to anyone for a few days, honestly I don't even think he came to mealtimes- oh, he ran still, though."

"Amelia must have said something to him."

"Most likely. Every time I asked him about it, he refused to answer, saying that he was currently in a state of mourning. What the heck was there to mourn about? I say good riddens to that chick."

"Wait! You said you heard yelling? Who was yelling?"

"Amelia, of course."

"What was she yelling about?"

"Something along the lines of 'nobody cares about you', 'you're selfish' type of thing." Minho shrugged his shoulders, seeming nonchalant.

"I just wish I knew what really happened that night." I sighed, deciding that this conversation was over.

"You and I, both."

Looks like I'm gonna just have to pry answers out of Newt himself.

~~~~~

*Two Months Before Brianne's Arrival*

~~~Newt's Pov~~~

I leaned back on the bench, staring at the crackling fire in front of me. Tonight had been a good night. I hadn't really seen Amelia in a while and I can't say I'm not grateful. She's been acting weird lately, like not being as open as she normally had been. I mean, but I not worried, things are fine.

But tonight, I decided to have a guys night and hang out with Minho and some of the other Runners, just to keep my mind as far away from destructive thoughts as possible.

So far, it'd worked and I was having fun, even if I sat in silence. This was healing: throwing yourself into groups of social people and forcing your conscious to focus on reality. Or at least that's what Amelia told me healing was.

"Hey, babe." Amelia threw herself on top of me, practically straddling me. Okay, then. No.

I laughed, looking at the faces of my friends, "Amelia, not the right time." I tried to lift her onto the open seat next to me.

"But, love," She tried to kiss me, but I turned my head to the side.

"Stop." I whispered, trying not to make a scene. I made eye contact with Minho, who was watching from across the fire. He raised his eyebrows in confusion, and I lowered mine in irritation.

"You like it." Her lips moved to my neck.

"I said stop." I repeated, more forcefully moving her to the side. I feel bad for making a scene, but she did this, not me. I was innocently sitting here minding my own business.

Amelia finally stopped. She looked at me, a hurt look on her face, "Anyone else here would be thrilled to kiss me."

"Good, then go kiss them." I mumbled, looking straight ahead.

"You're supposed to be my boyfriend," She pouted, her fingers intwining with mine.

"So just be my girlfriend. That doesn't mean we have to kiss every five seconds. Thats not dating, thats hooking up." Just keep calm, Newt. This doesn't have to turn into a fight.

"You'd know."

"I'd know what?" I gave the blonde a quick, annoyed glance.

"What it's like to hook up with people." She spat, making a 'you know what I'm saying' face.

"I never." What the heck is Amelia getting at?

"Player." She mumbled, pushing her knee against mine.

"Player? Me, when?"

"When aren't you with girls-"

Minho cut Amelia's sentence short, "Lets see- he hasn't seen a shucking girl all day, so lay off."

I didn't want to look up. I could feel Minho's eyes staring at me from across the fire. Everyone sitting here was probably staring at us.

"We need to talk." Amelia shouted, standing up dramatically.

"What? Right now?" I asked, staring up at Amelia. She grabbed my arm, pulling me to my full height.

"Yes, right now. Come on!" She dragged me into the homestead, up the stairs, and into a random room to which she closed the door.

"Amelia, what the heck is wrong with you?" This is just how my night would go. My luck.

"Everything is wrong!" Amelia ran over to the blinds and pulled them closed. I tried to ignore the whole population of the glade staring up at us from the ground. I had no doubt that they would hear some of the shouting.

"Can you please lower your voice?" I asked, trying to calm her. She was embarrassing me, but more importantly she was embarrassing herself.

"Can you stop caring about only yourself?" Amelia put her hands on her hips, in a defensive position.

"I don't even know what you're bloody talking about?"

"You know. All we talk about is you! All I'm aloud to think about is you and your pity story. Please, cut the crap, Newt. There are bigger things to worry about."

"Don't even go where I think you're going with this-"

"Life it sucks. I don't know what you want me to say. Our relationship is centered around you and your wants. It's always about how you feel." I knew this was coming. She was going to hurt me with the secrets I told her. Thats why I don't tell people how I feel; they always use it to ruin you.

"No, it isn't. I care about you so much more than myself."

"Yes, it is! When was the last time you comforted me?"

"I always help you if you need it," My voice sounded defeated already.

"But, how can I even have time to be sad, when all I can think about is you."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I'm sick and tired of hearing about you and your depression!" My heart sank, "It's always you. You're sad. You want help. Blah, blah, blah."

"I told you those things because I trusted you, I thought we liked each other." Well, there goes my happiness, right out the window.

"I liked the popularity. I liked having something nobody else had. I liked playing someone who was just so innocent. It's funny, really. We aren't compatible people, Newt. We don't mesh together. That's just the way things are."

"Why are you even saying this? Leave, my god. I don't need you to be here. I can help myself. Just buggin' go away."

"Kill yourself, Newt."

"Screw you." I said, crossing my arms over my chest, "And maybe I will."

"You're unimportant and nobody would cry if you died. Nobody cares, Newt. Thats life."

"Leave." I mumbled, trying not to burst into tears.

It's okay. You survived before Amelia. You'll survive without her. You knew this was coming. Nobody wants to love the walking pity party.

"No, I'll go when I want." Amelia was staring at me intently, but I refused to meet her gaze. Those eyes would no longer comfort me. Their blue color would cut deeper than her words.

"Go. I don't want to hear your voice ever again."

"But, it's the truth."

"No-"

"I know the truth hurts, babe. It always does."

"Don't call me babe."

"The truth hurts, Newt." Amelia repeated without the nickname.

"So when I sincerely tell you that you're a heartless slut, maybe it'll hurt."

"You can't hurt me more than I can hurt you, though. Secrets kill. Especially when you tell them to the wrong people."

"Go ahead, hurt me, Amelia. I don't care, not anymore."

"Newt, I'm really sorry that we had to end this way. I think we should still be friends."

"Friends," I scoffed at the word, "You're breaking up with me, right now? Thats it? You're not even gonna tell me why you suddenly hate me?"

"The hardest goodbyes don't come with reasons."

"Hard? This isn't hard for you- Heck, I bet you've been rehearsing these words for days. It's hard for me. And you know that. You know how much you're hurting me, but you don't care. Obviously." I opened the door, and ran down the hall. I took on the steps two at a time, propelling myself out of the homestead.

Once outside, I ran past the crowd of onlooking gladers. I ran past my friends.

The tears rolled down my cheeks relentlessly.

Where to go?

"Away." My conscious told me, "Keep running. Run until your lungs collapse."

And so I did. I ran full speed towards the deadheads, finding them to be the only solitary and rational place to go.

Thoughts pounded through my mind, too fast to sort through.

But in the back of my being, a string of two words echoed repeatedly. This phrase new to my senses, but still clear as day. A sentence that would dictate my future thoughts and actions.

"Kill yourself."

~~~~~

~~~Author's Notes~~~

I'm an awful person for my cliffhangers. IM SORRY!! This one is by far the worst, oh my goodness. That last line makes my heart beat faster.

But don't worry that last bit is in the past of my story, so NEWT LIVES. The next chapter isn't the one you think it'll be.

BUT HIIII!! It's been a while.

I am still here, don't worry. I'm still writing and HOLY CRAP 90K!!??

I feel like it might seem that when I put my story's views into the authors notes, that I'm showing off. But I'm really just so shocked. And I like to look back and see how much progress we've made *Yes I do include y'all, it's a team effort ;P*

BUT THANK YOU!!! IT MEANS THE WORLD AND I GUESS I'LL TALK TO Y'ALL IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!!! Byeeeeeeee!!!!!!