Thomas has his heart being set on becoming a Runner, and you and Newt were adamant he didn't become one.

"Tommy, as fast as you are, Y/N didn't bloody face-plant her first day here," Newt stated, scoffing at the Greenie as he checked the vines in the gardens.

"Plus, Gally hates you. Even more than he hates me ... if that's even possible," you said from where you were leaning against a tree. "There's no way he's gonna agree to make you a Runner."

"Wait, why aren't you running today?" Thomas asked. "Minho and Alby went-"

"They thought it'd be better if there were just two of them today," you said. "They're retracing Ben's footsteps."

The three of you shuddered collectively at the memory of the Banishing that had occurred last night.

"You're an okay trackhoe, you know," Newt pointed out. "I worry enough about Y/N in that bloody Maze. Don't need more people."

"Aw, he cares about me," you joked, messing up his hair. "But right now, you should be worried about Minho. I don't know ... strange stuff's been happening lately - I hope he and Alby are okay."

"They'll be fine, Y/N," Newt said seriously, although his straight face was ruined when he tried to fix his hair and just made it more messy.

"Yeah, I know," you sighed. "I'm just worried Minho's gonna trip over his own feet."

Thomas snorted loudly, inspecting his box. "Huh. We're out of fertiliser."

Newt slapped him lightly. "Then go and get some, shuckface!"

"I'll go with him," you offered. "Don't want a repeat of last time, hey?"

"Y/N!" Thomas gasped in mock offence. "I'm not that stupid."

"I dunno, mate, aren't you?" Newt fired back.

Thomas jokingly picked a small berry off the ground and threw it at Newt. It landed on his cheek, splattering red juice down his face.

"Ow!"

"You're such a baby," you rolled your eyes. "Need me to kiss it better?"

Newt nodded, both of you fighting giggles as you leaned in and brushed your lips against his cheek, tasting the sweet tang of the berry as you pulled away with a laugh,

"Alright, enough with all the gooey shit," Thomas rolled his eyes. "Y/N, are we gonna get fertiliser or not?"

"Coming, coming," you ran up to Thomas, who was already walking ahead. "Hey."

"Hey," Thomas said awkwardly.

You stopped and turned to face him. "You're being awkward around me. From that I can tell you want to ask me something that makes you feel uncomfortable, and you therefore don't want to ask it. But please, just spit it out, okay?"

Thomas blinked rapidly. "Wow. Y/N ... you're a total genius."

"Spit it out, please," you begged. "I don't want this to be awkward."

"Alright. So, you're dating Newt, right, Y/N?"

"Right."

"Is that, like, a recent thing?"

You thought about it. "A few weeks." Then you looked at his slightly upset expression, and it all clicked together. "Wait. Thomas ... do you like me?"

Thomas stared at you, looking like a trapped animal in a cage, and you knew you were right. "I- I kinda do, yeah."

"Okay," you grabbed his arm, and guided him to sit down on a fallen tree. "I think I know what's happening. I'm the only girl here, and therefore you, like some of the boys here, like me. I'm the only one here to like! And I'm sorry that I can't reciprocate your feelings ... but you're one of my friends, okay? I- I don't like you like that, but I really still want to be your friend."

Thomas smiled at you. "Yeah, I- I think it will be better for us to stay friends. And I think you're right: I- I mean, you're really p-pretty and everything, b-but-"

"I get it," you laughed at his stuttering, ruffling his hair the same way you would Newt's. "I'm not offended." You held out your arms for a hug. "Friends?"

"Friends." Thomas hugged you tightly, and you were relieved when it didn't feel awkward.

"Got that fertiliser?" you asked him.

He quickly shovelled some in his basket, and gave you an enthusiastic thumbs up.

"Let's go - I wanna be there when Minho and Alby get back." You took the shovel from his hands, and broke into a sprint. "Race ya, you wannabe Runner!"

"You're so on, Y/N!" Thomas started running too, and you squealed with a laugh as he tried to catch up.

- - -

You clutched Newt's hand as every Glader gathered around the open Maze doors.

The Maze doors, between which Minho and Alby hadn't yet emerged.

"They're gonna make it. They're gonna make it," Newt reassured you, pressing a quick kiss to your forehead.

Suddenly, you heard a loud cry.

"Minho!" you screamed.

He rounded the last corner, dragging an unconscious Alby behind him. At the worst possible moment, the walls began to close.

Minho cried out in determination, but he wasn't going to make it.

"No!" you yelled, ripping your hand from Newt's. "Minho!"

"Don't you bloody do it!" Newt yelled. You tried to make a break for it, but he held you tight.

Unfortunately, him being occupied, it meant there was no one to hold back-

"Thomas!" you howled as the brunette tore into the Maze, barely making it through as the doors rumbled shut with an awful finality.

But you couldn't be concerned about Thomas now.

"Y/N!" Newt turned you around to face him, planting his hands protectively on your shoulders. "What were you bloody thinking? It's against the rules - you of all people know that!"

"If you'd let me go before, we could've gotten them out!" you cried, knowing you weren't really mad at Newt, but you needed an outlet for your pain and sadness. "And now we've lost Minho, Alby and Thomas!"

"Shh, please calm down, Y/N," Newt begged, noticing the tears spilling down your cheeks. He pulled you in for a tight hug, your hands curled against his chest, one of his arms wrapped around your waist and the other gently stroking your hair. "It's okay. And if we know Tommy and Minho, they can take care of themselves. And Alby. Okay? It's gonna be okay."

But as you lay awake that night just outside the Doors, hearing the occasional scream of a Griever, you knew that it probably wasn't.

- - -

The next morning, you pushed yourself up off the grass outside the Doors the second you heard them begin to open

"Guys! Guys!" Chuck cried excitedly.

You all got up quickly, peering down the misty Maze passage.

Apparently, Newt had lost his apparent optimism, as he told the younger boy, "I told you, Chuck. They aren't coming back."

He and the others turned back, already mourning the three boys. You lingered for a moment with Chuck. Suddenly, you heard the gentle slap of feet on stone, and you saw Thomas, Minho and Alby.

"No way!" you cried. "Minho!"

You ran into the maze with Newt and some other boys, who took Alby. You threw yourself at the Asian boy, hugging him tightly. He squeezed you back gently.

"Hey, Y/N," he chuckled. "Missed me, huh?"

"I thought you were dead, shuckface," you buried your face in his shoulder. "I think we all can see why I'm the fastest."

Minho laughed. "Okay, Y/N, better get off before your boyfriend gets jealous."

"He won't," you said as Newt limped up to you and hugged Minho as well. "See, Minho? Y/N/N knows best."

Thomas laughed as he came over. "Ain't that the truth."

You hugged him too. And then pulled back, kicking him square in the chest. He fell over, landing in the grass with an "oof!"

"What the shuck were you thinking, running into the Maze like that?! You could've ended up dead, you shuckface!!"

"Oh, we aren't concerned about that," a new voice said. You turned to see Gally and his gang of Builders. "But we're very concerned about his rule-breaking."

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