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THE YOUNG GODS
CHAPTER SIX

" I'LL BE WAITING "

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     ROSIE FLUTTERED HER EYES open to the smell of smoke and the sound of distant chattering. The smell of eggs started replacing the smoke and Rosie stood up once she realized Ander wasn't in the next bed. Quickly grabbing the set of clothes she laid out yesterday, Rosie changed into the similar colors she wore yesterday. It was the same faded blue pants and a gray t-shirt she wore in the box.

       Walking out her room, she headed outside to see Gally adding more wood to the bonfire creating more flames. "Morning." The boy greeted being the first one to acknowledge her presence.

"Hello." She replied quietly getting close to the fire to warm her hands from the cold morning.

"You ready for your next class?" Gally asked walking over to stand with her.

The girl turned her head shaking it, "no! I took a beating yesterday! I almost died!"

A chuckle erupted from his lips, "It wasn't even that bad. We're going to focus on dodging. So be ready." Gally stated a devious smile on his lips as he walked away.

Rosie shook her head knowing that she would have to do it sooner or later and he was looking out for her. The girl walked back inside Homestead heading to the kitchen to see if anyone had started preparing breakfast. From the kitchen view, Rosie pursed her lips when she saw Ander sitting across from Justin, the boy she disliked. It took a lot for her to decide she disliked the boy even when she's never held a conversation with him but with what Frypan told her, her mind had been made up. Guess Ander's wasn't.

A smile was formed on his lips as he took a spoonful of oatmeal. Frypan came inside wondering what the girl was starting at, "you like Ander?" The boy asked being able to imagine the two becoming a couple.

      The girl's eyes went wide turning back to look at him when she heard him ask, "what?" She asked a giggle leaving her mouth as she shook her head, "definitely not."

      Frypan shrugged his shoulders, "just asking, you were staring at him for a quite a while."

      "Just watching over him." Rosie replied turning back to look through the window, "I don't like Justin and I don't like him around Ander."

      Frypan realized it made sense what she was talking about. He mentioned Justin yesterday and the way the pair acted like siblings, it was like an older sister watching over her little brother. "That makes more sense. You know we're just having oatmeal for the morning, right? It doesn't take all of us to make it, you can go and hang around them shanks. I'll take care of making the rest, here take some."

Rosie grabbed the bowl on the counter letting Frypan serve her oatmeal. Her mind wondering where she was going to sit since she for sure was not going to sit with Ander and Justin. The girl thanked Frypan before walking out of Homestead and headed to an empty table hoping she wouldn't be joined by people she didn't want to talk to.

The girl enjoyed her own company looking up at the smoke blending in with the sun and sky giving her a feeling of home. It reminded her of a memory she couldn't see but feel. It brought her comfort keeping her grounded in the present moment. But before she could try to unlock her memories, the girl was interrupted.

"Morning, this seat taken?"

Rosie glanced up to her left side to see the blonde boy who didn't join the group last night standing, waiting for her response, "oh, no. Go ahead."

Newt's corners of his lips lifted as he sat next to the girl making her wonder why he'd chose to sit in the seat next to hers when there were plenty of other seats on the table. Rosie's attention was set on the bowl of oatmeal not trying to speak so she wouldn't make a fool of herself.

"How ya holdin' up?" Newt asked taking a spoonful of oatmeal his eyes focusing on the girl.

      Rosie raised her eyebrow confused for a few seconds before remembering a few days prior when she spilled her emotions to him. "Oh, I'm really sorry about that. Please act like that never happened. Embarrassing, I know."

The boy shook his head to acknowledge her emotions, "it's normal to feel that way, Rosie. No one's judgin', well 'least not me."

Sighing after his reply Rosie took her time responding, "I'm better. Still learning how everything works but way better than a few days ago. What about you? I noticed you didn't eat dinner—or supper whatever you call it."

Newt chuckled at her comment lying about the reason why he didn't show up, "just wasn't hungry." He took another spoonful of oatmeal avoiding her eyes hoping she wouldn't catch on to his lie.

Rosie took a notice on his body language she knew he was lying but didn't know if she had the right to call him out on it. "You can talk to me, you know? I won't say anything, I mean who would I tell?" Rosie laughed hoping he would take the first part seriously and the second part lightly.

A little smile tugged on his lips, "I'll take you up on that offer soon then."

"I'll be waiting." Rosie gave the boy a lopsided grin going back to finishing her oatmeal feeling more comfortable with the boy. The pair sat together in a comfortable silence finishing their foods as Rosie started up another conversation trying to keep it as light as possible, "how old do you think I am?"

      Newt had positioned his whole body to face hers, his legs on either side of the bench. His eyes scanned her face looking her up and down, "you don't look Jimmy's age but you also don't look as old as Alby." The boy muttered tilting his head to the right wondering if the girl was older than him. "I think you've gots to be 17 or 18."

      "Really?" Rosie asked having a little bit of hope that the boy was right.

      "Alright what about me?" Newt asked, "how old do you think I look like?"

      The girl got closer to the boy not realizing it caused the boy to look down at her, sweat starting to form in his hands and a fluttering feeling to erupt in his stomach. "You've got to be 16 or 17 maybe even 15."

     Newt raised his eyebrow, "you think you're older than me, Greenie?"

      The girl scoffed nodding crisscrossing her legs, "obviously. You still have your baby features on parts of your face." Rosie pointed out pressing her pointer finger on his cheek for a quick second, "and I do not."

      The genuine plastered smile on his lips never left his face as he attempted to continue the conversation with a hint of flirtation, "does that mean I don't have a chance anymore?"

     A short soothing laugh came out of the girl's lips as she pointed her finger at him for a second or two, "that I never said."

       The pair made eye-contact and playful smiles were written on their lips as well as a slight blush creeping on Rosie's cheeks.

      "Why are you looking at me like that?" Newt asked this time pointing at her for a few seconds.

      Rosie shook her head tilting it sarcasm dripping out of her lips, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

      "Oh, really?" Newt asked playfully

       "Really."

       Before the pair could continue their conversation, someone had interrupted like all of their conversations always were. This one, Rosie appreciating it more since it was the longest one they've had.

      Minho waved at the pair, "sorry to interrupt you lovebirds but we gotta go, Newt, wall's opening."

     The blonde boy stood up from the bench, "I'll be seeing ya' Greenie."

      The girl playfully rolled her eyes, "it's Rosie and you know that."

      Newt flashed the girl a smile, "and it'll stay as Greenie till I find ya a good nickname."

       The brunette stuck her tongue out at the boy getting up as well to wash her plate. "Fine, guess I'll have to make one up for you too."

      "Guess so."

       A random laugh erupted from her lips causing the boy to chuckle from her random burst of laughter, "Ha! I'm gonna start calling you Newtie!" Rosie cackled with laughter.

     "Bloody hell, no!" Newt quickly replied hating the sound of that as he placed the dirty plate next to the rest of the pile of dirty dishes. A smile kept tugging on his lips as Rosie kept on laughing. "It wasn't that funny, Rosie."

      "Don't worry Newtie—"

      "I swear if you don't stop—"

      Rosie looked up at the blonde boy looking down at her, her lips tugging into a devious smile, "you'll do what?" Rosie winked before heading inside Homestead, "I'll be seeing you, Newtie!"

Newt being able to hear the giggle coming out her lips, the boy shook his head and a smile he couldn't get rid of. The boy felt warmth radiating through his body, something he hadn't felt for years now. He felt peace for the brief moment he was in her company.

But it still wouldn't change things.

EVERYONE GATHERED AROUND as the Gladers heard screams inside the Maze, Minho and Newt had gone into earlier that day. Everyone worried what happened since it was the middle of the day, there shouldn't be anything around. Rosie stepped out of the kitchen with the three boys wondering why they were all crowded around the entrance of the Maze. Even Alby was at the front. The four jogged over wondering what the commotion was about. "What's going on?" Rosie asked the boys as she passed through them.

"I think it's Newt." Nick spoke an emotionless tone came out of the boy's voice that frightened the girl who was in the front. Everyone remained quiet waiting for any sight of them. But they never arrived. Screams were heard at random moments and they all came from one person.

The Gladers watched as Minho carried the crying boy on his back struggling to do so. Without any hesitation, Alby broke the rule and sprinted to help the two boys. Minho hooked Newt's arm over his neck as Alby did the same with Newt's other arm carrying him out of the Maze. Everyone made space for them to walk through heading directly to the Med-hut.

"Do you think he's okay?"

"What happened to him?"

Rosie didn't know what to do. But something inside her made her feel guilty. It made her feel as if it was her fault she didn't connect the dots sooner. From the moment they shared eye-contact to the last piece of information she knew about him, it all connected to what Rosie was thinking had happened.

"Rosie!" Jeff yelled from the Med-hut motioning to come inside. The girl jogged over walking inside the Med-hut to see Clint doing his best to figure out what parts of his body was injured while Alby, Nick, and Minho watched him in pain. They three had grief-stricken written all over their faces. Newt cried out in pain not able to form a clear sentence.

The girl took a step back the moment the suffering boy had looked over at her. He had tears flowing down his face, his eyes red from all the crying.

"I need you to help him tell me what happened." Clint stated looking at Rosie who had no clue. The two boys had decided to separate like they've done multiple times and to meet back to where they usually do. This time, Minho came back looking for him following his screams.

"Minho?" The girl questioned hoping he'd have the answer but he shook his head holding back the tears from leaving his eyes. "Why do you need me to do it?"

Clint shot the two boys a look before shaking his head, "just do it, Rosie."

The girl nodded hesitantly replying, "okay." Rosie kneeled down on the floor close to his face, out of everyone in the Glade they made her talk to him. She wasn't even remotely close to the boy. She didn't even think he'd consider her his friend. Taking a quick glance at Minho and Alby they nodded at her as she looked back at the boy who stared at the ceiling sobbing in pain. "Newt?" She whispered hopefully loud enough for him to hear. "I—uh, we need to know what happened. Can you tell me what hurts?"

Newt turned to look at the girl he had tried to avoid since she's arrived. He didn't want to get close to her knowing that if he did, it would of been harder for him to do what he did. That's why he did it this day, so he wouldn't get more close to her than he was getting. "Everywhere." He mumbled doing his best to not break eye-contact with her.

Rosie turned to Clint telling him what Newt whispered to her, "he said it hurts everywhere. Do you have anything he can take?"

Jeff ran his fingers in his hair stressing knowing they didn't have any pain killers that could target the whole body. "No. We finished it a few days ago. New ones coming next time the box comes up."

Her eyes widening not being able to believe that they couldn't have something related to that. "Anything that can reduce it at least?" Rosie turned to Newt once more noticing he hadn't looked away. "Is there anything that hurts more?"

"My leg."

Jeff pulled out the pain medication specific for it. He handed Rosie the pills and a cup of water. Rosie noticed the red pill she took the first day she was here, they were going to sleep him. "Here." She spoke handing him the pills, the boy shakily put them in his mouth, Rosie lifted his head to help him drink water. The boy didn't say anything else but kept crying and had random burst of yells until the medication had finally kicked in and closed his eyes silencing him. Clint wrapping his leg up thinking the boy has an injured leg, he won't be able to walk the same ever again.

Nick waved Jeff and Clint telling them to leave the Med-hut letting Rosie stay. "What happened, Minho?" Alby asked the boy who had a guilty expression in his face.

"He told me not to tell anyone." Minho muttered, "but, he jumped. Climbed the ivy and let go."

Rosie turned to admire the blonde boy in a peaceful sleep. It made her wonder how a boy like him could give up but she also didn't know him very well. They've only ever held conversations together with other people, and the only one they shared alone was this morning. Her hand wondered to the piece of hair hanging in front of his face, the girl brushed his piece of hair away.

"Did he tell you anything, Rosie?" Nick asked walking towards the girl who sat on the chair next to Newt's bed.

"No." The girl replied, "but I always thought something was up with him. He didn't show up to dinner last night and I'm pretty sure he'd been crying the day I tried out as a Runner. But that's about all I know."

Alby nodded wishing there was more information he could get, "okay, Rosie you can go back to your station." Rosie stood up glancing at Newt one last time before heading to the kitchen.