We will stand tall,face it all together

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When I wake up the next morning, I yawn extensively and stretch. I carefully raise my head to see if Newt is still asleep. He has closed his eyes, but then blinks sleepily and yawns too. Only then does he notice me and smile. "Good morning. Slept well?” “How you take it. Pretty good, given the circumstances.” Newt looks around the cabin. The sun is already shining through the gaps in the wood. "Oh damn. Already so late! We should hurry.” Newt curses and stands up. I, too, untangle myself from the blanket, stand up and stretch, yawning. Newt meanwhile has his shirt back on and attaches the staff and machete to his belt and the strap around his torso. "Oh right. Wait a minute...", he suddenly remembers something and he goes to a corner of the hut, where he rummages around in a small box. Curious, I see how he takes an object out of the box and comes towards me with it. "Just to be safe," he says, handing me one of those machetes everyone here carries as a weapon. I take the machete and clip it to my belt like Newt did. "I hope you never have to use them," Newt says, frowning. "Me too," I say darkly. I still feel like Newt is hiding something from me. When we leave the hut and go to breakfast, I ask him: "Now finally tell me what these walls and the machete are all about." With a sigh, Newt gives in and tells me everything about the Griewer. The thing really shocks me and I can hardly get anything down at breakfast.

After that, Newt shows me around and shows me the various jobs in the clearing - not particularly exciting. At one point we get close to Gally, who grins over at me.I immediately grab Newt's arm and pull him in the opposite direction. I wanted to avoid this idiot as much as possible. At noon, Newt finally says, "I've shown you all the jobs now, except for the runners. Minho takes over the part. He's the boss of the runners. But lunch first.” I nod and follow Newt to Fry Pan's hut, where the food would be served. I'm particularly excited about the runners. Newt mentioned them in passing yesterday, but actually I don't really know anything about them. When Newt and I got our soup and bread off the skillet, we actually want to sit down again by the logs from last night. Unfortunately Gally is already sitting there. When he sees me, he waves me over with a malicious grin and calls out: "There's still room here, newbie!" "Shit." I murmur and stop. Next to me, Newt grins. "We can eat somewhere else if you want," he suggests quietly. "Fantastic idea," I whisper back without taking my eyes off Gally. Then I put on my bright smile and happily call back to Gally, "Thanks for the offer, but... no thanks." Then I turn on my heel and head for the forest. Newt giggles and follows me. "You won't be able to avoid him for much longer." "Just shut up!" I say from behind clenched teeth. When we get to the edge of the forest, Newt and I sit down by a big tree and start eating. Newt tells me a few things about the other lights and I listen with interest. When his bowl of soup is empty, he regretfully puts it aside. "Unfortunately, the portions aren't particularly large," he apologizes.Although I didn't eat much for breakfast either, I've been stirring the soup with my spoon the whole time and can hardly eat a bite. "You can have my rest," I offer Newt generously. He immediately raises his hands in refusal. "No, eat it yourself. I'll be fine.” “No, honestly. I'm full.' I assure him and place my bowl on his lap. "Look at you. Eating can't hurt you!” Newt says, pointing at my skinny legs. I have to grin. "You of all people say that!" I counter, lifting one of his lanky arms. "Eat it now! I'm really fed up. If you don't eat it I'll throw it away!” “Okay.” Newt relents and eats my soup too. Just as he's done, an Asian-looking and extremely tall and broadly built boy approaches us.

"This is Minho." Newt introduces him as he arrives. "Minho. That's Y/n.” Minho and I greet each other and shake hands. "I'm sorry Newt, but I have to take your new girlfriend away from you now," Minho says jokingly. "She's not my girlfriend!" Newt protests and at the same time I call out, "I'm not his girlfriend!" Minho laughs. "Well then that's good too. he turns to me and I say goodbye to Newt with a smile and then follow Minho to a larger building in the middle of the clearing. We stop in front of it and sit down by a tree. Minho tells me all about the runners and that the building is their so-called "map room". However, non-runners are not allowed to enter. That all sounds very interesting.When we finally hear the gates closing from outside, he says: “Okay, that should do it for today. You'd best go to Newt's and then have something to eat. I'm sure he misses you.” Minho grins cheekily. I roll my eyes "Haha." I say dryly and Minho laughs. As we leave the building together, he asks curiously: "Do you already know what you want to work for?" I don't have to think long. "As a runner. It's the only interesting job here and I'd really like to give it a try. I can't just sit here in the clearing all day. It's driving me crazy.” Minho grins. "I know exactly what you mean. I became a runner for the same reason. But first you have to prove that you are suitable as a runner and that you follow the rules. But that won't be a problem.” I'm already very excited. I can't wait to finally see the maze. I say goodbye to Minho and then go to Frying Pan's hut. I would find Newt there. And sure enough, when I get there, Newt is already there. However, so does Gally. And the two don't seem to be having a very friendly conversation. I walk towards the two of them, frowning. "Newt? Gally? What's going on?” Neither of them looks at me. Instead, they stare at each other with hateful looks. "Guys?" Gally replies, but doesn't take her eyes off Newt. "That wannabe chief wants to forbid me from having dinner with you!" Immediately, Newt defends himself: "I just want you to fucking leave Y/n alone! She doesn't want anything from you!” I gape and look from Gally to Newt and back again. “I think Y/n can decide that for herself very well. Don't you think so?” Newt doesn't answer.Instead, they both look at me expectantly. That's great. "Um... It's about who I want to eat with?" I ask uncertainly. "It's about if you're fed up with that slob!" Newt says, and I can tell he's trying to keep from screaming. And while it's not my fault he's so upset, I do feel guilty. I turn to Gally and take a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Gally, but I don't want anything from you and it's annoying that you keep chasing me. Not that you're not okay, but..." I add quickly and Newt clears his throat audibly. Gally gives him such a vicious look that I'm almost certain Newt should have dropped dead. He then marches briskly away, roughly pushing aside anyone who even remotely gets in his way. "Oh man..." I mumble and then look at Newt. He seems to have calmed down a bit and suggests getting something to eat. I lean against a tree trunk and wait for him to come back with our plates. After sitting down, he says, "I'm sorry about what happened before. I shouldn't have freaked out like that.” “But Gally can really drive you insane.” I try to defend Newt. "In hindsight, it might even have been a mistake for me to be so polite to him." "Politeness is never a mistake," Newt says, mouth full. "Okay, maybe towards Gally..." he then adds thoughtfully after swallowing. We gossip about Gally a bit more and then go back to Newt's cabin after dinner. As we lie side by side on the 'bed', Newt asks, "What do you want to work on now?" "Runner." Newt sits up and stares at me. "WHAT?" "Runner," I answer calmly."What's the problem?" Newt groans. "Oh damn it. Runner is the most dangerous job of all! You could get killed doing it!” It kind of makes me angry. "Don't you think I can take care of myself! I'm not a little kid anymore okay?” “Of course you're not. But being a runner is damn exhausting! You're out there all day! And if you're not back in time, you'll die! Besides, you don't just become a runner! They only take the best of the best! Get that crap out of your head!” “I don't give a shit how dangerous being a runner is, and I don't give a shit what you think, okay? I can't sit in this clearing for the rest of my life! I want to find a way out and I don't care if I get killed doing it!” I yell and Newt scowls at me. "But not me! You're the only girl here!" "Oh that's right, I forgot! Then you won't have anyone to get close to!" I hiss. "That's what you're thinking?” says Newt, stunned. Then he whispers menacingly, "I can tell you one thing: I certainly don't want to approach you. The real reason was that boys have been brought here regularly for years and now a girl suddenly shows up. Don't you think that must have some meaning? Besides that, I fucking care about you and I don't want you to die, okay?” Then he turns away and lies down with his back to me. I just sit there for a moment and stare at Newt.Then I lie down and stare at the ceiling of the hut. I feel a tear rolling from the corner of my eye down my face into my hair. I lie there half the night when I feel Newt move next to me. I keep staring at the ceiling and another tear falls from the corner of my eye. "I'm sorry," Newt suddenly whispers. I turn my head to him. He lies there and looks at me and even in the dark I can see the regret in his eyes. I also turn to Newt. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said all that.” To my relief, Newt smiles and I assume that means he's forgiven me. Then Newt wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. I snuggle up to Newt, rest my head on his shoulder and another single tear slips from my eye. I feel Newt bury his face in my hair and hear him murmur, "You're welcome to be a runner if you want to." I choke out another "thank you," and finally fall asleep.