The group of Runners kept me tightly in the middle of their circle. I felt Jax and Ben on either side, and out of nerves maybe, I grabbed their hands. It was also easier to walk, they were so close to me. They didn't seem to mind. Holding me for moral support. Minho was in front and he stepped forward to face the angry mop of Gladers.

"The shuck is she doing in there with you?" One guy sneered.

"Why does she get to go out into the maze?"

"She's just a girl!"

"She's just horeing herself to get what she wants."

That was the comment that made Minho swing a fist. It landed in the kids stomach.

There was a collective gasp and everyone took a step away.

Alby finally shoved his way to the front and turned to the crowd.

"SLIM IT! ALL OF YOU!"

The crowd slowly got quiet but they still grumbled and threw nasty looks my way. I couldn't bring myself to look at Gally. Instead I found Newt and Fred. Newt looked a little hurt, but seemed to be okay and Fred looked excited. My stomach settled a little bit, the feeling of dread slowly died. At least my two best friends didn't look like they wanted to murder me. Or they were real good actors.

"Enough out of your whiny shuck mouths!" Alby growled. "She's a chosen Runner. That's her job, so suck it up and deal with it!"

"But how'd she get the job if she didn't sleep with the Keeper?" A guy in the crowd called.

"Because she's better than you, you moron! She ran the whole section what did you do? Two and a half laps of the Glade. If you can't run you can't be a RUNner. Idiot." Minho snarled.

"It was my idea." Ben stepped forward. "She had what it takes, here in the Glad and then Minho took the idea and made it happen." He said firmly and crossed his arms.

"Then she just slept with YOU to get what she wanted." The kid yelled.

"Is that seriously the only thing you think females are good for?" I yelled, shoving my way to the front to stand beside Minho.

He just smirked at me. Eyeing me up and down. I shuddered inside. But outwardly I narrowed my eyes and my hands formed fists. I heard Minho growl and then shoved me back into the Runners. Alby and Newt finally, stepped forward blocking me from view. As soon as they did everyone I counted as a friend stepped forward. Jeff and Clint, Fred, Frypan, Vinny and Tim, and Winston to my surprise.

They all stepped forward and turned to face the crowd of angry Gladers.

My heart sunk though, it should have been a wonderful heart warming moment. But I had my eyes watching Gally. He was glaring at me so hard I thought he was trying to kill me with just his eyes. He was standing off to the side, just watching; arms folded, legs planted and jaw clenched. He didn't take a side, which ment he didn't have my back like he always said he did. He didn't truly believe in me like he claimed. And that hurt. It hurt more than whatever the guys threw at me. I could take their insults and insinuations, their disbelief...but I could feel the sharp pain in my chest, like something was breaking.

The Glade was split, but with Newt and Alby and most of the Keepers on my side the Gladers knew they weren't going to win. One guy who still wouldn't drop it turned to look at Gally with a smirk.

"What do you think Gally. We all know you two have a thing...or had one, now that it looks like Minho and Alby are having their way with her."

I watched his reaction carfully. Scared almost, to see what he was going to do. His eyes never left mine, but there was such anger and resentment in them.

"I abstain." He said flatly.

He turned and walked away. Taking my heart with him. I just about buckled. If the guys weren't so close I would have collapsed to the ground. I clamped my jaw and shoved everything down, forcing a mask of stone onto my face. I'll deal with those emotions later, in the quiet and the privacy of my own room...with Newt.

Alby cleared his throat.

"She's a runner. Deal with it. You don't like it? Go tell a Griever, 'cause I don't want to hear it. You think she's getting what she wants? Think again. How much klunk has she put up with from you slint heads? She's better at most of your jobs. Now shut your mouths and get over it."

He had yelled so loudly it echoed off the walls. He looked angry enough to snap a few necks.

"Also. I give her full permission to knock some sense into anyone who says or does anything inappropriate to her. And I won't bat an eye."

"Approved." Newt snarled, starinf daggers at the group. The other keepers agreed.

I could see a few gulps. They were thinking of Paul, still laying in the Med Hut, unable to get up and eat properly because the beat he took.

"Dismissed go away!" Alby barked.

He turned towards the group, Newt right beside him.

"From now on. Charlie, I'm sorry to say this, but you need to have someone with you at all times. I don't know what their shuck problem is, but it's clearly not safe for you here. Minho was right, it's probably safer for you out in the maze. And that's sayin' something."

I just nodded once. Everything was shoved so far down I just felt numb.

"Sorry you guys need to babysit me." I said flatly.

"We ain't. We're hanging with a friend." Fred grinned.

"We'd do anything for a little sister." Jax said, he patted my shoulder.

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Newt, Minho and the other Runners walked with me to the showers, they went one way and I went into mine, with Newt hanging outside the door.

Newt then walked back with me to the dinning area, where I slid as discreetly onto the bench as I could. Eating as fast as I could. Surrounded by the few people who I trusted. Once I was done Fred and Newt walked me back to our room.

I flopped onto my bed with a groan. Newt stand at the foot of my bed, his arms crossed and a disapproving look on his face. Fred was vibrating with excitement.

"Spill Snips!"

I groaned and threw an arm over my face.

"What do I need to spill? Minho asked if I would consider being a Runner, I said I would think about it, I finished the job trials, the klunk at the MedHut made up my mind. Alby approved that evening. Minho and Ben have been training me since."

"That project?"

I raised my arm and peeked an eye at him, and gave him a cheeky smile.

"I figured. Minho would never allow anyone inside the MapRoom."

"To be fair I never lied! I was working on a project for Minho and the Runners!"

Newt shighed, and ran a hand through his hair and sank into my bed. He patted my leg, he gave me a look.

"You're sure about this design?"

"Yes Newt. I'm actually really good at it!"

He sighed again.

"If...if it gets too much or somethin' please come talk to me or someone okay? I understand the horrors and the bloody pressure of the maze."

"I will Newt. Thank you."

He gave me a sad smile. I glanced at Fred who was still vibrating with excitement.

"Fred?" I asked ammused.

"Okay! Tell me everything!" He squealed

"I can't Fred. You know that! But the I side looks the same. Grey stone walls, moss, ivy..it's dark and murky. But it's quiet and has a dark peacefulness to it."

He looked disappointed, and then hung his head. I smiled gently at him.

"Fred? Do you want to be a Runner?"

His head shot up. "Yes!" I raised my eyebrows.

He gave me a sheepish smile. Newt was frowning and crossed his arms, but didn't say anything.

"I'll talk to Minho."

"Thank you Charlie! Thank you!"

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The first two weeks of running were the hardest, my body protested against getting out of bed each morning. But as the days went on it became easier. The sooner I could get out of the Glade each day the better. I avoided the crowds as much as possible.

Constantly being escorted everywhere got some getting used to. The only time I was truly alone was in the shower. And even then, even with four locks someone was waiting outside the door. It was annoying and I tried fighting Alby, Newt and Minho on it. But they all flat out refused. I left grumbling and fumming with Jax and Fred tailing me.

I kept my promise and talked to Minho about Fred becoming a runner. He was a quick learner and he was quite agile. Endurance could be built. He was one of the smaller kids, but he had the determination and the quick mind. Minho brought it before Alby who agreed.

"Congratulations Fred! Welcome to the Runner family!" Minho grinned.

"Rule one: Never stop running!" I nodded and folded my arms.

"Rule two: Eyes open." Ben added.

"Rule three: keep Miss Charlie safe at all times." Jax added.

"What? That's not a rule!" I protested, turning towards him.

"It is a rule. Your a valued member of this team. And no one touches my little sister." Jax said with finality, crossing his arms.

His bright green eyes priced me like a knife. I rolled my own eyes and looked at Fred.

"It's a lie, I'm a big girl and can take care of myself."

Ben and Minho started taking me and Fred on runs. We ran section four regularly. I noticed at the intersection where the plack was my head would buzz. The voice never said anything. But it would buzz and then when we would turn and go to the left or right it stopped. It was like the voice was trying to tell me something without saying anything.

I would go back to the MapRoom and spend all my extra time trying to figure out what was different about that one spot. But nothing made sense. It was a flat dead wall. You came up the centre hall and you went either left or right.

I hadn't talked to Gally. And it hurt. It hurt so much. I saw him constantly storming around the Glade. His four mood never got better. Sometimes I thought I felt him watching, but when I turned to look, he was busy doing something or looking the other way. It was like a knife twisting slowly into my heart. I refused to be the one to go talk to him first.

My first day off was the day before supply day. Alby had asked every two weeks I stayed for the afternoon to go over inventory and the afternoon of supply day and greenie day. I said sure, as long as I could run a partial section on Greenie day.

So two weeks later, I was sitting on the table in the MedHut going over inventory with Jeff. Alby was leaning against the back wall. It was nice to hang out with them. And there was only one builder who came in. Clint dealt with him and shooed him out. I felt the glares burning holes on my back, but I kept my head held high and jaw clamped shut.

"Thanx guys, I got the lists. I'll see ya later. Alby? We good to go to the next Keeper?"

Alby pushed off the wall with a nod.

"But guys see ya later."

Waving at the MedJacks we headed to Winston and then to the Gardens. Zart refused to be within ten feet of me so again I worked with Newt. Which was just fine, I liked Newt better anyways.

The comments didn't come today, only because I was flanked by Alby and Vinny. It was his afternoon break. Most of the guys were leery of him. He was huge and if he wanted to he looked like he could rip a few arms off without problems, even though he was a baker in the kitchen. I made quick work of the gardens and BloodHouse. I was dreading the Builders. It would be the first time I was face to face with Gally.

But when I got there Gally was no where to be seen. Instead, Lee was waiting for me. I sighed. Not sure if it was releaf or hurt. I swallowed my feelings back down and marched over, with my head held high.

Lee nodded at me nervously, glancing at my body guards.

"Are they really nessicary?" He asked nodding to Alby and Vinny.

"You idiots made it so. So yes. Get over it and lets get this over with." I grumbled.

I was just finishing, Lee had left and Alby and Vinny were waiting patiently for me. That's when I caught a glimpse of Gally storming across the field, towards us. He looked up and we made eye contact. We both stood frozen. I was unable to move, my feet frozen to the ground. I could feel my breathing stop and my heart speed up.

I didn't want to admit it. But I missed him.

He blinked a few times and then spun on his heel and went back the other way. I stiffled a cry. Shuck it hurt so much. I blinked a few tears away and turned away and walked back to my room. Alby and Vinny thankfully gave me some room. I closed the door and sank into the bed. Burying my face into my pillow. Thankfully tomorrow I was back in the maze and I could ignore these stupid shuck feelings.

And so it went; run every day for eleven days. On day 12 I would be stuck in the Glad helping with invintory. Greenie Day was different. I ran a partial section then came back early and went through the supplies. Gally ignored me and I went everywhere flanked by at least two guys. Fred and I were official runners, pairing up with other guys, running different sections. Memorizing the sections and turns was easy for me. We slowly pushed forwards in the maze, exploring and memorizing the new halls and sections. That section 4 intersection still bothered me, but I wasn't sure what it was. Four months of the same routine, it was 5 months of me being a Runner, and a good one. Minho had started giving me more and more. Ben Jax and I were his seconds, the Runners he trusted to most. And it felt good to be accepted and appreciated.
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