Alex sat at a picnic table with Chuck, he was chatting away, Alex wasn't really listening, she was watching the door of Homestead, waiting for Alby to come get her. They were having a Gathering, about her and what happened yesterday. She wasn't allowed in, only Keepers. She huffed. Chuck stopped talking and looked over at her.

"Hey you listening to anything I said?"

"Uh huh. Ya, good that." She replied not taking her eyes off the door.

It was Chuck's turn to huff. He snapped his fingers in her face.

"Earth to Alex...coming in Alex! E.T. phoning home!" She blinked, coming back to reality.

She snapped her fingers in his face. Chuck shoved her hand out of his face, "Hey!"

She did it again, and then used both hands, snapping right up in his face, laughing at him as he tried to swat her snapping hands away. Chuck decided to snap right back in her face. They were laughing and snapping, Chuck was swatting at her and Alex threw a few pokes to his chubby cheeks for good measure. They laughed so hard she snorted and Chuck had tears in his eyes. He was a good kid, she liked Chuck. He had such a childhood inocense.

"Alex!" Alby stood in the doorway, motioning for her to follow.

"I'll be back Chuckles" she ruffles his brown curls.

"Chuckles? What the shuck?" He asked. Alex shrugged and smiled.

Inside the Gathering Hall was a half circle of chairs. Each one had a keeper occupying it, at the end on one side was Newt and the other was Alby's chair. There was one lonely seat in front of everyone. Alby motioned for her to sit in the hot seat. She suddenly felt very nervous. She grabbed some hair and absentmindedly played with it, and chewed her bottom lip. Her eyes found Minho right away, he had pushed his chair back onto the back legs, his hands behind his head. He winked at her. She blushed and hoped no one noticed, she looked away and saw Frypan, covered in flour, he waved at her. Newt was scribbling something in a notebook.

As she sat down Alby turned to her. "Alex, you're our first Shanket."

Minho snorted, "Good one Captain obvious!"

Alby continued like he never heard. "We don't know what games the Creators are playing, frankly I stopped trying to figure it out. Alex, you're one of us, a regular ol' Glader. So after your week of training, the keepers here have discussed and come to an agreement. But before we get to that..." He waved his hand, and nodded at Newt.

"What you did yesterday was incredible. Newt filled me in on what ya' did before I got there. Jeff told me after we left the Med Hut, how you gave care instructions and demanded a night shift. Everyone here wants to thank ya'. You saved a shuckin' Glader's life."

He was looking at her with pride in his eyes. He was very kind under his gruff cranky wall. Being in charge of 60 teenage guys, trying to run this as smoothly as possible made one a little short tempered, but that kind caring boy was under there.

Every single keeper stood up clapping, even Gally, though he only clapped a few times and sat back down. She looked around at the boys. Her eyes teared up and her heart swelling with joy. She was growing to care and love these boys, it was only a week, but in a place like this relationships and feelings form fast. She knew she would do it again; she would crawl under a fallen building for each of them.

"ALL RIGHT!" Alby bellowed, "Back to business. You need a job She-Bean"

The boys all took their seats, still clapping or whistling.

"Ok, will Shanket's keepers please stand back up"

"Wait, keepers...as in S, like plural? More than one?" Alex asked, shocked.

As far she knew the one to have more than 2 was Newt, he was 2nd in command and worked in the gardens. Alby just nodded, with a small smile. Jeff stood up and nodded to Alex, Frypan stood up next, to her slight horror Winston stood up. When Newt also stood up she was completely dumbfounded!

"Four keepers? What the shuck?" She whispered to herself.

Alby had heard her, "Yes, She-Bean, never before in the short history of Glad has a shuck greenie ever had more 'n one keeper demand to have a 'em. It was an obvious choice of MedJack. You also seemed to have made an impression on everyone...even Gally!" Gally begrudgingly nodded his head and grunted.

"Ya, Thanx for saving my crewman, and ya, you did a half decent job on the table... but you ain't gonna be a Builder."

"Ouch Gally." She rolled her eyes. "didn't want to be a shuck builder anyways...they don't seem to have a lot going on upstairs..." She shot back.

Gally sputtered angerly. Minho roared with laughter. Newt and Alby turned their sniggers into coughs.

Fry spoke up, waving a whisk around as he spoke, "she may not have the 'right touch' but she's a good sous chef. She can follow directions an' I can leave her to do things independently without my kitchen burnin' to the ground. So, Alex, if and when I need help, mostly first thing in the mornings, breakfast rush... and you're not savin' a life you'll come help. Good that?"

Alex smiled at her friend, "Great that!"

Next Winston spoke. She was curious about this, she threw up during the butcher...how would she be of any help to the slicers?

"Well, Shanket, ain't gonna lie, you sucked at butchering, though you tried. I'll give you that...What the difference between a slicer and MedJack is who the shuck knows. It's both bloody."

Alex thought for a second. "I guess it's the difference between taking a life and saving one. Also, I don't want to know how bacon ends up on my plate. Ignorance is bliss!" She answered.

Winston shrugged his shoulders and continued, "Anyway, you won't step foot into the bloodhouse."

"Oh good!" she sighed in relief.

"You'll only help out with the animals if we need the extra hands, mostly on supply day, gettin' the new animals from the caage to their pens. You were good with the animals."

She nodded her head, she liked it. He sat down with a nod, leaving only Newt standing. He turned to face her. "You're the only Shanket- Yes Minho we all know 'Captain Obvious blah blah'" He said waving a hand, Minho just smirked.

"-You're our first, so we're officially inviting you to join the council. You aren't a Keeper, but we want your opinions and thoughts. Every Gathering you will be required to be here."

Her heart swelled with pride. A full smile on her face.

"You guys serious?!" She looked at each boy sitting in front of her. Each of them nodded-except Gally.

"Alrighty, if that's everything, gathering dismissed" Alby proclaimed.

"Wait."

Everyone looked around, Minho had stood up, his arms crossed, his eyebrows pulled together. His cocky smirk was gone, replaced by his tight liped grim face.

"What is it, Minho?" Alby asked.

"I want to train her to be a runner." He said evenly, crossing his arms.

The room was silent. Eyes traveling back and forth between Minho, Alby and Alex. Alex was shocked. Alby looked thoughtful, he rubbed his chin thinking. Gally was the one to break the silence.

"You gotta be shucking kidding. Shanket? A runner? You smack your head in the maze? Working for four keepers is one thing, and on the council is pushing it even further, but a runner?"

Minho turned to him, fire in his eyes. "Why not?"

"Because I don't trust it. I don't trust her."

Minho rounded on him, puffing his chest out, and raising his voice.

"Look what happened yesterday, you were there ya ugly shank! She was in charge of the situation YOU should have been in! She was there before you! You are the shucken keeper, and you were nowhere to be found, should have seen a faulty wall! She used her brain! She shuckn' saved a Gladers shuckin life! Literally restarted his heart! More than you have done! She obviously has the brains, will power, she can hold her own in the Sand Pit!" He gave him a very pointed look, and Gally rolled his eyes.

"A little training and she can do it. I know she can." Minho finished turning back to Alex, with a look she would guess was pride on his face, his eyes alight.

Gally was fuming when Minho was done chewing him out. Alby was thoughtful, Newt looked worried. Alby looked at Minho, Minho didn't back down. Alby slowly nodded.

"Alright, if you think she's capable, I'm sure we can add her to the list of subs. That is... if Shanket wants to."

All eyes traveled to Alex who was sitting in shock, mouth open. She closed her mouth and opened it again, but no words came out.

Minho was smirking at her, "what's the matter Shanket, do I leave you speechless?"

She stood up and walked over to him. She looked up at him through her long lashes. She smiled cheekily at him, and whispered, "In your dreams MinMin."

"Always in my dreams Princess." he winked at her with a sly sexy smirk.

"Only in your dreams." She emphasized the only. And then quickly turned away and rolled her eyes to hide her blush, hoping no one noticed. She was quiet for a moment, thoughtful. She took a few steps back and forth, all eyes watching her. She stopped and looked at Minho, serious now.

"You really think I have what it takes to be a runner? Newt said it was only the best of the best!"

Minho's face dropped all its sass and goofiness, he crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"Absolutely I do, Alex. Without a doubt." He was so sure of this decision. "Don't worry, it's not like I throw newbies into the maze without training! And for the first bit after training you run with me, and then I'll partner you up."

Not gonna lie...spending more time with Minho was a plus, but ..could I do it? Do I want to do it?

She thought of everything Newt, Jeff and Clint told her about the maze and the monsters. She thought of the creators, and how they trapped them here. The anger boiled in her veins. She hated the creators! She set her jaw, clenched her fists and stood up straight, squaring her shoulders. She raised her head, looked Minho dead in the eye.

"Yes. I want to help find a way out and when we do, those shuck creators better watch their back!" she growled.

Minho pumped his fist, "Yes!"

"Ok, it's settled I guess" Newt sighed, he looked worried, but said "Alex, starting tomorrow you're a runner."

Gally, still angry, stormed out, slamming the door. The other boys filed out, patting her on the back.

Wow, MedJack, Cook, Slicer - I'll have to find a different name for that.. animal hand? Farm hand? Council member and now runner. Jeez, I also need to sleep and eat at some point...

She was jerked out of her thoughts when arms wrapped around her from behind and lifted her up.

"SHAAAAAANKEEEET!!!"

Minho spun her around, she shrieked "Ahhh! Minho! Put me down!" But she was laughing.

"Hope you won't get too sick of me!"

"Nah, I can always find an excuse to get out of it! I have a few other jobs." She sassed back.

"Ouch! That hurt, right here! I can feel it breaking." He said pouting, holding a hand to his heart.

"Ha, didn't know MEAN-HO had a heart...but don't worry MinMin. I can always restart it if it's broken..." She sassed back, fluttering her eyelashes at him, flipping her hair as she spun towards the door. She looked over her shoulder at Minho, winked and sauntered out of the Gathering room. Minho stood there with his mouth open, hands hanging at his side lost for words for the first time.

"Did she... did she just out sass me?!" He stammered.

"She sure bloody did, ya shank." Newt laughed at his friend. Newt watched Minho thoughtfuly.

"You like her don't you." Newt stated. Minho snapped his eyes to Newt.

"What? No." But his pink ears and cheeks gave it away.

"Uh huh, ya sure, Okay. I sure bloody believe ya." Newt said, rolling his eyes, unconvinced.

"She's the only shuck girl here, every Glader here likes her, well except Gally...even you! I see the way you watch her!" Minho said suddenly, angry, some weird feeling rose up inside of him.

Newt shook his head. "Ya.. I watch her, but it's not like that, man. It's more like ...like she's my younger sister, or something."

Minho was also unconvinced that his best friend also didn't have feelings for Alex, and he was frustrated. Or was it jealousy? He spun on his heel and stormed out of the room. He didn't like dealing with these new feelings...they made him feel weird.

Alex was sitting with Chuck under a tree by the Deadheads. She was telling him everything that had happened in the gathering, and they were throwing a stick for Bark. Alex had thrown the stick towards the homestead when she saw the front door open and Minho came storming out and stomped off to the concrete building near the wall. Her eyes watched his back until he disappeared behind the door. Fingers snapped in front of her face again.

"Earth to Shanket! Did you know you stopped talking mid sentence? You were too busy oogling Mcdreamy over there," Chuck giggled, watching Alex's face turn pink. "You like him, don't you! I mean he IS Mr. McDreamy. Definitely a top pick of the eligible Glade Bachelors! Minho, Newt and...hmmm who else, Alby is too grouchy. Gally is too cranky, maybe one of the builders, they got some good arm muscle. Me, obviously too, I can make a girl laugh and that's important in a relationship."

Alex laughed at that and couldn't believe this kid was talking like this!

"Aren't you too young for this? Talking about dating and relationships? Chucky, you should be playing tag or something!"

"Hey! I'm not THAT young! I'm like 13! And I'm too old for a baby game like tag. I'm almost an adult! Also, don't change the subject, there She-Bean! I asked you a question. Do you like Minho?"

She looked down, playing with the stick Bark brought back.

Do I like Minho? Sure I feel safe and comfortable with him. He is easy to talk to, he makes me laugh, he is easy on the eyes...shuck, he's very easy... No, he's stubborn, irritating, cocky, flirty...he is a friend. And this place is to shucked up to worry about a love life.

"No, Chuck. He's a...friend. One of my best friends. Also this place is too shucked up to think of that kind of thing."

Chuck crossed his arms, and gave her the best unimpressed mom look.

"She-Bean, you have the whole glade to pick from... And Minho is a good guy, a little puffed up, but a good leader, a good Keeper and loyal. Also this is the best place for 'that kind of thing'. Everyone deserves to be happy, and if he makes you happy then...go for it! Also, best friends usually make the best boy friends."

He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "He is definitely a KEEPER!"

Alex looked at him, and blinked a few times, "Did you? Did you just...wow Chuckles, that was so PUNNY!"

They both burst into giggles. After they settled Alex threw an arm around her little friend.

"Jeepers Chuckles, since when are you the guru of relationships?"

"Since always Shanket. Since always." He proudly grinned up at her.

They heard a bell ringing for supper. She stood up and offered her hand to the young Glader.

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**If you want a Minho's POV for the last half of this chapter and next chapter check out the chapter called "Jealous much?" In Indulgence**