The next few weeks went by fast. She would switch back and forth between her different jobs, Helping Frypan in the early morning, the MedJacks most of the day, and back to Fry in the evenings. She also got to know Frypan, he was the girlfriend she didn't have. When she was in the kitchen, it was just a big gossip fest. She was pretty sure he only chose her as cook so he had someone to gossip with, Chuck would regularly join them and the three would gossip, those were some of her favorite mornings.

Matt was doing better, he was able to now sit up on his own, walk to the bathroom without help. He would be released from the Med Room in a few days, with strict orders of light duty. She definitely made another friend. Life and death situations were definitely a bonding experience. Her expertise in the Med Hut kept it running smooth. Things were clean and orderly. There were fewer infections, and less waste, but there seemed to be an increase of guys needing bandaids and stitches. She was slightly suspicious, Jeff and Clint laughed when she brought it up, both giving her knowing looks.

She helped Winston with the animals a few times. There were a few chickens who came up from the box that were pretty rattled. She also had to help them round up the piglets one afternoon, with the help of Bark, they got that job done faster.

She also grew closer with Newt. He was her best friend. If she wasn't working, which was rare, she was usually with him. They were always teasing or bugging each other. She told him everything, all her thoughts and secrets. He never judged her, he was always ready to listen, he was thoughtful and kind. Newt and Alex would laugh at and with each other. Or they would argue so loudly and aggressively other Gladers would get involved. One time during lunch, Alby had to hull her away, his arms around her waist, while she kicked and fought, yelling that Newt was wrong, while Gally and Fry had to shove Newt a few times to go cool off. Or the gladers would take sides- they were always dumb arguments, like who would win in a fight, an angry pig or an angry goat, would you rather have hands for feet or feet as hands- you know the important things in life.

Her and Chuck were partners in crime, when Matt was still on a no work order, he would join them in pranks. They were a dream team. Matt was the brains, figuring out the details, while Chuck and Alex would execute the pranks. Usually on Newt or Gally. A few times they got Alby, but he threatened to lock them in the Slammer. He did it for an afternoon one time, but it was so worth it! They switched to pissing off Gally. He wasn't smart enough to figure out it was Alex, Matt and Chuck.

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(*** Go Read Operation Peepee Pants in Indulgance- you get a great in detailed prank story from the trio)
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With Minho in the maze all day every day, so far all she had been doing for runner training was memorizing directions when Minho would say them and she would have to repeat them forwards and backwards. She was exhausted by the end of every day. But even with everythinhg going on, she was getting frustrated with Minho. She wanted to go into the maze, she proved she could do the mental exercises without issues. In the evnings, he didn't even bother to watch or run with her around the glade.

Minho had become distant. She especially noticed during their evening shower tradition, he would still stand outside her door, but he wouldn't ask as many questions or wasn't as interested in her day. She would ask him about his day, and he would give short curt snappy answers. She eventually stopped talking all together. Alex started asking Newt to stand outside the shower door.

One evening Alex and Newt were on their way back to the Homestead after her shower when Alex saw Minho storming towards them. His jaw clenched tight, glaring at the two of them. He stormed between him, slamming his shoulders into them. Alex stumbled and turned, watching him storm away and slam the shower door behind himself. Her mouth open, she was at a loss for words. Her eyes burnt with tears, she blinked rapidly trying to keep them from falling.

"Newt, what did I do?" She had asked.

Newt pulled her into a hug, his eyebrows furrowed, and his mouth turned into a frown.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Love."

She didn't believe Newt, she doubted herself. Minho was probably regretting his decision to train her. He didn't seem like he wanted to be around her anymore. He had stopped with the mental exercises with her after supper. He stopped sitting at their usual table, opting to sit with the rest of the runners. She would catch him staring at her, and when she did he would narrow his eyes, his face would drop all emotions going stone cold, and turn away.

What the shuck did I do to upset him?

It hurt, it hurt so shucken much. But if he didn't want to talk, she wouldn't push it. She was too stubborn to make the first move. This was his problem, not hers. She hung out with the guys who wanted to talk to her and be around her. He would talk to her when he was ready. She didn't avoid him, but she didn't go out of her way to be around him either. Alex was still polite, but the only looks she would get were glares, the only answers were shrugs, grunts and snarky replies. He was a moody broody teenage boy. And she was over it.

The day before the new greenie was due to arrive she was in the kitchen helping Fry prep breakfast as usual. The sun was just rising and the runners and keepers were coming down for breakfast. She handed a packed lunch and water to each runner. She held out the next one to Minho.

Alex gave him a small smile, "Good morning, get your beauty sleep?" He didn't even look up at her, just grabbed the lunch and shoved it into his pack. Alex's smile faded.

What's his bloody problem?

She turned to the next Glader in the early breakfast line, "Morning Newtie, you keep Min from his beauty sleep? Stayed up too late playing truth or dare? Not very responsible of you, Mama Newt" She teased.

Minho looked up and glared at her and then behind him at Newt, then back at Alex, he shoved his water into his bag and jogged off to the doors, ignoring breakfast all together. What was left of Alex's smile faded completely. She felt her eyes sting with hot frustrated tears, she blinked rapidly trying to keep them from falling. She forced a small smile for the next glader, as she handed Ben some breakfast. Newt looked at her then to Minho with a frown. He came around the counter and wrapped her in a big bear hug, she immediately hugged him back sniffling.

"What's wrong with me? Why does this hurt so much?" She whispered into Newt's shoulder.

He pulled away, and wiped her tears.

"It hurts because you care for him."

She peeked over Newt's shoulder and watched Minho's retreating form be swallowed into the darkness of the maze hall.

What she didn't see was he had looked back and saw Newt hugging Alex and wiping her cheeks. The anger, and hurt that Newt would do something like that, steal her when he knew he liked her, it burnt in his gut. Then the guilt for making her cry flashed across his face, and settled in his chest. He turned back to the maze shoving his feelings back behind his stone wall and disappeared into the mist.

_______________________

It was a weird morning. Guys kept asking her if she was ok. She finally lost it when Fry asked for the umpteenth time after breakfast.

"What is wrong with everyone? I'm fine!" She snapped, slamming the bowl she just finished washing onto the counter.

Frypan had an amused smile, and snorted. "Come on Shanket, anyone with eyes can see it."

"See what Frypan?" She huffed and crossed her arms, glaring at him.

Fry chuckled, he pointed another kitchen utensil at her, "the whole Glad can see that you like each other. So stop doing...whatever you two are doing, and get together already!"

Alex snorted in derision. She pulled herself up onto the counter. Fry was the closest thing to a girlfriend. She told everything to Frypan and Newt, and Newt already knew everything.

"Fry, what in the blood shuck glade are you talking about"

Fry roared with laughter. "You really are clueless aren't ya Shanket?! I'm talking about you and Minho! He likes you, you like him!"

Alex blinked "Seriously Fry? You really are a gossip! Where in the shuck glad did you get that idea? He is...a friend. I don't know what I did to tick him off, though. He probably regrets his decision to train me as a runner, and is too much of a sissy to say anything. He didn't even take me into the map room, never mind the maze! He won't even run with me! If he's changed his mind and doesn't think I'm cut out, fine. I'm fine being a MedJack and a cook! We used to talk nonstop and laugh...we used to joke around. He slammed into me the other day on my way back from the shower, like I ticked him off. It hurt. And not just my shoulder. He hardly looks at me now."

She was turning pinker and hotter the longer she let everything out, but once she started, she couldn't stop.

"I don't know Fry! I...I just want my friend back!" She had to stop for a second, her eyes were burning, and she felt a tear leak out. She looked away, frustratingly swatted at the tears and continued.

"The guy who... who vouched for me in the council room a month ago! The friend who held me after I broke down after the whole Matt thing...He ignores me now, but I'll catch him glaring, and especially when I'm in a group! I can feel his eyes drilling holes in my skull, but when I look he tries to kill me with his death glares"

Fry just smiled sympathetically at her, and pointed his utensil at her once more.

"Mark my words Missy, he likes ya! He likes ya a whole lot. And I know you like him too, just look at how red you are! He's mad because you get to spend more time with the other Gladers. He's jealous of you and Newt- I know there isn't anything there between you too, more a brother sister thing, I know-" he said quickly as Alex was ready to protest.

"He's jealous of your close relationship, he's also Mr Tough Guy, so to show any feeling other than sass, smugness or serious anger is hard for him. You're the first thing he's ever been gentle with. Ya, sure he cares for the other gladers, but this is different. And now he doesn't know how to deal with these new feelings you create inside of him. He doesn't like when other people know what he's really feeling."

"If he's so upset about not spending time with me why doesn't he train me, so I can go into the maze with him?!" She shot back, swiping the tears with the palms of her hands.

"That's easy Shanket! He's worried about ya getting hurt. The maze is dangerous, being a runner is the most dangerous job there is. If somethin' were to happen to ya, he'd blame himself. Come on now, give me a harder one!" Frypan said with amusement, twirling his whisk around again.

Alex sat there on the counter speechless.

"That shucked up muscle head is more complicated than a bloody girl! But he still doesn't need to act like a slint-headed shuck face!" She hopped off the counter and finished up the breakfast dishes.

She heard Fry mutter, "too true Shanket. Must be awkward in Newt's room every night..."

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The afternoon didn't get much better. Alex was tired and cranky. She kept to herself all afternoon. Bark was quiet too, sensing she just wanted quiet and alone. She hung out in the MedJack room for the afternoon. She patched up the guys, but didn't engage in the small talk they tried wsith her. Alex skipped supper and went to bed early. She was tired of shanks trying to talk to her. She pulled on Minho's hoodie, the smell still lingered a little. She was mad at him, and hurt by his actions, but his smell was comforting- and that made her frustration with him worse. She curled up in bed, with Bark beside her. That night she had her first dreams.

She was in a living room, there was a boy, maybe he was 5 or 6. She was sitting right beside him, snuggled up close, there was another little girl, both girls around 3 or 4. The other girl was sitting on a woman's lap. Everyone had the same red gold hair, faces were blurry; like someone smudged water on a painting. The woman was singing a lullaby, the voice was familiar. The song was comforting and familiar.

Everything went black before bursting into the next scene.

She was older now, around seven. She was being dragged away by people in black masks, a girl and boy beside her, they were all crying for the woman and a man lying on the floor, in a pool of blood. They didn't move when the kids screamed for them.

She turned back to face the masked men, but the dream changed.

She was being pulled apart from the girl who could have looked just like her, but her face was blurred again. Everything around her was shiny and white. Alex could hear the boy yelling and screaming behind her, a big heavy metal door slammed shut cutting off the boy's desperate attempts to escape. She was being strapped to a chair that looked like a dentist chair.

"Hello Alexandria."

Little Alex sobbed, "That's not my name! Where is my sister? What are you going to do to my brother?"

"It is your name now. And until you remembered that, remembered this". All she felt was pain. It ripped through her small body. She let out a gut wrenching scream deep from inside her little young body.

The room around her shifted to a classroom. Boys and girls sitting at desks around her. She recognized a few faces, they were all younger. She saw Gally-his eyebrows were hard to miss- she also recognized Alby. Minho's spiked black hair. She saw a curtain of shaggy golden blond hair. Newt. Beside him was a girl, Alex thought it was her, she took a step forwards and then stopped. Beside Newt on his other side was the same girl. She looked between the 2 girls. The girls sitting either side of Newt, all three looked the same! Only way to tell the girls apart was one had redder hair then the other.

The classroom faded and she was blinded by the bright harshness of the sun. She blinked and she was standing in the middle of a broken city covered in sand. She was running besideanother boy about the same age as her, she had a heavy backpack on, a military gun swinging from her shoulder. Cradled in her arms was a tiny little black puppy. The puppy was looking up at Alex with big intelligent eyes, but she was panting hard.

"Water! WATER! Please!" She begged.

A huge man turned towards her, his face was blurred, and his voice sounded garbled, but it was loud and deep.

"Where did you get that thing?"

"I found her! She was trapped, and I rescued her-"

"We! We rescued her, thank you!"

"Fine. WE rescued her." She rolled her eyes. "She is really smart! Can I keep her? Please Cap? I named her Bark! She's quiet, smart and sneaky already! Get it? Bark, cuz she's quiet? I'll train her! I promise she will be an asset to our team! Can you please help me keep her safe and away from...Him? Pleeeeeeease Cap?"

Alex looked back at the dog in her arms and back up, but hte harsh hot desert was gone, replaced by an all white bedroom. It was dark, the lights were turned off and she was older. She was standing in front of the door, waiting for something. Her dream self heard a knock and quietly opened the door.

"You're late!" She whispered. There was a chuckle at the door. "Sorry my fair lady, I had to wait for the guard to leave. Now come on, they're waiting for us! Let's go." A hand reached out from the dark, interlocked their fingers and pulled her.

She stepped into the dark hall, but it wasn't the dark hallway anymore, it was a bright white room and she wasn't standing, she was strapped to a cold table. She heard someone talking above her, she couldn't make out any words. She felt a sharp pinch in her neck. She felt her body flood with pain, white hot pain. Every muscle felt like it was on fire, she felt all her muscles twitching, she arched her back and screamed and cried in pain, thrashing against the restraints. She screamed until she blacked out. When she came to, she was now sitting in an all white workroom, paper and pencils everywhere. There were doodles and drawings scattered on the table. A hand rested on her shoulder and she flinched.

A crisp voice of a woman spoke, "how are your creatures coming, Alexandria?"

"Good...I think I'm done! This last part, here is the tail. It has a pincher at the end, like a crab claw, see?"

"Yes, good. Very good." Said the woman's voice, it sounded sinister.

"Remember Alexandria, WICKED is good."

The room transformed again, she was standing in a hall, banging on a sealed door sobbing.

"No no no! Please No!" She sobbed even harder. "Please let me see him! You took my puppy! And My brother and sister! Please! Don't take him too!" Alex screaming, her voice hurt, all her pain was spilling out, pounding on the metal door. "I made you those monsters! I'll make more! Please! Please don't take him! Please! I'll do anything! Anything!" Her heart renching sobs came from her broken heart.

She was banging her fist on the door, leaving small dents and cracks in the thick glass. She saw spiky black hair and coffee eyes, as he struggled against the guards. They were dragging him towards an operating room. "I'll remember! I promise! I'll remember you! Don't give in! Don't do anything else for them! Fight Alex! Fight them! Fight these dirt bas-" A guard hit him in the head with the back of his gun, knocking him out.

Alex slid down the door sobbing, screaming and crying, she hunched over, placing her forehead onto the floor in defeat.