Alex stormed through the glade towards the runners. "Minho! You bloody slint headed shuck faced twat!" she thundered. She was so loud a few builders stopped and looked. Ben looked between the two and took off in the direction of the map room. Leaving a confused and slightly guilty looking Minho alone.

"Thanks man! So much for the bro code!" He yelled after his running partner.

He turned back to see that Alex had stomped right up to him. She was toe to toe with him. Her face was twisted with anger, her jaw clenched, her eyes full of fiery anger. It matched her fiery hair. No one had seen her this angry before and he took a cautious step backwards. He was definitely taller and bigger than her, she only came up to his mid chest, but she seemed to grow, fueled by pure anger. She narrowed her eyes. She threw her arm back, and with all the anger and hurt running through her little body she slapped him. It was so hard his head flew to the side and he stumbled. The sharp slap sound echoed all over the Glade. Her hand stung. She couldn't imagine how much his face stung...actually never mind, she didn't care right now.

The glade was quiet, all the work noise came to a sudden halt. A few Gladers even came out of the homestead to watch. Frypan had left his kitchen and was now standing beside Alby and Newt.

"You have a lot of shucking nerve, ya know that?!" She started in a low hiss. "Last night when I asked you to stay because I needed someone and you used that to what? Stroke your stupid ego? Start some shuckin bloody rumors? You made me out to be a Glad slut! Did you know that? Try and make the rest of the Gladers...what exactly? Jealous? Get a few high fives? Dose it make you feel better? Do you feel like a man now Minho? The shuck is your shucken problem? I thought MAYBE you were actually my friend! Staying because you actually cared about me. But no. You taunt your best friend and then spew some bull shit to the others! All of which, is not true! And you bloody know that! You have no shucken clue the comments I've got all day because of you!"

She had turned red with anger, remembering the comments from some of the builders and bricnicks at lunch, especially from Chris. Someone in the lunch line smacked her butt as they walked by. She was shaking, she was so angry her eyes were burning with tears, she had her fists clasped so tight she could feel her nails cutting into the palms of her hands.

"Because now, thanks to your lies, I have guys who think it's okay to make sexual comments and gestures. Someone decided my ass was their property in the lunch line, Minho. Did you know that? I thought you said we were a family, and you all had my back! I guess thats a big load of klunk!"

Minho's eyes were wide with horror. He opened his mouth and closed it. He looked down at his feet, shifting back and forth.

"You're shucken lucky I have a right hook and Alby was there to throw him in the Slammer. Shuck You, you egotistical jerk!"

She took another big breath, her face red, and continued her range.

"Why haven't you talked to me in weeks? It's because you're jealous, isn't it? Man! Fry was right! You're treating me like a shucking piece of meat. You of all people! Mr Confidence himself, all insecure that I talk to other guys. And if you haven't shucken noticed Minho, I have no other choice! I'm surrounded by walls, I'm not allowed to leave and guess what's inside the walls, Minho? Boys! 60 loud stinking boys!"

She poked him hard in the chest a few times while she yelled at him. She was on a roll now, all her anger and frustration over the last few weeks exploding onto the stunned and guilty boy, who still had a red handprint on his face. Yelling at him was like verbally punching his stupid beautiful perfect face. A face she missed dearly, but the face she was beyond angry and hurt with.

"I thought of all the Gladers.." She broke off for a moment, her voice catching, angry tears leaked over her lashes. "I thought, you of all people, I could trust you! You and Newt.. but... you're trying to one up him?? I guess it's just Newt I can trust now."

"Alex..I ." He stuttered, but Alex cut him off again.

"I'm not done, you shuck-face!" She pushed him in the chest a few times, making him stumble backwards. "How long does it take to shuckin train a bloody runner? I can run, you know that! I'm just as fast, if not faster than you! Should have seen the sprint and tackle I had to do earlier, to save the greenie from going into the maze. I know I've passed all your stupid mental tests. If you're stalling. Just stop. If you're regretting nominating me, shuckin man up and tell me! I want to run, I want to go out there! I want to find a way out of this shuckin prison! But if you don't want me for whatever personal jacked up reason, just man up and tell me. I'm perfectly happy as a MedJack and a cook! At last they talk to me! And treat me with shuckin respect!"

Her chest was heaving, her hands were still shaking, but they felt numb now. More angry tears slipped down her face. She swatted them away. Minho opened and closed his mouth a few times. Too stunned to say anything.

"What's the matter Shank? Do I leave you speechless?" Alex asked, her words dripping with venomous sarcasm.

She threw his own words from the father back into his face. She spun on her heel to leave, but stopped, she turned around and spat, "Oh, for the record, you don't need to be jealous about Newt. His protective big brother instincts are on high alert. My big brother is ready to punch your pretty face. He has less restraint than I do! Watch your shuckin back."

He had managed to finally say something and all that he got out was "what?"

"Newt is my biological brother, you shucken shuck face."

She left a very dumbfounded Minho behind, her hair flying behind her. The whole Glade stood in stunned silence. Newt and Alby both stood by with proud smiles, they knew she was a sassy fiesty thing, and if she was able to put Minho in his place, they had no worries with her. As she passed, boys moved out of her way, not wanting to get caught in her wrath.

There was a slow clap started by a few brave Gladers. One boy, who was brave enough, called out "Go off sister!" She gave him a side eye, and had to suppress a smile. It was Matt and he was giving her a long distance high five. She obliged and sent him the other half of the long distance high five. She sstormed over to the kitchen. When no one had moved, all eyes still on her, she glared at everyone.

"We have a bonfre to prepare for, why are you standing around? Get back to work you lazy slint heads!" She barked. All the gladers jumped and got back to work.

_______________________________

Minho

He stood there stunned. She was so little, but so full of fire. Truth be told, he was a little intimidated. His face was stinging, but not as bad as his pride. He felt guilty, and so disgusted with himself.

It took a full minute to understand what she had said.

Wait...Newt..was her brother? They were siblings? Well that's shucken obvious now! Shuck it Minho! How could you not see that?! You're the Shuckiest Shuck-faced shuck there ever was!

He mentally face palmed. On so many levels did he mentally smack himself! He was jealous of his best friend because he had a better relationship with her, they got to spend more time together during the day...

Who's shuken fault was that, you idiot?

But they were Siblings! The selfish part of him fist pumped. Newt's protective instincts were driven by brotherly love. His... were definitely not brotherly. She was right, how could he be mad at other guys?

She has no choice! What do I expect her to do? Sit in the corner and only talk to the dog? Ugh, also why did I say that klunk this morning? Shuck! What has gotten into me? Now she has this awful reputation to deal with because I was the most shuckiest shuck-faced shuck! I'm such an idiot!

He was so disgusted with himself, the guilt washed over him again. He knew he deserved more than what she did. One slap...sure she chewed him out pretty good. But if it was reversed and some dude said that klunk about him, he would beat his pony loving butt into a pulp. She restrained herself so much he was impressed with her self control.

Then there was the whole training business. He really needed to figure that out. He believed in her abilities, he really did.

What am I scared of? Losing her? Physically losing her to the maze and monsters? If I keep this up, I'll lose her emotionally. I'll lose her as a friend! And if I ever want to have more than just friends, I gotta get my klunk together! If I don't I could see her everyday, but I could never ever be with her. But if I do let her into the maze, what if she got hurt? Physically she would heal. Emotionally? If I don't get it together, she probably would never forgive me. She wants to help, you idiot! Let her help! You know you need all the help you can get! It's been what? Two..three years and you're still stuck here! If you believe in her..then pull it together shuck face! Maybe she'll forgive your shuck butt if you're honest with her. Tell her how you feel...but how do I feel?

He was so confused. Emotions and feelings were not something he dealt with, he built a wall around them and kept them close.

He had stayed rooted to the spot for so long some of the Gladers were concerned Alex broke him. He hadn't moved, he stood stiff, staring at the grass. Everyone left him alone. They knew when to leae him alone. With everything swirling around in his head, he finally spun around and stormed off to the map room, to map out his section and to think.

After he was done, he opened the map room door, and the bonfire had started. He wasn't in the mood for people. He stood at the map room door watching with his arms folder. His eyes searched for Alex. He found her laughing with Newt, the new kid, Chuck, Ben, who had his arm around Matt's shoulders, Fry, Jeff and Clint. He watched the group for a while. He figured there was something between his running partner and Matt. Minho watched them for a minute but his attention was always pulled back to Newt and Alex.

Now that he knew Newt and Alex were siblings, he was shocked he didn't put it together sooner. They had the same colour hair - hers was more fiery red, but still. Same nose shape; hers had freckles, and scrunched when she laughed. Similar mannerisms, like throwing their head back when they laughed loudly, rubbing their bottom lip when thinking. She was cuter when she did it, though. She played with her hair when she was nervous, Newt ran a hand through his. Both of them would turn and give the person talking their undivided attention.

He was such a shank, he really shuck up with her. He was feeling too broody to be with people, he needed a drink. He stalked along the edge of Gladers, in the shadows. He skulked over to Gally's table to snatch a drink.

"You shucked up with her, ya know slint head." Gally muttered. Minho froze. Gally shrugged.

"I don't trust her...and I don't really like you, but I'm not stupid. I can see that she likes you. And you like her. Or at least used to. Don't shuck it up more you idiot. Go fix it." Gally said with reproach.

"Are you giving me dating advice Gal?" Minho asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"No. I'm telling you to not be an idiot." Gally replied, he then narrowed his eyes, "If you say anything I'll punch you into next week."

Minho rolled his eyes and left and walked over to the treehouse. No one ever used it, maybe because Gally built it and it was sketchy craftsmanship. He climbed the ladder anyway and sat with his legs over the edge. Drink in hand and he just watched the girl with fiery hair.

He's shucken right though. Gally, is right.

**********************************************

**Uh oh, Minho, you shucked up...What's he gonna do? 

**Also...YEAAASSS Alex is Queen- put them all in their places!