The First Glader | The Maze Runner || Newt x OC

Chapter 6: A Humble Beginning

Newt had spent his first week in the Glade, with Rowan, Alby, and Sniff showing him the ropes. He didn't take long to settle in; even after learning about the horrors of this place, he remained calm. He was also a quick learner, which came as a relief to Alby after dealing with the clumsy Sniff.

The morning sun hung heavy above the Glade, the air sticky with heat and the smell of damp earth. Rowan sat cross-legged beside the garden, hands dirty in the soil as she squinted at a row of tomato plants that looked half-dead.

"Newt, what did you do to them?" she asked, pointing an accusing finger at the drooping leaves.

Newt frowned, crouching beside her. "I watered them. Like you told me."

"With what? Boiling water?"

He blinked. "I- what? Of course not! Just... water."

Alby, who was working on the row across from them, stood up and leaned closer to take a look- arms crossed, chewing on a piece of carrot. "You used the wrong bucket again, didn't you?"

"What wrong bucket?" Newt snapped, offended.

"The one with the fertilizer tea," Rowan sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose with her clean hand.

Sniff snorted from a few feet away, where he was supposed to be hoeing soil but had stopped to watch. "Tea? You guys drink it!?"

"You bet we do-"

"I can definitely see you do." Alby cut her off dryly before turning to Sniff. "It's for the plants, Sniff. Don't drink it." He wiped sweat from his forehead with his forearm.

Rowan scoffed as Newt dropped his head forward, sighing and standing up. "Alright, fine. I'll fix it. Where's the proper water bucket, then?"

Smiling innocently, Rowan pointed lazily behind him. "The one labeled water."

He turned to see three identical wooden buckets, all marked with faded paint, one of them suspiciously labeled WATER(ish). Clicking his tongue which hides an amused smirk, he muttered, "You're all mental."

A soft laugh escaped all four of them in the garden. The heat didn't feel as suffocating anymore.

✦ ✦ ✦

By the second week since Newt's arrival, progress around the Glade was even more noticeable. The homestead, map room, gardens, picnic benches, and even a blood house were all coming together. Soon, they'd start building their rooms and adding a second floor to the Homestead, courtesy of Sniff's amazing architectural designs.

"Your second week here, Newt, what do you think of our humble living quarters?"

Newt, who was taking his breakfast, looked up at Rowan as she sat across from him.

Already smiling, he replied, "It's alright. Didn't expect I'd be used as a handyman as soon as I got here."

Rowan chuckled. "Welp, Alby did insist we spend more time on the buildings. But hey,at least you didn't have to sleep under a blanket held up by two sticks like I did."

Newt raised an eyebrow. "You're messing with me, aren't you?"

The corner of Rowan's eye twitched. No answer- she just bit into her sandwich with suspicious enthusiasm.

Newt wasn't sure if he should laugh or express concern.

Perhaps Alby truly is a saint...

With her mouth still full, Rowan rant on. "I expected you to have better culinary skills- we have terrible chefs."