I stay there for a long time. Newt doesn't make me talk. I was in shock. I used to be good friends with Gally. Then he turned into a jerk, and we drifted away. But I never though he would get to the point of trying to kill me. And I love Thomas. After all that's happened to me the past couple days, you'd think he'd be more careful of his actions, but no. He was rough with me. He hurt me.
"Syd. Let's go get dinner, okay, love?" Newt asks, in a sweet smooth voice. I nod. Newt and I go to the cafeteria, where most of the gladers have already gathered. Newt gets our dinner while I wait on the bench by the door. Jeff comes up to me.
"Hey, we've got two burns you need to... hey what's up?" He says, noting my crying halfway through his sentence. I shake my head and wave him off. He sits down. Why are boys so stubborn?!
"What's wrong, beautiful?" He asks.
"Don't call me that," I mumble.
"Well, excuse me for trying to make you feel better,"
"Please, just leave," Newt comes up to us, holding two trays.
"What's going on?" He asks.
"I was trying to make her feel better, but she's being a stubborn bitch. Bet it's that time of the month," Jeff says, crossing his arms.
"Bloody hell, what's gotten into everybody?" Newt says.
"I know, right?" Jeff says, "The walls stay open and suddenly everyone's either a jerk or a bitch,"
"I'm not talking about Syd," Newt snaps. He hands me my tray and sets his next to me. He grabs Jeff and pushes him in a spot before standing up in front of everybody.
"Everyone shut up!" He yells across the large room. Silence waves over the entire glade.
"What's gotten into all of you?! I haven't had a decent conversation with anyone because everyone's is suddenly deciding no rules apply. Can someone tell me the three rules? Or do I need to remind you all of them, and what they mean?" He snaps. No one says a word.
"Alex! What's one rule?"
"D-Do your part," the scared boy chokes out.
"Know who here has done any work in the past couple days?!" Newt yells. Only the chefs, and a few select kids raise their hands.
"Frypan! What's another rule?!"
"Never harm another glader,"
"Exactly! So does harm have to be physical?" No response.
"I asked you a question!" He barks. An array of "no"'s come from around the room.
"So why is everyone here acting like they've got a stick shoved up their ass?!" No one says anything again.
"Liam? You've got an answer?" He says. The poor boy shakes his head. "Jeff? Clint? Scott? You've all been real foul to Sydney these past couple days!" They all look down, ashamed.
"And Frypan! I haven't had a conversation with you that doesn't make me want to punch you in the past couple days. Any reason for that?!" He looks down.
"Guys, we're almost out of here! If you can't stay together and help us with something we've been working toward for 3 years, then why even try at all?! Everyone gets back to work starting tomorrow!"
"I haven't seen you working!" A brave glader yells. You can see the fire gloss over Newt's eyes.
"I haven't been working?! What do you call trying to piece together the small bits left of the glade back together?! What do you call trying to find a way out?!" He snaps. Newt had snapped. They had pushed him too far today.
"What about this lecture? You talk about being nice but your being pretty harsh!" Another one yells.
"I'm being like this because you've forced me! I tried to run the glade nicely, but it seems like you all needed to be snapped back into place! Hell, you're lucky I haven't left all of your asses for dead! Six people - only six people - are able to find a way out of here. But we're staying so we can get all of you out!"
"Then why don't you?! We have Alby to lead us!" Someone yells.
"No you don't!" Newt snaps. "I was going to try and break this to you all nicely, but since none of you have been nice lately, you don't deserve it. Alby was taken by a griever earlier today. I'm first-in-command now. Sydney is second. Disrespect us - don't expect to get off easy.
"Jeff, Clint. You used to work with her. What happened? Clint, breaking into her room with Scott? That sounds like slammer time to me. Jeff, calling her a bitch, just because she didn't want you to call her pet names and kindly asking you to leave her alone? What about you, Frypan? She made a recovery from almost being killed by Gally and suddenly you want to shoot her down again?!"
"What about Thomas and Minho?! We heard them fighting!"
"They'll get a punishment of their own! But would you really want me to throw them in the slammer when they're the only ones who know the new maze well enough to lead us in getting out? Want to stay trapped here, losing another glader, just so they can learn a lesson because they had an argument?! But since none of you are working, maybe you should all go in the slammer! So everyone shut up! Head to bed, now! Not one more comment or else I really lose my shit!" He screams. Everyone hurries to drop their tray off and the rush back the the homestead. Newt stays to make sure everyone leaves before coming over to me, helping me with my tray and leading me back to my bedroom. Chuck was curled up in a ball on the bed. He looked terrified.
"Chuck, what's wrong?" Newt asks, softly.
"I heard all of that. T-That was terrifying,"
"Chuck, you haven't been acting up. That wasn't meant for you," he slowly nods.
"Newt..?" I whisper. He turns to me, concern going over his face.
"I didn't scare you, did I?" He asks. I shake my head.
"no. I just wanted to ask if you'll switch places with Chuck tonight. Stay in between me and Thomas..?" I ask. He nods.
"Of course,"
"Thank you. And I'm just going to take a shower," I say. He smiles and nods. I go into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I peel off all my clothes and let my hair down before taking off the small amount of makeup I had left on. I step into the shower and turn on the hot water, letting it run over my entire body. I turn and aim the faucet at my aching back. It felt so good. I get my soap, and wash the disgusting dirt off me. I felt clean and refreshed. But now the dirt didn't cover up the bruises. I was covered in them. I had gashes and scratches all over me, too. I sigh and stay under the hot stream of water for a bit longer before wrapping a towel around myself and stepping out. I needed new clothes. I peek outside the door to find everyone's back.
"Hey, Chucky," I say, getting his attention. He comes over to me.
"What?"
"Can you get me a new outfit out of my dresser? Please?" He nods. I close the door and wait until he opens it slightly and reaches his arm in with clothes in hand.
"Thank you," I say, taking it. I slip on the underwear and bra he grabbed, both of them full-coverage, thank God. Then I pick up the t-shirt. It was Thomas'. I sigh and slip it on. He also grabbed me shorts, which I happily slip on. I dry my hair with a towel before walking out. Thomas and Minho both stare at me, both getting up.
"Down," Newt barks. They both go back to where they were sitting.
"Maybe we should all just go to bed," I whisper. Everyone was already in their normal sleepwear, anyway. Everyone nods. I climb into my bed, Minho, Teresa, and Thomas all taking their normal spots. Newt climbs in next to me.
"Newt. Move over," Chuck says.
"Chuck. Just take my spot, okay?" He asks.
"But I want to sleep with Syd!" I sigh. I move into the middle of the bed, and pat a spot in between me and the wall. Newt was still in between me and Thomas.
"Syd...?" Thomas chokes out.
"Teresa, can you blow out the candle?" I whisper.
"No. Not until all of you make up," she says.
"Syd. You know I didn't mean it. I was just mad at Minho. Not at you at all. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry," Thomas says. I peak over Newt's shoulder at him. He was crying. I crawl out of bed and sit on his.
"You mean it?"
"Of course, baby,"
"You need to start thinking before you act, Thomas. I get that's what helped us in the beginning, but now, it's all strategy. And because you didn't think what you were doing, you bruised me. It's big, and dark. It hurt, Thomas," I say, slightly lifting up the sleeve to show him. He gasps.
"I-I did that to you...?" He whisper. I nod. He pulls me into a hug, cradling my head as he holds me tight.
"I'm sorry..." He continues to whisper over and over.
"Okay. You two have made up. Now, Minho. Work it out," Teresa says.
"I'm sorry," he says.
"For what?" I ask.
"For whatever I did...?"
"Jesus Christ, Minho, you can't even own up to it," Thomas says.
"Fine. I'm sorry for trying to get in between you and Syd. She's moved on, I need to accept that. I'm sorry I started that fight that lead to this," He says. "I don't even know why I got so mad... I was just... I was just lonely, okay? I missed you. ..." he whispers. I nod.
"L-Let's just go to bed..." I whisper.
"Yeah..." Tom whispers. I give Newt my old spot, since I just wanted to cuddle with Tom. Everyone gets situated and Teresa finally blows out the candle. I cuddle up to Tom. He rubs my back and kisses my head.
"Goodnight, babe. I love you," he whispers softly.
"Goodnight, Tom. I love you, too," I whisper back. I try to sleep. It's hard, memories of the near death experience playing my head, fears of Gally coming back, but it eventually happens.