The gate clanged shut behind us with that familiar, terrifying finality. My legs were burning, sweat slicked my hair to my forehead, and every muscle screamed in protest but I was alive. Minho, as always, looked completely fine, like he’d just strolled through the Glade for a morning jog.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB6YLeO3S4
“Finally,” he huffed, leaning against the wall, chest heaving. "you make that look easy short stuff" I hated when he called me that. He knew it got under my skin when he called me that nickname.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1KEMS4HN5
Chuck came running from the Homestead, yelling, “Ada! You’re back!” His little legs carried him straight into my arms, and I laughed, lifting him up. “Don’t scare me like that again, little man!”
“I missed you!” he squealed, hugging my neck.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyM3WsChYm
I swung him gently side to side, feeling the warmth of him against me. “I missed you too, Chuck. But I’m back now, and that’s what matters.”
Frypan wandered over, hands in his pockets, chewing on a scrap of bread. “Look at you two,” he said, nodding at me and Chuck. “Like a little circus. Glad you survived out there, runner girl. Maze didn’t eat you, so that’s good enough for me.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3YLF89qNF
Fry always called me runner girl. It was because when I first got into the maze I ran around doing the gardens before Minho recruited me to be his partner in runner.
I gave him a tired smile. “Thanks, Frypan. I’ll try to keep it that way.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3Gchk4Q53
And then… Newt. He appeared from the shadows, just watching, arms crossed, that soft worried frown on his face. My stomach did that stupid little flip it always did around him. When I first got here and saw newt. He made me feel at home even when I could not remember my name.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo92dKFiWze
“You’re covered in dirt,” he said softly, stepping closer. “And sweat. And you probably smell like… I don’t even want to know.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmI6Fbox66
“Probably death,” I joked, leaning on the wall to catch my breath. “Surviving running the maze tends to do that.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEdKz66ZFO
Chuck tugged at my hand. “Can we go eat now?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyoZNnGoWs
Frypan groaned. “Finally. Some sense from the smallest Glader.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW562va7Cm
Newt, Minho, Chuck, me, and Frypan all walk to go get dinner.
The Homestead smelled like stew and bread the moment we walked in. It was simple, but after hours of running through the maze, it was heaven. Minho flopped onto a bench, stretching his legs, while I collapsed beside him, feeling every ache in my body. “Finally,” Chuck said, grabbing a bowl before anyone else had a chance. “Food!”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xCMaIanOl
I laughed, ruffling his hair. “Slow down, little man, or you’ll choke before we even start.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF8pdl0VFh
Frypan was already ladling stew into bowls, muttering something about greenies never appreciating a good meal. “Here,” he said, sliding a bowl in front of me. “Eat. You look like you ran for three days straight.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjPyTNRKEt
I take the bowl from fry and say "thanks Frypan. Smells great."
I then go and sit under a tree. Then chuck, Minho, and newt all come and sit by me like every night.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEBpUAqnCr
“You did good today,” Newt murmured, leaning slightly closer. “Really. You both did.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdx9k55gvm
I glanced at him, and my chest did that stupid little flip again. “Thanks,” I said softly. “We couldn’t have done it without each other even the people who don't run that maze.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivQbB3HK9V
Minho snorted. “Yeah, yeah. Enough of the mushy stuff. Eat before Chuck devours everything on our plates."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKpU1vIPuB
Chuck grinned at that, shoveling stew into his mouth faster than I thought was possible. I leaned down and grabbed a piece of bread, breaking it in half and giving him one side. “Here,” I said. “Don’t eat too fast, little man. You’ll explode.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UeXa4HVSS
"Explode?" chuck asks with his innocent eyes.
“Metaphorically,” I said, smiling. “Mostly.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5AgXkjpF3
Newt reached over and gently nudged my shoulder. “You’re always taking care of everyone,” he said quietly. “Even after a run like today. You don’t stop.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdvpyYlcaH
I shrugged, feeling warmth spread through me not from the stew this time. “I guess… I just can’t help it. You guys are my family. And family looks out for each other.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgprqfQhCm
Minho smirked at me, leaning back with his bowl raised like a toast. “Well, family, I’ll just say this next run, short stuff, I’m not letting you do all the work. You hear me?”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7FNcD7N5t
I raise my spoon and say "deal."
Newt’s hand brushed mine for a moment across the table, and I caught his gaze, feeling that quiet, steady bond we’d built. “I’ll be here,” he said softly. “Every time you come back.”207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxvu3lyJHT
I smiled, heart full. In a world full of walls, monsters, and chaos, this - this small, chaotic, messy Glade was my safe place. My family. My people. And for tonight, that was enough. It always had been. I just never realized that until later in my life in the glade.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGft7n6Ayz
and then Add to home screen.