"I don't want a trust fun baby.
I like my women indecent."
—Why Don't We

CONTROL,
CHAPTER ELEVEN

SHE DIDN'T KNOW why, but working with Clint and Jeff all day had quickly tired her out. Ruby was sure she was never so glad for evening to come. She was dreading getting Thomas's first job, the Blood House. God no. Currently, all the Gladers were taking a well deserved break.

"Well you can have your choice of men, but I could never love again. He's the only one for me, Joleeene. I had to have this talk with you. My happiness depends on you and whatever you decide to do, Joleeene", Ruby was singing softly. Only the people directly around her could hear her, but they all watched her intently. "Jolene. Jolene. Jolene, Joleeeeene. I'm beggin of you, please, don't take my maan. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Joleeeene. Please don't take him just because you can. Oh, please don't take him even though you can. Oooh, please don't take him even though you can."

Chuck clapped enthusiastically, prompting Ruby to jokingly bow. "Real nice voice you got there, Ruby", one boy said.

"Thank you." Ruby grinned with pride.

"Maybe you were a famous singer", Chuck mused. "Your voice is beautiful."

"Maybe", Ruby chuckled. She leaned against Thomas, who only glanced her way in amusement. She took a brief nap, disappearing into another memory.

"Sometime's love's a scary place, it's like standing in the dark. Flyin through the universe, tryin to fix your broken heart", a young girl sang. A boy was right next to her. No, not a boy. Thomas. This boy was Thomas. Her head rested on his chest. They looked like they were hiding. "Let me be your superhero. There isn't a place I won't go. Whenever you need me by your side, I'll be there— be there. Never be afraid if you fall, I'll carry you away from it all. Let me be your superhero. Let me be your super-hero."

"Promise you'll stay forever?"

"I promise."

When Ruby blinked awake again, she was hearing Thomas and Chuck talk about a despaired looking Newt. The boy in question was nervously chewing his thumb. "I can hear every bloody word you guys are sayin", the British boy pointed out.

"Learn how to whisper, boys", Ruby teased.

"Sorry", all three chimed simultaneously. "Did we wake you?", Thomas asked.

"No", she responded, shaking her head. "New memory."

"Anything useful?", Newt asked, mildly curious.

Ruby glanced at Thomas. "No."

"What is wrong with you?", Chuck asked. He hadn't forgotten their previous line of conversation. "No offense, but you look like klunk."

"Every lovin thing in the universe", Newt replied and then said nothing more. He just stared into empty space. "The girl from the Box. Keeps sayin all kinds of weird stuff, but won't wake up. Med-jacks're doing their best to feed her, but she's less each time. I'm tellin ya, something's very bad about that whole bloody thing", he finally spoke. Newt glanced over at Ruby. "How do you know her again?"

"No fair, Teresa, you don't even like him! You just want him because I do!"

"That's not true, Ruby, and you know it!"

"Isn't it?"

"I thought we were friends!"

"We are! If he likes you then he'll pick you. Ruby, you know I'd never hurt you on purpose. Thomas and I just have a bond, like you and Gally."

Ruby recoiled, disgusted. "Gally is like my brother."

"I can't control my feelings, Ruby. I won't put them aside for yours either. Please, don't stop being my friend."

"Old rivalry", Ruby answered. She took a bite of her apple, surprisingly sweet. So that was why she was jealous. She and her best friend had fallen for the same guy. Typical. Still though, it hurt. Had she hurt Teresa? The girl was trying to be kind and fair, and at least she was honest, yet Ruby pushed her away out of her own insecurity. How could she not be insecure though? Teresa seemed to be everything she wasn't. Not to mention, she was beautiful. Ruby felt disgusted with herself.

Teresa wasn't the problem. She never had been. It was her.

Newt sighed heavily. "Shuck it. That's not what really has me buggin", he explained.

"Then what does?", Chuck asked.

Newt looked out into one of the Maze's entrance, eyes narrowed. "Alby and Minho", he mumbled. "They should've come back hours ago."

Quicker than Ruby would have liked, she was back with Clint and Jeff, checking for injuries and the like. Every chance she got, she looked out into one of the gaping openings. Newt's worries had rubbed off on her. Now she gnawed nervously on her bottom lip. The metallic taste of blood spread across her tongue. Thankfully though, it was soon time for dinner.

The meal turned out to be a sad event. There was nothing wrong with the food, of course. Frypan and his team served mashed potatoes, steak, green beans, and hot rolls. Somewhere a memory tickled Ruby's brain. This was her favorite meal. Who she often ate it with though, she had no clue. Frypan was an amazing cook, as were the rest. Usually the Glade, at this time, was full of boys greedily slurping up their food and then begging for more. Tonight they barely eat. Acting like men on death row. And then there was Ruby. Maybe it was because she'd passed out not too long ago, but she seemed to be starving and gobbled down here food greedily.

The Runners had come back like usual, she'd noticed. "Think they're okay?", she asked Thomas hesitantly once she'd finished her meal and washed it down with water. Newt had run from each Door when every group showed up, clearly panicked. No luck. Minho and Alby didn't come back. No one said it, but they all knew it. The Doors would be closing soon.

"Hope so." There was a long pause. "I can't stand sitting here while they're out missing. I'm gonna go watch the Doors with Newt." Thomas stood and left. To no one's surprise, Chuck and Ruby ran after him.

Newt was near the West Door, pacing back and forth, running his fingers through his sandy colored hair. "Where are they?" Thomas suggested sending out a search party, again. Bad idea. Newt snapped at him.

Ruby and Chuck shared a look. They understood perfectly. If they didn't come back in time, they were most likely dead. Newt looked like he was on the verge of tears. "The Doors close in two minutes." He left. A loud boom. Then the crunching sound of stone grinding against stone.

The Doors were closing.

The right wall slid towards the left as it always did, the poles reaching for their homes on the other side. Then they saw it. Minho was dragging a seemingly unconscious Alby towards the Door as best as he could. "They got him!", Minho shouted. He sounded weak and tired.

"Newt!", Thomas screamed. "They're coming! I can see em!" Newt immediately ran back over, wasting no time in coming to his friends' aid if he could.

"They're not gonna make it", Ruby whispered. Alby had fallen. Minho was trying to get him up, but failed. He ended up trying to drag him by his arms. They were too far away. "They're not gonna make it", she repeated. "Not like that." The wall was closing fast.

Thomas was getting into a running stance. How stupid was he? Newt noticed. "Don't do it, Tommy! Don't you bloody do it!" He did it. Thomas took off running towards the entrance, squeezing his way through. Ruby's lips parted in surprise. He was crazy. She turned to look at the people around them, catching Leo's eyes.

Ruby must have been stupid too. Seeing Leo's eyes terrified her. At the last second, Ruby took off after Thomas. She could barely squeeze past the metal poles, but she tumbled in after him. The Door sealed decisively. It's like the walls were laughing at them.

DECEMBER 12, 2019
and i— oop. i have too much
free time because i'm out for
the holidays until January 22nd.
this is the only part of college
that hasn't sucked yet.