Y/n's legs were aching by the time she and Minho arrived back at the Glade, but the two simply kept on running towards the Map Room in the Deadheads. Her notepad was in her hand, finishing some last touches to her sketches that she had to map out once they arrived.

Day five of her Runner trial had just ended. In her eyes, she thought she was being pretty decent. However, she had no way of knowing what Minho thought about it. Her future at the Glade resided on his shoulders and, as much of friends as they were, that still scared her.

Minho watched as she hovered over a sheet of paper, drawing their route from the Maze for today. He pursed his lips - if one were to observe him from the side, they'd probably think Minho was a creep. His eyes flickered to her drawing for a moment, checking for any mistakes only to find none.

He would never say it in front of her, but she was really exceeding his expectations.

''I'm finished. Is it all correct?'' Minho was snapped out of his trance as she suddenly stood up and shoved the map in his hands.

Throwing another quick look, Minho nodded. ''It's all good. Though, you could draw your lines straighter.''

Y/n scoffed and took her backpack off, throwing it to the side and stretching. Her workday was officially over and she was starving. ''Yeah, yeah. Request a rulers from the creators, will you?'' She looked down at her watch - the one only the Keepers and the Runners had - and smiled. ''Dinner should be done soon, I'm starving.''

Once at dinner, Y/n was sitting with the Runners, as usual; this time, however, she was actually joining the conversation, as she was technically almost a part of them. If Minho were suddenly to do a hundredth-eighty and decide she wasn't good enough, she didn't know what she'd do with herself.

''Yeah, and then the pig ran straight into Theo as he was coming back from the Maze and knocked him out!'' The whole table laughed at Ben's story, Theo included. They were catching Y/n up on funny stories from before she arrived. All except Minho, who seemed distraught.

Y/n almost jumped in her seat when Minho suddenly stood up, informing her he'd see her later. She furrowed her eyebrows, turning back to see him catching up with Newt. The blond threw her a glance from the distance, then nodded to whatever Minho had told him and the two left. That interaction alone made her stomach drop and her appetite disappear.

Maybe she jinxed it. Maybe Minho was really going to tell Newt she wasn't cut to be a Runner and then they'd send her to be a Builder with Grumpy Gally or something. Even worse, they'd just make her a Slopper and she'd have to clean dirty boy underwear. She didn't even want to imagine how that would be like.

''You okay, Y/n?'' She looked up at Teddy's call like a deer caught in headlights. ''You look a little pale.''

''Oh, uh, yeah.'' She poked her food around her plate; she'd eaten only about half and normally she'd gladly finish and even consider asking for seconds, even though Frypan would definitely say no. She was too anxious to do that now. ''Minho just went with Newt and they looked at me.''

''I'm sure it's nothing bad.'' Ben tried to reassure her from across the table. ''You're a good Runner, I'm sure Minho's telling Newt that.''

Yeah, but what if he isn't? ''I hope so.'' In the past week since she's arrived at the Glade, Y/n learned one thing about herself - she was a big pessimist.

There was a tap on her shoulder. She looked up, seeing a boy whose name she couldn't remember. ''Alby wants you in the Council Hall once you're done eating.''

If she was anxious before, she was dying at the moment. All Runners were looking at her and she stood up, picking up her half-finished plate and bringing it to Frypan, then rushing off.

Okay, Y/n, it's gonna be okay. Minho seemed pleased earlier, right? But he did say my lines weren't straight enough. Was it because of that? Her thoughts ran miles per hour as quickly walked to the Council Room, her hands in her zip-up's pockets.

Taking a deep breath when she arrived in front of the Homestead, she pushed the door open. Inside were only three people - Alby, Newt and Minho. They stood in the center, almost like a council that was about to the decide her faith. They were close enough to that, really.

''You called me?'' She closed the door behind herself and hurried down to meet the three boys in the middle.

''Yeah. Minho here was telling me about how you've been doing,'' Newt said.

She gulped. ''And . . .?''

''The three of us talked it over and we've come to a decision.'' Alby said.

Why are they making this sound so dramatic? ''Yes . . .?''

''Y/n.'' She looked at Minho, his expression unreadable. ''Welcome to the Runners.''

Screaming. Cheers. Laughing. Yelling. The boys practically expected the girl to explode at the news, knowing how much she'd demanded to be a Runner. She was, however, the definition of calm.

''That's cool.'' She said, not even a smile on her face. ''Thank you so much. I'll do my best. Now, if you'll excuse me.''

The three boys watched her in confusion as she turned on her heel and walked towards the exit.

''I thought she'd be happy about this.'' Newt murmured to the two, who nodded their heads in agreement.

Once the door closed behind her, they heard a loud, ''LET'S SHUCKING GO!'' Minho and Newt couldn't help but laugh as she continued cheering in front of the door, probably forgetting they could hear her, while Alby simply shook his head with a small smile on his face.

''Since we're here, Alby,'' Newt turned to the leader, ignoring Y/n's cheers from outside. ''Gally said the room is all fixed now.''

Minho cocked an eyebrow. ''Greenie's room?''

Newt nodded. ''Yeah. We're giving her Chris' old room. It's just there and empty, anyway.'' A solemn silence fell upon the three. Chris had been banished over three months ago, but they would never stop missing a friend.

''Does she know?'' Minho asked.

Newt shook his head. ''I was gonna tell her now, but the shank left.''

''I can tell her, my hammock is next to hers, anyway.'' The two leaders agreed and Minho bid them goodbye, making his way towards the exit.

Y/n was gone when he left the Homestead, so he quickly made his way towards the hammocks - most people were still at dinner, so it was pretty empty, but he could see Y/n laying on her back in her hammock, staring up at the starless sky. Her arms were behind her head and one of her legs was dangling over, and she looked overall relaxed.

''So, Miss Runner.'' She looked at Minho, who was sitting down on his own hammock. ''You seemed very cheerful about the news. Pretty sure even the Grievers heard.''

''Can I not be happy about something? Jeez, buzz killers.'' Even though she tried to sound annoyed, there was still a lazy smile on her face. ''I was scared klunkless that you were telling Newt that I suck at being a Runner. Glad that wasn't the case.''

''I mean, you're just above average, so don't flatter yourself that much.'' She was about to pick up her shoe and throw it at him before he spoke again. ''By the way, Newt says your room is ready.''

Dropping her shoe, she furrowed her eyebrows. ''Room?''

''Yeah. Mostly Keepers have rooms, but they're making an exception for you, since you're a girl and all.'' Minho explained.

''If it's for Keepers, why're you here?''

''I enjoy the breeze.'' She didn't look like she believed him. He sighed. ''I lost at picking out sticks. We were one room short, back then, so I had to sleep outside. I just stuck here, I guess.''

Y/n snorted. ''That makes more sense.'' She looked back at the sky - a single star had show up. ''I can't look at the sky from inside, though, can I?''

''Well, no.'' Minho shook his head. ''But you can always sneak in my hammock, I wouldn't mind.'' She threw her shoe at him, but he caught it with a laugh.

''You're a shank.''

''So I've been told. C'mon, Cinderella, let me show you your room.''

Y/n stood up and touched her stomach, suddenly remembering her dinner. ''Man, do you think Frypan saved my food? I'm starving.''