Thomas POV

Three days later, it was amazing how much progress had been made in their town. In the town center, they had almost everything built. The town hall, cafeteria, crafting center, daycare, lumber shed, and hospital building were all up. They had also built a large building which was called "The Club." Once they had the money worked out, this would be where parties and dances or things like that would be held, and people would pay to bet in.

Also, right now there was a park like area being built in the exact center of town, with benches and a few trees and stuff. There were about 5 small empty buildings in the center of town. Minho hadn't announced it yet, but once they had money figured out, they would be used for people who wanted to start a trade of some sort. For example, if someone wanted to make clothing and sell it, they could keep their merchandise in one of the buildings and sell it in there. Clearly though, Thomas thought, nothing could be done until they had a money system.

About an hour earlier, the council had agreed on what to do about this problem. Because they had not found anything yet to be used as money, they were sticking to trade. Currently they had called a meeting for everyone in the town square. Minho started up the meeting.

"Attention everyone! This meeting is to discuss a major issue we have right now. Money. Nobody is gonna work if they get no pay, but we have nothing to use as money. For now, we need to stick to trade instead of money. Basically, for now, if you need something from someone else, then you give them something of yours, or give them your labor. If anyone finds anything that could be used to make money, please tell me or one of the council members." It was now Thomas's turn to speak.

"And also, today is the last day of keepers and groups. Now that we have many public buildings up, we need all the groups to send some people away to each new job. For example, we need some crafters to be medical workers at the hospital, or some people working the daycare. We still need the groups, but we need people assigned by building, and not group. This means that the food gatherers are assigned the cafeteria, the builders are assigned to the lumber shed, the crafters assigned to the crafting house, and so on. If anyone has a trade that needs its own building because it is booming, come talk to the council and we will see what we can do. Thanks."

Everyone started talking at once, probably about who trades what and making deals with each other. Thomas stepped down off the rock he was standing on and turned around, nearing his name. There was a girl walking up to him that he had never seen before.

Teresa POV

Teresa had been standing in the crowd during the meeting, and not with the council. The people had swarmed to the town center, and she had basically gotten trapped and hadn't bothered to leave. When the meeting ended, however, she locked her eyes on Thomas and wove through the giant crowd of people.

Her arm was basically healed, only a little bit sore. It still hurt, however, when people in the crowd bumped into it, and she cringed whenever she collided with someone else. She was about ten feet away from Thomas and was going to call his name when she was tapped on the shoulder and she turned around. It was Brenda standing there.

"Hey Brenda!" Teresa said, smiling. "What's up?"

"I...uh was just kind of wondering, if you could help me with Minho. Cuz, I mean, we're kinda a thing now, but I really don't know much about him, and I thought since you and Thomas are so clo-" Just then she stopped talking completely, and Brenda's eyes widened to twice their size, as she stared off behind Teresa. Teresa followed her gaze, and she gasped.

There was Thomas.

Kissing another girl.

Thomas heard her gasp and broke the kiss, turning in her direction. His eyes widened as well and he started shaking his head and his hands.
"No no no no no! Its not what it looks like I swear! I-" but Teresa didn't hear the rest of it, since she was already running away with tears streaming down her heartbroken face.

Thomas POV

"No no no no no!" Thomas frantically said to Teresa. "It's not what it looks like, I swear!" But she was already running away. "I...love you" he said, but he knew she didn't hear it.

He turned to the girl who had kissed him. Kissed him! He hadn't even said two words to her and she was already kissing him when she walked up! He couldn't shove her away, and only managed to right after Teresa had seen it all. He now turned to the girl, glaring at her.

"What's your problem?!" He yelled at her.

"My problem? My problem is that you have a problem with me. Nobody rejects me. Why did you?" She said seductively, stepping towards Thomas and trying to kiss him again. Disgusted, he shoved her away and fled off in the direction Teresa had gone in.

"Crap!"