chapter twelve:
Lash's Plan

The suspension was high in the Glade especially the day after Ash and Luke asked Minho and Elizabeth a question. The question was repeating on their heads, trying to see if they did feel something. If it was true and not just a thought turned into a crush. The more they thought about it, the more they have faced the truth. They had a crush on each other.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Ash asked Elizabeth. Who was sitting outside the Blood house, listening to the chickens crying for help.

"Other than that these chickens deserve to die. I guess I'm thinking about the question you told Chuck to ask me." Elizabeth answered. Her knees were tucked under her chin while she started off at the distance. Wondering if the feelings were real or a figment of her imagination.

"Do you like Minho?" Ash asked again. The female Glader kept her eyes ahead while she thought about it. She knew that feelings shouldn't be thought of but to be felt. Except she couldn't allow herself to feel anything because all she could feel is pain and suffering from being brought to the Glade.

"I guess I do." Elizabeth admitted. She turned her head slightly to her right to have Ash in her view.

"What do you mean "I guess"?" Ash asked.

"I just. . . I've been confused ever since I left the Box. I don't know how to feel since all I feel is pain and suffering from the Glade, the Maze. The thought of never escaping gets to me." Elizabeth ranted. Ash turned to face Elizabeth and offered her a small smile.

"I felt the same when I arrived. I struggled to get through the thought of never escaping. But at the end of the day, you make friends who have hope that they'll escape. Enough hope for the two of you." Ash tried to lift Elizabeth's spirits and hopes.

"Who gave you hope? Who is willingly enough to give me hope?" Elizabeth questioned before going back to her original position.

"Luke. And I can tell that Minho and Newt are willing to give you hope. Both had different reasons why." Ash answered. The blond girl knew it would take time for her to fully adjust and to keep a fake smile on.

"What's up with you and Luke?" Elizabeth asked, trying to take the subject off of her. She noticed how Ash's face turned the color pink at the question.

"You see when one human likes another human and the feelings are mutual. They come together and have a label." Ash slowly explained.

"I'm not stupid. You could just tell me that the two of you are dating." Elizabeth replied. She wasn't shocked that two guys ended updating. The Glade was filled with guys, it was just a matter of time before one fell for the other.

"So I'm curious about something. Mind me asking?" Ash asked Elizabeth.  She nodded her head since she didn't really hold many secrets, except her blackouts. "I heard from some of the Gladers that you weren't as curious as some of us. You didn't ask many questions or throw in suggestions to escape the Maze. Why?"

"Well, wasn't it two years since someone first entered the Maze?" Elizabeth asked. Ash nodded his head causing Elizabeth to continue. "So when I heard that from Newt. It got me thinking if they couldn't escape after 2 years. What's the difference right now? They probably tried everything to escape the Maze. So I might as well keep my mouth shut and just learn whatever they tell me."

***

He walked out of the Map Room after meeting with the other Runners. Minho was soon stopped by Luke, his backup Runner.

"Minho, hey. Can I run tomorrow?" Luke asked.

"Why?" Minho asked. His mind was still trained on the question that Luke asked him the day before.

"Ash and I got into a fight. And you can't exactly avoid someone in the Glade. So I want to go into the Maze tomorrow and see if he'll forget about our argument." Luke informed Minho. The Keeper of Runners nodded his head understanding the situation. He knew about Luke and Ash's relationship just like the rest of the Gladers.

"You can take my place, shank." With those words said, Minho headed towards the Kitchens.

"Phase One. Complete."

○●●●

So, Lash? Care to explain what you're doing?

Ash: Not saying a word.

Luke: Wait!

Fine. And what do you think of the crappy edit I made? I was looking through my phone to see if I had good pictures to edit and this is what I came up with.

-Jazz