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THE YOUNG GODS
CHAPTER TWO

" RUNNER? DEFINITELY NOT. "

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ROSIE STOOD IN FRONT OF the closed entrance to the maze wondering what was out there. Alby had suggested to do her Runner training first to get it out of the way. "What's out there?" She asked the Asian boy who had walked up to her asking if she was ready.

Minho took a deep breath, "in bright daylight? Nothing."

"So? You guys just run out everyday to find a way out or something?" Rosie asked flinging the backpack that they gave her up on both shoulders. "Why haven't you?"

"Found a way out?" A voice behind them spoke causing Rosie to jump hating how these boys were so quiet able to make barely any sound. The boy had an odd accent compared to the other boys as he tried to discretely sniff. "The walls move everyday."

Rosie nodded noticing the puffiness in his face and the glossy eyes but she had no place to ask the boy what he was crying about before. "Our job is to find a way out and map every new way." Minho added.

"And you think I'm going to be good at this?" Rosie asked the two boys who chuckled shaking their heads.

"Probably not, but everyone has to try it. It doesn't matter if you like or dislike your job, you get placed where you're the most good at." Minho replied, "that's why you have to try out as a Runner. We'll take it easy today. Just keep close to us and don't separate."

Rosie nodded clutching the strings of the backpack with a harder grip nervous of what was behind those walls. "I'm Newt." The boy who hadn't introduced himself yet spoke to her since he had noticed her nervousness. Rosie smiled politely receiving the same back as he added, "don't worry, we won't let anything happen to you."

Rosie looked down at the ground nodding as if that's the only thing she ever did, just nod to everything all the boys told her. The walls started moving in front of her creating a large path for them to run in, "come on!" Minho exclaimed rushing in as Newt motioned to her. Rosie shook her head still not comprehending what the hell she was doing in this place. Starting to run towards the two boys, they slowed their pace noticing she wasn't as fast as they were.

"You guys do this everyday?" Rosie asked already panting out of breath not even a minute in the Maze.

"Everyday Greenie." Minho stated looking around the walls to see if there was any difference from what he and another Runner had mapped out. "This way." He replied as Newt and Rosie started following him.

"Definitely not cut out for that." Rosie stated flopping down on the bench as they had arrived back in time before the walls started to close.

"Definitely not." The British boy next to her chuckled taking a sip of his water receiving a smile from the girl.

"Newt, come on." Minho stated causing Newt to drink his water quickly and get up to head to the Map room with him and other Runners.

"Later Greenie." Newt waved goodbye turning back jogging to catch up to Minho and the rest of the boys. Rosie's eyes lingered on the boy as she watched him disappear into Homestead.

"You're back! How was it?" The familiar voice, Rosie missed while she was inside the Maze, got her to look up to see him standing with a little canteen. "Drink this."

Ander sat down next to her, "what is it?" Rosie asked holding the canteen he gave her as she sniffed it and couldn't describe the nasty smell.

"Some type of protein, Frypan created he gives them to the Runners after coming back from the Maze. It helps with muscle tension or muscle something-I don't know. I just know it's beneficial to drink it." Ander replied glancing to a boy Rosie noticed was talking to Alby.

She didn't know his name but it wasn't the first time she'd seen Ander glance towards him. A smile appeared on her lips, "what's his name?"

Ander's eyes left the boy and turned to Rosie, "what? Who's name?"

Rosie tilted her head motioning to the boy, "you like him?"

A loud scoff came out of the guilty boy, "what?" He asked his voice getting higher depicting a lie. "No way. Why would you ask that?"

Shrugging her shoulders, "just asking. You wouldn't mind me talking to him, would you?"

Ander pursed his lips at the girl, "you wouldn't dare Greenie." He muttered as the girl raised her eyebrow at him.

"Oh, I would."

"Fine!" The boy dragged out the word wanting to keep his secret to himself but it wouldn't hurt to share his feelings and confide in someone. "His name's Justin. He's one of the Runners. He usually runs with Minho but since you were training he stayed back so Newt can go since he's like another second in command with Alby." Ander noticed the girl crossing her arms knowing that's not what she asked. "I might or may not have like the smallest crush on him." Ander replied using his two fingers to show her how little of a crush he had on him both watching him enter the Homestead.

Rosie grinned taking a sip out of the worst drink she's probably ever tasted. "What is in this?" Rosie asked switching subjects knowing Ander was getting a bit uncomfortable after some other boys were getting closer to them.

"That my friend, is my favorite drink is my famous creation." The boy she assumed was Frypan started a conversation as he had reached her with two other boys. "It's a recipe everyone loves."

Rosie faked a smile lying, "it's great."

Frypan shook his head chuckling, "no need to fake it. I was joking. The drink's shit. But it's protein I give the Runners to keep their energy up. Helps them keep going. I'm Frypan if you didn't know yet."

"I'm Jeff." The scrawny tan skinned boy introduced himself, "in the morning you'll be training with me and Clint who's the Keeper of Med-jacks."

"Then with me, I'm Winston." The boy pulled his hand out for her to shake which she did a few seconds later. "I'm the Keeper of Slicers. Brace yourself, it's not going to be pretty."

Rosie nodded starting to feel at peace with what was happening. The boys were making her feel welcome and safe unlike others who kept their distance for unknown reasons. "Come on, you're stuck with me and Ander for the evening. Your training with me is quick. You help me prepare some food for dinner and that's it." Frypan stated, "Let's go."

Rosie stood up as she followed Frypan and Ander into Homestead noticing one of the rooms open with the Runners circling a table. Justin being the one to notice Rosie, he shut the door before she was able to see what was on the table. "Don't worry, they're like that when it's about the Maze. They shut the doors on everyone besides Nick and Alby." Ander said when he noticed her obvious shock on her face.

The three arrive to the kitchen noticing a young kid around 14 years old preparing ingredients. "Jimmy!" Frypan greeted causing the kid to almost drop a plate. "Rosie, this is Jim he's the other cook we have. We're making Tomato Soup and biscuits, everyone's favorite."

"Oh, that's easy to make." Rosie replied back rolling up her sleeves noticing the three boys who just stared at her. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Ander scratched the back of his head, "you know how to cook?"

Rosie raised her eyebrow to think how she knew how to cook. All she knew was how to make dishes but didn't know how she learned or who taught her. "Yeah." She muttered. "I think."

"Okay, I'm letting you take the lead. The rest of the boys will decide if the food is good. That good?" Frypan asked as Rosie nodded. "Alright then, what do you need us to do?"

Rosie took a second to look around for materials and ingredients remembering what would go in the soup, " For the soup, I need onion, garlic, carrot, celery, tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, Worcestershire, black pepper, hot pepper sauce, vegetable oil, and dried thyme." Rosie replied turning around to look at the three boys. Frypan bring the most astonished as she had gotten all the ingredients correct but had a few more added. "Um, for the biscuits I need flour, baking powder, salt, butter, milk, do you guys have honey or white sugar?"

"We have white sugar," Jimmy replied opening a cabinet taking out the white sugar and placing it on the table.

"Okay, you guys want to split so we can work faster?" Rosie asked

Frypan nodded, "remember we're doing anything you'll ask us to do."

Rosie remembered as she nodded, "right, okay. Frypan and Jimmy why don't you guys take care of the biscuits. Ander and I will work on the soup. Good?"

The three boys nodded splitting into two groups. "Ander help me chop up some onions, carrots, and celery." She stated as Ander nodded grabbing the produce from the container they had stored.

Time passed by as the group were in the midst of finishing the food and the sun was going down. Rosie stirred the pot taking the ladle out and pouring some out on a bowl for the four of them to taste. Taking a sip of the soup, Rosie melted hearing her stomach grumble for more of the food.

"You guys almost done?" A voice outside yelled to the four inside the kitchen.

"Done!" Frypan yelled back, "help me with the pot Ander." Ander grabbed a hold of one side of the pot while Frypan held onto the other as they walked it outside of the kitchen and outside placing it on top of a table. Jim and Rosie came out with the biscuits on several trays. "Tonight, you will be tasting food created by Rosie. She added a few other ingredients than I usually do so hopefully you don't like it so I can keep my status as the Keeper." Frypan announced causing the guys to laugh including Rosie who chuckled.

"Alright let's see if she's good enough to be one of the cooks." Nick stated being first in line to receive food. He shot Rosie a smile before receiving his food and walking to one of the tables to sit down.

Rosie and Frypan waited for everyone to be served while Jim and Ander had gone to sit down and eat. Frypan served the girl in front of him, "I think you'll probably end up being one of the cooks." Frypan spoke smiling but a bit tense, "just-please don't try to become the Keeper. I really like this position and you already have your own room too so-"

Rosie cut him off, "don't worry. I don't want to be a Keeper of any sorts. At least not anytime soon." Rosie watched the boy relax and a bigger smile curved on his lips.

"Thank you." Frypan thanked the girl before walking to one of the tables. She was soon going to sit at.

"Rosie, over here!" Ander waved his hand motioning to the girl to sit with him and the boys she had befriended already.

Rosie walked over to the table where Ander, Frypan, Winston, Jeff, Jim, and Newt currently sat eating her meal. Ander purposely moved to make space between him and Newt. Him noticing the not very obvious but lingering attraction she had for the British boy. Something she hadn't even noticed yet. Rosie raised her eyebrow wondering why her friend moved to the side instead of letting her take the end of the table.

"No offense Fry, but this is really good." Winston blurted out, "maybe even better." The boy eagerly devoured the soup with the biscuits he was given.

"Wins, is right. This is really good." Newt pointed out sending Rosie a smile before going back to finishing his meal. Ander grinned nudging her side with his elbow under the table so no one could notice.

Rosie turned to Ander about to ask him why he nudged her that is until he started wiggling his eyebrows motioning to the British boy next to them. Her eyes went wide shaking her head while the boys in front of them looked at them curiously. Winston, Frypan, and Jimmy looked at the pair a bit astonished as if they were communicating through their minds not saying a word but knowing what they meant. The other boys on the table didn't notice the obvious interaction between the two friends that already acted like siblings.

"Eat your food, slinthead." Rosie said out loud pushing Ander's head softly. She used the specific word as she had heard others use it to refer to other Gladers as idiots, she thinks.

It was her second day and even though the majority of her still felt out of place, she felt a sense of safety slowly growing in her. She liked the boys she had befriended. But what was so curious to her was to why the blonde boy next to her bounced his leg up and down nervously not stopping. His mind was somewhere else when he picked apart the biscuit.