Boxes [The Maze Runner ~ Newt] [BOOK 1]

Pick

CHAPTER SIX

"Siggy, how much pepper would be too much?" Marie asked.

"If you start sneezing, that probably means you put a lot on the patties," Frypan answered her question.

Today, Marie was working with Frypan and the other cooks to make hamburgers for dinner. Marie had worked with the Slicers and got the job done and only vomited twice during the process. She did a very good job when working with the Med-jacks as they showed her remedies to help improve one's health. Working with Baggers and the Runners was out of question; Nick would never allow it.

Marie distributed plates of food to the long line of Gladers who approached the kitchen counter. Gally had sent Ben to get him his food since he didn't want to even look at Marie after what had happened earlier that week. Marie asked Frypan if he ever spat in a Glader's food before, and he said he'd never, but gave her a quick wink. She figured that was enough permission to do the same thing to Gally's burger.

"Sure smells good, Marie," Minho smiled as he went to get his food after a day of running in the Maze.

"Thanks," Marie giggled as she handed him his plate as Minho fist bumped her, continuing to walk off to his table with Newt who was staring at Marie and gave her a thumbs up when she caught him.

Frypan and Marie grabbed one of the last burgers and a plate and sat with the others at the usual picnic table. Marie felt like she was growing closer to these boys. Slowly, but all the while, they could very well be her friend soon enough.

"So Nick," Marie began as she sat down next to Minho, "are you going to give me a hint before assigning me to my permanent job?"

"I don't pick your job," he answered through a bite of his burger, "all the Keepers discuss where we're going to place you."

"The Council's going to have a Gathering tomorrow," Newt explained, "then you find out what your job is."

"Oh," Marie murmured. She realized that no one had really explained things to her around the Glade.

Everyone enjoyed their meal, and a few Gladers had even thanked Marie for preparing it with Frypan and the others. Marie went off to the Bloodhouse and laid out a blanket she was given a few days ago on the grass and laid down on it, looking up at the sky speckled with bright, shining stars. She liked being near the animals, not slaughtering them. It got her thinking about the job she'd be given tomorrow. Builder was scratched off the list, and so was being a Slicer. It was a tie between being a Cook, Med-jack, or Track-hoe, and she was honestly fine with any of the following.

A sound of a twig snapping made Marie jolt up and grab her knife, almost like an instinct. Marie grasped onto it up until she realized who was drawing near.

In the moonlight, she saw Newt. Marie felt less tense as she saw her second-in-command and lay back down on the blanket.

"People usually say hi when they approach people," Marie reminded him.

"I just wanted to see what you were up to."

"Just relaxing, being a Cook is harder than it looks."

"I bet." The ends of Newt's lips barely curled, and when he realized, he immediately stopped.

Marie scooted to the other side of her blanket and patted the empty space with her hand. "Care to join me?"

Newt scratched his neck, looking back at Homestead and everyone getting ready for bed and goofing off with the rest of their energy.

"You don't have anything else to do, do you?" Marie questioned.

The blond boy walked over and lay down next to her on the blanket. He couldn't remember the last time he looked up at the stars. He couldn't remember having a nice, private moment with someone. Newt enjoyed the view as well as the silence, but Marie wished to have a conversation.