Complicated

Chapter 12: Kitchen Duties

Frypan had me working the minute I was done eating.

"I can't be having you make that kind of breakfast every day! These boys would get spoiled! But...if we had a special kind of breakfast for those few early risers..." He said thoughtfully.

"Slow your roll man! I haven't even finished all the job trials! What if I'm even better at building?" I raised my eyebrow at him, holding the chopping knife threateningly at him.

"True. Too true." He sighed sadly.

I had helped Frypan whisk eggs and fry up sausages, we also chopped up fresh fruit. It was simple but healthy and easy to make in huge batches. Feeding 40ish hungry working teenage boys was quite the feet.

A few minutes later a huge guy with long dark hair pulled into a bun, and arms the size of pythons came striding into the room. He stopped and bowed his head when he saw me. He held out a hand.

"Names Vinny." He said with a smile that made his dark eyes light up.

"Nice to meet you Vinny. I'm Ch-"

"Charlie. Yes, you're not hard to miss." He chuckled. He had grabbed an apron and was tying it around his waist. He set to work beside me.

"Charlie, Vinnie here, is our baker, I have another cook, but he's usually late. He's not much of a morning person. And speaking of-" he glanced at his watch, "I need to go make sure he's actually up. Don't burn my kitchen down!"

Frypan left the kitchen in a hurry. I shook my head and went back to chopping the fruit. Vinny kept busy making bagged lunches. There wasn't much to say, so I kept quiet and did my work. Switching from chopping apples and oranges to making sure the huge pan of eggs didn't burn.

Before Fry got back there was a slow trickle of sleepy looking Keepers and Runners. I handed out plates with a quick nod. Vinny handed the bagged lunches to the Runners. Frypan showed up alone.

"Where's Tim?" Vinny frowned, glancing over his shoulder.

"In the MedHut with Jeff. He seems to have caught the flu." Frypan sighed.

"Oh shuck! That means...we might have it spread through here right quick!" Vinny muttered.

The rest of the Gladers formed a line as they woke up and trudged into the open air dining area. The sun was up now, dispelling the cool early morning air. The Gladers would either take the plate from me and refuse to look at me, almost seemed scared to be too close to me. Or they would stare me down, with a sick insinuation or degrading comment. I wasn't sure if they were trying to intimidate me or what, but there was no in-between. Except for Fred.

"Morning Fry! Hey Vinny!"

"Morning Fred." Vinny nodded his head at the kid.

"Hey! Charlie! Your cookin' today with Fry? Awesome! I'll probably see ya a bit latter! We got a hole bunch of harvest comin' in! I'll see if I can help hull the crates over!"

"I'm sure that could be arranged." Newt said sliding up beside Fred at the counter.

"You're up early today." He stated. "I was looking forward to smacking ya with a bloody pillow again."

I shrugged, the almost happy feeling I had slipped when I remembered why I was up so early.

"Weird dreams." I shrugged, turning away.

"What kind of weird dreams?" A deep gravely voice asked sharply.

I recognized that deep gravely voice. I glanced over my shoulder. Gally had come to the counter to drop off his plate and refill his coffee. I brought the pot if coffee over to fill his mug.