How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Six

- Not a morning person -

Knock knock...

I stirred at the sound of a soft knock on my door, groaning as I shifted to press my back against the wall.

"Greenbean?" Theo's voice came from the other side of the door, gentle but persistent. "You awake?"

I groaned again, louder this time, burying my face deeper into my pillow. "No..." I mumbled, the word muffled but clear enough for him to hear.

The door creaked open, and I heard Theo's footsteps as he entered my hut. "You can't be asleep and still answer me," he pointed out with an amused tone.

"Watch me," I muttered stubbornly, refusing to move.

"Come on," Theo said, shaking me lightly. "You gotta get up if you don't want to miss Frypan's eggs and bacon. You know those go fast."

The mention of breakfast made me peek out from under the covers, my face still groggy and half-hidden. Theo sat at the foot of my bed, a wide grin plastered across his face.

"You are really not a morning person, are ya?" he teased, his grin widening as I glared at him half-heartedly.

"Brilliant observation," I replied sarcastically, pulling the blanket back over my head.

Theo stood with a laugh, stretching his arms. "Alright, I'll be waiting outside. Hurry up, though—I'm not saving you a plate!"

I groaned again but finally sat up, swinging my legs off the bed. The chill of the morning air made me shiver as I trudged across the small room to a wooden box where I kept my clothes.

Digging through the box, I pulled out a light gray tank top, a round-neckline cutout long-sleeve top in a slightly darker shade of gray, a pair of tan wide-leg cargo pants, and my trusty tan combat boots. As I laced up my boots, I couldn't help but wonder how long this outfit would hold up in the Glade's harsh conditions.

Opening the door, I stepped outside to find Theo leaning casually against a nearby post.

"Ya ready?" I asked groggily, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

Theo turned to me, his jaw dropping slightly as he took in my outfit. "Where did you get those clothes? You look amazing," he said, his tone full of genuine awe.

I shrugged, still too tired to put much energy into the conversation. "Found them in one of the boxes sent up with me."

"No fair," Theo muttered, falling into step beside me as we made our way to the kitchen.

"What do you mean?" I asked, squinting against the bright morning sunlight.

"I mean," Theo began, his voice full of mock indignation, "if we want new boots or clothes, we have to throw a letter down the Box to the Creators. And when we finally get them with the next Greenie, it's mostly old, probably used stuff."

I frowned at his explanation. "That's... gross."

"Welcome to the Glade, Greenbean," Theo said with a smirk.

---

The kitchen was already bustling with activity as we stepped inside. The smell of sizzling bacon and freshly baked bread filled the air, making my stomach growl despite my grogginess. I grabbed a plate, filling it with fruit salad and a slice of toast while Theo piled his high with eggs and bacon.

We joined the group of boys sitting at the long wooden table. Minho was noticeably absent, likely already in the Maze. I slid into a seat between Theo and Andrew, stifling a yawn as I took a bite of my fruit salad.

"Good morning, She-bean," George called from across the table, his tone dripping with teasing energy.

"No," I said flatly, keeping my eyes on my food.

The table erupted in chuckles.

"I believe the proper response is 'Good morning,'" Winston added, a mischievous grin on his face.

"No," I repeated, my tone unchanged as I took another bite.

"Yes, but—" Winston tried again, only for me to cut him off mid-sentence.

"No."

The boys broke into laughter, their teasing abandoned as they turned back to their earlier conversation.

I smiled faintly to myself as I ate. Despite my grouchy mornings, it was nice to feel included—even if they were poking fun.