Different (The Maze Runner)

Chapter 6

A few hours later I open my eyes and realize someone's shaking my shoulder. It's Newt. "Love, wake up. It's time to eat."

I roll over on my face and say "I don't want food."

He says "c'mon love, you've gotta eat. You'll be done in five minutes at the most."

I don't reply, I'm too tired. That running earlier really wore me out, and I didn't even realize it.

"There's a bear in the Glade."

I still don't move.

"Minho and Alby are sarcasm battling."

I sit up and say "huh?"

He laughs and says "knew that'd get you up."

"They're not actually sarcasm battling, are they?"

He laughs and says "no, they're not. But you've gotta eat, so get up. If you're gonna run it's not good to skip a meal."

I sigh and say "fine." I get up and follow him to the Homestead, where Frypan gives us our food and we sit at our usual table with Minho.

"You ready to run tomorrow, Coyote? Sure you can handle it?" Minho glances up at me from his food.

"I can handle it blindfolded."

"There'll be Grievers out there. Hopefully we won't see one but they'll be out there."

"I can handle it, Minho." I take a bite of my sandwich.

"You'll have to get up really early."

"I do that anyways." For some reason, half the time I'm up before the doors are open. Which is technically a good thing, I don't want to fall on the ground screaming again because I can hear it way too loudly.

"Okay." He returns his attention to his food.

I devour my sandwich in less than three minutes. "Alright I'm going back to sleep."

Newt laughs and says "you've been up for five minutes."

"And I didn't wanna get up in the first place."

Minho says "how'd you wake her up?"

"He told me you and Alby were sarcasm battling."

He suddenly bursts out laughing. He drops his sandwich onto his plate and holds his sides in laughter.

Newt says "it was interesting enough to get her up."

I say "and very disappointing to find out was a lie."

"Sorry love, you gotta eat."

"That your new substitute name for me?"

He says "what? You don't like it?"

Minho says "substitute name?"

I say "he thought being called Coyote made me sound too dangerous, so I guess now he's gonna call me love."

He turns to Newt and says "what happened to I'm not gonna fall for the greenie?"

"I haven't fallen for her yet, I just like her."

"And does she know that?"

I say "yes, actually. We talked about it earlier, and we've got a date tomorrow."

Newt says "if she gets hurt in that Maze it's on you."

I stand up and say "night guys."

"Night love."

"Night Coyote."

I go back to my hammock and collapse onto it face-first. I close my eyes and fall asleep almost immediately.