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.

I shrugged. "Don't know. Weird distorted voices. All saying weird things. Woke up feeling...weird."

Gally frowned. His weird eyebrows touching in the middle. His intense eyes fixed on my face, like he was trying to figure out if I was lying.

I frowned back at him.

"Don't tell me no one here has weird dreams!"

He shrugged. He was eyeing me suspiciously.

"Oh come on. I'm sure you all have weird dreams, and nightmares and good dreams. Just cuz our memories are gone doesn't mean our dreams stop!" I rolled my eyes.

"And stop looking at me like that!" I snapped at Gally.

"It's true. Nightmares are a regular thing here in the Glade. Unfortunately." Newt sighed sadly. He eyed me and then frowned.

"You've had a few action packed days. I'm sure it was nothing, Love." Newt said, trying to reassure me. He turned to Gally who was still watching me. Even though I wasn't looking back, I could feel his eyes on me.

"I'll see ya later Snips!" Fred waved and took his plate of breakfast.

"Come on Gal, Alby wanted a word on a new project." Newt said patting Gally's shoulder.

I watched them walk away for a minute. I couldn't figure Gally out. One moment he seemed kind, like yesterday bringing me lunch and helping with the laundry. And the next he was glaring at me, and looking at me like I was a lying thief.

_________________________

The morning went fast. By the time lunch was ready, Vinny, Fry and myself had a good system going. We worked well as a team. The work wasn't hard, and it was quite enjoyable. Frypan loved to talk and tell stories. Vinny and I chuckled along to his long winded stories. He also seemed to know everything that was going on, all the drama and beef between Gladers.

Vinny was quiet, but his one liners and dad jokes were so horrible I couldn't help but chuckle and shake my head.

Again, the guys in the lunch line either tried to stare me down or try to avoid me. Either they would shy away without a word or throw diragitory insults at me when Fry or Vinny were busy. I hid behind my mask of indifference. Shoving all feelings deep down. I wasn't going to let these jerks know how much it hurt.

Did they think I wanted to be here? If I had to choose I would absolutely not choose to be a lone girl in the middle of a death trap surrounded by guys. What did they hope to accomplish by acting like jerks? They couldn't possibly think I found that attractive? Uhg. Boys are dumb.

I was realizing the more I had to stand at the front counter and hand out plates of lunch, I was not a people person. I preferred small crowds, a few guys at a time. I could feel my chest getting heavy, and my hands started to shake. It was hot in the kitchen but I felt a wave of heat hit me.

"Hey..Vinny? Do you mind finishing up playing? I uhhh need to use the bathroom." I asked

"Sure kid. I got you!"

He took the plate from me and I slunk out of the kitchen nodding at Fry and I walked towards the bathrooms. I didn't actually have to use them, I just needed a break from people. I leaned against the back wall. Leaning my head back I closed my eyes. Taking deep breaths. Trying to calm myself down.

"You okay?"

My head snapped up and my eyes shot open. Gally was walking towards me his hands shoved into his pockets and a slight frown on his sweaty face.

I just nodded.

"You sure? I saw you leave the kitchen in a hurry."

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You were watching me, Gally?"

His eyes narrowed and he clamped his jaw, he growled.

"No." He snapped and rolled his eyes.

I crossed my arms waiting for more.

"I noticed you leaving when I went to put my dishes away. You looked upset. Are the guys bothering you again?" His tone was demanding and intense.

I shook my head. He didn't need to know about the comments from some of them. It wouldn't help anyone being a tattletale.

"Just .. realizing I'm not a crowd person. Too many people...makes me... uncomfortable."

Gally's shoulders lost some of their tension. And his sharp eyes softened slightly. Almost like he was relaxing.

"Oh. Okay.." He ran a hand through his blond waves and looked away.

"How's your-"

"Kitchen going-"

We both tried talking at the same time and then both abruptly stopped. We both glanced away in opposite directions.

"What were you going to say?" He asked, clearing his throat.

I looked back at him. I uncrossed my arms and ran a hand over my flyaways. It was hot and humid in the kitchen, and the hairs that came loose from my pony ended up turning into ringlets from the humidity.

"Just asked how your mornings going. Newt said something about a new project."

"Oh. Uh yeah. It's a single stalled shower room. Beside the main one. But it would have a lock and stuff...just for you."

"Oh! Well...that would be nice. Thank you." I said awkwardly.

Though the idea of having my own bathroom sounded heavenly! These guys were nasty!

"How's working in the kitchen?" He asked, he didn't really make eye contact, and I swear his cheeks went pink.

"It's great! Fry and Vinny are great! Both kind and respectful. They work hard and let me keep quiet." I answered and I actually smiled.

I really did like working in the kitchen. Though I know I still had to try working at a builder and MedJack.

"Good. Good .." Gally trailed off. He rubbed the back of his neck.

I leaned my head back against the wall again, taking a slow deep breath.

"You're sure your okay?" Gally asked again, he was eyeing me suspiciously again.

"Fine." I said, pushing off the wall, "I should get back." I walked passed him.

"Ya...me too."

___________________________

The afternoon was uneventful. I stayed quiet, sitting at the counter peeling potatoes. Fred showed up half way through and dropped off a big crate of fresh veggies. He stayed and chatted for a few minutes, with a cup of cold water in his hand. But it was a quiet afternoon. My mind wandered to my weird dreams.

There were at least four different voices I heard last night. Two I had heard in the cage (or box as the Gladers called it.) I heard the female voice layered with a males voice in the treehouse with Alby. They all sounded like a memory or dream. But the last one. It was definitely different. It made me feel weird, I couldn't figure out the feeling or how it was different from the dream voices.

"Hey Fry?" I turned around, Frey was at the stove.

"Ya?"

"Did anyone ever come here with a y kind of memory? Or dreams from before?"

He frowned trying to think. He wiped his hands on a towel. Leaning on the counter he looked back at me. I was fiddling with the knife.

"Your different, Charlie. Your curious and ask a lotta questions. The answers don't seem to satisfy that curiosity. So ya, I'll give it to ya straight." Fry folded his arms.

The usual happy go lucky look on his face vanished. His eyes looked haunted and a frown tugged at his lips. Vinny had stilled and slowly turned to hear what Fry was going to say.

"I've been here a long time. 8 months. Alby, Newt, Gally and Minho...they have been here the longest. A full year alone in the Galde- a few others came up with them, but they ain't around anymore."  He paused, running a hand down his face.

I nodded, it was interesting information, but not sure how it was relevant to my question, but I stayed quiet wait for him to go on.

"Now back in the dark days, before we had order and a system, it seemed like the Creators were also trying to figure their Klunk out. You've been told about the Grievers? Ya?"

I nodded again, but my forhead was creased and I was so confused. What did Grievers and creators and dark days have to do with memories and dreams?

"Okay, anyone explain to you what the Changing is?" He asked.

I shook my head with a quiet "No."

Vinny had let out a sad sigh. I glanced at him, he had a look of pain in his face. He had crossed his arms and was looking away, I noticed he was blinking faster then normal and he sniffed. I looked back at Fry, waiting for him to go on.

"Well, the Grievers stick to the maze, mostly at night, but not always. They are nasty things. Part monster part machine."

He paused to shiver.

"No one has really seen one properly. Or at least no one has lived long enough to tell us. See, they have the option of hurtin' ya or stabbing you and injection some kind of poison."

My mouth fell open. This was horrifying news. Now I understood why Alby refused to allow anyone into the maze. Now I understood why the guys freaked out when I was so close to the entrance.

"In the beginning, it seemed like the poison made the shank crazy. They were jacked in the head. The creators sent up some kind of antidote...but like I said...it was like they had to figure out the right dosages and klunk. One time... apparently, this was before I was here, mind. A kid was stabbed, and went nuts, the antidote didn't work, made him more jacked in the head. Minho and Gally had to hold him and Alby had to Peirce him through with a sharpened stick." He said darkly.

I shuddered. I suddenly felt really cold. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I felt my skin break out in goosebumps. The shuck is this place?

"Now, they have finally seemed to have figured out the Grief serum." Fry went on, "so now if an unfortunate shank gets stabbed, we have the grief serum. We inject it, and tie em down. And then they go through something called the changing. I've only seen two."

He paused again, shaking his head. Vinny had stilled, he was frozen and stairing at the floor.

"The changing gives the shank memories. They wake up and remember, not a lot, bits and pieces. But it makes the shank different.  Quieter and crankier."

"That's why you call it the changing...it changes them...the memories." I guessed.

Fry nodded.

"Dreams are a normal thing, our minds are always workin' coming up with all sorts of escapes from this hell, an' trying to make sense of it all. But memories? Only from the changing s'far as I know."

"Who..." I started slowly, glancing quickly at Vinny, this seemed to be a sensitive subject for him, but I had to know!

"Who were the..two who went through the changing?" I asked hesitantly.

Fry looked saddly at Vinny too.

"Harley. He couldn't handle the memories..he-"

"He ran into the maze and never came back. He left and didn't say goodbye." Vinny spat. He sniffed and turned back around to the counter.

Fry nodded sadly. I was looking at Fry with huge eyes, this place was awful. Harley, a kid who went through tourchure, had some memories come back and could make sense of it...it drove him crazy enough to commute suiside.

"The other shank... Two months ago, was Gally."

_____________________________________________

Do we vote Charlie for Kitchen duties? Or do ya think she could work alongside Gally? What about MedJack?