I do not own The Maze Runner or any of its characters

Minho: *pours water on Lauren*
Lauren: Hello?

Lauren
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"Frypan," I whined.

"Lauren." He mimicked. "What brings you here?"

I was collapsed on the little table in the Kitchen with my head in my arms, fighting a serious headache and feeling like I was going to die. I should probably mention that it was very early in the morning.

"You probably drink the most out of all of us, and yet you're still standing upright and you can face the sun with a smile on your face. How."

"Well, I'll let it slide that you think I'm addicted to Gally's drink, but when you're Keeper of the Cooks you get acquainted with the different herbs and spices around here." He gestured to nothing in particular.

"I do not have the braincells to deal with fancy language."

"Over in that corner, you'll find some ginger. Mix it with some tea, and you'll be good. Tell anyone, and I'll permanently ban you from cookies. Some people deserve to suffer." Frypan went back to frying bacon.

"I have the urge to hug you, but I feel like you won't accept it. So you can have my undying gratitude." I went to find some ginger.

"You're welcome."

Minho came in, with Ben behind him. They were talking loudly about something Ben learned the other day.

"Shhhhh. Not everyone is alive yet." They were probably talking at a normal decibel, but I couldn't handle it.

"Ah. Your first Morning-After. Congrats, Lauren. You're officially a member of the Glade." Ben clapped me on the back.

I responded with another shush.

I stayed in the Kitchen, finishing my horrible tea. I assumed I was never a tea person, to begin with, with the fact that I tried it before the ginger and almost threw up, but adding the ginger just took it to a whole new level.

"You look like you're drinking poison." Jim, one of Frypan's helpers commented.

"I am," I responded bitterly.

"You'll feel better afterward." He left me with those words of encouragement.

I could actually look at the sun once I left the Kitchen, which I took to be a good sign. The poison worked. With a plate that I snagged on my way out, I went to my normal picnic table. Gally was already there with Peter.

"Lauren," Peter whined.

"Peter." I mimicked.

"Why didn't you monitor my drinking?"

I laughed. "Well, because I was fighting with Minho. You should have asked Gally."

Gally just shook his head and went back to eating.

"You drank a lot too! Why're you okay?" Peter sounded three.

"I still have a headache, but it helps to have friends in high places." I passed him my toast. "Eat this."

He just grumbled.

"So, we have three rooms left on the second level, the entire third level, and then we're done with the Homestead, right?" I asked Gally.

"We still have the roof, if you plan on fixin' that."

"Finch. It'll probably fall down when we start demolishing the third level." I thought about it. "Yeah, we'll throw it in too."

Whatever Gally said next, I didn't hear it. My eyes were following Chuck as he tried to find a seat. I had half a mind to wave him over to us, but you had to earn your place around here.

Sorry Chuck, but it's for your own good.

The poor guy looked so lost. He was probably getting dizzy from the number of times he turned in a circle. I finally had to look away.

Eventually, a table cleared out and Chuck was able to sit down.

He'd find some friends.

"That hurt to watch." Peter decided now was the time to showcase his new mind-reading powers.

"Yeah." Gally echoed.

"I went through it too. He'll be okay." We went back to eating.

|~^-^~|

That night, I was tired. The Builders and I worked really hard to knock out the last three rooms. And start on the third level. All we had left was the rest of it, and of course, the roof.

The absolute last thing I wanted to do was have another bout with the voice.

Got a minute?

"For you? Never." I started changing.

That's hurtful. I'm just trying to help you.

"Oh yeah. Sure. Go ahead and call trying to get me killed helping me."

It would be really useful.

"At what cost? My life?"

There's a slim chance you'll die.

"Thanks. That's really helpful."

I know you have a plan.

"How?"

I know you. As soon as a thought is popped into your head, you immediately start thinking about it in detail.

"You can't hurt me. You're just a voice."

Am I?

Now, I know no one would ever believe me if I told them this story. But I swear to you, I saw myself. It was out of the corner of my eye, and the features were blurred, but it was me. I knew it.

"Finch you."

Love you too.

It left.

I heard a knock on my door, and Newt's voice accompanied it.

"Lauren? You okay?" He was concerned.

"I'm good."

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah, go ahead." I sat down on my bed.

The door opened and closed.

"Are you lyin' to me?"

It was harder to lie to Newt when you saw his face.

"Yeah." I said softly.

"What's wrong?" He stayed by the door.

"Do you think I should get Stung on purpose?" The room had never been so quiet. When you say it out loud like that, it's so, concrete. It almost made me want to go mute.

Newt didn't say anything.

"I know, it's stupid, but think about all the memories I already have. Imagine what I could do if I got Stung." Wow. My floor was very interesting.

"I have never heard anythin' more shucking stupid in my life."

I felt like a fish.

"Really? Riskin' your life for buggin' memories? Please tell me you aren't gonna go through with this."

"No, of course not." I looked back down at the floor.

"Good." He left.

It was definitely easier to lie to Newt when you weren't looking at him.

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And I oop-

Y'all, buckle down and get ready to scream. It's gonna be a whirlwind of chapters after this.

Questions!

-Do you think you could lie to Newt?

-Fav food?

-Do you like drunk!Peter or hungover!Peter?

I really did just write in my headcanon for Frypan into this chapter?

Please take away my power-