i do not own the maze runner or any of its characters

ada
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The next couple of days afterward went on without much excitement. Juliet came into my Kitchen after every meal, seemingly enjoying my company a lot after our first talk. Nora gave me knowing looks each time the Runner left, and I shrugged off whatever she was implying.

I wasn't oblivious; others had told me that Juliet used to have a crush on Lauren. Even Nora thought Lauren was cute. Lauren was the one oblivious to everyone's cues, yet somehow noticed when people crushed on others. I just sat in my Kitchen, quietly watching everything go down.

"She's totally gonna ask you out at our next Gathering, even sooner." I sat in the Slaughter House, Nora sharpening her sword. I'd hang out there if I wasn't in the Kitchen.

"What makes you so sure?"

"What makes you so unsure?"

I quietly rolled my eyes. "I don't know, the fact that she's dropping out of being a Runner because she's losing courage."

"Wait, really?" Nora dropped her sword and came over to where I was sitting. She was such a gossip hound.

"I shouldn't tell you this, forget I said anything."

"Oh come on, I'm gonna know sooner or later. Besides, who am I gonna tell? The rest of the Glen hates me. Bunch of sticks."

"You make a good point." I pondered for a second. "I really shouldn't tell you. Promise you won't say a thing?"

"I'll even make a blood pact, we've got plenty of sharp things here." She gestured around the Slaughter House.

"Oh please don't do that, it's so unsanitary."

"You know I take my job seriously. It's the sticks that work for me you gotta worry about."

"But you work by yourself?"

Nora just laughed.

"Sheriff, it's Rhea and Beth." Angela came busting through the door, taking deep breaths.

There was a shing as Nora sheathed her sword and started running. The rest of us were left to catch up.

"Where's it at?" She called a good distance ahead of us.

"The foyer, of the Big House," Angela started coughing.

Noticing, I slowed down and waved Nora on.

"Hey, why don't you leave this up to us, I'm sure Nora can handle it."

"Finch, I really thought I was doing better." She took a deep breath. "That's what I was doing at the Big House, it was my check up."

"There wasn't anyone else there to witness it?"

"No, and it was pretty heated, it's the sixth."

It took a lot not to curse. "Angela, I feel horrible about this, but,"

"It's alright, I'll just go around it and try to find Estie or something."

"Okay, good," I started, looking over at the Big House. "I'll come find you later, okay?"

I started sprinting, leaving Angela behind.

Trying to shut the door quietly behind me, I caught the tail end of Nora's interrogation.

"-lies." A hand rested on her sword. That wasn't a good sign.

"I've come in here, my hand bleeding," She shook the hand in question. I noticed she had a rag pressed against it, barely keeping the blood in place. "And she had the audacity to tell me to wait."

"You didn't catch the end of my sentence, I told you to 'Wait a second, I'm waiting on Angela to come in. I'll grab Estie for you.' But you started yelling at me before I could tell you why."

"Well, Beth's hand is still bleeding, so could you patch that up please?" Nora's 'please' was anything but friendly. "And it sounds like this really didn't need anyone else to get involved. Is it alright for me to leave, or should I stay to make sure nothing else happens?"

A quick glance between the two of them, and they both muttered a quiet 'no.'

"Fantastic."

Once we were outside, I finally talked. "You're getting better."

"I'm getting more and more fed up, is what's really happening."

"At least the sword didn't come out this time."

"Beth was already bleeding."

✧♡✧

"We're seated here today to talk about our latest Blondie, Mari, who has completed her training and needs to be placed. Mari, you're not to talk until we've finished, alright?" Harriet started. "Same goes for our Runner and Butcher."

Protests were heard from both sides of the room where the two in question sat, while our Newbie just nodded.

"Great. Start us off, Emme."

"She's a Runner. Plain and simple."

After a glance to make sure Sonya had gotten it down, Harriet nodded to me.

"I'd have to agree with Emme, and it seems that the Runners need another person."

Glance, nod. Nora was up.

"I've got a proposition. Everyone in favor of making Mari a Runner?" She held up a hand.

Sonya looked up from writing. "It seems like we're unanimous."

"Fantastic. Harriet, can you cut this short?"

Our leader sighed. "Mari the Blondie, you are now known as Mari the Runner. See Lauren after this, you start tomorrow."

Nora had a triumphant look on her face.

"Meeting adjourned."

A scrape of chairs and a conversation started between Mari and Lauren as they stayed behind to talk. Juliet greeted Nora and me at the door.

She didn't even have to say anything. Her expression gave it all away.

"I cut it short for you, otherwise you'd probably bust down the door. Mari's a Runner, we were all unanimous." Nora said, walking past, leaving me to handle Juliet's reaction alone.

I threw a "really?" look at her, then turned my attention back to Juliet.

"Wait, really? I'm not a Runner anymore?!" She grabbed my hands, pleading.

"Yeah, although-"

Juliet cut me off with a hug. "Thank you."

"It's really nothing, all I had to do was vote." Her reaction confused me.

"You might want to let go before you kill our Head Cook, I kinda need those chocolate chip cookies to live." Lauren came out, Mari behind her.

The ex-Runner let go. I noticed a tinge of pink on her cheeks.

"Anyway," Lauren started, putting emphasis on the any, "You've got 5 days left, I suggest you start talking to whatever Keeper you're joining."

"I was thinking about joining the Gardners, you'd think I'd be good?"

She thought for a moment. "I was going to say you should be a Builder, but I can put in a good word for you with Terra."

"Thanks! I'll see you guys later!" Juliet waved and left, grabbing Mari's hand. We heard her starting to talk about her route.

"You should totally say yes." Lauren nudged me.

"I would if I played for her team. She's a great person, now that I know her a bit better."

"Anything could happen." Shrugging, she waved down Terra.

Nora finally came back. "See, even Lauren thinks she'll ask you out." She slung her arm over my shoulder.

"Thanks for leaving me back there." I slid out of her grasp. "I'm not even sure how I'll tell her no."

"Really? It's easy. 'No.' Should I say it again? 'No.' " She waved her arms, over enunciating the word. 

"Goodbye, Nora," I knew exactly where she was going. I went towards the Kitchen, craving some chocolate chip cookie dough.

 "Hold on! I can spell it too! N-O!" 

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me @ 10pm:

hope you enjoyed the fruits of my sleeplessness.

anyway, this was a big representation chapter! figured i might as well start off early, let people know asap.

if anyone needs some clarification on characters, lmk!

also added some new characters!
in order of appearance:
Rhea- Greek Titaness and Goddess, known as the "Mother of Gods"
Estie- Hestia, Greek goddess of the hearth
Mari- Marie Curie, Polish physicist and chemist