[THE MAZE RUNNER]

''Wake up, shank. We gotta go eat breakfast.''

Y/n groaned as she turned on her side, hogging the blanket closer. ''Just five more minutes.''

''You already said that five minutes ago.''

''I don't remember that.'' Y/n said as she felt the mattress shift. After about a minute, she finally turned towards the door and opened her eyes, seeing Minho shuffling around the room, getting ready for the day. She laid there for a moment, just admiring him as he laced up his boots.

Minho, feeling her stare, looked up at her. ''What're you staring at me for?''

''What, I can't admire my boyfriend?'' asked Y/n, her eyes following his as he stood up.

''You can admire me all you want in the Maze,'' Minho told her, swiftly yanking the blanket off her, causing her to yelp as she felt the cold air hitting her skin.

''Minho!''

''Sorry, sweetheart, but we really gotta go,'' Minho told her again. With a groan, Y/n finally got up.

The two soon found themselves exiting the Homestead and maneuvering through the hammock with the still-sleeping non-Runners. ''Ah, man, I'm so tired.''

''That's why you shouldn't have stayed up 'till so late playing cards last night,'' Minho said as he watched her rub her eye.

Y/n immediately countered. ''The deck Ben made looked nice, okay? And I had to beat him because he won last time.''

''And did you win?''

''. . . No.''

Minho laughed at her disappointed face, earning himself a slap on the shoulder.

''Y/n! Minho!'' The two stopped and turned around, seeing none other than Chuck running up to them, panting slightly as he finally caught up. ''Mornin'.''

''Why're you up so early, Chuckie?'' asked Y/n as she ruffled his curls, causing him to groan and try to fix his hair.

''Dunno. Woke up early,'' Chuck said as the three continued their walk to the kitchens.

''So, Chuck,'' Minho said as he slapped a hand on Chuck's shoulder. ''You're about to be promoted today. How're you feelin'?''

''Great that you shanks won't call me Greenie anymore.'' Chuck admitted, putting his hands on his hips before grinning. ''Besides, I'm gonna be on Greenie duty. Which means I basically have half a day free.''

Y/n laughed. ''Don't be so sure, Chuck. Greenies can be a handful.''

Minho nodded in agreement. ''Yeah. That shank right here wouldn't leave my side her whole first day. I know I have irresistible charms, but she really was a pain in the ass.''

That earned him another slap on the shoulder, this time harder. Chuck chuckled as the three finally arrived at the kitchens and sat down to eat with the rest of the Runners.

As she ate, Y/n couldn't believe it's been over a year since she first arrived at the Glade. It felt so far away and yet just like yesterday. It's been much longer for Minho and yet they were still there, living the same monotonous life every day. It could get tiring at times, but at the end of the day, she knew with Minho by her side, it would be fine.

''You thinking about me?'' Minho whispered as he nudged her side, noticing her deep in thought.

Y/n turned to him and scoffed. ''As if. I was thinking how amazing Fry's pancakes are.''

''Thanks, Y/n!'' Frypan yelled from the kitchen, having heard her comment.

''No problem, Fry!'' Y/n yelled back, deciding to shoot her shot. ''Does that mean I can get extra?''

''No, Y/n!'' Frypan yelled out just as enthusiastically as earlier.

''Man,'' Y/n groaned, turning back to her plate. ''Worth a try.''

The Runners finished eating and all left together, Y/n bidding a quick goodbye to Chuck. She walked alongside Minho, Ben and Lucas to the south doors, watching as the massive stones opened. Over a year later and she was still amazed that such big stone walls could move with such ease.

''Can't wait for later,'' Ben said, trying to start a conversation. ''I really need to get wasted. All those Grievers are getting to me.''

Y/n nodded, agreeing. The Grievers' daily activity had increased as of recently and no one knew why, but it was getting scary. One of the Runners had quit not too long ago and they were already understaffed. It wasn't like they really needed new people that bad - after all, they already knew there was no way out. It was all a hoax, just to keep the hope within the rest of the Gladers.

''You wanna play another round tonight?'' Y/n asked.

''Another? You have anything else to bet?'' Ben asked, causing Minho to raise an eyebrow.

''You guys were betting?'' Minho asked as he looked between them, arms crossed. ''The shuck did you even bet?''

''Half a plate dinner.''

Minho snorted. ''Yeah, maybe you shouldn't bet food of all things if you know you'll loose.''

Y/n's mouth fell open in offense. ''You're supposed to be supportive and encouraging! That's your job!''

''It's not my fault you suck at cards.''

Nothing extraordinary happened for the rest of the day and before they knew it, Y/n and Minho were stepping back into the Glade. Her eyes fell on Chuck and a boy with a blue shirt standing not too far from the doors.

''Hey, Chuck. That the new Greenie?'' asked Y/n as she and Minho ran past the two, eyeing the Greenie up and down - he was lanky and tall. ''You're finally promoted. How does it feel?''

''Feels great, Y/n,'' Chuck replied with a smile, watching as the two Runners made their way towards the Mapping Room.

''What do you think about the Greenie?'' Y/n asked Minho as they took off their gear.

''Dunno. Looks like Griever food to me,'' Minho admitted as he stretched, feeling his joints pop.

''Hey, I'm the pessimist of the relationship, remember?'' Y/n reminded, wrapping her arms around Minho's neck and bringing herself closer. ''But, yeah, I agree.''

''Of course you do.'' Minho leaned down, capturing her lips with his, feeling her moan in satisfaction. That caused him to smile into the kiss before pulling away. ''C'mon, I gotta go help light the bonfire.''

''Ah, yes, my favorite part of the month,'' Y/n said as she grabbed his hand and led him out of the hut. ''Watching you flex your arms as you throw a lit up torch. Truly spectacular.''

''If I were you, I'd admire myself as well,'' Minho let her hand go and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to him as they exited the Deadheads.

Y/n stood in the back, as she did at every bonfire, holding two cups of Gally's drink and watching as Minho and the rest of the Keepers threw the torches to light up the fire. ''Gladers! Gladers! Gladers!'' Y/n cheered along with everyone else, officially opening the celebration.

''GO, LUCAS!'' Y/n cheered as she watched Lucas performing a few flips to the music, as did the rest of the Gladers. She took a sip of her drink, still holding onto Minho's, who'd gone off with Ben earlier.

''You know, Y/n,'' Chuck said, who was standing next to her. ''That Greenie is weird. He bolted right towards the doors when he was out of the box. And he was so fast, too. Some people said he might have potential for a Runner.''

Y/n looked down at him, snorting. That boy as a Runner? She'd have to see him running with her own two eyes. ''That's not weird, Chuck, it's just your first Greenie,'' she said, taking a sip from her drink. ''I ran to the doors too. And then Minho knocked me down before I can leave. What a truly amazing begin for a friendship, no?''

Chuck laughed. ''You actually ran for the doors?''

''Yeah. I also kicked Minho in the nuts after he tackled me. Dunno how I didn't get thrown in the Slammer, to be honest.'' Chuck laughed even louder.

''There you are,'' Minho suddenly spoke in her ear as he wrapped an arm around her waist, causing her to jump slightly. He swiftly took the jar from her hand and took a simp. ''I guess that one's for me.''

''You scared me, slinthead.'' Y/n let Minho take her away from Chuck, leading her to the rest of the Runners and grabbing two plates of food on the way.

''I'm not letting you play cards with Ben tonight,'' Minho said as he sat down on a small crate. ''You gotta finish your dinner.''

''Fine, fine. Can't I just bet something else instead?''

''What else do you have left?" Minho questioned, pointing at himself. "You wanna bet me? You want me to date Ben?''

Y/n quirked an eyebrow as she sat on the ground next to him, leaning on his leg. ''How did you even come to that conclusion, you idiot. Do you wanna date Ben?''

Minho grimaced. ''Shuck no, that guy stinks.''

''And you don't?''

The Greenie looked over his shoulder again, back to where Newt had pointed out Minho and the rest of the Runners, asking the question that's been bugging him. ''How come she's the only girl?''

Newt looked back as well, seeing you stealing a bite from Minho's food, who playfully slapped her hand away from his food before stealing from hers. ''We don't know. She came here about a year and a half ago. We haven't gotten another girl since her.''

Y/n looked away from Minho and towards where Newt and the Greenie sat, noticing them looking at her. She gave a quick wave before returning to her conversation with Minho.

The Greenie continued staring at the couple. There was something about her causing his brain to itch. ''By the way, don't even think about it.'' Newt suddenly spoke, causing the Greenie to look back at him.

''About what?''

''Y/n is strictly off limits,'' Newt explained, pointing at Minho and Y/n. ''Those two are dating. Been for a while. Minho would feed you to the Grievers if you even think about it.''

The Greenie furrowed his eyebrows. ''No, no, that's not it,'' he looked back at her, still confused. ''She just seems familiar, is all.''

Newt quirked an eyebrow at him.

''Greenie! Greenie! Greenie!''

''Holy shuck, Minho,'' Y/n said as she held her jar, her plate finished and long forgotten on the ground. She pointed towards Gally's circle, causing Minho to follow her gaze. ''Gally's got the Greenie.''

Minho laughed. ''Oh boy. Gally beating up Greenies is always fun.'' He stood up, grabbing both her hands to pull her up as well. ''Let's go watch, sweetheart.''

Y/n felt her cheeks warm up as Minho wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her towards the wrestling circle. Minho has called her by the pet name countless of times by now and yet it still got flustered as if it was the first time.

Y/n and Minho stood to the side, watching as Gally explained the rules. ''I try and push you out of the circle. You try to last more than five seconds.''

Some people laughed, while Y/n watched in interest, laying her head on Minho's shoulder.

''Ready?'' Gally asked and then, without giving the Greenie any time to react, pushed him out of the circle. The Greenie grunted as two boys caught him and pushed him back in the circle. The two went on for a bit, the Greenie successively pushing Gally once on the ground.

That, however, resulted into Gally tripping him, causing him to fall on the ground and hit his head on the sand. ''Ouch,'' Y/n winced as she watched, loud enough so only Minho would hear. ''That's gotta hurt.'' Minho didn't answer, watching the scene with a stoic face.

''Thomas,'' the Greenie suddenly got up, starting to yell. ''Thomas. Hey. Thomas!I remember my name! I'm Thomas!''

There was a split second of silence before Alby pointed at the Greenie. ''Thomas!'' The crowd started cheering, congratulating Thomas on remembering his name.

Suddenly, the loud screech of a Griever from within the maze echoed in the Glade, causing everyone to quiet down. Instinctively, Y/n grabbed Minho's hand that was on her shoulder, causing him to look down at her.

''What the hell was that?'' asked Thomas.

''That, my friend, was a Griever.'' Gally said, trying to calm down Thomas. ''Don't worry. You're safe here with us. Nothing gets through those walls.''

''Alright guys, let's tuck it in for the night,'' Alby instructed and started clapping. ''Come on. It was a good night.''

People started dispersing. Y/n leaned closer to Minho's ear, speaking quietly. ''There's no one in the Map Room.''

Minho looked back towards the Deadheads before looking at her knowing face, causing him to bite the inside of his cheek. ''Quick before someone sees us.''