Hymn for the Weekend by Coldplay is today's song.
Alexander awoke slowly, he found himself tucked into bed next to Newt, the boy's arm wrapped tightly around him. He blinked a few times, confused; but then the events from yesterday flashed through his head, and he felt as if he was about to throw up. He rolled over and nudged Newt. The blonde boy squeezed his eyes tighter together for a second, then opened them. His tired eyes meeting Alexander's teary ones.
Newt sighed. "How you doin'?" He asked lightly. Alexander shook his head, "I feel… empty," the boy admitted, and Newt frowned. He threw his legs over the bed and stood up. He then turned back to Alexander and offered the boy a hand. Alexander reached forward and took it, clasping his hand around the older boys. Newt and him walked towards the door, both had unknowingly slept in their shoes, and still wore their clothes from yesterday. Alexander looked up at his friend, "where are we going?" Next glanced down at him. "The kitchen." He said simply. "But why?" Alexander questioned as Newt pushed open the Homestead door. Then glanced up at sky, noting that it was still grey.
"I'd love to give you today off, with recent events and all. But, you get lazy, you get sad. Start givin' up. And we can't have you, or anyone else givin' up on us." Newt stopped once they were at the kitchen and crouched down, looking Alexander in the eye. "Find me when you're done at the kitchen. Xander, it's gonna be okay," he finished, stressing his last words, while sounding genuine. Alexander nodded. He then stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Newt and burying his face into the blonde boy's shirt. "Do I have to work at the gardens?" He asked slowly, fearing what Newt might say. The the boy shook his head. "No, of course not. I'll find something else for you to do." Alexander pulled back. "Thank you," he said quietly. Newt nodded and then pulled open the door for the kitchen, holding it open for Alexander. After the boy walked through, he dropped it shut and headed for the gardens.
Alexander looked around the kitchens, frowning for a moment before remembering that they wouldn't need as many people now. He walked over and washed his hands. Once he was done he looked to Frypan, who gestured towards the fridge. "Can you grab some apples from the top shelf and bring them to me?" Alexander nodded, opening the fridge and standing on his tippy toes to reach the fruit. He walked it over to the cook, letting the fridge door close behind him and setting the fruit down next to Frypan. "Now, can you go get the eggs? They're on the middle shelf." He asked lightly. Alexander nodded once again, jogging over and grabbing a carton. He set them next to the apples, waiting for another task.
Frypan smiled at him, motioning to the sink. "You can help Travis with the orange juice, then with cutting up the apples." He and Travis nodded, walking over to the sink and sighing softly. Alexander dragged over the stool again, kneeling on it and getting out the cups while Travis grabbed the orange juice. He set about twenty cups up, waiting until the Glader had filled five before walking them to the ledge. He kept with that system, placing cups , then taking some to the ledge.
After they finished that, Travis grabbed two cutting boards from a cupboard, placing them next to the sink before grabbing the apples and bringing them over. He put a bag by Alexander, taking the other one for himself. They got started, cutting the core out before cutting up the rest of the apple. Travis walked over to the trash, throwing the apple cores away before looking over to Frypan. The cook had about ten plates done, and Travis brought them over. They put five apple slices each, on a plate, Alexander running them to the ledge. Hungry Gladers began coming immediately, and Frypan walked over to help Travis and Alexander plate the food. Once they were done and all the Gladers were fed, Travis and Alexander made their own plates, Frypan following.
"Hey, Alec?" Frypan said softly. "Yeah?" Alexander glanced up towards the cook, confused. "Are you okay?" Alexander nodded, "I think I just want to eat by myself today." Frypan nodded, "Yeah, yeah. I get it," he said. Alexander smiled softly. "Thanks," he said quietly. Frypan clapped him on the back, he felt for the boy. He too would miss Brenden, but Alexander was young. He watched as the boy made a beeline towards a tree near the back of the Glade, before turning and going back to his own food.
Alexander settled down under the tree, he leaned back against the rough bark, closing his eyes and sighing. He wished he'd spent more time with Brenden, wished he'd worked at the Gardens more… He shook his head, thinking like that would get him nowhere. Forcing his eyes open as he did so, he picked up his food and pushed the fork underneath the eggs, shoveling some out and into his mouth. Alexander then grimaced, eggs had never been his favorite. But frypan would be offended if he brought the plate back untouched.
He forced down a few more bites, quickly finishing the small meal. He then brought the bits of apple to his mouth, chewing them slowly, his mind wandering as he ate. Thinking of his telepathy, he'd had the thought earlier, but was just now returning to it. A question that he couldn't bring himself to ask the other Gladers, could he talk to him mom? He could when he was at the compound, why couldn't he now? Alexander had resisted the impulse to try, afraid he'd mess up and send the thought to a different Glader. He set his plate aside, sitting up. Okay, he thought to himself. You can do this. And then, with a reassuring nod to himself, he tried. Hoping desperately for a reply.
"I love you." He thought, and then pictured the words he wished to send. Just as he did when trying to talk to Newt, or Minho, he pictured the letter flying. But instead of simply flying to the person, as he normally did, he pictured these words leaving the Glade, and flying onward towards W.I.C.K.E.D compounds. Once entering the compounds, the words flew directly to his mother. They landed on her head, as if she were wearing a hat, and then diminished, popping out of existence.
He sucked in a hopeful breath. Please… He muttered to himself, as he thought once again about how much he wanted a reply. She could talk to him in the compound, she was the only person that could reply to him. Yes, he had the ability to speak in the minds of many, but many did not have the ability to speak back to him. But she did, which was why it hurt so much when he was given no reply.
Alexander shook his head, he was so stupid. Why would she reply if she'd sent him to a place like this? Not wanting to think about anything else Alexander, once again, rested his head back against the tree, attempting to clear his mind of everything that'd happened the last few days. But soon, he felt someone, two someone's actually, plop down on either side of him. He glanced over to his right, and then his left, revealing Thomas and Minho. Both looking towards him, while slouched back against the tree.
Minho smiled softly at the boy. Remembering the events from the night before. "Feelin' any better?" He asked, knowing as soon as it left his mouth, how stupid of a question it was. Neither him, or Thomas had known Brenden that well. For Minho, it was that they never crossed paths, with him being a runner, and gone all the time. As for Thomas it was that he'd been there such a short amount of time, he knew very few people as it was. But regardless, Alexander nodded, "I'm feeling a bit better." He then blinked, shouldn't Thomas and Minho be in the Maze? Both boys shared a look, they had no idea how to tell Alexander.
Minho was the one to start. "Listen Alec," he said, turning a bit so he was facing the boy. "Me and Thomas are about to go out into the Maze, but-" "we're gonna be gone a bit longer than usual." Thomas finished for him, earning a glare from the runner himself. Alexander hesitated, "what do you mean?" He asked, his voice getting higher with every word, his fright beginning to show. Minho put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "We're gonna be out in the Maze longer than usual, we won't be back tonight." He explained. They both watched the young boy process the news, and he surprised his with his calm response.
"That's okay," he said. "Just please come back, I don't want the monsters to get you…" He said quietly, before leaning to both of his sides, and wrapping his arms around the both of them. He squeezed his eyes shut as the images from the night before appeared in front of his eyes.
Both boys hugged him back. "We will," they said in Union. Alexander nodded, holding on for a moment longer before letting go. They both stood up, adjusting their backpacks a bit, before running towards the Maze. Alexander watched them run off, and then watched them disappear into the Maze. It was going to be horrible sleeping in the room without Minho, but with the doors not closing, there would be other Gladers now. Like Newt, and Alby, and the rest of his friends. He would be okay, just like Minho and Thomas would. They were strong… And fast. They could survive, he knew they could.