That night after dinner, I asked to talk to Newt alone. I hadn't seen the pond yet, so I took him to sit on the small fishing dock together.
The black waters of the pond reflected the stars on the surface of the drink.
"Is this about the Zart thing? Because I'm sorry. I had no idea he'd do that. Since you arrived he's been a right oddball with no bloody filter."
"No, no, it's not that. But I appreciate the apology," I sighed softly. "I um... remembered things in a vision I had while I was out..."
"Oh, okay," He gave me a puzzled look. "What was it?"
Here goes.
"Our parents."
"Really? That's interesting, not many of us remember- wait," He looked unbelievably shocked out of his mind. "Y-you said... our?"
"Our parents," I nodded, smiling at him with very quickly watering eyes. "You're my brother, Newt."
"Bloody hell..." His mouth hung open, staring. He looked away, then back at me. And that's when I noticed tears in his eyes as well. "Can... can I hug you?"
"Of course."
Newt pulled me into a tight hug, burying his face into my shoulder. For a while we just sat there and held each other.
Familiarity. There it is. That painfully familiar feeling. Only this time, it was a good pain.
"What else?" He pulled away, sniffling. Eager to know more. "Our parents, I mean. What about them?"
"They sent us here," I said. "Not- to the maze. To America. Something about a disease. They were trying to protect us from it."
"A disease?" He pondered the words in his brain. "Do you think..."
"I don't like to. But it's... it's realistic, Newt..."
"You're probably right," He mumbled, turning his eyes back to the pond. "I just... can't believe I have... family. Here. With me. It- it explains so much. The accents the looks the scars..."
"I know," I laughed softly. "I was worried you'd think I was crazy and not believe me."
"About something like this?" He scoffed. "Not bloody likely! Elsie. Your name, too. It's beautiful. It fits you."
"Thanks, Newt," I leaned on his shoulder, then eventually he led me to the hammock hut to sleep for the night.
—
The next morning, I started my job with Frypan. After the incident with the tree as a gardener with Newt, we all decided that maybe that wasn't my job.
And I fit so beautifully with the cook position and Frypan as a friend that I just decided to join him in the kitchen.
This morning he decided that we'd have biscuits and sausage gravy and eggs. He very much enjoyed baking last night, so he wanted to do it again today with the biscuits.
My job was the bacon. Which was difficult.
I tried not to think about where it came from, remembering that the pigs used to get this bacon were just alive and well hanging out with my Dory not too long ago.
Regardless, bacon is amazing. So, into the pan it went. As we cooked, we talked.
"So... are you sure there's nothing between you and Minho?"
I snickered and rolled my eyes. "No, Fry. As much as he may want there to be, I'm just... not sure I'm ready for that kind of thing. I mean, hell, I'm still learning who I am."
"What better way to do that than with someone else? That way you could do it together."
"What's everyone's deal with me finding a boyfriend? Can't I just be me?"
"Sure! I mean, getting a boyfriend would mean Zart would probably leave you alone."
Dang. He's got a point. And a valid one.
"That's a good point," I transferred some of the bacon I'd finished cooking onto a platter on the serving counter. Fry looked it over and smiled, patting me on the back.
"You're alright, Greenie," He smiled.
"Fry, I have a name now yknow," I laughed.
"I do! But you're also still a greenie, so."
The door to the mess hall creaked open and in walked Minho and Ben. Minho had a big smile on his face, his hands tucked into the top of his running pack.
"Morning, Frypan! Ellie," Minho sat on a stool at the bar window, watching me cook.
"I swear, if you make one sexist comment about me cooking, no bacon for you," I told him, an empty threat really. For humor purposes.
"Wasn't gonna say anything," He grinned, shooting a wink my way. "You look good today."
My breath caught in my throat, I coughed, almost choking on my own spit. "Uh, t-thanks, Minho. You guys ready to run today?"
Frypan looked over at me as our backs were turned, Minho answered my question which led into a conversation between him and Ben about their routes.
Frypan smirked, seeing my red cheeks. He whispered to me so the other boys wouldn't hear it.
"See. There's your man. No one's gonna mess with you anymore if you get with Minho. They'd all klunk their pants standing up to him."
Not to mention he practically towers over everyone here besides Alby.
I finished the bacon and washed my hands, then sighed. "I'm gonna go visit Dory. I'll be back to help with dishes in a little bit."
I left the mess hall flustered and clumsy. I ran smack into a firm, broad chest on my way out and was terrified to look up, but I did.
Eye to eye with Gally.
He raised an eyebrow. "Alright there, greenie?"
"Elsie," I corrected him. "I have a name now."
"So I heard," He nodded and grabbed my shoulders, moving me aside. "Should watch where you're walking next time."
He was followed by a large train of other guys, Newt and Chuck included. They were taking on their way in but Newt stopped when he saw me headed to the animal pens for Dory.
"Hey, Els," Newt jogged up to me. "You alright?" I turned to face him, face still burning red especially after the run in with Gally. "No. You're not. You look like you've just brutally embarrassed yourself."
"I kind of did. Bumped into Gally. Literally."
I scooped Dory up out of the pen and set her on the grass after planting a kiss on her small head. She started chowing down on the grass like a lawn mower.
"That doesn't feel like all of it," Newt cringed. "What else?"
"Minho," I said. "Minho and Frypan and Zart and that entire situation."
"Oh, because he fancies you?"
"What?! Does he really?!"
"Oh, bloody hell, I'm bound to get my arse beat for that one," Newt facepalmed. "Yes. He does. It is so painfully obvious that I thought you'd catch on to it."
"Newt, I don't know what to do. I'm... still learning who I am and don't want to commit to a relationship yet. But... at the same time I'm worried that Zart won't leave me alone if I'm not with anyone. Like, Newt, I love you, but you're just not that intimidating."
"What?!"
My stomach dropped to the ground. Zart was eavesdropping. Lovely. Bastard.
"You love him?!" He scoffed, then sprinted into the mess hall. Both Newt and I met eyes, shared a terrified expression, then followed him inside. "Elsie and Newt are dating!!"
There was that queasy feeling again. All the boys started cheering and shouting things at us that were... highly inappropriate for a set of siblings.
"Shut it, the lot of you!!!" I yelled, immediately silencing the entire building. Every eye was on me. "We're siblings!!! We're not dating!!! This bloomin' idiot overheard me telling my brother that I love him and ran in here to tattle like a bloody toddler!!"
Everyone was silent. Shocked. Minho stifled a snicker at the boys and Zart himself, who'd face had turned beet red with embarrassment.
"And while we're on this topic, everyone needs to stop anticipating any relationship I'd ever be in!! I'm not interested, in any of you!! You're all a bunch of woman hungry animals and I won't be having any of it!! Leave me alone!!"
I stormed out of the mess hall, leaving the entire building pin drop silent. What I didn't see was Newt telling the boys to go about their morning.
And Minho shoulder checking Zart so hard on his way after me that he fell into one of the tables.