━ CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
KATHERINE woke up to Chuck shaking her shoulder. She looked around seeing it was still dark and Minho was still sleeping soundly, his arm draped over her torso. "Katherine." The young boy whispered.
"Chuck, what are you doing up? Are you ok?" She asked sleepily. Minho sturred, his head cuddling into the girl's neck. He sounded like he was scared and on the verge of tears.
"I had a nightmare." He said quietly. She quietly sat up and slid out of Minho's grasp making him sit up with her.
"Katherine? What's going on?" The runner questioned lazily, his voice husky as he rubbed his eyes.
"Chuck had a nightmare. I'll be right back, Minho." She whispered. The boy nodded and fell back into the bed. Katherine walked back to Chuck's hammock. Chuck had always thought of Katherine as his big sister and always went to her if he ever had a nightmare.
"Can you sing to me?" Chuck asked shyly. He seemed so much like an innocent child and Katherine felt incredibly sad that he was stuck in this shit place rather than free with a family and not having to worry about grievers coming into the Glade and possible death every single day. She nodded as the young boy got himself comfortable.
Katherine went through all the songs she knew and one specifically came to mind. She cleared her throat and began to sing softly and quietly so mostly the gladers around Chuck could hear.
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow.
Why, oh, why can't I?
Chuck was fast asleep with a small smile on his face once Katherine had finished. She smiled to herself and walked back to Homestead. She didn't know that the boys around Chuck had woken up once the young boy left to get Katherine and she had also put them to sleep with her singing.
Once she got back to her room, she couldn't wait to crawl back into Minho's arms and fall back asleep. She opened the door and Minho sat on the end of her bed. She closed the door quietly as he opened his arms.
The girl smiled and crawled onto his lap, straddling him. She buried her head into the crook of his neck as he ran his fingers through her hair. Minho stood up as Katherine wrapped her legs around his waist to keep her from falling, his hands holding her under her thighs keeping her up.
Minho laid her down carefully as she moved over so Minho could crawl in beside her. Once he did, she laid her head on his chest and he wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her closer into his side. He rubbed her back she hummed the soft tune of the lullaby she sang to Chuck.
Katherine quietly began to sing the words, putting Minho to sleep. The sound of his heartbeat and his even breathing is what calmed Katherine and it made her fall asleep with a smile on her face.
Katherine woke up as Minho was tugging on his shirt. She smiled sleepily as Minho kissed her forehead seeing she was awake. "Morning, princess." He smiled.
"Morning, babe." She rested her head on his lap looking up at the boy. He ran his fingers through her hair. She admired his sculpted features and his loving expression. She wished they were outside of this hell hole and inside a warm house, only worrying about school work, or a part-time job and not about whether they would die or not.
"What's wrong?" Minho questioned, concern lacing his voice and facial expression. Katherine hadn't realized, but her eyes glossed over leaving them looking glassy. Minho pulled the girl up so she straddled him. She played with his hair as she wrapped her legs around his torso.
"I just wish we could live a normal life, go to school, get a part-time job rather than worrying if we're even going to survive another day." She sniffled, blinking away her tears. Minho pulled her into his chest with a sigh.
"I know. Me too, princess. Me too." He responded placing a gentle kiss on her shoulder. He placed small kisses up along her neck. Katherine buried her face into the crook of the runner's neck as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
The doors started rumbling and Katherine pulled away with a frown knowing Minho had to leave. "I love you. You better come back to me in one piece." She looked at Minho as he stood up pulling his backpack over his head.
"I'll always come back to you. I love you too." He grinned. Minho placed a kiss on the girl's forehead before sprinting out the door and straight to the maze doors. Katherine had been secretly wanting to be a runner for around a month and a half. Of course, Minho would never allow it. Neither would Newt. Since Katherine was the only girl, the boys had always felt she needed to be protected.
The brunette got out of bed with a yawn. She pulled off Minho's shirt and got dressed in her usual everyday clothes. She brushed out her hair and slipped on her shoes. The girl quickly made her way to the kitchen to get breakfast prepared for all the boys who got up earlier than everyone else.
Alby slipped in with the greenie, Thomas, trailing behind. "Morning, Katherine," Alby said with a small smile. She nodded with a smile of her own. She handed the two boys a plate of food knowing Alby had gotten Thomas up early to carve his name in with the others. Alby left to go wake up Newt so they could do they're 'leader stuff', as Katherine liked to call it, done.
"You carve your name in with the others?" The small girl looking up at the boy once she asked him the question. He studied her for a few seconds before answering, playing with his food before eating small bits of it.
"Yeah." He nodded. "You always seem to have a smile on your face whenever I see you, even with your situation," Thomas stated out of the blue after a few seconds of silence. Katherine faltered slightly, looking down to the ground momentarily.
"Well, I like to look at the positives. Even if there aren't many. These boys work hard and they deserve freedom and happiness. Each one of 'em. I like to believe that the runners will find a way out." Katherine looked at the open doors, her mind immediately going to Minho. Thomas looked in the same direction as her before back to her face.
"I can't imagine what it's like to know the person you love is out there risking their neck to find a way out," Thomas said, making Katherine look back at him. She sighed before getting Frypan's breakfast ready, knowing he would be up soon.
"I trust Minho. I know he'll make it back." Katherine said so full of hope. Her hope gave Thomas hope as well. It made him just a little bit more positive and he knew Katherine and him would end up as best friends.
"Morning, K!" Frypan said cheerfully as he entered the kitchen. He saw Thomas standing there at the counter eating. "Morning, greenie." He smiled with a nod. Thomas returned it.
"Morning." He responded. Katherine smiled and handed the plate to Frypan.
"Morning, Fry. Ready to get cookin'?" Katherine questioned with the same cheerful tone. Thomas admired her cheerfulness and lack of negativity. It made him more at ease even though he could only remember his name and that was it.
Thomas's first job was with the cooks and he enjoyed it. He quickly made friends with Katherine and Frypan. Alby came in to bring Thomas to his next job later in the day before lunch. Katherine smiled at him as he left and her Frypan continued on cooking and making jokes.
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Hey sorry for the late update and I hope you enjoyed this chapter :) I cannot explain how much I love Katherine's relationship with everyone in the Glade and Katherine and Minho. They're so cute :)
Anyway, until next time,
Xoxo, Gossip Girl