what's up, buttercup?

"Okay. Bye, shuckface." He starts walking away.

"Ken givin’ you a hard time?"

"Nah, me? I can deal with him, I doubt the greenies can though. He needs to calm down around them. Or, I don't know, just be neutral around them. If that's possible."

Well, yeah obviously. I mean, what do you wanna write about?

She shrugs. "Just reminders for myself."

[she glances up from the picture she was drawing in the dirt, something that looked eerily similar to the map of the maze] If this is about something that involves doing work, nobody’s home.

She rolls her eyes. "It's a matter of eating food. Dinner's ready, why are you still here? Trynna starve to death?"

You’re welcome. What do you need if for, if i may ask?

She looks down, rolling her eyes. "Writing, what else?"

"Oh…well, just— If they’re bothering you so much, send all the newbies to me, I’ll take care of them and you can get some peace and quiet in the map room. How’s that?"

Rose purses her lips. "Really? Ah--uh...thanks Audrey."

”Oh, uh, yeah i’m sorry. Here you can have it.”

She takes the pen from Liz. "Thanks, buttercup."

"Okay." he then leaves.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you to understand? Beat it, shuckface."

He stops singing. “Okay.”

"Good. You gonna leave?"

"I’m sorry, Rose! I just wanted to make sure you were okay! What’s going on?"

"Just.." she sighs, "just a busy day. I've got almost half a dozen greenies on my tail asking if they can be runners and I haven't even been able to step into the map room. If I don't get there soon, my day out there in the maze will be for nothing."

God you scared me. Is there something I can do for you?

"Are you going deaf, buttercup? I said can you pass me that pen over there."

"If Audrey says they’re fine, you’re stuck with me. Lucky for you, she says so."

She rolls her eyes. "Since you're the only person I can stand with the authority to boss Kennedy around, then yeah, lucky for me."

Leave then.

"Hate to break it to ya shuckface, but I was here first."

It’s okay. You have good reason to hate me. I am faster than you, after all.

She snorts. "Nix, that's a right?"

Well, damn, Rose. Tell me how you really feel.

She shakes her head, a small smile on her lips. “I absolutely can’t stand you, Phoenix. Is that what you wanted to hear?”