Transparent ☆ [The Maze Runner] Gally

Keeper of the Builders

I had been in the glade for about a week now, and had tried just about every job. Although today was the job I was dreading the most.

Newt had assigned me to work with the builders, yet that would mean I was to speak directly to Gally. I was not even close to being prepared for that.

It was one thing to imagine how the scenario between Gally and I would go, but it was another thing to actually act it out. Besides, Gally and I had made no contact since the incident with Ben, and that is what initially caused the uprise of fear within me. I had no idea what to expect.

Even after I had convinced myself to get ready, I found myself once again in Chuck's room sprawled across the blankets on the floor. I only lifted my head at the sound of the door knob turning.

Both Chuck and Minho walked in eyeing me in frustration. Minho carefully set the tray of food in his hands beside me, as Chuck sat on the floor his body slumped against his bed frame.

"Y/N, why are you still here? I have to be in the maze in like five minutes, I can't be babysitting you with Chuck", Minho huffed crossing his arms across his chest. "Well I didn't ask you to come get me Minho", I sighed pulling a piece of food from the tray the boys had brought me.

"I'm just worried about you okay, but don't let that get to your head", he pointed sternly. "Now what's going on", he asked expecting me to answer.

"Isn't it obvious? She doesn't want to go to work today because she has to work with the builders", Chuck said as if his thought was more than transparent. "What does that have to do with anything", Minho stood perplexed.

"The builders. The keeper of the builders. Gally", Chuck patiently waited for Minho to put two and two together. "Oh", he stated simply. "Oh!", Minho elongated the sound of the word as if he had come to a brilliant conclusion.

Minho smirked as Chuck began to speak again, this time further mentioning Gally. "You talk about him all week in your sleep, and now you don't want to talk to him", he looked to be genuinely confused by my actions.

Had I really thought about Gally to the extent of him making appearances within my dreams? "What are you talking about", I glanced down continuing to eat little pieces of food.

"Well don't you like him", Chuck asked innocently. "No, I don't think I do", it felt as though I had just lied to him, but the truth was I wasn't entirely sure if I did or didn't.

"If you don't like him like you say you don't, what's the problem", Minho stated logically. He was right, what was my problem? "Nothing I guess", I stood up taking the empty tray with me.

Chuck and Minho followed as we each made our way out the door and into the glade. Prior to parting ways, Chuck pulled me into a hug, his head barely reaching my stomach due to our height difference.

He had caught me off guard, but the gesture was sweet. I smiled at Minho beginning to relax. "What's wrong buddy?", I placed my hand gently on the back of Chuck's head now looking down at him.

"Nothing. I just wanted to say that you're going to do great today", he said pulling away. "Thank you", I grinned. Minho soon placed his hand on my shoulder, "Yeah, just relax. You're going to be fine. Gally isn't going to bite".

"Anyways, we all need to get to work. Right Chuck?", he glanced at Chuck who returned his question with a nod, "See you soon, okay". "See you soon", I repeated.

I swiftly pivoted on my heels, heading towards the area where the builders did their labor. Though, my motions were ceased as I collided with a solid figure that had made a sharp turn around a little hut.

The impact had caused me to fall harshly onto the dry grass. The dark haired boy grew concerned as he hurried to help me up. "I'm so so sorry Y/N", he stammered.

"It's okay Thomas", I reassured him as he pulled me up to my feet. I was soon a stumbling mess as I lost my balance tripping over Thomas's foot. My clumsiness had seemed to evoke a domino effect as Thomas began to lose his footing as well.

"Woah, you good", he laughed. Thomas placed his hand on my waist finally holding us steady. "Yeah. Are you good?", I smiled earning a reflected grin from him.

Our playful banter was soon interrupted by a loud snicker nearby.  I glanced around only to find Gally rolling his eyes at us, instantly going back to work.

"Um, well good luck today Thomas", I felt uncomfortable as I backed away from him. "Yeah thanks, you too", he scratched the back of his neck. He glared at Gally for a split second considering if he should say something, but instead ran towards Minho, who was waiting for him.

I too found myself running, trying to make up for lost time. It wasn't long before I stood a few feet behind Gally.

"Hi", the word had left my lips sounding more meek than initially intended. Gally scoffed making no effort to look at me, "You're late".

"I'm sorry. I got caught up", I mumbled. "That's not a good enough excuse", he set down the hammer he held in his hand. "I know, but I was hoping you would-", I faltered, but the sound of Gally's voice barged in.

"Look, don't think just because you're new I'm going to treat you any differently than I do to them", he straightened his posture pointing to the other builders as his cold stare now fell upon me.

"I understand, I wasn't expecting you to", I avoided his comfortless glare. "Good, now a few things before you start", he began.

"Stay out of my way and don't touch anything. Your job for the rest of the day is to pick up loose nails", I could feel his eyes trail across my face skeptically.

"Why can't you teach me to build like the rest of the boys? Why do I have to do your dirty work?", I questioned almost provoking him. He paused before he spoke as if my questions were some kind of insult.

"You're not cut out for this work. Your hands are too soft",  he snapped back. "Now do you have any other comments, or have you had enough?",  he picked up a nail dropping it in my hand.

I was left speechless. This was far from how I had expected this scenario to go. The dreamlike state I was once energized by was now drained into reality.

Gally had opened my eyes to my inaccurate preconceived notions. He was exactly the way he portrayed himself to be. Moody and unkind. Maybe I had been right when I thought about who I liked and disliked. Maybe I was right that Newt would always be the better choice.