Secrets | TMR | One

1:4

Wasting absolutely no time whatsoever, Adeline and George quickly hop to their feet, rushing through the trees and out of the forest.

"Okay so we're gonna need some rope, which will be easy to get. There's boxes in a cupboard at the back of the Homestead filled with stuff like that" Adeline says as they make a beeline towards the shabby building.

"What about a plank of wood?" George questions, keeping his footsteps in time with hers.

"That will be more difficult" the girl admits, "the builders keep that."

George scoffs. "There's no way we're getting that then."

"We can ask Henry, he's the only one that isn't a complete dick" Adeline responds before shrugging her shoulders. "It'll be fine."

At the front door of the Homestead, Nick steps out, immediately stopping as he notices the two Gladers rushing towards him, completely unaware that he is standing there.

"Where were you two going?" he questions, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning the weight of his body on his left foot.

Adeline and George freeze, switching their gaze between Nick and each other.

"We were, uh, we were-" Adeline starts, racking her brain to come up with an excuse.

But before she can come up with one, Nick raises his hand, immediately silencing her. "You know what? I don't care. George, Fry was looking for you."

The leader tilts his head, motioning for the young boy to go to the kitchens.

"Now? Right, okay" George mutters, glancing over to Adeline and sending her a smile before running off.

Nick watches the young boy leave then turns his head back to Adeline. "You promised me you'd go see Clint after breakfast, and it is now-" he starts, drawing his watch up to his face to check the time, "almost ten. Breakfast finished hours ago."

Adeline shuffles her feet on the ground, twisting her fingers together as she looks up to Nick. "I did go see Clint."

"Then why is your bandage dirty? And why do you now have the sleeve of your top wrapped around your head?"

"I, uh, funny story, actually" the girl says, giggling slightly, "I kind of ran into a tree and cut my head..."

Nick drops his arms down to his sides, his eyebrows raising slightly. "You need stitches again?"

"No!" Adeline quickly spits out, lifting her hands up so that her palms are facing the boy in front of her. "Just my forehead."

"Then why did you not go to the medhut?" the leader questions, placing both hands on his hips. "Why did you decide that it'd be better to tear your sleeve off and wrap it around your head than going to get it fixed properly?"

The girl smiles guiltily at the boy, hunching her shoulders down as well as her head. "It's actually your t-shirt I'm wearing."

"My t-shirt?!" Nick repeats, "why are you wearing my t-shirt?"

"I was bloated! I needed something baggy and you've got bigger - and comfier - clothes than me!"

"Okay, okay" the boy says, scrunching his face up, "now explain why you left it."

"I was hungry."

Nick does nothing but blink at the girl. Of course, he should have known that nothing comes between Adeline and her food.

Raising his hand up to the left, he curls every finger except his index one, which he uses to point over to the medhut. "Go see Clint."

Adeline flattens her left hand out, bringing it up to her forehead and saluting the leader. "Yes, boss" she says before quickly rushing away from him.