Secrets | TMR | One

1:8

Gally and Adeline spent the rest of their afternoon by the pond, too lost in each others company to give any thought to the Glade, or the boys bustling around trying to find them.

They had completely lost track of the time, totally forgotten about dinner, and the meeting that was supposed to be taking place afterwards.

One of the Gladers approaches them, stopping just by the log and crossing his arms over his chest as he watches the pair.

Both Gladers lay on a patch of grass that is illuminated by the sun, the tips of their heads and corners of their shoulders touching as they stare up towards the sky.

A cough from somewhere to the left of them cause them both to turn their heads, flinching as they spot Nick standing glaring at them.

"Did you forget something?" he asks, leaning his weight on his left leg and tapping his right foot against the ground.

"No?" Adeline replies, although it comes out as more of a question as she casts a quick glance over to Gally with her brows furrowed.

The builder merely shaking his head in response, scrunching his face up in confusion.

Adeline's eyes dot back over to Nick with an expectant look on her face.

"The meeting? We were supposed to have a meeting after dinner?"

The girl pushes herself from the ground, her upper body supported by her elbows that are digging into the grass. "Right? It's only-" she starts, pulling her wrist up to her face to inspect her watch, "the back of two."

"No it's not" Nick says quickly, his voice raising slightly, "it's almost seven. Dinner finished over an hour ago. I have been hunting high and low for you!"

"No, that can't be right" Adeline says, sitting herself upright and scrunching her face up at the boy.

The leader shifts his weight from his left to his right leg, raising his eyebrows and tilting his head forward. "Did you go in the water?"

"Yea, but-" she starts, glancing down to Gally for a moment before looking back up to Nick, her eyes widening as she realises, "ohhh."

"Yes. Watches don't work in water, Addy!"

"Shit" the girl mumbles.

"Get up" Nick commands.

"Alright, alright" Adeline mutters, bringing her hands up in defence before flattening them down on the ground and pushing herself up.

Nick waits for a second, stepping out of the way so the girl can pass while turning his head back to Gally, who is now paying back down in the sun. "You too."

Gally squints his eyes, raising his head slightly as he glances over to him. "Why do I need to go?"

"You're a keeper, are you not?"

Releasing a deep breath, the builder also jumps up to his feet, stepping past Nick and following closely behind Adeline.

Once the trio have left the forest, Gally quickly jogs to catch up with Adeline, not slowing until his steps are in time with hers.

The girl glances up to her left, having to tilt her head at an awkward angle to look at him. She lightly bumps her shoulder against his upper arm, sending him a cheeky grin as he stumbles slightly.

In return, he does the same, bumping his arm against her, chuckling as he does so.

All the while, Nick, trails behind them, watching the two Gladers with his face scrunched up.