Secrets | TMR | One

2:9

A/N More mention of mental health 
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Similarly to the way they spent Adeline's second day here, the trio enjoyed an afternoon surrounded by daisies at the edge of the gardens.

Alby and Adeline made a point of keeping Nick away from the other Gladers. Something which, although he would never admit, the leader was grateful for. 'Baby steps' is what the two of them would tell the boy whenever he questioned their actions.

In reality, both Gladers just wanted to keep their friend all to themselves for the day. 

Nick has been quiet for the majority of the afternoon, allowing Alby and Adeline to take control of most conversations, which is no trouble whatsoever for the two of them.

Dinner is just about to begin, and so the three of them find themselves lightly strolling towards the kitchen, where the rest of the Gladers have already conjugated.

"I tell you, I thought Newt and Tim were never gonna shut up. I mean, come on, it's only fertiliser, no need to make such a big deal out of it" Alby whines, looking down to his feet as he kicks the tip of his right shoe against the grass.

Adeline turns her head to look at him while gently smacking the back of her hand against Nick's arm. "That's exactly what I said to Nick! Isn't it?"

''What?'' Nick spits out, his head whipping up to see Alby and Adeline already looking his way. ''Oh, yea.'' 

The leader glances back down to the ground, both hands in his pockets while he taps his fingers against the sides of his thighs.

''Are you alright?'' Alby questions, furrowing his brows at the boy and tilting his head slightly to see past Adeline's bushy hair. 

''Yea, I'm fine'' the leader assures, putting on the best smile he can muster. 

Both Alby and Adeline see right through the lie. Can hear the falseness in his statement, and see behind the cheerful exterior.

But neither of them say anything, however. Instead, they cast a quick glance to one another, silently agreeing that if Nick wanted to talk, he would.

Adeline reaches the dining area first, and quickly pulls a chair out for Nick before walking around the table and sitting on the opposite side of him. Alby takes a seat next to her, closely followed by George taking a seat next to Nick.

"George!" Adeline exclaims, her voice joyful and a large grin quickly appearing on her face. "Where have you been hiding? Haven't seen you in ages!"

The young boy crosses his arms together on the table, hunching down and resting his chin against them. "Fry has had me cleaning out the bins all morning. Sorting out what we can burn at the next bonfire and what we can't. It's exhausting!" 

''Sounds it!''

''Yea'' George agrees, ''he makes me do it all the time. You won't believe the kinds of things I find in there! Boys are disgusting!''

''Yes, George, you're right'' Adeline starts, pulling her lips into a thin line and glancing over to Alby with her brows raised. ''Boys are disgusting.''

''You wanna know what I found a few months ago?! A bag filled with clothes, right?'' George says, sitting up straight and scraping his chair against the ground so he can sit closer to the table. ''And guess what else?''

Adeline's attention immediately dots back to the young boy, her eyes widening slightly as she realises what he is talking about.

Alby also clicks on. He leans forward, his elbows planted on the table as he switches his gaze between Adeline and George. ''What else, George? I'm desperate to know.''