Secrets | TMR | One

3:7

The days that followed were nothing short of peculiar for Adeline.

Nick and her, for starters, had not uttered a word to each other since the day he had helped her in the bathrooms.

But that does not mean that they did not converse in some aspect, no.

All communication afterwards became that of a soft, nervous smile as they passed each other in the Glade. Stolen glances across the dining area during meal times were another thing the pair so often shared - although nobody else seemed to notice this. 

Not even Nick and Adeline had realised that the other had been casting a quick glance every time they took a bite from their food, or every time there was a break in the conversations at their respective tables.

After over two months of nothing but silence between them, the two Gladers were finally beginning to mend the broken friendship and, dare they think it, possibly start something new entirely.

Neither of them knew it at the time, but they need each other, and it was only when they were in the bathroom and they shared - whatever they shared - did they truly realise how much they missed each other.

Or at least, Adeline realised. She cannot speak for Nick.

She is not sure if he felt what she did in the bathrooms that day.

Hell, she is not even sure of what she felt herself.

But Adeline is supposed to be with Gally, is she not?

The girl certainly did think so, but as she stands in the kitchen preparing breakfast for the Gladers, she thinks about everything that has happened, every single moment which lead her up to this point, and she wonders...

Is Gally worth it? Is being with the one that she supposedly wants worth all the hassle that comes with it?

A faint sound of feet shuffling against the floorboards, followed by an apron being ripped down from the hooks at the entry to the kitchen causes Adeline's ears to perk up and her mind to zone back into reality.

''Good morning, Adeline'' a cheerful voice rings out from behind her. 

She looks up from the bunker for a moment, closing her eyes, inhaling a deep breath and counting to ten before dropping her head back down and continuing on with preparing breakfast. ''Morning'' she replies, her tone of voice flat.

''Oh, come on'' the boy whines. Taking a few short steps over to the girl, he props his left elbow on the counter next to her and pushes his toes off the ground until the entire side of his upper body is leaning slightly in front of her. ''You can't still be mad about yesterday?''

''I'm not mad'' she mutters, raising her eyebrows and pulling her lips into a thin line while gently shaking her head. She does not tear her eyes away from her task, refusing to look a the boy next to her for fear that she may - in the politest way possible - wrap the nut in him.

The boy scoffs as he turns his head away for a second, looking out towards the kitchen before rolling it back down to face the girl. ''Adeline, you can't stay mad at me'' he mumbles, sending her the most innocent smile he can muster. 

Again, Adeline does not even look at the boy, does not even allow her eyes to flicker in his direction. ''Go away,  Gally.''

''What did I even do?'' Gally questions, hunching his shoulders up and leaning back slightly. 

''I don't know, Gally'' the girl starts, ''you tell me.''

The builder flops his body back down against the counter, chuckling lightly while shaking his head. ''You're being a real grumpy shank this morning, you know that?''