𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 & 𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘-𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮

SEVEN

Gally went to talk to Alby, leaving me alone for a bit. His words, something I never knew I needed to hear, leaving me in an emotion I wasn't familiar with. Not just another Glader. I didn't know why, but it had me feeling like maybe, just maybe, I would be able to survive the Glade.

He came back about thirty minutes later. "Alby said you can take the rest of the day off, but he'll only allow it once." I nodded. Gally sighed and sat on the bed beside me. I had taken off my boots and sat on the bed, leaning against the wall and my knees up to my chest. "You really shouldn't worry about what they say, they're idiots and don't know what they're talking about."

We sat in silence for a beat and then I muttered. "I wish I wasn't different. Things would be so much different."

"I don't wish you were different." I turned to Gally and he blushed. I don't think he meant to say that outloud. He didn't clarify what he meant, but he didn't really have to.

"Even if it meant that you have to sleep on the floor of your own hut?" I tried to joke.

Thankfully, Gally laughed. "Yeah, even then." We fell into silence, but I didn't mind it. I found that I liked being around Gally. To anyone else he had this rough exterior where he seemed to block everyone out. But to me, he was kind. He didn't shy away from comforting me.

It had been silent for what seemed like an hour and I wanted to hear something other than my thoughts, so I asked, "What were the first days of the Glade like?"

Gally looked far away when he answered. "It was a lot of confusion. No one knew who they were. Didn't know what we were doing here. A lot of boys...didn't make it. Weren't strong enough to handle it." A look came over his face so dark, you would think he was reliving those days. "We had a leader before Alby. His name was Nick."

It had shocked me that someone came before Alby in leadership. He just seems like someone who has been leading forever. "What happened to Nick?"

"He threw himself down the shuck Boxhole, after it went down. Thought it would be a way out." He shook his head. "Safe to say, that was not the case. It's when we knew the Maze would be the only way out."

I frowned. "What would be the purpose of all of this?"

"No use in thinking about it. It'll only drive you crazy." He gave me a sympathizing smile. "I learned the hard way."

I smiled back at him. "You don't seem all that crazy to me."

He sucked in a breath and laughed. "Yeah, well that was all before-" He cut himself off and I saw that he was flustered. I wanted to ask him more, but I knew he wouldn't respond to it. "Anyway, the important thing is that we make the best of what we have here."

I bit my lip. "I guess so."

"I should head back to work now, before Alby chews my head off." He got up and before he walked out of the door I called out to him. "Yeah?"

"Thank you for being here."

He smiled. "Of course."

Dinner came and I was somewhat nervous. I wasn't sure what I was going to walk into when I arrived at the Kitchens, but complete and utter silence wasn't on my mind. I had played out every scenario I could think of. They would be waiting for me to show up and then laugh at me for making a scene.

But they were all just quiet and no one dared to even look in my direction. Frypan was happy to see me though and gave me a plate with what looked like double servings of what everyone else got. "I know you didn't eat lunch. You don't have to eat all of it, but try to eat most." I gave him a smile of gratitude and found my way to the table with my friends.

It was worse walking through silence then it was when everyone had something to say. The air was tense with unspoken words. But when I sat down, they picked up conversation. Not nearly as loud as it was earlier, but it was better than whatever the hell I walked into.

"What the hell was all of that?" I whispered to Newt.

He had a weird look on his face, like he was trying to hide a grin. "Gally had a chat with the boys when you left."

"I wouldn't really call it a chat." Alby butted in. "Put me to shucking shame." He shook his head.

"I miss out on all the fun." Minho feigned a pout.

"I wouldn't really call threatening of violence fun." Alby muttered.

I was shocked, listening to them. "What exactly did he say?"

"'You shanks keep talking about Florence, I'll personally beat the klunk out of all of you.'" Newt tried to copy Gally's voice, but his accent fell through and made the whole table laugh. I had to admit it was funny, but all I could do was look over at Gally, where he talked with the other Builders. He found my eyes and I wondered if he could see the gratefulness in my eyes. He just gave me a small smile and turned back to the rest of the table.

I smiled and turned back.

"Someone's got a crush." Minho teased.

I was sure I turned a bright red. "Shut up. No I don't."

He raised his eyebrows at me. "Oh, yeah, sure."

I narrowed my eyes and leaned forward so I could whisper harshly, "You keep flapping your shuck lips and I'll make sure you won't have anymore. Got it." I tried to hold in my laughter, but the surprised and scared face he made was priceless. Now it was my turn to laugh. Minho flushed with embarrassment and muttered about me being a Slinthead.

"That was almost as scary as Gally." Newt smiled. "I think you spend too much time with him."

"I think you need to spend some time with a Griever." I muttered. Though they knew I was joking and only laughed more.

As I was getting ready for bed, I noticed that the bottom of my shorts were covered in dirt. Something I hadn't noticed earlier. I brought it up to Gally and he tried to look for more bottoms, but he didn't have any more. "Sorry, Greenie."

I sighed. "I don't want to sleep in dirty clothes."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it soon enough."

I made a disgusted face at him. "I hope not."

"The box comes up with supplies tomorrow. You can request more clothes then." I nodded, remembering Newt had told me that same thing this morning. "And you don't really have to sleep in shorts. I'm sure the shirt is long enough." I stared at Gally, feeling my face get hotter with the thought of only sleeping in a shirt and underwear with him in the same room. He looked just as flustered. "Well, you don't really have to. It was only a suggestion. Whatever makes you comfortable."

I looked away from him and thought about it. I could just suck it up and sleep in dirty shorts, or I could be comfortable and put them back on when I wake up. "Uh, no yeah. I could get under the covers and..." I didn't need to finish my sentence and as soon as I got under the blanket he turned around, giving me even more privacy.

I untied the strings and pulled the shorts down, then kicked them off my feet and shoved them against the wall. I made sure that everything was covered before telling him it was okay to turn around.

He didn't look at me as he got settled for bed and he had this strange look on his face. I decided it was best to not ask about it because of how awkward the situation was and I knew that he knew I only had a shirt and underwear covering me from being completely naked.

Oh god, maybe it would have been better to just sleep in the shorts. Was it too late to put them back on? No, you're being ridiculous. I was more comfortable sleeping without the shorts, considering how dirty they were. I would just sleep and put them back on. It was no problem. Besides, the blanket gets hot. At least now I would be able to cool down.
Yeah, I had to rationalize it or I would go insane.

I turned to look at Gally, but his back was to me. He was breathing slowly and evenly. He wasn't snoring yet, so I knew he wasn't fully asleep, but I still didn't want to interrupt his slumber, so I just turned the other way and forced myself to sleep.