𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 & 𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘-𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮

NINETEEN

I was with Nico at dinner. Most of the tables were empty as the boys ate quickly and prepared for the Bonfire. "How did Gally get stung?"

"He didn't tell you?" Nico bit into his sandwich.

"He doesn't like talking about it."

He swallowed his food before saying, "He was standing at the Maze doors. Kinda how the Greenie was. Griever snuck up on him, got him before he could run away."

It made sense now why he reacted the way he did. I looked back at Gally. He was still in a bad mood and I hoped that the Bonfire would loosen him up a bit.

The fire was burning bright, warming me from the inside out as I stood in front of it. The bonfire was the same as mine; boys creating noise that sounded something like music, Newt showing the greenie around, and Gally fighting in the ring of boys.

Nico had left to get us drinks, so I stood alone. I didn't know where Chuck was, but if I had to guess he was watching the boys fighting. He had told me that he thought it was weird that boys fought and disliked watching it, but being in that circle of boys had made him feel included. I wished people were kinder to Chuck.

"It's supposed to be a party." Nico said as he stood behind me. What bah humbug got you?" He handed me my drink and I eyed it cautiously. I never got a chance to try it.

"Just thinking. What is this?"

He took a drink and looked at it weirdly. He made a face as he swallowed the liquid. "You know, I'm not sure. It's nasty for sure, but you get used to it. Just try it." I lifted the cup to my nose. "No, don't smell it. It'll put you off. Just drink."

I steeled myself and took a drink. It was bitter in my mouth and burned as it went down. I coughed and gagged, wanting it to be out of my system. "Oh my god, that's so bad."

Nico laughed and took my drink. "Come on, it's not that bad."

"It is that bad. Why do you guys voluntarily drink that?"

He shrugged. "You have enough and it makes you forget things. Makes you happier. You should have more." I gave him a straight face. "I'm serious. You've gotten better, but you need to have more fun. Here, try it again, but maybe try sipping instead."

I rolled my eyes, but did as he said. It definitely was still nasty, but not as bad. Nico and I stayed by the fire talking until I started feeling hot and I realized I was halfway through my drink. I suggested we go for a walk and Nico didn't question it.

We had found our way to the ring of boys and I watched as Gally beat every boy he went against. Though, it wasn't really fair when he was way bigger than all of them. Watching him made me remember my first night here and how I had fought Jackson, how it had set off a terrible chain of events. But it didn't bother me anymore. Not as much as it used to.

Gally threw the boy out of the ring and looked around challengingly, daring any boy to step forward. I wasn't sure what forced me to step forward but he raised his eyebrows at me. He took the cup from my hand and smiled. "You've been drinking."

I smiled back. "Just a little."

"I think you'll have to sit this one out."

I pouted. "Really."

"Yes." He gave me a soft kiss, ignoring the cheers and mocking voices of the boys around us. I blushed and bit my lip. "Next time."

"I'll go in her place." Nico said, stepping beside me. Gally shrugged and handed me my cup back.

"Come on, he's been drinking too."

"Sorry, princess." I glared daggers at him and stood back to watch Gally fight my best friend. Despite Nico being a scrawny thing, he held up well with Gally and even forced him to the edge a couple times. It went on for a couple minutes and because Gally didn't want to go against me, I cheered for Nico.
In the end, though, Gally's strength won against Nico's resilience. He pushed Nico out of the ring and I watched as he bumped into the Greenie, who was walking by with Newt.

We all looked at him and Gally held his arms out. "What do you say, Greenie?" The boy looked around, confused and I felt bad that no one warned him this was a tradition. Newt did an awful job at that.

As the boys cheered for the Greenie, he had no choice but to step into the ring. "The rules are simple. I try to push you out of the circle and you try to last more than five seconds."

Everyone laughed but my focus was on Nico as he came back to my side. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I didn't realize how strong Gally was."

I smiled. "You lasted pretty long though."

He tilted his head and smiled awkwardly. He was never good at taking compliments. "Thanks."

I turned my attention back to the two boys in the ring when everyone unanimously "ooo'ed" as Thomas almost fell out of the ring. I saw the frustration in himself and he charged at Gally, wrapping his arms around his torso and attempting to push him to the other end. But Gally was stronger and taller and ended up pushing Thomas to the end. But when they got to the end Thomas moved out from under Gally's arms and pushed him through the boys.

"Not bad for a Greenie, huh?" Greenie laughed. Gally's leg moved quickly as he swept the Newbies ankles. Greenie yelped as he fell sideways and his head smack against the floor. It was almost like deja vu, though I was the watcher now, from the fight to Greenie hitting his head.

My brain cleared as I ran to the Greenies side, but he was up as fast as he went down. "Thomas." He muttered and then louder he said, "I remember my name. It's Thomas. My name is Thomas."

It was quiet for a moment and I heard Alby yell out his name. Everyone surrounded him and Frypan handed him a drink. Thomas drank from it and then spit it out. I ducked away from the spray, not wanting to be hit by it.

A loud shriek came from the glade and it stopped the celebration. Thomas's voice shook as he asked, "What the hell was that?"

"That was a Griever." Gally explained. "Don't worry, you're safe here with us." He found my eyes and gave me a look that said 'better?' I tilted my head and gave him one that said 'better than nothing'.

Alby instructed everyone to head to bed. They dispersed, some groaning that they had to pack it up early.

I said goodnight to Nico and congrats to Thomas as I passed by. I caught up with Gally and he instantly grabbed my hand without looking back. I wanted to tell him something about the fight but kept quiet. He was in a good mood right now.

"I know you have something to say." He said when we got to our hut. He opened the door and let me walk in first.

"No I don't." I held my arm behind my back.

He snorted and sat on the bed, taking his boots off. "I know you. It's about the fight right? I shouldn't have done..." He shook his head. "I shouldn't have done that, I know, but I remembered how it had brought your name back and I wanted to do the same thing for him, as a good deed. I didn't expect him to fall so hard."

"He could have gotten a concussion." I gasped when I realized I didn't even check him. I wondered if Clint or Jeff had done it. I would have to make sure tomorrow. "It wasn't because of what you said earlier, right?"

He looked up at me, his eyes hard for a second and then he blinked and they were soft again. "No, it had nothing to do with that. Are you going to come to bed?"

I nodded and sat beside him, taking off my boots as well and placed them next to his. I laughed when I realized how much bigger his were. "We can go boating in your shoes."

He gave me a teasing smile. "Ant's could live in yours."

I gasped and couldn't hold back my laugh. "That is so mean."

"You started it." He laid back and folded his arms under his head. I crawled over him and put my head on his arms. We stayed in silence for a bit and then I giggled when my train of thought went back to our teasing.

"A Griever could live in yours."

He busted out laughing and moved his arms so they were wrapped around me now. He rolled over so his weight was all on me. I groaned and tried pushing him off me while laughing.