Gladers choice | TMR | Thomas | Minho

Chapter Sixteen

After all the Gladers had gone off to sleep, some scattered in the sleeping bags handed out by the others, a few still remained near the bonfire. Chuck had fallen asleep next to Lyra and Thomas, his small body curled up in a tight ball. Lyra, with a small, sisterly smile, gently placed a blanket over Chuck, tucking it around him carefully.

"You seem pretty close with Chuck," Thomas remarked casually, breaking the silence between them.

Lyra glanced over at Chuck, who was already dozing off beside them, and nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, despite him only being here a month, he's like family already. He's got this knack for getting under your skin in the best way possible."

Thomas shifted slightly to get more comfortable, leaning back on his hands. He watched her intently. "That's sweet," he said. "I've noticed you two seem really tight."

Lyra smiled faintly, adjusting her seating position. "Yeah, he's a good kid. The Glade's a tough place for someone like him, but he's holding up."

He leaned closer, his shoulder brushing against hers. Lyra felt a tingle every time they touched, her heart beating a little faster. "He's lucky to have you."

Lyra shrugged, feeling a warmth spread from where their shoulders touched. "We all look out for each other here."

Thomas chuckled softly. "He seems to trust you a lot."

"He's a good judge of character," Lyra replied, her voice tinged with affection.

They fell into a comfortable silence, the crackling of the bonfire the only sound in the night. Thomas leaned in slightly, intrigued. "What's it like? Being a Runner with Minho?"

Lyra's expression softened, a small smile tugging at her lips as she recalled their adventures. "It used to be intense. Minho's always been fearless, charging into the Maze like he owned it. He pushed us all to our limits."

Thomas nodded thoughtfully. "He seems like someone who'd be hard to argue with."

Lyra chuckled softly, her eyes reflecting fond memories mixed with recent tension. "You have no idea. But he's also fiercely loyal. When we're out there, it's like nothing else matters except getting back."

Thomas observed her closely, sensing the complexity in her emotions. "Sounds like you two have a strong bond."

"Yeah," Lyra agreed softly, her voice tinged with sadness now. "But lately, things have been different between us."

Thomas leaned back, resting on his elbows, and studied her with empathy. "It happens," he said gently. "Friends fight. It doesn't mean the bond is broken."

Lyra nodded slowly, her gaze distant. "I know," she murmured. "I just wish... I wish it was easier."

After a while, Thomas shifted the conversation to lighter topics, trying to lift Lyra's spirits. They exchanged playful banter, sharing stories of their early days in the Glade when chaos and laughter often mingled together.

"You wouldn't believe the pranks we used to pull," Lyra said with a mischievous grin, her eyes brightening as she recounted the antics of her and Newt. "There was this one time when Newt and I tried to prank Gally by switching the labels on all the supplies in the storage shed. We thought it was hilarious until Gally found out and chased us around the Glade with a shovel."

Thomas's laughter was genuine, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "You and Newt sound like troublemakers."

Lyra shrugged, a playful glint in her eye. "We had to find ways to keep ourselves entertained."

As their stories wound down, a comfortable silence settled between them. Lyra leaned back against the log, a soft sigh escaping her lips as fatigue began to weigh on her. Her eyelids drooped slightly, betraying her growing exhaustion.