Discoveries | TMR | Three

3:0

Once the meeting had concluded; once the details had been thoroughly discussed and their game plan had been set in stone, each and every one of those youngsters vacated the office and had taken it upon themselves to seek some freedom from the dread-fuelled air that surrounded them by doing what Adeline, Frypan and Chuck previously took part in.

Swimming.

All of them. Each and every one; up to the boulevard they sauntered, pinching whatever swim suits and bikinis they could find that fit, and practically sprinting back down to that rocky pool by the edge of the garage to engage in some innocent antics that they all craved.

Nick, himself, had tried to join in on the fun, yet he found it difficult to do so whilst Adeline continued to clamber up onto the wall and leap down into the deepest part of the pond; her body still clad in that skimpy bikini she had been wearing before, and with her scars on display for all to see, he had found it difficult to enjoy himself each time he caught a glimpse of someone staring.

Adeline has always attested to being proud of her scars, for they boldly declare all that she has endured and survived in the Scorch, and whilst Nick can wholeheartedly agree with that pride, he still finds it hard every time he notices Oscar staring, or Newt and Thomas sharing looks between them.

And for that, he drew himself away from it all. Out of sight, out of mind; that was the thought filtering through his head when he clambered from the salt-water pool and decided to merely stand by the edge of the wall; listening to them all down there, laughing, joking, enjoying the brief sense of youth and innocence they should have always felt.

He soon sees that he is not the only one deciding that he is not in the right headspace for such enjoyment when he catches the sight of Daniel sitting on the ledge only a mere few meters away from him, and he can tell by the vacant expression on his face that there are plenty gruelling thoughts filtering through his mind.

Inhaling a breath, he approaches the boy. He sits down next to him, not looking at him, but rather, staring out into the distance. "You don't seem like you're enjoying all the fun."

Daniel scoffs lightly. "Could say the same about you."

"Yea, well," Nick sighs, "that's 'cause I don't think there's much to be enjoying right now."

"Been thinking about the Glade?" the redhead asks.

"Too much," and the brunette answers. He looks down to his twiddling fingers, then back up to the horizon; his brows squinting when the sunlight hits his eyes. "Going back there, I just- I just don't know how easy it'll be."

"Why are you going then?"

"Cause it makes sense that I do," he tells Daniel, truthfully, as he glances to him. "Lived there long enough. Ads doesn't remember it, Thomas was only there about four days before he figured out a way for us to get out and Alby... well, he doesn't know the Maze that well. Newt and Minho were the ones out there everyday, but we haven't got them." He shrugs. "I'm the next best thing."

Daniel says nothing.

"You were quiet in the meeting today." Though Nick does not allow the silence to last long.

"I'm quiet in most, amn't I?"

"You are," he agrees. "Never that quiet though."