𝐍𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄 ⎯⎯⎯⎯ THOMAS

007.

seven !

A KNOCK ON the Shed's door startled Brynleigh from her book. After the new girl came up in the Box, Brynn went to her quarters and locked the door, needing time to clear her head.

The boys knew not to bother her in situations like this⸺ well at least she thought they knew.

"Come in." She called.

Thomas walked into the room nervously, "I, uh⸺ I know you, uh, told me to leave you alone but Minho and I are going to go back into the Maze.. and since you're kind of a runner now, I thought I would ask you."

"I'm not a runner." She mumbled, putting down her book.

Thomas' eyebrows furrowed, "Why do you say that?"

"Just because Minho 'promotes' me to be one, doesn't mean I am one." She states.

"You deserve to be one just as much as I do. You're just as fast as me, you know the Maze a lot better than I do and you have past experience." 

Brynleigh shook her head in protest, "I can't go in there again."

"Yes. Yes, you can." He countered.

"You don't understand what it was like that night." She whispered.

"Help me understand, then. Tell me what happened." The dark-haired boy pleaded.

"I⸺ I can't." Brynleigh murmured.

"You can't let that night hold you back." Thomas uttered.

"I'd rather stay here and read. I'm okay with staying here."

"What are you reading?" He asked.

Thomas grabbed the book from her table. The moment he opened it, his mind went blank, and he was plunged into a dream.

A light knock at his door surprised him in the late hours. People never knocked on his door.

He stood up, excited to see who was there. Opening the door, he saw her, standing there.

At first, his excited expression faded. But when he saw her puffy eyes and the dried tear streaks on her face, worry instantly overtook him, and any past anger was long forgotten.

"Brynn? What's wrong?" He questioned, hastily bringing her inside his room.

She sniffled as she walked inside, "You're mad at me and I couldn't sleep at all and your words kept repeating in my head and I feel bad that you are mad at me and you didn't come in my room so I was having trouble sleeping and⸺"

"Breathe." He urged.

He knew she rambled when she was nervous. He also knew that when she was having trouble breathing, a panic attack was on the way.

Her heart began thudding in her chest as her mouth dried. She felt her hands shaking, but couldn't seem to do anything about it. Her breathing became staggered as she sat on his bed and leaned against the wall.

"Brynn? Brynleigh, I need you to focus on me, okay?" Thomas told her while beginning to sit in front of her.

She nodded her head frantically, lifting up her head to see him, "Good. Just focus on me."

Out of habit, Brynleigh always found peace in his eyes. Every time she had a panic attack, she would simply focus on his captivating brown eyes, and it never failed to calm her down.