Desire // Gally x Reader

Chapter Seven - The Plan

With a huff and a groan, I fall backwards onto my bed, letting my legs swing into the air before slamming them back on the floor. I groan loudly and place my head in my hands. Although I can't see him, I hear Lorenzo sit beside him and feel him pat my shoulder supportively. "When did everything get so hard?" I groan. He sighs with a small laugh, "When has it ever been easy, n/n?"

I let my hands drop and scoot back upright, my posture folding into a hunch. "Seriously, Enzo, what am I supposed to do? I mean, one-minute Gally's acting like I'm a child who can't socialise properly, and the next he's smiling at me and pretending nothing happened. It's like he's disregarding the fact that we were dating, that we were in love!"

"You're asking me to give advice? On relationships? Yeah, good luck with that."

"Please, Lorenzo. I don't know what to do. I can't talk to him about it but I can't keep ignoring it," I plead. He rests his head in the palm of his hand. "Honestly? You just need to talk to him. Thug it out, push through it, and get through the conversation."

"Thug it out?" I mimic him, raising my eyebrow. He simply groans in reply. "You know what I mean." I chuckle half-heartedly and nod. I curled up on the bed, the soft glow of the ceiling lamps casting dancing shadows above me. I jump slightly as Lorenzo hops to his feet, pacing back and forth as his words ramble.

"Alright, let's break this down and make a plan," he began, his voice gentle. "What do you want to say to him?" The question comes as a surprise. It was so obvious that I should have expected it, but somehow no answer came to mind. "I don't know, Enzo!" I exasperate. "I mean, the last time we talked didn't go so well. Besides, it's been over a year, and we've both changed so much."

He nodded understandably, still pacing. "And that's totally normal. But, you know, sometimes, the best way to figure it out is just to talk about it." I rolled my eyes, a sarcastic smile playing on my lips. "Easier said than done. I don't want to sound like a complete idiot."

Lorenzo chuckled before continuing. "You won't. Just be... honest and open. Maybe you could start by saying something like, 'hey, I've been thinking about us a lot lately. Do you want to talk about it sometime?'" I pondered his suggestion. "That's... actually not terrible. But what if he doesn't want to talk?" He shrugs. "Then, at least you've tried. And who knows, maybe he's been thinking about it too."

I sigh, my heart sinking slightly. "Do I even want that though? Even if I did, what if he says something rude in return?" Lorenzo's expression softened again. "Well, he won't. But, if he does, tell him to piss off. You don't need that sort of negative energy in your life."

I laugh loudly, a flicker of hope igniting within me. "Okay, fine. I have a proposition for you. If I talk to Gally, will you please, please, talk to Newt." He shakes his head and immediately starts protesting. "Enzo, come on! We can do it together."

After a round of intense begging and bargaining, he finally agrees, and I'm content with our argument. Before we have time to discuss it further, Valentino's trademark knock pounds against the door, and he invites us to join the others in a meeting.

When we enter, Gally is already mid sentence. Everyone else, including Jorge and Brenda, are stationed around a circular table in the centre of the room. I have to hold in my laugh as I spy Brenda almost falling asleep to his words.

"She is our only way in," he says. "Do you really think she is going to help us?" Thomas asks. He looks to the side momentarily, and sneaks in a small, "Hey, n/n, Enzo." Gally's eyes flick to us, but he keeps the conversation on track. "I don't plan on asking for her permission," he says sternly.

Who could she be? The only girls that these kids know is me, Brenda, or Vella, and I don't think any of them would do something without asking our permission. "Am I missing something here?" Brenda asks, still half asleep. "Yeah, us too," Enzo says.

"This is the same girl who betrayed us, correct? Same dick?" She lifts her head and raises her voice. Suddenly, it clicks. The girl they're talking about is Teresa. Just talking about her brings a scowl to my face. It only grows when Gally gestures towards Brenda and says, "I like her."

I only flip my frown when Lorenzo nudges me and really pronounces his smile, sending it as a reminder for me to show off my own. Brenda lowers her voice and stares at Thomas. "What's going on?" She asks softly. Newt, who had been chewing on his thumb in the corner, raises his gaze.

"What, are you afraid your little girlfriend's going to get hurt?" He hisses, voice seething with anger. "Hm?" He challenges. "Because this has obviously never been just about rescuing Minho, has it?"

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Thomas asks quietly. The rest of us either look down at the floor or switch our gaze between the two depending on who's speaking. Although Newt's irritation was irrational and rude, he makes a fair point. The only reason Thomas would be against a plan involving that wretch would be because he still had feelings for her.

"Teresa. She's the only reason that Minho's even missing in the first place. Now we finally have an opportunity to get him back, and what? You don't want to because of her?" He practically spits the words out. As he speaks, he pushes Thomas further back against a wall, voice getting louder and more filled with rage with each step.

When Thomas has no place left to go, Newt finishes his rant. "Because deep down inside you still care about her, don't you? Just admit it."

"Newt I-" Thomas begins, but Newt cuts him off. "Don't lie to me!" He grabs Thomas by the shoulders of his jacket and slams him against the wall. "Don't. Lie. To me," he repeats, pausing in between words.

In a single second, the look in his eyes completely transforms. The shine returns, and it's almost as though his sanity returned, and his mind was cleansed in clarity. He shrinks back into the shadows, avoiding Thomas' eye-line. "Sorry," he says quietly. He turns around and looks at the rest of us. "I'm sorry," he says again.

He grabs onto his arm and walks out of the room. We watch as he turns a corner and walks up the flight of steps that leads to the rooftop. Once he's gone, Lorenzo and I rush over to Thomas. "You alright, T? He hit you pretty good," I say, chuckling as Enzo checks him for anything major.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he says, distracted. "Can you guys finish up here? I'm gonna go check on him." I nod and he follows Newt up to the rooftop.

"Yikes, that was..." I begin, but I'm unable to find the right word to describe what had just happened. "So, back to the plan," Gally says. "I think we should just do as I said. It's quick, relatively simple, and almost guaranteed to work." Jorge, Brenda, and Fry agree, but Lorenzo and I still have no idea what they're talking about.

"Can someone please enlighten us on this plan of yours?" I ask. "Oh, right, yes," Gally stutters. "What I was thinking is that Thomas and I go into the city, and sneak into the building that connects to WICKED's headquarters. It's usually empty just before lockdown since everyone's getting the trains, but that's usually when Teresa leaves. We can use Thomas to lure her, and then we transport her back here and force her to cooperate."

"Sounds good to me," I shrug. Lorenzo agrees and we begin working out the intricate details and potential consequences.