Desire // Gally x Reader

Chapter Eight - Teresa

We finished relatively quickly, although I'm certain Jorge will tweak specific aspects tonight when we leave him alone. I leave before the rest, the bags beneath my eyes feeling dark and heavy. As my feet hit the cool concrete in the hallway, a voice makes me stop.

"Y/n, wait!" It calls. I turn around and watch as Gally jogs slowly towards me. "Oh, hey, Gally," I mumble. He stops a few inches away, and stares down at me with a serious look on his face. "We need to chat about this." I nod and he pushes past me, leading me down the hall and into a large storage closet.

"What's happening with us, n/n?" He asks. My brows furrow in surprise. I knew this question was coming, but he was so blunt and forward with it. I expected at least three minutes of awkward small talk before it came up. But no, instead, I have to deal with the thick lump of anxiety that's bubbling up my throat.

I haven't fully planned out what I want to say yet. I'm not ready to have this conversation, what was I thinking? As I freak out, he just stares at me. I try and deduce what he's thinking. I search his eyes, sure I'll find anger or irritation, but there's nothing. He's looking at me the same way he did back in the Glade, like he knows what I'm thinking.

I realise he deserves an answer, but do I have one to give?

"I don't know, Gal," I say truthfully. Suddenly, words spill from my lips like an overflowing cup of water, and I'm unable to stop them. "Look, Gally, this might sound really strange because I haven't seen you in a year, but I don't care. I still love you. I have always loved you, and it's not something I can help. But, if you don't feel the same then I can put it aside and we can just be friends, or civil, or whatever you want to be."

His eyes soften, a mix of surprise and something else flickering in his gaze. He lets out the breath he had been holding, and his voice drops to a low whisper. "Y/n..." He pauses, running a hand through his slowly growing hair, and takes a shaky step forward. "You have no idea how many times I thought about you. Hell, a year... it feels like ten. And the thing is, even when we were apart, I tried to forget about you. Tried to pretend I didn't care. But every time... you came right back to me."

He looks down, his fingers flexing as if reaching for me but not quite daring. "I thought maybe I'd lost you for good, that I'd never hear you say something like that again. Especially after the other night. But hearing you now..." His voice stays strong, and he clears his throat. "I still love you too, n/n. Always did. I'll never stop."

He finally reaches out, his hand gently grazing mine, almost like he's afraid I might disappear. "So, if you still feel the same, I don't want 'civil'. I don't want 'just friends'. I want you. Only you. I always have."

Milliseconds after he completes his sentence I throw my arms around his neck, engulfing him in a tight embrace. It felt so good, so surreal, to hear the words I'd spent nights dreaming of finally leave his lips. Gally's arms wrap around me as if they were made for it, holding me tightly, anchoring me after all this time apart.

Slowly, he pulls back just enough to look at me, his gaze intent, and I feel his breath warm against my cheek. I don't hesitate. Tilting my head up, I close the distance between us, my lips meeting his in a kiss that feels both tender and desperate, making up for all the lost time.

When we finally pull away, his hand lingers on my cheek, reluctant to let me go. "I'll see you soon," he murmurs, his voice low and steady, though his eyes betray the sadness at the thought of parting again. I nod, giving his hand one last squeeze. "Right. Just stick to the plan, and try not to get caught," I say, my tone determined.

We separate, each casting one last look over our shoulders as we turn in opposite directions. I take a deep breath, readying myself for the next phase- awaiting the arrival of the one person I hoped to never see again.