Dangerously Close (Aris x Reader)

20) Blush

Aris’s P.O.V

I made sure not to acknowledge the fact that she was holding my hand. Even if it did in fact leave me extremely happy, I wouldn't even look at our hands. Or point out that her grip was getting a little tighter. Or the way her calloused hands that had been through so much felt so soft to me.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. Doesn't mean I’ll answer,”She said simply.

“I know. You don't have to, but I just wanted to know how do you know how many miles the forest was?”

“I looked through the Maze files after I killed Ava. I was trying to figure out the best way to free them, but I had to leave before I could find much. The documents dropped from my jacket when I had to fight a guard in the front, and I didn't realize until it was too late.”

“And every information you got stuck with you since all information you get is usually important.”

“Yeah. It does.”

I like it when she tells me things. She says the most intense things so casually, something about her that’s so sweet in my eyes. Sad too though, the way she talks about the worst experiences so calmly.

No wonder she was so ready to accept death. I probably don't even know half of what she's been through, and I already don't think I would have been able to live for so long, much less basically my entire life.

“What?”She questioned, turning to meet my gaze, reminding me that I had been staring at her.

“Nothing,”I shook my head, facing the front.

“Your face flushes a lot.”

She said it as a simple statement. No concern or teasing undertone. Just her pointing out that I blush a lot around her without seeming to have any clue why.

“We should-”
“Hey, sticks. We have to get back in time for lunch,”Sonya called.

I got lucky for once. Cool.

Nodding her head, as the two girls started the path back, leading us, we kept up, Y/N still keeping her hand firmly in mine despite the way it would be so obvious if they glanced back for just a second.

She however did not seem to mind the possibility. Something that, as she would call it, made my face flush.

× ~ × ~ × ~ ×

The questions were simple things. Still things about her life but nothing purposely incriminating. I mean I don't think so.

“How do you stay in the Scorch your whole life? I would struggle with a week,”Harriet admitted.

“I took care of myself. Did what had to be done,”She shrugged, taking another bite of her food. She kind of eats like someone's going to snatch it from her any second, which is kind of sad. Or maybe I’m overthinking it and being oversensitive again. I can never tell.

“Did you find people?”Sonya asked.

“Sometimes. I would travel with different groups for a little bit.”

Yeah. The idiots that made fun of her accent. Hopefully, someone put a hit on them years ago.

“We’re supposed to help unpack, right?”She checked, being the first to finish her lunch, standing up with the plate in her hands.

“Yeah. To find out where things normally go,”Harriet answered.

“Just be careful. I don't think Vince has really warmed up to you yet,”Sonya advised.

“If I cared about being warmed up, I would go sit by a fire,”She said simply, turning on her heel. A laugh left me, which I quickly covered up when I realized I should probably not be so okay with the leader of this place being insulted. Even if it is funny.