Dangerously Close (Aris x Reader)

38) Side Character

Aris’s P.O.V

I tried not to think about last night. I can't. Whatever happened happened. Nothing will change that.

I’ve got to stay up later at night though. I have to watch over her. I have to make sure she's safe.

I’m just thankful she's okay right now. She made her way home.

“No Newt and Minho to bother today?”I double checked, just trying to keep my mind off it for now.

“Nope. Newt’s in the gardens, and Minho’s trying to come up with some job related to running,”Thomas repeated.

“Are you sure?”

“Oh come on. I am not that annoying to be around.”

“I didn't say you were. It's just that the thought of staying in this forest with all day and knowing you're going to ask unprompted questions about my dating life makes me want to die a little bit,”I clarified, picking the bucket out of the spring right before it filled to the top.

“I would never do that,”He insisted, giving a dramatic scoff.

“Yeah. Sure you wouldn't.”

“I swear you were not this sarcastic when we first met. You grow your hair out and get a little taller, and now you have an attitude.”

“No, I definitely was this sarcastic,”I assured him.

“Wow. You get a girlfriend and become a liar too.”

“Do you think it's possible that no longer being in constant danger of dying let’s me be myself?”

“Yeah. Sure you are.”

Rolling my eyes, I pulled a new bucket out at at the same time as him. Stopping, I looked over at him, raising an eyebrow. Nodding his head, he agreed as he sat down by the shore and pulled out his lunch.

“How long until this gets boring?”

“Which part?”I checked as I found my sandwich.

“All of it I guess. Going back to a routine,”He sighed, taking a bite of his apple.

“I don't think it'll feel boring. Maybe tedious or repetitive after a little bit, but I think it'll be an enjoyable kind. We’ll get some stability in our lives.”

“Maybe. It's all just a waiting game to find out now.”

“Would you rather be back in the Scorch?”

“Very funny,”He responded in a dry voice.

“Thanks. Appreciate it.”

“Seriously though. Am I crazy to be worrying about this all getting old?”

There was a hint of a sigh in his voice. There seemed to be genuine concern as he thought about it. I think I spotted a pinch of guilt as well, but I’d rather not get too deep into that.

“No. It's a worry, but I don't think it's something to fixate on. With all the people here and everything that has to get done, I'm sure we’ll all be able to stay busy.”

“I guess I’m just already going kind of crazy. I’m usually always doing something important. And it sucked, but it kept me occupied. Now I just do extra stuff with no description.”

“I think having good drinking water is pretty important,”I shrugged.

“Yeah. It just feels like I got forced from main to side character out of nowhere. It's hard to explain without sounding egotistical.”

“So basically you were always some sort of leader for a purpose or cause, whether it was good or bad, and now that you're just Thomas you don't know how to handle it. Right?”

“Okay. Maybe it isn't hard to explain then.”

“You want my advice?”

“That'd be appreciated.”

“Enjoy being the side character. Do what you want to do, let life happen, and just be a side character people always smile at when they see you.”

“That can't hurt to try,”He shrugged, taking another bite of his apple.

“Or you could start drama with Brenda if you really want to be the main character. Pretty sure there's still something about the club you two want to talk about. Maybe a little bit before.”

“How did you-”
“Don't worry about how I know things, Thomas.”

“I am. I’m kind of freaked out too.”

“Whelp, we should start bringing some of these back,”I suggested, wiping my hands off before grabbing one of the closed buckets.

“Aris, how-”
“Can't hear you. I’m dragging a bunch of water,”I insisted, walking past him with it in my arms.

“Aris-”
“Sorry, Thomas! Can't hear you!”