𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

deleted scene. 🎬 shuck you will

d.scene from
YOU GIVE ME STRENGTH
🤖

As the dinner came to an end, everyone finished their portions and started to clear away the dishes. The girls washed as others dried the plates and put them in the cupboards. 

Nancy passed a plate towards Harriet. "Pass me the washcloth, will you?"

Harriet nodded, handing her the washcloth. Nancy started washing the plate with a focused expression, her eyes almost closed.

Thomas finished with his dish, hanging it on a rack before heading towards the others. He found Bea sitting on a chair in the corner, idly spinning a pen on the table.

Thomas leaned against the table, eyeing the spinning pen. “What is wrong?"

Bea looked away. "Nothing. I'm fine. Why should I not be fine?" Her tone sharpened.

Thomas raised an eyebrow at the defensiveness he sensed in her voice. He knew her well enough to know that she was not fine at all.

He pulled up a chair and sat down next to her. "Come on, Bea, you can talk to me. What's bothering you?"

Bea continued to spin the pen, avoiding his gaze. "It's nothing, Thomas. I'm just tired, that's all."

Thomas leaned a bit closer, lowering his voice so the others wouldn't overhear. "Come on, I know you better than that. You're not just tired. Something's bothering you," he paused for a moment. "Is this about what Will said?"

Bea's hand slowed, the pen coming to a halt on the table. "Maybe."

Thomas nodded, his expression softening. "I thought so. You know, you don't have to listen to what he said. He's just being his usual, insufferable self."

Bea sighed, her shoulders slumping. The pen started to spin again, faster this time. "I know... but sometimes the things he says really get to me, saying I'm not enough and I can't handle it. He's so good at finding the weak points and attacking them."

Thomas frowned, "Don't let him get under your skin like that. You're strong, capable, and you've proven yourself time and time again. You can handle whatever comes your way. And if he tries to put you down again, I'll be the first one to punch him in the face."

Bea cracked a small smile at his words, but it quickly faded.

"Thanks, Thomas. I appreciate it, really. But sometimes, his words just... makes me doubt myself. I wonder if I'm really up for all of this."

Thomas paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Bea, none of us are 'up for this.' none of us are prepared for any of the shuck things we've been through. But we're here, we're alive, and we're fighting. You have the skills, the intelligence, and the heart. You are more than enough. Don't let him make you think otherwise."

Bea swallowed, her Adam's apple bobbing. "You think so?"
 
Thomas nodded, his eyes meeting hers. "I know so. You're one of the strongest, smartest, and most badass girls I know. You can handle whatever Will throws at you, and more. He's just throwing a tantrum because he can't handle his own insecurities."

Bea's lip trembled, "Thanks, Thomas. That really means a lot coming from you."

She stopped spinning the pen, her hand resting next to it. "Can I admit something to you? Something that I... haven't really told anyone yet?"

Thomas nodded, his eyes fixed on hers. "Of course. You can tell me anything. I'm your big brother."

A ghost of a smile crossed her face at the mention of Thomas being her older brother. She took a deep breath before speaking.

"I... I'm scared, Thomas."

Her voice trembling, "I can't keep it up anymore. I'm terrified of what's to come and... and that I'm not enough."

Thomas' expression softened even more, his hand moving to rest on hers.

"Bea, being scared doesn't mean you're not enough. Everyone here is scared. This world is terrifying. But you, you're braver than you know. You've faced so much already, and you're still standing. You're enough, Bea. You always have been."

Tears welled up in Bea's eyes, but she fought them back, blinking rapidly.

"I wish I could be like Minho or Harriet. They just seem to take everything in stride. Nothing seems to phase them. Maybe if I was more like them, I wouldn't be scared."

Thomas gently took her thin index finger and traced the faint scar on her left eye.

Thomas leaned in, his gaze fixed on the scar. "You know, this..." he paused, pointing at the scar, "... this is proof. Proof of your courage and strength."

Bea's eyes followed Thomas's finger as it traced the scar. Her hand instinctively wandered to the cut on her face, tracing the thin line.

Thomas continued, "You took on 25 guards by yourself, not because you were fearless, but because you were brave. Because you were willing to protect the people you care about. That's more than enough, Bea. That's strength. That's being "up for this."

Bea's hand dropped from her face, her eyes still locked on Thomas. "But what if I can't do it again? What if next time, I'm not strong enough?"

Thomas squeezed her hand, drawing her attention back to him.

"You can't predict the future, Bea. We never know what's going to happen next. But what I do know is that you have what it takes to face whatever comes your way. You always have. And you're not alone. We're all in this together. We're a team. And we'll support each other, no matter what."

Bea knew Thomas was right. She couldn't control the future, but she could control her response to it. "You know, you're annoyingly good at this, Thomas. Making people feel better."

Thomas chuckled lightly. "I guess it's a perk of being a 'good big brother."

Bea laughed too, the sound genuine this time. "Yeah, and I suppose I need a big brother like you around, someone to keep me grounded."

Thomas' smile widened. "Well, someone has to keep you from floating off into space."  Then his expression turned serious.

"Bea, seriously though, if Will or anyone else gets to you like this again, you come tell me. Don't let them get inside your head like that."

Bea nodded. "Yeah, I will. Thanks, big brother."

She gave his hand a small squeeze, "For everything."