Dangerously Close (Aris x Reader)

88) The New Guy

Aris' P.O.V

"Hey."

My voice came out unnaturally steady, something monotone and forced. It wasn't shaky, wasn't anything dramatic, but it still felt attention seeking. Everything about grief seems to be a giant target on my back.

"There's my work introvert,"Thomas smiled, clapping me on the shoulder way too gently, like I was one strong touch away from breaking. I wasn't sure whether I should be thankful he was being sensitive or resentful that it was so obvious I needed it.

"Just wanted to experience some peace for a few days,"I said as lightheartedly as I could. Even when I forced a smile, he only returned it with more pity.

"The fresh water's running low. Maybe you can offer me more unsolicited advice during this trip,"he teased, trying to act as normal as possible.

"The advice was requested. You just didn't like it,"I corrected.

"You give very blunt and sad advice,"he shrugged, not even bothering to deny it as he picked up two of the buckets by his feet. I already know those rope handles will be unusable on the way back.

"That's what happens when you give me blunt and sad questions."

"Well, I can ask you more after we fill these up,"he assured me, tossing me one. Seeing as my ability to catch certainly hasn't improved with a depression week, I barely managed to grasp the handle an inch from the ground. This lack of skill has got to be a humiliation ritual at this point.

"Thanks, Thomas. Very helpful,"I sighed.

"I'll be better when we start. Besides, we're gonna want to get there soon. It's going to be insane today."

"Insane?"I echoed.

"Oh yeah. Yeah, insane,"he repeated.

"Why exactly? Besides the fact that this place just has people like,"I barely cut myself off in time. I wouldn't be wrong exactly, but I don't think Thomas would appreciate it just because it's true.

"Ignoring that,"he said sharply, giving me a look. He's the most likely out of anyone here to set something on fire while sitting down, so there's definitely some audacity there. "It's because we're getting more people."

"Seriously?"I asked, ducking under a tree branch.

"Yep. Vince was talking about it yesterday. Said we needed to be extra prepared and on our best behavior for some reason. He really emphasized that last part."

If I had to guess, it probably has something to do with everything that goes down in our friend group alone. I can't imagine others are somehow more stable. Everyone here is alive by pure luck. That has to take a toll on the mind that I'm not really interested in finding out about. Something tells me I'm better off living in ignorance.

"Where are they from?"

"I don't know. Somewhere,"he shrugged.

"Very useful, Thomas. Very useful."

"You know as much as the rest of us now, so I'll have you know I am."

At least he knows he'll be the first I call when I want vague explanations on something.

× ~ × ~ × ~ ×

"I think my arms are gonna fall off,"I complained, collapsing in my spot.

"Tell me about it,"he agreed, rubbing his biceps.

"Why are the dweeb one and two are on the extra physical labor job again?"

"I was a great runner,"he defended, lightly punching Minho's shoulder.

"This job has the least amount of people,"I added.

"Of course. You know maybe if you-"
"No, no, no. Ya' are number twelve in line, and not-can I have five minutes for lunch please? The sooner I eat, the sooner I'll see what's wrong with ya'."

Turning around, I watched Y/N firmly point the opposite direction of her. A guy about her age threw his hands up in disbelief while she did her hand on the hip thing. Realizing she wasn't just going to starve, he shook his head in disbelief while muttering something I couldn't make out. Letting out a growl at the words, she turned on her heel, leaving him still standing there.

"Must 'ave come from the damn prissy side of the Scorch,"she insulted, essentially shoving Thomas out of the way to sit beside me. He gave an exaggerated ow that she willfully ignored.

"The Scorch?"Sonya questioned, playing with Harriet's fingers to pretend she didn't care that much.

"Yeah. They're covered in everythin'. Just unhealed sprains and rough stitches and badly wrapped broken bones,"she ranted, running her hands over her face.

"That doesn't sound familiar at all."

She threw Fry a look that he held his hands up at. Still, he gave a half-shrug, pointing out that he wasn't exactly wrong. I was there when she hit her head on a truck while supposedly healing from a Crank scratch that she probably stitched with fishing wire. As she would say, it ain't get more rough than that.

I was just smart enough to keep that as an inside thought.

Laying her head on my shoulder, she let out a tired sigh. Ignoring that she chose to lean on one of the most sore parts of me, I ran my fingers through her hair. I think they attacked her ponytail too seeing as it definitely needed tightening.

Taking a sip of water, I tried to get some of the reward I had more than worked for only to be stopped halfway. Sitting in the distance yet not too far away was someone that had to be new. His eyes were somewhat hidden by his light hair and the fact that his head was low. That didn't stop the scar clearly across his eye from showing. The food on his plate was untouched, sitting tauntingly in front of him. He was unusually tall yet trying to make himself smaller. His skin was all a light shade of pink, a sunburn he was mostly keeping covered. His clothes were no doubt making that pain worse, a dark hoodie and pants that were covering everything he could.

That wasn't the most interesting part about him though. Not even close.

It was the fact that out of everything to see, everyone to observe, his gaze was glued to Y/N.

"I wish you would have said something earlier. I know enough to lend a hand,"Brenda spoke, pulling me out of the realization.

"With regular supplies?"she asked quickly, practically jumping up at the newfound knowledge.

"I mean I know how bandages and cleaning cuts works. And I'm from the Scorch too. I can handle their attitudes."

"Ya' have no idea how much ya' just saved our lives,"she insisted, getting to her feet. With her food still in hand, she scrambled over the rock, practically in running position.

"Where are you going?!"

"I gotta let Mama know! You're helpin' whether ya' like it or not,"she shouted back like it was obvious.

"There's your plans for the rest of the day."

"It's fine. I know how to keep twelve in line."

"Does everyone dating girl's just like when they're scary? Do I have to let a girl kick my ass so she'll be my girlfriend?"

"I mean it certainly helps."

"You're just being a shuckface."

"Does it cancel out if they're both girl's? Do they have to be extra nice from the beginning?"

"You also have to know how to be scary to other people. It's really helpful actually."

"You're just setting me up for failure."

"You're doing that just fine."

Tuning out the bustling insults, I turned my attention back to the new guy. When he was looking at me this time, he swiftly grabbed his bowl. As if he had been caught doing something wrong, he started walking away, his back to us the entire time. That's definitely the behavior of someone wanting to be left alone.

I just have to find out why.