Gally Imagines

=THIRTY-FIVE= Unwanted Suggestions

"Watch that side!"

"I've got it!"

"It's stuck!"

"Hang on—wait, there's a branch!"

"Look out!"

"Whoa!"

Thomas jumped back just in time as the extremely large, extremely heavy well covering rolled over where his foot had been only seconds before. It continued to roll a ways before hitting a tree and falling over with a loud thud.

"Watch it!" he snapped.

"Sorry! It slipped!" you replied in the same tone. "It weighs a ton!"

"Duh," he said, "I tried to tell you that before."

"Sorry," you said again, still slightly annoyed.

He sighed. "Come on, let's go get it."

____________

Gally shifted the crutch underneath his arm as Frypan filled his bowl with what looked like strawberries in watery rice. Gally stared at the sloppy-looking mess.

"What?" said Frypan, obviously upset about the look his cooking received.

Gally looked up, eyebrow raised.

"Hey, we are on meat rations, here!" he said unhappily. "I am doing the best I can."

"I didn't say anything," said Gally in self-defense as he stepped out of line with his bowl. "Hey, Fry?" he asked, as if on second thought.

"What?" Frypan said sharply.

"Have you seen Y/N this morning?"

"No, I have not."

"M'kay, thanks," he replied, heading off.

"It tastes better than it looks!" Frypan yelled after him.

"I sure hope so," said Gally softly.

___________

"Phew! Finally!" said Thomas as the two of you released the well-cover watching it fall into the forest floor.

"That was a bit of a challenge," you said, wiping your hands on your pants.

"Ridiculous is more like it," Thomas replied, dragging his arm across his forehead. "You are going to have to get someone else to help carry this back, because it ain't gonna be me!"

"Alright, alright," you said waving him off.

You leaned against a nearby tree to catch your breath, taking the opportunity to glance over the clearing. You had scouted out the Deadheads as best you could to find the perfect place to have the dinner. It took you a while, but you had finally managed to clear a space where there weren't so many trees. Afterwards, Thomas had helped you carry down boxes and crates and a barrel, and even a piece of cloth that was large enough to be used as a tablecloth. Hauling all of the stuff to this spot had taken a couple of days because you only had until the sunrise to do so. However, you were happy to believe that no one had noticed your or Thomas' comings and goings that early in the morning, and so your surprise for Gally had remained surprise. For now, at least.

"You okay?"

You looked up at Thomas' voice and nodded.

"You look out of breath."

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," you nodded. "Just tired."

"Getting up before the crack of dawn multiple days in a row does that to a person."

You laughed.

"It's getting lighter," said Thomas presently. "We should head back."

"Yeah, okay. Let's go."

___________

Gally sat atop a nearby log and rested the crutch beside him distastefully. He hated that thing with a growing passion. Thankfully, he wouldn't have to bear it much longer. Or, rather it bear him.

Spooning up a small bit, he took a hesitant bite and was surprised to find that it wasn't as bad as he was expecting. Actually, it was rather good.

He glanced up, thinking that he saw something, and stared into the trees a ways away from him. Just as he was about to write it off as nothing, a movement caught his eye again, and he realized that something was emerging from the tree line. He made out the form of two figures, and slowly realized that it was you and Thomas.

"Cute, aren't they?"

Gally jumped slightly at the voice behind him, then glowered as the Dan walked up beside the log that Gally was sitting on.

"Oh, didn't you know that they were sneaking into the woods together?" Dan cocked an eyebrow at Gally's silence, then continued. "Yeah. Each morning before everyone else wakes up."

"You're full of it, aren't you," said Gally, his voice deep.

"If you don't believe me, ask Y/N. Unless, of course, you do believe me..." Dan tilted his head slightly.

"Slim it!" Gally said angrily.

"Interesting. I thought you would have figured it out by now."

"Figured out what?" growled Gally, hating to play into Dan's little game, but wanting to find a way to show him up.

"Why do you think that Y/N singled you out amongst all of the other boys whom she could have chosen?"

Gally glared but said nothing.

"It's because of where we are now. In the Glade. In the center of a confusing, terrifying, dangerous, Maze. Y/N wanted someone who would be physically strong enough to protect her. The toughest guy in the Glade. That was you. Key word being was."

Gally listened, partially against his will, never taking his eyes from Dan's taunting, animated face expressions.

"But now look at you." Dan's eyes flicked up and down Gally briefly, as if examining some undesirable thing. "You can hardly support your own weight."

Gally knew that what Dan said was only partially true. He hardly needed the crutch anymore, but there was something in the way that Dan had said the words, so softly, yet so forcefully, as if tempting Gally to dare to believe them.

"Y/N wants someone who is strong enough to protect her."

The murderous glare that Gally aimed at Dan didn't seem to affect him, but if it did, he hid it beneath a cocky smirk so well that Gally couldn't tell.

"See if I'm right," he taunted, stepping backwards menacingly before turning around and walking out of sight.

Gally drew his shoulders inward and closed his eyes briefly, trying to shut out everything.

It wasn't true! It couldn't be true! Dan was lying like the dirty rat that he was! He would pay for that!

He bit his lip.

But...what if it was true? Why else would you and Thomas be in the woods together? Before everyone else woke up...

He tried to think of a reason—any reason—but nothing came to mind. And as he sat alone on the log, the harsh, berating thoughts of uncertainty, suspicion, and self-doubt that bombarded his mind became more and more difficult to shove away.

Gally left the rest of his food untouched.

___________________

I know, I know, more drama! But I can assure you that things will turn out for the good in the end! xD