Remember for the Both of Us [COMPLETED]

19: Assembly

After being let out in the morning, I went straight to the bathroom before realizing there was no water to shower with. I stared at myself in the mirror. Dark bags under my eyes, greasy hair--I looked horrible. I pulled up my sleeve. 5 days to get out or die.

We were having a meeting sometime in the morning, but I went see Minho first, since it was my fault he got stung. He was asleep, Teresa in a chair next to his bed. She was resting her head on the bed, and he had a hand protectively in her hair, like he had been stroking it before he fell asleep.

I shook Teresa awake gently. "How's he doing?" I asked. 

She smiled weakly. "They're saying he's recovering really fast, which is a relief. He woke up yesterday."

"Good. Do you want me to get you when the meeting starts?"

She nodded, then turned back to his bed, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it gently.

I closed the door softly behind me, turning around to see Thomas. He smiled bitterly at me. "She loves him, doesn't she?"

"Thomas, I can't speak for her--"

"It's okay," he laughed. "You've got a kind of intuition about these kind of things. I know you've figured it out."

We walked outside, where people were starting to assemble. "She didn't get this upset when Gally was taken," he said. "And I doubt she would be this upset if I got stung."

"Thomas," I said. "If you really love her, let her pick. I'm not trying to sound cruel. I'm not trying to be mean. But if you want to show her how much you really care, let her know that whoever she decides on, you'll still support her and be her friend. I know she's worried that you'll hate her if she picks someone else. Same with Minho or Gally. She cares about you. It just... might not be in the way you want her to."

He sighed. "Yeah, I know." He smirked a little. "Thanks for the perspective. I guess I'll figure it out someday." He walked away. "Meeting's starting soon," he called over his shoulder. "You might want to get her."

I nodded, heading back inside. I climbed the stairs to the attic, and opened the door, words on my tongue, only to freeze.

"--I just couldn't stand it if you were killed, you know?" Teresa was asking tearfully.

Minho, awake and bright-eyed, squeezed her hand. "Yeah," he said hoarsely. "I... I couldn't f-for you either." 

Minho, tongue-tied?

"I love you," he blurted out. "Did you know that?"

She smiled. "Yeah."

I bit my lip, trying to decide at what point I interrupted this. When I saw him leaning in, eyes closing, I knew that was crossing the line. Awkwardly I rapped on the door. 

They jumped backwards, blushing bright, vibrant reds and pinks. I tried to hide a smile. "Hey, um... meeting's started. I'll be downstairs."

"Okay," I heard Teresa say after me as I rapidly descended down the stairs. Something about the scene made something twinge inside me. If only it were that simple for me...

As I headed outside, Newt spotted me and grabbed my arm. "There you are! I've been waiting for you."

I stood behind him again as he addressed the assembly. "So Teresa and Hope found out yesterday that the Cliff has some kind of portal or something that they think is the exit. They were attacked by a Griever. They dodged it and it went over the Cliff, but instead of falling, it disappeared. We think there's a small hole or something that's the exit. Hope has confirmed that the exit is unguarded at night. With only five days remaining, I think this hole is our only option for escape."

"How do we know it's the exit?" someone yelled.

"I know," said a voice behind them. "I saw it, and the Changing doesn't lie." Standing on the porch of the Homestead stood Minho, supported by Teresa. Pale but determined, he raised his chin. "It's how we leave."

"They let us live last time," a rebellious voice muttered.

"No!" Newt snapped suddenly. "They did not let 'us' live! Do you remember how many people died? Just because the majority survived doesn't justify doing it again. And last time did we have a girl with a tattoo counting down the days until we die? I'd rather be alive and out of this place than alive and still stuck here."

"I don't want to go," someone else said. "What if we have to fight the Grievers?"

A murmur rippled through the boys at this.

"We already are!" Newt responded. "But this time, we have a chance of winning." He paused, glancing over the assembly. "Who wants to go?"

A large number of boys raised their hands.

"Who wants to stay?"

Almost ten boys raised their hands, and my heart dropped in my chest.

Newt pursed his lips. "That's your choice. Come with us or not, it's up to you. But we're leaving tomorrow."