Lights, Cameras, Maze Runner! (completed)

seven (part two)

When we are out of the sight, he grabs my hand and holds it as we walk. "Long time no see," says Thomas jokingly.

"Yeah, it's been a whole fifty minutes!" I exclaim. He grins as we walk down the driveway.

"Well, we're alone now, so let's have a conversation," he suggests. "What do you want to discuss?"

I think about this for a minute, trying to think of a good conversation topic. "Let's talk about marriage."

His eyes widen, but he turns it into something to laugh about. "What, Kelsey? You've decided that you want to marry me already? I know I'm so bloody irresistible, but I don't get married that quickly."

I hit his arm playfully. "You know I didn't mean it like that!"

He chuckles, letting go of my hand and wrapping his arm around my waist. I reciprocate the action. "I know, love. I'm just messing with you because it is very fun to mess with you. But the whole marriage deal? I think that marriage needs to be taken more seriously. Today, it's more likely that a married couple will get divorced rather than stay together, and I hate that. I learned all my lessons about love from my parents. They divorced, but they still respected each other and talked about times when they were still courting to my sister and me. Ever since I was a child, my father taught me that women deserve respect. Women are the reason men aren't totally insane."

"Too late for that. Men are already crazy."

"I can't say I disagree. My father told me that whenever I have a woman in my car, I need to open her door for her and help her into the vehicle, and to always hold doors for girls, even though I hold the door for everyone anyways . People need to understand that marriage is a lifelong commitment, not one that ends as soon as things get tough. I want my first marriage to be my only marriage."

"I agree wholeheartedly, Thomas. I learned everything I know about love from my parents, too. My parents, like every other couple, had their ups and downs, but it was how they handled it that kept their relationship strong. They never went to bed mad at each other. They would confront their problems logically, not radically."

Thomas nods. "My parents did the same thing. They always used to go out on Saturday nights twice a month on dates, just to feel young again."

I smile. "I hope to someday be able to do that, too."

Thomas and I have reached the end of the driveway, and the Dunkin' Donuts has entered our view. "Your turn, Tom. What do you want to talk about?"

He licks his lips seductively. "Let's talk about addictions."

I'm feeling a little uncomfortable with this topic, but I go along with it. "Okay. My addiction would probably have to be flannels. I absolutely live to wear flannels," I say.

Thomas laughs as we cross the street to get on the same side of the Dunkin' Donuts, which isn't that hard. Traffic is usually pretty slow by this time on Saturday mornings. "I've noticed your love of flannels. You wear them almost every time I see you in your room! And you're wearing one right now!"

I look down, completely forgetting I was wearing one. "Yeah, I love this plaid pattern. I got this last year for a Memorial Day parade in my hometown. I like the red, white and blue. It feels good to be patriotic."

"Yeah, because feelings of patriotism and nationalism are what got this country independent from my home country."

I laugh. "Wow, Thomas, you really know American history! I'm impressed. So, what's your addiction?"

He looks me up and down, making me blush. "Well, I do find myself craving to be in your presence quite often, but my official addiction would be chocolate ice cream. If I could eat any one food for the rest of my life, it would be chocolate ice cream."