Scorched Vengeance (Maze Runner: Scorch Trials fanfic)

Chapter 18

The group started up the trek toward the mountains shortly after Leo and Darius's conversation. Though they were getting along, everyone was still basically split up in their original groups. The girls were nice enough to share their weapons with the guys, but it was probably more of a strategic move since they were in the back.

"Have a good chat with Darius?" Sandra asked, walking beside Leo as he hobbled along among Group D. He had insisted on walking on his own, thinking his leg was pretty good now. Sandra stayed beside him just in case though.

"It was good," Leo replied, nodding slightly. "A few apologies since we were hammering each other with all the comments and actual punches." Sandra smiled, a small chuckle slipping through her lips.

"You two were hitting pretty hard in that fight." It was Leo's turn to chuckle now. He kept his eyes on Sandra as they continued to walk in silence.

His smile slowly faded as he realized every step brought him closer to that moment he had to fake a betrayal. He wanted Sandra to stay out of it, but he almost wanted to let her know just so she didn't think it was real. No matter how many times he told himself it would be ok, he couldn't bring himself to tell her. It wouldn't go over right. Darius would hear. Something would go wrong.

"Looks like Flour found a friend," Sandra noted, snapping Leo out of his thoughts. She nodded back behind them, sort of glancing over her shoulder as she did so. Leo took a quick glance also. Flour was walking at the very back of the pack, giggling and twirling her hair on her fingertips as she talked to Ted, who was at the front of his group. Ted would laugh and blush here and there, Flour following suit almost immediately.

Leo silently laughed as he muttered, "Wonder when that happened." Sandra contained her giggles as she looked ahead, casually glancing back every once in a while.

"Ted told us what happened to you guys. Made a whole show out of it. Flour couldn't help laughing and screaming every five seconds. Afterward, Ted told her more stories, giving her a personal show." Sandra shook her head, looking as if she didn't get how that little pair worked. At least for the moment. "I haven't seen Flour so happy in a while. Ted must have something she finds interesting." Leo's smile faded.

"Do I have something you find interesting?" he asked. Sandra looked at him, obviously wondering why he had even asked the question. "Just wondering. Never mind." Leo looked away, shoving his hands into his pockets. Why couldn't he leave well enough alone?

Sandra pulled his hand out of his pocket, slipping her hand into his. Leo turned to look at her as she replied, "You're loyal to a fault. It's not something I find interesting, but is something I love about you." She leaned into his ear. "I'm hoping the same thing goes for the you before what WICKED did."

Leo smiled sheepishly as Sandra kissed him on the cheek and pulled away, walking toward the front with Carol and Florence. Leo let the smile slip away like his chances of getting out of this with his relationships intact. Why did he talk? He just made things worse. Well, they were better, but once he met up with Melanie, it would all go sour. This was no where near good.

"You ok?" Leo turned to see Trenton walking beside him, hands in his pockets and shoulders slumped. Leo gave him a pitiful grin.

"Flour's just a girl. You'll be fine."

"Yeah," he replied quietly. "Except for the fact that these other girls are hardly older than me, but still turn me down. Even though they say I'm charming." He rolled his eyes while Leo chuckled.

"I'm sure there is still even more girls in the world," Leo reassured him. Trenton perked up a little.

"Thanks. Now you." Leo's pleasure dissipated slowly, especially when he glanced at Sandra up ahead. "It wouldn't be that thing you told me about?" Leo nodded.