Fervency

CHAPTER: T W E N T Y-TWO

"Oh no..." Elodie sunk into her seat. From outside her window, she spotted Minho running their way. Instantaneously, she ducked her head down.

"Did he see you?" Thomas's eyes widened. She shook her head no.

"Thomas!!" Minho's voice boomed, "I know you're up there!!"

Elodie peaked through the window, only to see him frantically rubbing the ink off himself with a cloth. It had spread everywhere, making it appear ten times worse than it had been. Laughter came bubbling off her lips.

"Switch me spots, I wanna see!" Thomas grinned. They swapped places and immediately he began cackling.

"HA-HA-HA! So funny!" Minho mocked them. Suddenly, everything was quiet and he disappeared from view.

"Where'd he go?" Thomas breathed. Suddenly, Elodie was heaved in the air and out from beneath the hatch came Minho.

"You're dead" he threatened, looking straight at Thomas. Both of the culprits burst into laughter as Minho went for Thomas.

"Hey wait! Minho-!" Thomas called out, before the runner got his hands on him.

"What?" he snapped.

"She did it too" he accused pointing to Elodie. Immediately, her jaw hung open and she sent him a look of pure betrayal.

"Way to throw me under the bus!"

"And!" Thomas continued, "She drew the penis!"

Before Minho could even think of pursuing her, Elodie scrambled down the hatch and was running frantically.

"Got her!" Before she knew it, she had been grabbed by Newt.

"Where did you come from!?" She struggled from within his grasp.

"Don't think that matters, love." he replied. "you're getting a punishment that's worse than the slammer" She turned around to study his face, curious to see if he had managed to remove the ink. What she saw before her was worse than Minho's. Immediately her shoulders loosened and laughter came booming from her mouth.

"I don't... I don't care..." she said between fits of laughter, "It was worth it!"

"Very funny" he shook his head. "Lucky for you, look what I have." A pen came into her line of vision and she bowed her head releasing a few giggles.

"What's so funny?"

"Still worth it"

"We'll see about that. Minho!" he called.

"Oh I got her" the runner came out, snatching the pen.

"You're gonna get a mustache!" he assured her.

"The audacity" she replied, sarcastically.

"Or you can get worse." Minho threatened, before rolling the pen across her forehead. Her mint greens looked up to him, watching as he started his artwork.

"Can you stop looking at me?" he sighed with frustration. A smirk grew at the edges of her cherry lips as they met eyes.

"Why? Does it make you nervous?" He sighed once more, instantaneously breaking eye contact. He shook his head and went back to work, trying his best to finish what he started.

"Perfect" Newt leaned around to study her face.

"ELLY!!" Thomas came bolting out of the treehouse and tackled Minho. She watched as they struggled on the grassy floor until finally, Minho was able to sketch in a unibrow on Thomas's forehead.

"Alright!" Minho hopped to his feet, "my work is done!" He didn't last long on both feet until Thomas came charging after him.

"I'm gonna get some breakfast" Elodie declared. She took a few steps forward and then looked back to Newt, "You coming?"

"I don't see why not" he shrugged, following along. "Just don't try anything, alright"

"I can't promise"

The two of them had fled the fight and ended up in the kitchen. From the moment they entered, Gladers from all around them held no restraint at laughing. Some made sly comments and others were only able to point at the ink.

"You know what..," Frypan said as he served the two, "I'm not even surprised anymore." The three of them laughed in unison and Elodie asked for a washcloth. Frypan threw the cloth her way.

"You can't give her one. That's her punishment." Newt intercepted the throw, taking it for himself.

"Fine" Elodie rolled her eyes. "At least let me help you"

"I really shouldn't be trusting you" he admitted, while she grabbed for the washcloth.

"You really think you can do this by yourself, huh?" she released a giggle, before pressing it to his face. The gladers at the table next to them shot a few comments about how cute they were, causing the two of them to roll their eyes.

"Yeah..." she studied his face-the ink had smeared even more. "We need soap."

"I got you, beautiful" Frypan set a bar of soap on the table.

"Thanks Fry." she grinned and then proceeded to what she was doing. Newt mumbled something beneath his breath and her eyes met his.

"What?" she cocked a brow, "nothing"

"Right, well-"

"Look what we have here" Minho's voice interrupted them. "You gonna do me next? I'd really prefer if I was first."

"I'm sure you are capable of doing it yourself" Elodie sent him a shrug before tending to Newt's face. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips and she couldn't help but smile back at him.

"Whatever. When you're done with that meet Thomas and I in the deadheads."

"But Minho, I haven't ate-"

"Slim it, shank" he snapped, angrily pulling Thomas with him.

"Now that's what I call jealousy" Chucks voice was heard from behind Elodie. She jumped at the sound of his voice and then turned to face him.

"Where did you come from?"

"I have my ways" he gave her a simple shrug and then went on his way to get food.