Fervency

CHAPTER: T W E N T Y-FOUR

Commotion erupted up ahead and Elodie turned to see a group of Gladers gathered around the tower. They were all ducking for cover as several hard objects were sent flying toward them.

"Chuck, what's going on?" Thomas approached the boy whose cheeks were rosy from laughing. He pointed to the top of the tower and said, "Girls are awesome"

"Leave me alone!" the girl shouted viciously.

"Hey! Throw one more of those things and I will-" Gally was cut off as an aluminum can hit his cheek.

"We come in peace!" Frypan shouted, but a pan was sent barreling his way. It missed him by an inch.

"I don't think she likes us very much" Newt flinched, as another object was sent his way.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Elodie smirked to Minho who in turn shook his head.

"I'm glad you didn't" he replied, "because you wouldn't have missed."

A smile grew on her cheeks, "good that."

"Hey look, we just want to talk!" Thomas shouted, but the girl didn't stop throwing the pots and pans. "Woah, woah! Hey! It's Thomas-it's Thomas!" he dodged a metal lid. Suddenly, things quieted and a head peeked out from the top.

"I'm gonna come up, ok?" Thomas told her.

Elodie and Minho looked at each other simultaneously and then back up to Theresa.

"Just give us a second" Thomas told the others before he climbed the tower. Silence followed and the faint murmurs of their voices could be heard from up top.

Gally looked up to where they were at with a skeptical expression. He then looked back to the crowd with raised brows, his annoyance prevalent.

"What's going on up there?" He shouted.

"Just give us a second!" Thomas's head peeked over the topic.

"Ridiculous..." Gally muttered beneath his breath while the group began to disperse.

"Well...Since Thomas is occupied" Minho turned to her with a grin, "how bout we get started"

***

"Well!" Minho announced in a breathy voice. "Didn't think you had it in you."

"Did I beat my time?" Elodie panted. Currently, Minho had been timing her to see how fast she could run a mile. 

"Yep. Push up time, lets go."

The two of them did sets of pushups together until they no longer could.

"What's the matter, Elly?" Minho grunted. She had tapped out long ago, but he proceeded to do sets of pushups.

"Show off" she panted, while turning over on her back. The sun was beating down on them mercilessly.

"Alright, I give up" Minho released a breath and rolled over next to her.

"C'mon" he stood to his feet and lent her a hand, "let's get some water" The two of them took a moment as they adjusted to being on their feet. Minho turned to the side and lifted the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his brow.

Elodie couldn't help but catch sight of his toned stomach. She snapped out of her daze once she noticed what she was doing, mentally cursing to herself for even taking interest. Before she could hide the fact she was looking, she looked up to see Minho staring straight at her.

"...Are you... checking me out?" A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. Her face went several shades of crimson. Because she was caught off guard, she was unable to think of any witty response.

"I'm not surprised" he commented before walking away. Elodie stood there for a moment as she struggled to compose herself. "You coming?"

"Yeah." she hurried after him.

Once the two of them reached the kitchen, Minho threw her a bottle of water and told her to follow him.

"Where we going?" she wondered. It looked like they were heading toward the maze. Her eyes moved down to his hand, which held a knife in it. Elodie lifted her brow, "you're not gonna kill me, right?"

"I couldn't if I wanted to" he replied as they stopped before the entrance to the maze.

"We need to add your name to the wall." he said, "it's tradition."

Elodie leaned against the stone wall as he carved her name on it. Hundreds of others could be seen on it. Much more were crossed out than she had expected.

"Done" Minho announced. Elodie left the wall and craned her neck to look at his work. It read "Smelly".

"Seriously?" she deadpanned. "Gimme that" She reached for the knife but he held it in the air.

"You're gonna have to ask nicely." he told her.

"You are a handful, you know that?" she accused. A hint of amusement was prevalent in her eyes, though she tried her best to hide it.

"I'm the best handful" he replied.

"Right." she rolled her eyes.