tough love ✔️ | pre-the maze runner minho

13

"I GET IT now," Minho announced after a day of uneventful run, "I like like you."

Frankie blinked. She reached up and rubbed her eyes with both hands to make sure that she was indeed awake. She wasn't dreaming.

This, whatever this was, was really happening.

"And I don't expect you to like me back. I'm just giving you a heads up that from now on, I'll be your Keeper. If you know what I mean."

She smacked his arm, hard. "Are you joking? This is not something to joke about!"

Minho couldn't help to smile when he saw her cheeks reddened considerably, "Why not?"

"Stay away, klunkhead."

"I can try, but even you don't like not talking to me. Remember?"

The Creators were probably feeling sentimental, because the night sky was starrier than usual. Almost everyone took their sleeping bags or blankets out so the Keepers (minus Clint who swore that if anyone comes to him complaining of backache the very next day he would reject them; and Gally, who wasn't as jolly as he used to be) who usually occupied the royal chambers of Homestead, came out and followed suit.

They laid their blankets on the fluffy grass with their heads placed close to each other, forming a circle, and observed the gorgeous view.

Gladers were clustered in lumps across the Glade. The vague sound of chatters and occasional laughters floated into the air.

Frankie wished this moment would never end —she wished she could just lay here with her friends without having to fight for their lives or run every single day. Until Minho spoke up, of course.

Now she just wished she could disappear.

"Shuck you."

What annoyed Frankie the most was Minho didn't bother to pull her off somewhere private to speak about this.

"You disgust me, Minho," Newt rolled his eyes.

"Love you, too, Newt."

"I can't believe this is happening," Nick commented, fixing his crooked eyeglasses uncomfortably, "Can't wait for when we're all fast asleep, can you?"

Apparently everyone else shared the same thought as hers.

"Just making sure that everyone knows. You," Minho tilted his head left. Feeling his eyes on her, Frankie tilted her head right and they drank the sight of each other's face. He continued, "Don't flail around by the Cliff. Come back at least thirty minutes before the Door closes. Stay safe. Don't avoid me. Don't stop speaking to me, finding me, or telling me stuffs. Just be yourself, or I'll set one of these boys to catch you."

Winston laughed dryly, "Setting us to get her —are you shucking jacked? I don't think that even works."

The Keepers laughed.

"Frank?" Minho inquired.

Being one of the most respected leaders in the Glade gave her the privilege to get away with anything. She could run into the Maze at night and received a scolding instead of Banishment. She could punch the other boys (and she had been doing so towards poor Minho) without going into the Slammer.

Like she said, it made her feel free.

But to have someone who got mad when she was being reckless, who was brave enough to object her stupidity, who reminded her to stay safe and stay within his grasp... who gave her a shoulder to cry on when she needed it, even when she didn't ask for it.

To have him restraining her unlimited freedom, she actually liked it.

"Okay."

Nick, Winston and Newt hooted.

"Here's a question," Frypan interjected, "We love Frankie and we always agree to what she says. If now Frankie does what Minho says, does that mean we are indirectly under Minho's command?"

Minho burst into a loud laughter. He planted his arm on the floor and lifted his torso so he could look at his comrades. "Take that, you shuckfaces!"

Frankie slapped his arm in response (keep in mind that Frankie's slap wasn't a playful, girlish slap followed by a cute whine. It was a legit slap).

〰️

"IS IT TRUE?! Is it true, is it true, is it true?"

Despite being taunted as the weepiest, tearful, sniveling Greenie the Glade had ever got, Hank had to admit that Chuck was actually one of the bravest. Of course he had the advantage of having Newt as his First Day buddy instead of the last Greenie, unlike the others, and Frankie was actually friendly to everyone, but marching up to her out of the blue like that...

Hank blanched and turned around, leaving the little Slopper with the Runner.

"You and Minho? Are you together? Are you boyfriend and girlfriend now?"

Frankie looked at him blankly.

"Did you hold hands? Did you hug? But we hug each other all the time, so obviously you did. Did you kiss?"

"Minho and I are not like that."

"Oh, really? Shuck! This place needs something to brighten up our days."

Frankie didn't know how to reply to that.

"Oh well," Chuck stretched with a loud groan, "What are you doing today? You're a Runner, of course you run. What the klunk, Chuck. I don't know what I'm doing today. It's Mike's turn to scrub the toilets, so I guess I'll do the kitchen. Hope I don't get the Blood House. Brr, the place gives me chill."

Frankie smiled. Truthfully, Chuck brightened her days the most. Him and her best friends and Minho.

"I can talk to your Keeper about that."

"No, no. Don't want people like Jackson and Andrew to think I'm getting special treatment, right?" Chuck chuckled.

Frankie ruffled his curls fondly, "You're with me. No one will dare to think of anything."

"What about that thing, by the campfire?"

"Oh, it was the drink. Nick let a lot of things slide due to Gally's recipe."

Chuck nodded, "True. Jackson didn't go to the Slammer like you told him to. Besides, Minho already punched him so I guess it was fair."

Frankie hummed an agreement in response.

"Minho told you he likes you?"

Frankie frowned, "Why are we talking about this?"

"Oh, come on! It's me! I want to know, I want to know!"

Seeing his pudgy cheeks bouncing along with his body rendered her powerless. "Yes."

"But you don't like him back?"

"No, I like him," Frankie made a hushing gesture with her finger and smiled, "But don't tell him that. It's a secret."