I left the forest and followed Gally.
"What're you gonna do about Thomas?" I ask, walking behind him.
He turns around and stops, causing me to crash into him. He puts his arms around my back by reflex, and then I pull away. Man that was weird. I just stared at the ground, and I could see that he was looking at me. "So..." I lift my head, and, I was right. He was looking at me. "Thomas... what're you gonna do?" Im surprised he didn't just walk away, but he stood in the same spot, staring into my eyes. I never truly realized how beautiful his green eyes were. After an awkward yet amazing moment of silence, Gally looked me up and down and finally answered.
"It's not up to me. Newts gone soft on us, and you heard in the meeting, all he gets is a day in the slammer. If it were up to me, this shank would be banished. He wants to go into the maze so badly..." He sounded sincere. He was angry, but he was frustrated. I really like this side of him. "Why do you like him so much?"
"What do you mean?"
"When he was trapped in the maze, you were so worried. I didn't understand why. You'd only been here for a day."
"He's my only friend."
"Well, I'm here for you. Anything happens, you let me know. Any of these klunkheads touch you, come get me. I'm not afraid to smash their face in."
I blushed at his statement, realizing Gally basically just said we were friends. "Thanks Gally..."
"Yeah. Now go find Newt and he'll explain to you what you'll be doing today." At that, I smiled at Gally, and left. I didn't look back, but some part of me just hoped he wouldn't look away. There's something about him. Just the fact that he came out and said he'd protect me made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I walked to the dining area, where Frypan was still cleaning up, and some of the boys were just finishing breakfast. I sat down next to Newt and across from Thomas. "Thomas, are you okay? What happened out there?"
"Im fine. I killed a griever." He responded with a mouth full of food.
"Well are you going back out there? What if something bad happens because of you killing that griever?" Gally is pretty upset."
"Slim it with the questions, green bean. Everything is fine. Im going back out into the maze tomorrow, Im a runner now, remember?" I nod at Thomas' response, and Newt sticks up a finger as if hes going to say something.
"Whats this about Gally?"
"Oh, yeah. I followed Gally to the deadheads. He was really angry."
"Every little thing angers that shank. Hes never happy about anything." Newt chimed in.
"Hes actually calmed down quite a bit. I talked to him for a little while. He wasnt screaming or anything..."
"Wait, you managed to have a conversation with Gally?" Thomas swallowed his food and spoke up.
"Um, yeah!" I laughed, making a "is that weird?" face.
"Woah. Whats up with him? Is he feeling alright?"
"Why? Whats the problem?"
"Gally never warms up to newbies this quickly. I was the greenie last month. He still cant pass me without scowling at me."
"Yeah, well," Newt was now speaking to Thomas. "Shes a girl. I think every other guy in the glade will be warming up to her too." Newt snickered.
"Youre right. Gally probably just wants to get in her pants." Thomas and Newt were laughing like morons, and I felt
my face turn BRIGHT red. I shielded my face, and coughed really loudly to let them know Im still here.
"Oh, yeah, sorry-wait are you blushing?" Newt took my hand away from my face. "Do you have a thing for Gally?"
I sighed and changed the subject. "What job am I working today, Newt?"
"Ah, well, maybe you want to work with the builders today." he giggled.
"Why would I... Gally's a builder."
"How bout it then, green bean?"
"I dont know, Im not very-"
"Ah, youll do great! Just stay by Gallys side. Im bloody sure hell show you what to do." Thomas was still laughing, and I was starting to get pissed. I threw my hands down on the table, and walked outside. I ran to where I saw Gally standing, he looked at me and then looked away.
"️Newt said I'm working here today."
"Oh, did he?"
"Yeah, he did. What am I supposed to do here?"
"You seem eager."
"I'm just annoyed."
"At?"
"It's none of your business!"
"Yes, it is. Remember what I told you? If these shanks mess with you its me you need to come to. So tell me, or I'll make sure you and Thomas can go together."
I sighed at his persistency, getting even more agitated than before. "️Newt and Thomas think that we're a thing."
"You and I...?"
"Yeah. They're being gross and I'm shucking annoyed." He blushed when I said this. Why?
"You said shucking." He said with a slight smirk.
"Yeah, so?... That's not the point!"
"Oh, right, yeah. Well what did they say?"
"No, it's no big-"
"What the hell did they say?!"
"They said that you're trying to... get in my pants..."
Gallys face turned just as red as mine did earlier and he dropped what he was carrying. He marched over to the dining area where Newt and Thomas were eating. I followed him as fast as I could, shouting his name, but he wouldn't listen. "GALLY!"
"GALLY!!!!"
I sighed. "Captain Gally."
He turned around. Big surprise.
"Did you just-"
"Yeah, uh, I did. Can you please just drop it? We both know it isn't true."
His face turned bright red again, he squinted and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well yeah, I guess, but... Thomas is supposed to be in the slammer anyway."
"Please don't say anything to them about this... Captain." It was a bit painful saying that, but I didn't want him to say anything to the other guys.
"Sure, sailor."
Wait, what?
He was already walking away. What a weirdo. It's cute that he gave me a nickname though.
I had to hear what he was saying to them. I knew he wouldn't just drop it. I snuck up the door and Frypan saw me. He started to say my name, but I made a gesture NOT to do that. He gave me a weird look, but I snuck into the kitchen where Frypan was working.
"What're you doing?!" He questioned, but respected that I wanted to be hidden so he whispered.
"Listening in on Gallys conversation."
"Why? You gotta thing for Gally?"
"...yeah I like him, but that doesn't mean there's a "thing"." Hah woah. I just admitted I liked Gally.
Frypan stood and starting getting back to work. I heard Gally talking with Thomas.
"You need to go." He doesn't sound as tense as usual.
"I understand." Thomas stood up, and took his empty tray over to Frypan. "Can I ask you something though?"
"Make it quick, shank."
"What's up with you and greenie?"
"You mean Shelby."
"Yeah..."
"Nothing, there's nothing "up" with us."
"Well you just act like-"
"Listen up, shuck face!" He grabbed Thomas by the collar of his shirt "there's nothing going on, but know this. You put your hands on her in any way I'm gonna smash your face in!" He let go of his shirt and shoved him backward. "Tell the others. AFTER you get out of the slammer tomorrow."
Thomas nodded and ran out. Wow. What was that? Frypan lowered himself to where I was crouching.
"You hear that? Gally likes you too.
