˚ ༘✶₊˚. ⊹ ˚ . FIRST ACT
❪ FIFTEEN ♥︎ ₊˚༢࿐
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MAE SAT WITH HER LEGS dangling over the treehouse, her ankles crossed as she kicked them back and forth. She sat between Teresa and Thomas, laying back on her elbows as they looked out into the Glade. After a brief explanation of what had been going on the last few days, Teresa didn't seem on edge as she once was.

"She's the last one," Teresa repeats, turning to them with a confused frown, "What does that mean?"

"Maybe it means you're the last person they'll send," Mae guessed, looking toward the center of the Glade. "The box hasn't gone down since you've come up."

"I just think it's got everyone a little worried," Thomas nods, looking down to where Gally is staring at them from beside a tree, "Especially, Gally."

"He thinks it's my fault." She guessed, looking down at her hands.

Mae reached over and squeezed her arm, "No one is blaming you, Teresa. We're all just trying to figure this out."

"Are you sure you don't remember anything?" Thomas pressed lightly.

She thinks for a moment, "I remember water, feeling like I was drowning. . .these faces staring at me, and this voice," She took a breath, "A woman's voice saying the same thing over and over—"

     "Wicked is good," Thomas finished.

     Mae furrowed her eyebrows, and they all shared a confusing look. She thought back on what she remembered about her life before the Glade, and how — and time pasted — she slowly started to forget.

     Still, Mae remembered the girl with the blue eyes, the ones that looked so much like Teresa's. She remembered how sad the memory felt, like she was seeking comfort from the mysterious girl. They were close. Then, Mae hugged her, and that was the last memory she could hold onto before waking up in the box.

But there was something else. Something that had recently stemmed from her mind, it was something that she hadn't told anyone — not even Gally. It was of a blonde woman, talking to her. Her words were like static and her face was blurred.

The woman had wiped a tear from Mae's eyes, their clothes all black. Then, the memory had faded. Mae hadn't told anyone because she didn't know what it meant, she didn't know the woman, she didn't know why she was crying. So, she told no one.

"Ever since I've been here, I've had these dreams," Thomas admits, "Well, I thought they were dreams. You were there," He tells Teresa, "And you told me that everything was going to change."

"What do you think it means?" Mae asked him, "You both having the same kind of memories. . ."

"I don't know," Thomas sighed. "I just always get pieces."

"And the others don't remember anything?" Teresa turns the question to Mae, and the blonde shook her head.

"No, and if they do they probably wouldn't share it." She tells her, "If Alby wakes up, maybe he could tell us."

"Do you?" Teresa pressed softly, "Remember anything?"

She sighed, looking down at her hands. "I don't remember memories, I just remember feelings. I felt. .betrayed by someone, I felt like something happened that wasn't supposed to."

"Why are we different?" Thomas asked. Mae frowned, wishing she knew the answer.

Teresa reached into her pocket, and pulled out two syringes of blue liquid. Mae's eyes widened at them, "These where in my pocket when I came up." She says.

"Grief Serum," She says, grabbing the vial in her hand, "These used to come up with our supplies, only one vial a month but they stopped when Thomas showed up." Mae turned to Thomas with hopeful eyes, "This could save Alby!"

     He takes the serum from her hands, reading over the label, "Wicked is good." He repeats.

     "What if we were sent here for a reason?" Teresa asked him.

     Mae quickly gets to her feet, holding her hand out to the both of them, "Come on, we need to bring this to, Newt."

     With a shared glance, they took her hand.

— — — — — — — — — —

INSIDE HOMESTEAD WHERE MAE stood near Alby's bedside, she watched as Newt examined the syringe in his hand with a calculating frown. Clint and Jeff stood closely beside her, looking at their leader with worried eyes. He had gotten worse since the last time she saw him, the black veins traveling up his chest in a splitting direction. The sound of his cries alone made Mae's heart sink.

Teresa and Thomas stood firmly by each other's side, the ladder looking much more serious about the situation. Newt, after a few minutes of thinking, had finally spoken up.

"We don't even know what this stuff is, it could be completely different than the Grief Serum." He says this more to Mae, "We don't know who sent it, or why it came up here with you," Teresa doesn't shift, "I mean, for all we know, this could kill him."

Thomas looked impatient, gesturing to Alby's bed, "He's already dying. Look at him. How could this possibly make it any worse? Come on, it's worth a try."

Mae nods, "He's right, Newt. We can't afford to lose another Leader."

Newt hesitates, his jaw tightening at the weight of the decision. Then, he looked at Mae and hands her the syringe, "All right. Do it."

The girl gives a relieved sigh, and takes the syringe from his hands. She steps toward a panting Alby, one of her hands pressing his arm down, and the other gripping the serum tightly. She looks back at the group once, before raising her arm.

Alby's hand breaks free from the rope, shooting up and tightening around Mae's neck. His black eyes shoot toward Thomas in rage, "You shouldn't be here! You shouldn't be here!" He screamed.

Everyone begins to run toward the bed, Clint and Jeff grabbing at once side while Thomas rushes toward the other, trying to pry Alby's fist from around Mae's throat. The blonde's eyes began to water, and with a quick tug from Thomas, she was released.

Newt wraps his arms around her stomach, pulling her away from Alby. Teresa grabs the syringe from the ground, and plunges it straight into Alby's chest. The Leader instantly stops trashing, his eyes rolling back. The only indication he was alive was his small panting.

The group stared around in silence, mixtures of heavy breathing seemed to be the only sound as they watched Alby sleep.

"Well, that worked." Jeff voiced.

"Mae, you all right?!" Newt asked quickly, reaching up and examining the red marks around her throat. Mae gives a breathy nod, "Okay, from now own someone stays here and watches him around the clock!"

     The MedJacks nod in response.

     The presence of Gally made Mae the first to turn, seeming to notice the way his eyes shifted to Alby in concern, but landing on her. She gave him a small, comforting smile but in return his eyes dropped to the red marks on her neck, shifting with the urge to be vulnerable enough to ask if she was okay.

     "Hey." He says, causing everyone else to notice he was there. "Sundown, Greenie. Time to go."

     With one last look at Alby, Thomas leaves with Gally and Mae quickly turns to Teresa, giving her a bright smile. The girl felt slightly overwhelmed by her kindness, but smiled back all the same.

     "Come on," Mae grabs her hand, "You can stay in my Hut tonight, my bed is big enough for the both of us, and I have some spare clothes for you!" She tugs her toward the door, and Teresa followed.

     They both ignored Thomas and Gally's retreating figures toward the Slammer, and Mae found herself pushing away what happened with Alby, the excitement of spending time with Teresa completely blinding her.

     "We can stay up, and braid each other's hair, and talk about whatever girls talk about!" She listed, physically jumping at the thought, "Oh, how I've always wanted another girl in the Glade! I mean, sure, boys are great but girls are so much more fun! Don't you think?"

     Teresa found herself stumbling over her words, "I think so? I don't know—"

     Mae happily waved her off, "Don't worry, we'll figure it out." She raises her hand toward her little Hut, "Ta-Da! Home sweet home!"

     She couldn't help but give a soft 'woah' at the sight of Mae's little slice of land. Which was a decent sized Hut — slightly leaned over from structure. The little flowers and stems that sprouted from the wood was a nice touch, and the plants that grew around it gave Teresa a calming feeling.

     "Come on, it's nicer inside!"

     About half an hour later, Teresa had found herself sitting on Mae's bed in a blue nightgown, her hair braided and pulled back while she poked at the smushed avocado on her face.

     Mae sat on the other side, her legs crossed under her as she applied a thick coat of honeydew against the large sunflower petal on her nose — like a natural blackhead strip. Her hair was let down in a series of blonde waves.

     "Is my stress releasing yet?" Teresa asked, scratching away at the avocado on her nose. Her face scrunched in distaste, but she wouldn't dare take it off knowing Mae spend most of her time putting it on.

     "Do you feel less stressed?" She hummed out, putting down the jar of honeydew on her small dresser.

     Teresa thought for a moment, "No."

     "Then, no."

     The brunette sighed, looking toward the door with a creasing frown, "What's going to happen with Thomas?"

     "Oh, don't worry." Mae responds, "He's just spending the night in the Slammer for when he ran into the Maze the other day, it's against the rules you see. I spend a day there the first time I went into the Maze, it's the safest place for Thomas to be."

     Teresa's brows furrowed, "First time? Did you go in a second time?"

     The blonde slowly lowered her arms, allowing the memory to swarm again, "Yes. I ran into the Maze to save our Leader, Nick."

     "Is that what you meant earlier? When you said you couldn't lose another Leader?" She questioned. Mae shifted in discomfort, and Teresa was quick to say. "You don't have to tell me, I didn't mean to push—"

     "No, it's all right," Mae reassured with a smile. "The doors were going to close, you see, and I couldn't stand the thought of Nick being alone. So, I ran into the Maze. We spent the night there together, and when morning came and the doors were going to open. . ." She let out a small sigh, "He didn't make it."

     Teresa grabbed her hand, "You tried your best. I'm sure he's grateful you didn't give up on him. ."

     She gave a teary laugh, "I suppose that's the different between Thomas and I," Mae hoped she didn't sound so bitter towards the boy, "He was able to run in and save two people, and I couldn't even save the one."

     Teresa didn't know what to say. She was only hearing a snippet of Mae's past and yet she couldn't believe how someone like Mae could be so nice and loving. Teresa had only known her for less than a day and she already felt so comfortable, she already saw how much Mae cared for everyone.

     "Can I ask you something, Teresa?"

     "Of course."

     Mae hesitates, trying to find the right words, "Do you really think Thomas and Minho we'll fine a way out of here?"

     Teresa thought about it, "Yes, I really do." She admits, her head tilts as Mae's shoulders sagged, "Isn't that what you want?"

She sighed, "Of course. I want nothing more but. . ." She groaned, throwing herself back on the bed, "I can't stomach the idea of leave Gally."

In response, Teresa throws herself back on the other side, "Gally? Why not? Thomas says he's horrible."

"He's not horrible, he's just an idiot." Mae breezed, "And stubborn. He refuses to believe that we could live beyond the Glade, he thinks it's safer here. . .and I can't exactly blame him for not wanting to leave the only place we've ever known but maybe if I convinced him — oh, I don't know, I just wish I knew how to put what I want to say into words."

"Do you love him?"

Mae nods. "But I can't bring myself to say it, especially if we do leave this place. I know I'd leave, it's an opportunity I can't pass up."

Teresa's eyes narrowed at the ceiling, trying to find the right words to say. She doesn't remember if she's ever been in love — and for some reason the thought of Mae being in love send an odd pang in her stomach. Probably because Gally was the last person she'd expect Mae to like — they were complete opposites.

"If you can't say it, then show it." She said finally, turning her head to look at Mae, "How easy do you think it would be to show Gally how you feel?"

Mae hummed, "Pretty easy actually."

Teresa shrugs, "There. Then you wouldn't have to say that you love him, he'd just already know."

With wide eyes, Mae shoots up from the bed, "Teresa you're a genius!"

Teresa also sits up, "I am?"

"Yes!" She gets to her feet, and peels the petal from her nose, "If I show Gally how much he means to me, maybe my love can pierce through his thick skull and he'll realize just how important it is for us to be together out there! He'd want to leave with us!"

Teresa didn't believe it would work, but nodded along for Mae's sake anyway.

Mae gives an exciting jump, and rushes out of the Hut — only to pop her head back in seconds later, "Does this mean we're best friends, now?"

In return, she gives a small and bashful smile, "Yes."

"Fantastic!"

— — — — — — — — — —

MAE WALKED UP THE SMALL hillside toward Homestead with each determined step. Surprisingly— after the events of today — she was still smiling brightly, nodding in acknowledgment toward the other Gladers as she made her way to the Kitchen. Her steps slowed when she noticed Minho there, hunched over a jar of jerky.

Mae cleared her throat loudly, causing the Runner to slowly turn around with wide eyes. She placed her hands on her hips, giving him a look that Minho didn't fear in the slightest, "Oh," He eased. "It's you, I thought you were Fry."

"What are you doing here? Isn't that Frypan's personal jerky jar? He'd kill you if he finds out," She reminds, opening the fridge and grabbing a handful of strawberries and cheese.

"That's why he won't found out," Minho emphasized. "Besides, I need to fuel my body for Thomas' training tomorrow," He pats his belly before narrowing his eyes at her, "What are you doing here?" He redirects. His eyes drop to the ever-growing basket of things, "Who's that for huh? You and the chick getting comfy? Who woulda thought—"

     Her heart skips a nervous beat, "It's not for anyone. Just erm — me." They stared at each other long and hard, neither of them looking away. Then, Mae awkwardly pulled at her hair, "But if it were for someone, what would be the best romantic jester?"

     Minho's face pulled up in disgust, "Romantic jester? We are in the middle of a man-eating Maze and you're worried about romance?"

     She huffed, "As if you and Newt don't get romantic?"

     He shakes his head, "You don't see me making a picnic basket for him, do you?"

     "Well, maybe you should," She gives a firm nod, "Everyone deserves a little romantic jester now and then, even if it's small. I mean, how else do you remind him that you really truly love him?"

     Minho looked panicked, like he was realizing his whole relationship strategy was a lie, "Should. . .should I do that? Is he into that kind of thing? Did he send you to me as a way of telling me what he wanted, because I could be romantic! I'm one fucking romantic shank, all right?"

     Mae raised her hand in defense, before grabbing her basket and slowly walking out the door as Minho muttering to himself in conflict.

She was glad that Gally wasn't in his room when she entered, and prayed to Dot that he wouldn't come upstairs for at least another hour while she set-up what she hoped would be a lovely dinner. Mae didn't have any other ideas and well — what person didn't like food?

     Mae softly placed the basket on his wooden desk, moving things out of the way, smiling at the little knickknacks that he had kept from her — like the multiple shaped rocks and flower petals. She decided to leave them there, and instead move the scattered papers on his desk. Sketches of structures and things to add around the Glade for better access, Gally had truly thought of it all.

     A sad feeling struck her heart. He must've spent hours on these sketches, trying to accommodate to everyone's wishes in hopes they would want to stay. It was trying to make the Glade seem worth fighting for.

     But, the Glade just wasn't.

     Mae started pulling out everything from her basket; platters of bread and cheese, strawberries and deformed cookies with two jars of raspberry juice. She had placed it all on the desk, pulling out two candles and lighting them with a torch from the hall.

     She had tired her best with what little materials she had, and even made Gally's bed to make the room look nicer. Still, something felt missing. Then, without a second thought she rushed out of the room, pushed Winston out of the way with a loud 'sorry' and made her way toward the Deadheads.

By then, she was out of breath and heaving but she still managed to pluck as many flowers as she could before making her way back to Homestead. Mae pulled the randomly placed the flowers in different parts of the room to look nice, and with a final sigh she plopped down on the bedroom and waited.

A pitched oink made Mae's eyes snap open, and standing in the open door was a small piglet with brown spots, it kept making more noise, his eyes solemnly trained on the strawberry on the desk. Winston must've forgotten to close the pen on the way to bed — a common mistake.

"Dot the third," Mae stood nervously, holding out her hands, "Please don't," The pig took a step forward. "Don't."

     In seconds, the piglet had charged forward with a loud sequel and knock his head against the table. Mae screamed out, trying to grab the pig but it quickly ran across the other side of the room, causing the jars of raspberry juice to smash on the floor.

     "No! No, please stop!" She cried, tripping over the chair and grabbing anything she could to stop herself — which happened to be the bowl of strawberries that slide off the table, right on her head and staining the blonde.

     The piglet grabbed two strawberries in his mouth and ran out of the room, straight through the legs of Gally, who stood in the doorway with his arms crossed. Mae's face heat up in embarrassment, tears forming in her eyes as she looked around at the mess.

     "Gally, I'm so sorry." She hiccuped, getting to her feet and pulling a the cheese slice off of her dress, "I-I just wanted to do something nice and I completely ruined your room—"

     Gally gave a soft grimaced at the mess, "Mae, it's okay—"

     Mae throws her hands up, "No! No, it's not okay. I spent a whole hour trying to make this little picnic for us and I wanted it to be special so I could show you that I'm in love with you because Teresa said I should do more than words and I even got strawberries because they're your favorite, see?" She pulls a strawberry from her hair and holds it out with a hiccup.

     His silence was suffocating, and Mae hadn't realized what she had said until she noticed his own eyes watering. She gives a gasp, dropping the strawberry and placing a hand over her mouth. She had ruined everything. She had jumbled her words and overwhelmed him back into his emotional hole. She had messed up. . .right?

     "You. ." Gally clears his throat. "You're in love me?" He repeated, surprising himself all over again.

     Mae gave a slow nod, her eyes still wide in fear. "Yes," She replied breathlessly, "Yes I am. I love you. And I understand if it's too late, a-and you don't feel the same way but I needed to find some way to tell you and I—"

"Shut up, Mae." Gally takes two strides forward, and grabs the sides of her face, pressing his lips firmly against hers. Mae had found herself instantly kissing back, her hands curling into his shirt and tugging him closer.

For the first time, the kiss hasn't been one sided, it hadn't been rushed or forced it was just them in the moment. Gally's hands slid down to her waist and tugged her backwards until her legs hit the corner of his bed and she was slowly placed on her back, Gally hovering over her.

Their lips pull away only a second for Mae to yank his shirt over his head before she pushed him toward her by the nape of his neck. She gave a soft gasp of surprise when his hands tightened around her thigh.

"Is now a good time to mention that I love you again?" She squeaked, looking up at him with a soft smile.

A large grin tugged up on his mouth, a heavy chuckle rumbling in his chest and making her heart flutter, "I love you, too."

Aw, I have the write
'that' scene v soon—

11.3.21