WICKED is good.

...this won't hurt...not at all...

This is for the greater good, now do as you were designed to do.

Remember... WICKED is good

I woke up with a scream, a hand on my shoulder. I bolted straight up and into the corner. Breathing hard and fast.

"Charlie!" Someone yelled, "It's just me!"

I blinked and rubbed my temples, then rubbed my forehead aggressively. Trying to sooth the pounding headache.

"Why'd you come here?" Gally asked.

I dropped my hands into my lap. Why did I come here? Because I was scared and panicking and needed a safe quiet place? Because yesterday Gally allowed me to come here in the most vaunerable state I could possibly be in and he kept me safe? Because...I just wanted him. Instead I asked,

"Are you mad?"

He sighed and sat down at the foot of the bed, running a hand down his face.

"No."

I furrowed my eyebrows, and cocked my head. His tense shoulders and back, his dark eyes, short snippy senance said otherwise.

"Are you sure? Your whole body and demeanor say otherwise."

"I'm fine Charlie."

With a sinking feeling and a hurt I tried to hide, I forced a thin smile. Sliding carefully to end of the bed, I untangled myself from the blanket and stood up. Slipping the hoodie off and I hung it off the back of the chair before walking over to the door.

"Sorry to have been here." I whispered, my back to him, I tried to hide my hurt.

I pulled the door open. But it was pushed roughly closed. Gally was right behind me, his chest up against my back, he had reached over me and pushed the door closed and held it. With my heart beating wildly, my hand was still in the door handle.

"Don't." He growled.

"Don't what?" My voice hardly above a whisper.

"Leave. Don't leave."

"Are you sure?"

He hummed, and I felt his chest rumble. I was scared to move. Not that I was scared of him. But I was scared of where this situation was going to go.

"You're not..." He trailed off. He had whispered in my ear, making a shiver run down my spine and goosebumps to appear on my bare arms

"I'm not what?" I whispered, turning my head slightly.

"A whore."

I paused. "I know that." I snapped.

I heard him growl.

His hand was still on the door, he used his other hand to spin me around and held me against the door.

"You spent the afternoon in the MapRoom again."

"Yeah. So?"

"You spend a lot of time in there and with Minho."

I growled as I looked up at him, narrowing eyes. I shoved his chest slightly and ducked around him.

"Are you jealous?"

"He's an aragont jerk."

"He's areagont. Your mean. Alby is grouchy. Newt's a bit fruity. I'm snippy. Zart's a coward. Dug is a sleezey jerk. We all have our things."

The side of his lip twitched. But it didn't quite meet his eyes. Gally crossed his arms and glared at me and I glared back.

"Get over it Gally. We're friends end of story. He's given me a project I'm actually really good at, and a quiet safe place to do it. He's always had my back and believed in me."

"So have I." He narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightened.

"Then believe me now!" I yelled, slamming my hands into his chest. He grabbed my wrists, holding them, preventing me from moving.

"You shucken believe those jacked up rumors, don't you?!" I gasped.

He looked away. And I ripped my arms away, backing up, my chest rising and falling with my shirt gasping breaths.

"If it were true why am I here now?"

He didn't say anything. I let out a short sharp humorless laugh.

"And here I thought you believed in me." I said, my words dripped with venom, backing up some more.

I turned back towards the door. I yanked it open but it was slammed closed again. With Gally's hand right by my head, holding the door closed, he had me trapped. He used his other hand to spin me around again and hold me up against the wall, more firmly.

"Why are you here?" He growled right beside my ear.

"You know why I'm here." My voice was barely a whisper.

"I want to hear you say it."

"No." I said stubbornly.

"Say it." He demanded.

"No."

"Fine." He spat and pushed off the wall with a growl and spun away. He walked over to the small table by the bed and leaned on it, his back to me. I was left feeling empty and cold. I wrapped my arms around myself.

"You make me so angry." I whispered, I could feel the tears again.

His back stiffened.

"You make me so angry Gally, sometimes I just want to wrap my hands around your neck and squeeze. Sometimes...most times, when your close by I want to scream and yell. My heart speeds up and it's hard to breath. When your not around I want you close. When you're looking at me I feel frozen in place but when you're not, I feel alone."

I took a short shuddering breath. He hadn't moved, but I could see his stiff back and all the muscles in his arms tense.

"You make me so angry. But I feel safe. I want to punch your stupid beautiful face. But...I also want to hold it and kiss it and never stop."

He still didn't move, he hadn't even turned to look at me, but he hadn't interupted. So still talking to his back I kept going. I don't know why today it was all coming out, all the weird confusing emotions. Maybe it was because I knew I'd mess it up again tomorrow and at least right now we had one night. Maybe if he heard everything he would forgive me tomorrow.

"Of everyone in this shucked up place I could have turned to I came to you. Of all the guys to pick from I kissed you. I asked you to stay with me in the most vaunerable state I could have been in last night, knowing I was safe. Of all the places I could have ran to and hid, I came here. 'cause I feel safe. So ya go ahead and believe all the lies those guys are spewing. If you're going to believe one lie then you believe them all. Cuz you can't pick and choose. It's all or nothing. Because you can't say I'm not a hire and still messing around with Minho!"

There was a long pause. I stayed with my back against the door, trying hard to keep it together.

"I hate you Gally. I hate you so much!" I whispered, tears in my eyes.

We both knew that was a lie.

I watched Gally's reaction. He was still leaning over the desk. He finally straightened himself, and ran a hand through his hair and then down the back of his neck.

"Did you eat?"

I shook my head, "no."

He sighed.

"I'm not hungry."

He spun around, I could feel his frustration from here.

"Why do I always have to take care of you?"

"I don't know Gally, why? Why have you taken it upon yourself to do that? I never asked you to!" I finally pushed off the wall and took an angry step towards him.

"You don't so someone has to!" He yelled, throwing his hands around.

"And that someone is you?" I took another step closer.

"Maybe it is!" He yelled at me.

"Maybe." I whispered anger seeping into my words. "Admit it Gally! You like it!"

"No! It's annoying and makes me feel like a babysitter!"

I clenched my fists and my shoulders were stiff, my heart was beating so hard my ribs hurt. I could feel the anger and yet my stomach was flip flopping.

"And what do you want? Huh Gally? Cuz I can't figure it out!" I yelled.

"I don't know!" He yelled at me, taking a step closer.

"Yes, you do Gally!" I yelled back, "tell me what you want!"

"No!"

"Tell me Gally! Use your shucken words!"

"You!" He screamed.

We both paused for a split second.

"I want you, okay Charlie?" He whispered.

I could see his anger and relief and confusion all mixed together. His chest was heaving and he was breathing hard. I felt the same. Anger, hurt, want, desire, fear...all mixed together making this so confusing and complicated. Maybe we weren't the best together, we were volatile, argumentative, stubborn, outspoken...but he was the only one I wanted.

At the same time we both unfrozen, crashing together in the middle of the room. He wrapped me in his arms so tight I thought my ribs would break again. I had thrown myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around him, holding him as desperately as I could. A hand tangled in my hair, he pulled my face closer. He stumbled over to the bed. With one hand still holding me, he used the other one to lower us down.

I had to break the kiss to breath. He just went straight for my jaw and neck.

I dug my fingers into his strong shoulders when he hit a spot on my neck, and it made me gasp. I could hear and feel the rumble in his chest.

_________________________

It took a long time for me to fall asleep. I lay wrapped in Gally's arms, my head on his chest. We had the self control to stop before our makeout session got too out of control, but it took a lot.

I shifted slightly so I could see him. When he slept he looked so peaceful and softer. I gently ran my fingers through his hair. I sighed sadly. I knew this wasn't going to last. Tomorrow I'd sneak out of the Glad, and go into the Maze. Not that I was breaking any rules, just that no one knew. And after today...the Gladers probably would be even more pissed with me, coming up with all sorts of new outrageous lies.

I squeezed him a bit tighter, blinking hard, forcing the tears back. I buried my face into him and finally fell asleep.

___________________________

I woke with a start. It was still early. Gally was sound asleep still. We had shifted, so he was behind me, his large arm draped over my hip. With a heavy heart I slowly and carefully slipped out and gently brushed my lips against his cheek. I grabbed my boots and tiptoed out of his room and down the hall to Newt and my room.

I flinched when the door squeaked. I froze when Newt shifted. His breathing evened out and I exhaled. As quickly and quietly as I could, I changed into something suitable for running. Grabbed my new backpack, notebook and water bottle. Slipping back out the door and out of the Homestead into the crisp morning. Once I was brushed and washed I made my way over to the map room.

I was surprised to see Minho already waiting with two plates of food and coffee.

"Aww. Minny Mouse! Your so sweet." I chuckled, and took the coffee.

"Did you tell Gally yet?" He asked.

I shook my head, Minho just shook his head.

"That's going to be trouble."

I snorted. "That's my middle name!"

Minho pointed at me, "True. Now come here, we got map sections to learn and go over."

Minho sat me down, and in between eating, we went over the section we were going to run. Once we were done and I felt confident the others runners had shown up. Minho paired them up and sent them out.

"Run fast! Run safe!" I told each one and high fived them as they left.

Minho and Ben turned to me, arms folded, serious expressions.

"This is it Tiger. You ready?" Minho asked.

I nodded.

"Then let's go."

He held the door open and I followed Ben out and straight for the door. Without looking back we jogged over. The doors rumbled open and Minho grinned at me.

"Let's run, Shuck Face!"

He ran first and then Ben and I followed.

Before I was swallowed by the murky fog I could hear my name being screamed, calling me back.

He sounded pissed.

_____________________________________________

**Dun Dun Dun*
*Do ya think Gally's gonna forgive her?*