˚ ༘✶₊˚. ⊹ ˚ . FIRST ACT
❪ THREE ♥︎ ₊˚༢࿐
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     NEWS TRAVELED FAST IN THE GLADE, and when word got out that Mae had ran into the Maze over a flower, Nick had no choice but to put her in the Slammer overnight so the others didn't think he was picking favorites. She did break a rule, and no one was really opposed to giving Mae a lesson on following orders.

But it didn't stop Newt from sneaking her some bread for dinner.

After a night in the Slammer, Mae had learned her lesson──on not venturing out. She still couldn't help being curious about the Maze and the passage that opened just for her. Where did it lead? Why did it close?

Either way, Zart liked to constantly reminded her, as the week went on, that she should be lucky she didn't come across a Griever. The blonde frowned at the thought. The sound the Grievers made at night always scared her awake, and the way the Maze turned into new patterns didn't help her curiosity.

Still, she listened to Nick. It was all she could ever do.

Mae looked out of the window in her room, which was just an open wooden space that overlooked the Glade. She watched the sun rise over the walls, giving their home light and signaling a new day. She sighed, wondering what the week would hold for her.

She had been here for almost a month now and was officially stuck in a boring routine.

Mae wanted something exciting to happen but all the boys ever cared about was work, they were always so gloomy.

She reluctantly got ready for the day, braiding only a few pieces of hair to make her blonde waves stand out. She didn't like wearing pants, or shoes for that matter. So, Mae stayed to her now comical blue dress and bare feet──like some kind of woodland fairy.

Her hand grabbed the door, and with a calming breath Mae opened it with a wide smile.

"Good morning," She greets Alby.

"You're up early," He notes.

"I thought I'd wish the Runners good luck before their journey," She smiled, walking beside him and down the hall, "They always forget to bring lunches with them." She says more to herself.

Alby hummed at that, "That's nice, Mae."

She gives a proud nod, and grabs three pre-wrapped sandwiches from the kitchen, bidding Alby a goodbye.

Before she could completely stepped out of Homestead, a body collides with hers and a large hand wraps around her waist before she could fall. Mae looked up at the very unamused eyes of Gally.

"Thank you, Gally," She says, giving her cute teeth-baring smile.

He rolled his eyes, mentally stomping away the blush on his face as he cleared his throat, "You need to pay attention, Greenie." He says.

"Do you ever smile?" She asked him, poking his cheek. Mae didn't think she ever saw Gally genuinely smile, it was all sarcastic half-smiles or grimaces.

He narrows his eyes, "No."

It took Mae a minute to realize that she was still wrapped in his arms, but when she did, her eyes widened and a rosy blush appeared on her pale cheeks. Gally must've realized too, because he moved away far too quickly.

"What are you doing up early?" He asked her. She holds up the sandwiches as her answer, and he nods, motioning to the door, "You're going to miss them if you don't go."

Mae gives a squeak of panic before rushing out of Homestead. She rans through the Glade, sandwiches in hand. Minho, George and another boy named Dan were standing just outside the wall, ready to start their run.

"Hey!" Mae waved to them, "Hey, guys wait!"

Dan scoffed to George, "Great, here comes the circus." He expected George to laugh along, but the boy simply ignored him.

"What's up, Mae?" Minho asks, tightening his backpack straps.

Mae held out the sandwiches with a smile, "You forget to eat!" She says, handing them each one before saying, "You can't run on empty stomachs and— Oh!" She unzips her bag and pulls out a round rock, "Here, for good luck."

Minho takes the rock without question and shoves it in his pocket. It wasn't uncommon for Mae to randomly hand them things, and after a while it became second nature to just hold out their hands and accept whatever was given.

"Thanks," He smiles, "See you at dinner."

George digs his knuckles into her head playfully, and with a smile Mae watches them go.

—

     "You're an idiot," Mae muttered. Her eyes widened when she realized she said that out loud, and quickly added, "Respectfully, I mean—"

Nick chuckled, "It's okay. That's fair," He responds, watching curiously as Mae sewed together the small cut on his leg, "Is it bad?"

She tilts her head, "I don't know," She didn't mean to be blunt, but it was true, "I mean, I don't think so." Mae quickly spreads a thick amount of yarrow on a gauze pad, before pressing it against the wound and tying it in place, and smiled proudly at her work, "That should stop it from getting infected."

"Thanks, Mae," He slides off the table. "It's weird though, that you can remember how to do that," He continued, giving her a look.

Mae was skilled in plants and healing, two very specific skills that the boys somehow got when they needed it most. It was suspicious.

"You sure you don't remember anything else? About yourself."

Mae knew what he meant. Did she remember anything about the people who put them there? Did she have any clue why she was with them now? That was a question Mae couldn't seem to find a solid answer for.

"I. . ." Her eyebrows furrow at the thought, "I don't really know. I just remember this feeling," She looked at him, "Like something happened that wasn't supposed to." Mae grabbed her forehead, where he cut was almost healed, she frowned, "And a girl."

"A girl?" Nick shifts, standing in front of her. "What girl?"

"I saw her in my dreams," Mae muttered, shaking away the thought, "But it's silly—"

"Maybe not," He responds, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

She leaned into the touch, and said, "She was. . .hugging me."

It was only a second, but in Mae's dreams there was a brunette girl with a soft look and striking blue eyes. She was around her age, and sounded sad, but her features were unrecognizable, like a cloudy haze that she purposely couldn't see.

Everything about the girl was a blank in Mae's mind, but the odd feeling of betrayal stemmed from the her and Mae just couldn't remember why.

"She hugged me, and then it went dark. . ." Mae realized, "Then there I was, in the box."

Nick leaned against the table, his eyes clouded in thought. It wasn't uncommon to remember the split second before you enter the Maze. Nick remembered feeling cold, he remembered water, and then he woke up in the Maze. Most boys felt the same thing he did, but for some reason, Mae was different.

Mae didn't tell anyone, only because she felt stupid for thinking about it and it could most likely mean nothing. It could've been her sister, or a friend, someone who said their last goodbye before she was out there. It wasn't uncommon, so neither of them had a reason to be alarmed.

"I should get back," He says, "Keep up the good work, Mae. . .people are starting to depend on you, you know."

He wasn't exaggerating. Some, like the younger boys in the Glade, had started coming to her in private when they needed to stop acting all big and macho. Even going the lengths of crying on her shoulder as a way to cope with the overwhelming labyrinth they were stick in. Mae would simply smile and listen.

She was like a mother to a group of lost boys━━ sadly the lost boys forgot to remind themselves that she was just as lost as the rest of them.

"Just, don't fall into a stack of wood again," Mae teased. "I didn't think our leader could be that clumsy."

Nick rolled his eyes, and smiled, leaving the room without another word.

Within twenty minutes, after Mae started growing bored without another boy to bandage, Gally walked into the Hut.

The girl smiled at him, but the second his eyes found hers he was already turning on his heel to leave.

"Hey! Where are you going?" She yells, causing him to stop at the door and reluctantly turn to face her, "Do you need any help?" She asked eagerly, "I can help!"

Gally huffed, "I thought Jeff was in here."

"He's on break," She responds.

"All right, where's Clint?"

"It's not his shift. We're rotating." Mae nodded happily, motioning to the table with wiggling fingers, "Can I assisted you today?"

Gally shook his head quickly, "No—" He coughs.

Her eyes widened, "Are you sick?"

He narrowed his eyes, "No," He croaked.

Mae walks up to him. The closer she got the more she saw it. Gally was sweating, and not the day in the sun kind of sweating. His face was red, and slightly blotched, his eyes glossed over as he tried to hold in another cough. She pressed her hand against his forehead, and he reeled back.

"Personal space, Greenie—"

"You're burning up!" She tells him.

"What are you talking about? I'm freezing," He corrects.

Gally let's her pull him inside and sit on the table, tapping his foot impatiently as Mae scrambled around for something. He followed her every movement with his eyes, before getting tired of her mumbling. She pulled out an old book, one that was given to them in the beginning along with their first set of supplies. It only had the basic information.

"I feel fine," He insists, "I just stops by for some pain meds so I can get back to work—" Gally coughs again, this time doubling over and grabbing his chest.

"Is your chest tightening? Headaches? Sore throat?" She asked him, flipping through the pages, "Maybe some wet phlegm—"

"Gross—"

"Do you?"

Gally sighed, "It's just a little sickness, Mae."

"Sure," The girl smiled warmly, "But I think you should take the rest of the day off, just in case! I can tell Nick that—"

"No," He cuts quickly, "No way. I'm not a Slopper—"

She frowned, "You've got a cold, Gally. It's only a few day."

Gally was already sliding off the table and making his way toward the door, "I'm serious. Don't tell Nick, I can still do my job. I'm fine," He said.

Mae shifted around. It didn't feel right to just let Gally walk off knowing he was catching a cold. In the middle of a Maze, something like that could be deadly if she didn't treat it right away. But, Gally was stubborn, and he didn't really need her permission to leave. He was asking her not to tell anyone. He didn't want to appear weak, he didn't want to draw attention to himself.

With a sigh, Mae looked away from him, "All right. ." She mumbled. Gally goes to leave, but she quickly grabs his hand, "Wait!" She places two Tylenol tabs in his palm and closes it, "Just don't strain yourself, please."

His lips pull up in a confused grimaced. Gally had never felt cared for before━━ as far as he could remember that is. Gladers didn't dwell on those kinds of things unless it was absolutely necessary. No time to stop and think about the What if's and the What could be. They help each other sure, but there wasn't any emotion involved in it. No one has time to cater to the other.

but Mae did.

She cared.

She took the time to stop and observe. But that was her job, Gally reminded himself. She didn't care about him specifically. Why would she? So, he pulled his hand away and gave her a thankful nod, not looking back as he left the room and continued on with his day.

Because Gally was a Glader, and Gladers don't dwell.

—

     The boys loved poking fun at Mae. They liked to get her riled up over something that didn't involve plants or animals. They liked to frustrate her━━ but it never worked. She wasn't phased at all, and at first they just assumed she didn't understand that they were teasing her. But she knew. Mae just didn't care.

Zart leans over and tugs at her hair, his mud-stained fingers caking a strain of her blonde hair as he laughed.

Mae smiled back, and leaned over her blueberry bush to tug at his short curl. The boy winced, and rubbed his head.

"Did you have to pull so hard?" He wined.

She giggles as Newt said, "Don't dish what you can't take." He smiled, sending Mae a knowing wink.

She shook her head, and began to look around the Glade. Everyone was doing something, and Frypan was walking around handing out canteens. Mae's eyes shift to where the Builders were━━ more specifically Gally. He was hammering away, making more huts and benches with a concentrated frown.

For a split second, he lifts up his shirt to wipe his face, his toned chest on display before he continued on. Mae's face heats up, and she quickly looks away. Then, like her eyes had no control, she looked back at him again.

Except this time Gally was looking at her too.

She feels like she's been caught. Oh, my god he saw me staring, I'm an idiot. In an awkward attempt to save herself, Mae waves at him.

Gally looked around before giving a quick two-fingered salute back, turning away to continue his task━━ mostly so she couldn't see his face scrunch together at his own awkwardness, scolding himself. She caught me staring, I'm an idiot.

"Mae!" Newt huffed, by the look on his face Mae can assume that he had been trying to gain her attention, "Where's your head at?"

"On my shoulders," She answered seriously, patting her head to emphasize.

He held back a smile, still keeping his annoyed tone, "Well, can you pass me that bucket? I've already filled this one with berries. You're going to have to wash them at the waterhole, then give them to Fry to store in the kitchen." He ordered, passing over the full bucket. "Think you can manage that?"

Mae nodded eagerly, passing him a new bucket and grabbing the other. She gave him a wide smile, "I won't let you down!"

Newt watches her skip away with a small grin.

—

     When arriving at the waterhole, Mae had the brilliant idea of grabbing a bag and poking holes in it, so when she put the berries in the bag she can dunk the whole thing into the water and drain them out all at once.

The only problem with that plan, was that she was now holding a heavy wet bag of blueberries, and completely forgot where she put the bucket.

At least the girl can say that she tried. Because when was Mae never not looking on the bright side.

Still, during her five minutes of wild panic as she looked for her bucket, she had yet to notice Gally running into the forest on the opposite side of her, and  keeping himself up against a tree.

He looked ready to puke, which was probably because he hadn't eaten anything all day.

"Gally?" She called out with uncertainty, maybe it was another boy by mistake. But then he dropped down onto the grass, his face clear to her, "Gally!"

Mae placed the bag of berries against the nearest tree and ran forward, grabbing his shoulders and giving him a slight shake. He swats her hand away, but she wasn't taking no for an answer.

"You need to sit down!"

"I am sitting down," His voice sounded hoarse.

Mae gives him a look, and with a great tug and much effort, she pulls him to his feet.

He muttered complaints the whole way towards Homestead, allowing the girl to drag him into the building and up to his room. Mae looses her grip at the worst time, and Gally drops onto his bed a lot harder than she wanted him to.

She looks around curiously, she had never been in Gally's room. In the month she's been here, she's only ever been in Newt's room━━ by accident because all the doors look the same and Newt was mid-way from changing. He threw a shoe at her and told her to leave with a very red face.

Mae's hand runs against his wooden desk next to his bed, where some paper and pencils were laid out. They had sketches of the things Nick had asked him to build, but some were roughly scratched out from aggravation when he couldn't do it right.

Her heart leaped when she saw three rocks lined up on the corner, the ones she had given him but assumed he threw away. Mae smiled lightly.

Gally clears his throat, making her jump, "You done?"

"Sorry," She looked away in embarrassment. Fishing through her bag and pulling out a canteen, it was still hot, "Here, this should help. It's really not much, but it should settle your stomach."

Mae sits on the bed with her knees pulled in awkwardly, Gally shifts back to give her enough room, as he sat with his back against the wall. She hands him the canteen, and a wrapped half-loaf of cheese.

"Wait—" Mae pulled it back before he can grab it, "You should take off your shirt," He raised his eyebrow in amusement, "B-Because you're overheated, a-and I'd rather keep your body temperature down and—"

"Relax, Greenie," Gally muttered, throwing off his shirt in a single swoop, "It's just a shirt." He eased.

Mae continued to avoid his direction, "Right, obviously," She squeaks, handing him the canteen and bread, looking around his room to distract herself.

It wasn't that Mae liked Gally━━ At least she didn't think she did. Even if some part of her did, Nick made it a rule that none of the Gladers could even try anything with her, and everyone knew Gally loved the rules. So, she brushed away the feeling of panic, and turned back to face him.

He, of course, was already watching her every move. Their eyes locking together from behind the canteen around his lips. To ease the tension, Mae gave him a cute teeth-baring smile, to which Gally responded with a raising brow.

"This taste disgusting," He said finally, "What is it?"

"It's. . .sweet hibiscus tea," She brightened, sitting up to tell him all about it, "It's a herbal tea that I made from crimson calyces. The hibiscus flowers in the garden were almost dying so I had to be very gentle!" She laughed at the memory. "It has this really tart and cranberry flavor— at least I think it does, I don't remember having tarts or cranberry, I just like to imagine what they taste like—"

Gally gave a genuine laugh.

Mae falters in shock, looking at him with parted lips. He was smiling, his face scrunching as he chuckled. She watched him through the fire-light glow, and couldn't look away from him. For a moment, Gally was content. He was showing her vulnerability.

And she thought it was beautiful.

"Why are you laughing?" She found herself asking, a bright smiling on her face as she started laughing too, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, I. . ." He stops quickly, cleaning his throat. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't shake the soft smile on his face, "You're just a dork."

Mae reeled back, giggling. It wasn't the answer she expected, but then again how was she supposed to know that Gally was laughing because he found her excitement so freshening. That he found the way she crinkled her nose and pitched her voice in happiness so mesmerizing.

That Gally found her beautiful.

"Why are you always so nice anyway?" He changes to subject, looking down at his bread to distract himself, "It's weird. I never smile, and you smile way too much."

Mae thought about it, "I have no reason not to. I'm alive, and I'm well, and that's all that matters right? As for being nice," She smiles, "I just think everyone needs a bit of kindness in their lives, you never know what someone is going through, and it's just not my place to be so. . .mean." She explained.

"Unless they deserve it," Gally added firmly, "Always be mean if they deserve it."

She sighed, leaning against the wall herself, "Even then. . .I don't think I can ever hate anyone, not really. There's just no point."

"What if they did something to do?" He pressed curiously, "Something bad, you wouldn't get revenge? You wouldn't be angry?" She shook her head, and he scoffed, "I don't believe that. .everyone hates someone, they just can't help it. If someone does something, you'd never see them the same way."

"Maybe. ." She muttered tiredly, "Just not me."

"Not yet," He said lightly, "You know, one day you'll snap into survival, Mae. It's inevitable. When it comes down to you or them, you're supposed to always choose you." He leans forward, and grabs her hand firmly, "Look, if someone every hurts you, and I mean really hurts you to the point where you can't even stand it, you need to promise me that you'll defend yourself. Don't be stupid, fight back. Survive."

I don't want you to die, he didn't say. You can't die.

Mae looked down at their hands, her heart beating in her ears. Would she be able to keep that promise? She couldn't see herself hating someone, let alone fighting someone because of it. Fighting to survive? Mae knew she couldn't stand up for herself, which was why she didn't bother to try. But Gally was the opposite of her, he would fight anyone to the death of they betrayed him. He'd defend himself until he couldn't.

He was a coward in many aspects. Gally was too scared to really function at the end of the day, and he let his pride and anger guide him. It was how he survived.

In that moment, Mae didn't want to be that way. She didn't want to fight. She was just Mae. And Mae's don't fight back.

"Gally, I—"

The door slams open, and they both tear their fingers away from each other. It was Alby, and he was mid-way from saying something before he stopped. Mae realized how bad it looked without context. Gally shirtless while Mae sat so close to him, alone.

"We'll talk about this later," He said firmly, more to Gally who shrunk at his gaze, "We have a problem."

Mae stands up, now noticing how battered Alby looked. His lip was busted, and he was completely out of breath.

"What's wrong?" She asked him.

"It's George."

↳ ❛ NOTES ❜
    ꒰꒰ okay no more happiness from this point on—꒱꒱

DEDICATED: GUMIGURO-