˚ ༘✶₊˚.                         ⊹ ˚ .  FIRST ACT
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FOLLOWING THE WEEK AFTER GEORGE'S DEATH, Ben had officially became a Runner and moved into Homestead. It felt weird, having the room across the hallway be occupied by someone else but the others slowly adjusted. In that same week, the forest had officially been labeled the 'Deadheads' which unfortunately stuck. It was also the center of a new job, Mae was lucky not to be labeled a 'Bagger'. A boy named Billy was now the Keeper of the job and he wasn't much of a talker.

Mae started to occupy herself in other ways━━ which was just doing more tasks so she didn't have to think about that night. Her throat was still bruised, a few finger marks here and there and none of the boys seemed to keep their eyes to themselves.

She didn't like the shameless stares they gave her, all looks of pity. Mae didn't need to be pitied, it wasn't like she died.

Which came to another thing Mae was annoyed about. Gally wouldn't leave her alone.

She didn't know when the switch happened, but it went from Mae following him around like a shadow to the exact opposite. Breakfast, lunch and dinner he was sitting beside her. During her tasks, he wasn't too far behind. She turned around, he was there and when she went to sleep he was always the last to wish her goodnight.

It wasn't that she was uncomfortable with Gally's unwavering presence, but it did feel overwhelming when she tried to do something for herself and he was quick to step in so she wouldn't 'strain herself', all in his words.

The only time he ever left her alone was when he snuck off into the other part of the woods, doing god knows what. But even then, when Gally wasn't following her around Newt and Minho were.

"Will you two quit it!" She squeaked out, turning around with a basket of clothes on her hip. Newt and Minho stop in their tracks, as she grabbed a fist full of wet laundry and threw it at them, "It's not like I'm going to disappear into the wind, you know!"

Minho dodges the laundry with a frown, "We're just looking out for you!" His voice cracked, "Tell her, Newt!"

Newt put his hands on his hips, giving Mae an exasperating look, "You can't blame us for being concerned, Mae. You were almost choked to death—"

"Almost," She emphasized, "Boys, please, I'm perfectly fine."

Minho rubs his neck sheepishly, "Shuck, Mae. We just don't want to see you get. . .stung," He faltered on the last word.

The girl deflates, putting the basket down, "Is that what this is about? What happened with George, you think is going to happen to me?"

"Well we aren't exactly taking chances," said Newt, "You do tend to wander, and we don't want you anywhere near the Maze until we figure out what's going on."

Mae gave a bright smile, "You care about me."

The boy glance at each other. "Said who?" — "No way!" They jumble over each other.

The girl continued to smile, "Yes, you both care about what happens to me! You like my company, don't you?" She teased.

Newt rolled his eyes, "We find your presence endearing sometimes." He admits.

"Sometimes," Minho emphasized.

Mae gave a giggle, "That's good enough for me!"

"Just, stay out of trouble. Please?" Newt pressed.

Minho nods, "And he never says please."

"I pinky-promise," She says, holding both of her pinks out to them. "Those are super serious promises!"

Swallowing their pride Newt and Minho both stick out their pinks, and the three locked them together in a super serious promise. Satisfied, they both bid her a goodbye, and Mae happily continued on with her tasks.

An hour into the day, Mae found herself at the barn. She liked to feed the pigs and the chickens, while telling them about her day. Mae had named one of the pigs Dot after the many spots on its round body, and she would admit that she favorited Dot more than the rest of them.

"Mae, come one girl, what have I said about taking to the pigs?" Winston says, leaning over the gate and shaking his head. "They aren't friends, they're food."

The blonde frowned. "Why do we always have to kill them?"

"Do you want to starve?"

"Depends," She leaning over the gate and smiling at him. "If I don't eat, can Dot get another day?"

Winston deadpans. "You named it."

"Dot likes corn."

"All right," He responds, opening the gate. "Now get out, unless you want to see the Slicers in action."

Mae was getting better with not crying when it came to the weekly slaughter of the farm animals. After Alby sat her down and carefully explained to her the circle of life as if she was a preschooler, she had excited that if the universe wanted her to have ham, who was she to go against it?

Still, it didn't make it any less heartbreaking her.

She gave a sad sigh, kneeling down in front of Dot. The pig, clueless as ever, oinked happily, but Mae knew what was coming. She pats Dot's head, and kisses it's temple. "I hope you get lots of corn in Piggy heaven."

Winston smiled lightly, helping her out of the pen, "I'll make it quick and painless." He said this as if it would make Mae feel better, which it didn't.

"I'm not a vegetarian," She began, looking down at Winston's machete, "But sometimes you make me reconsider."

He rolled his eyes, watching her go. "Oh!" He remembered, "Gally's looking for you."

She smiled, "How fun."

Mae hops out of the barn house, her blue dress floating behind her like a cape— that Minho often liked to accidentally step on. She began her search for Gally, who wasn't hard to find considering he was quite tall and very noticeable in a crowd. He was standing by a tree, fumbling with his fingers as he paced back and forth nervously. Mae frowned, since when was Gally ever nervous?

"You were looking for me?" She voiced.

He jumps, not realizing she was standing behind him. Gally whirls around to face her, his eyebrows knitting together in annoyance. "I don't like when you sneak up on me."

Mae smiled brightly, "Then don't be easy to sneak up on."

Gally rolled his eyes, "I have something for you."

She gives an exciting jump, "Is it a dog? I've always wanted a dog! I'd name it Oregano."

"What— No," He shook his head, "How do you know you've always wanted a dog?"

Mae smiled, "I don't know. I saw them in the picture books the Creators sent up, it has all sorts of animals in there. Do you not look the picture books?"

"Off this topic," Gally waved her off, trying to stay on track. He grows nervous again, shifting on one foot to another, "Come with me." He says suddenly, grabbing her hand and dragging her toward the forest.

"A journey," She notes, giving a satisfied nod. "I always like going on journeys. Especially with you."

Thankfully, she couldn't see Gally's face tint a dark shade of blush, "Quiet." He grumbled.

Mae snaps her mouth closed, allowing him to drag her into the forest. They didn't walk far, only a little away from the waterhole. She started to slow when she saw a cute little hut in the middle. It wasn't gigantic, and looked slightly tilted when you stared too long but it was big enough to fit a bed, and a small dresser. The door of the hut was nailed with a blanket, and a bunch of flowers were pinned into the wood.

"I just thought, you know, since you're the only girl," Gally rubs his neck, "That you'd need more privacy. Besides, Newt keeps complaining that you keep walking into his room by accident so there's that." He turns to her, and faltered when he noticed she wasn't saying anything, "Klunk, you hate it."

Quite the opposite. Mae was absolutely in love with the hut. Not because she was thankful for the privacy but because Gally had made it for her. He took the time to do it, and the amount of times he's ran off made so much sense now. He spend this whole time building her something. Truthfully, it almost brought her to tears.

"You told me to be quiet," She whispered.

He rolled his eyes, a small smile on his face. "You can talk now."

That was all Mae needed to start jumping for joy. With a small squeal she ran straight into the hut, taking in the non-lumpy bed and carefully crafted dresser. The ceiling of the hut was covered in vines, and there was a small hole in the middle so she can look out at the moon. She threw herself back on the bed with an excited giggle just as Gally entered it, leaning against the doorframe with a content look.

"I love it," She announced, "It's perfect!"

"Frypan helped me," He shrugged. "Shank made it look all nice, I just built it."

Mae looked up at the hole in the ceiling, "How'd you know that I'd like a skylight?"

Gally shifted, "I, uh." He cleared his throat, "I just thought it was a nice touch, nothing to it."

In truth, when they had bonfires he noticed that every time that without fail, she spent a good hour staring at the sky. At night, she stared at the moon and stars, which looked amplified from the dome they were trapped in.

Mae looked at the moon, and Gally looked at her.

     "Come on," She pats the spot next to her.

      He hesitates. But when Mae pats the spot again he pushes himself off the wall and sits awkwardly beside her. He was stiff, and didn't know what she was comfortable with. Gally had to remind himself that dating Mae was against the rules. So whatever leap in his chest he was feeling had nothing to do with that. I don't have feelings for her, he thinks.

But then again, who else builds homes from scratch just because he wanted to empress her?

"Gally?"

     "Hm?"

     "Why are you being so nice?" Mae questioned, turning to face him. They were sitting closely, their knees touching each other. "I mean really, I think we're quiet opposites. I honestly thought I was annoying you but we seem to get along all right."

       Gally looked away from the skylight, locking eyes with hers. "You do annoy me," He teased. She rolled her eyes as he said, "Look, I'm not a completely horrible person," He reminds. "I have. . .soft sides, I guess."

     She raised an eyebrow, "Soft sides?" She repeats.

     He gives her a bemused look, "This might come as a shock, Greenie, but I'm not a total Slinthead."

     Mae raised her hands in defense. "I never said that you were in the first place. I just think you're a bit uptight, that's all."

     He didn't expect her to be so blunt. "Uptight? I'm not uptight." He defends.

     It was her turn to give him a look.

     "All the time," He corrects. "What, can you blame me? This isn't a vacation. If anything you guys should be more guarded, you saw what happened to George—" He falters slightly at Mae's reaction, "I just mean, I don't get why you guys aren't taking this more seriously. We have rules here, rules that keep us alive. And I'm not gonna be stuck here crossing names off the wall."

     "I'm not attacking you, Gally." She gives him a smile, "You're allowed to think whatever you'd like, but I know the truth."

     "And what's that?"

     "You care about all of us," said Mae, bumping her shoulder into his. "You might pretend to hate us, but you don't. Not really."

     He scoffed, "What makes you say that?"

     Instantly, Mae reaches over and grabs his right hand, holding it up with a raised brow. Tightly latched on his wrist, was the friendship bracelet she had made him. Then, with a proud smile she lays on her back, looking up at the skylight. Her blonde hair spread out like a halo.

"I just like the colors," He weakly defended.

     Knowing she wasn't going to say anything else, Gally sighed in defeat and laid on his back too. His eyes were trained on the skylight, but he was thinking about something else entirely.

He was thinking about Mae's hand, which was only inches from his own. He was thinking about how close she was in general, and how her smell of honey and garden soil suffocated him.

     His hand seemed to have a mind of its own, twitching up and brushing it against hers. He can hear her breath hinge, and for a second he thinks he made a big mistake.

Gally goes to move his hand away, but Mae's pinky wrapped around his own and he froze.

     "Thank you," She muttered. Her voice sounded whimsical and soft, her thick British accent coated in calmness. "For the hut. It was a lovely gift. Why did you do it?"

     Gally turned his head slightly left, looking at the side of her face with a thick swallow. Mae turned her head slightly right, and gave a soft smile when their eyes locked together. He felt nauseous. Being in Mae's presence made him mentally nauseous and it wasn't because of anything negative.

     It was the opposite.

The feeling crashed down on him like a wave. The realization began to drown him. Gally liked Mae. He liked everything about her. Her vibrant blue eyes, and her messy blonde hair. Her lips and the way they puckered, her nose and the way it scrunched when she smiled. Her smile. Even when he was having a bad day, Mae's smile always made him feel better.

He realized he liked it. He liked the way she spoke to him and the way she laughed at his jokes and way she said his name with such compassion and care.

     I like you. .

     "Mae, I—"

     The blanket on the door flies up, revealing a curious Minho. He looked around the hut, a wide grin forming on his face when he saw them.

     "Ah, shuck! You shouldn't have," He says, waltzing right into the room and throwing himself on the bed, but it wasn't big enough for three and Gally found himself suffocating under the Runner, "I've always wanted a personal man-cave!"

Mae giggled, shoving him away. "Do you ever knock?!"

"No, why?" He shot back, looking between her and Gally, "Got something to hide?" He teased.

Gally quickly pushed the boy off of him, "No." He snapped back. His face red at the sudden shift of feelings in the air.

Minho crashed onto the ground, laughing. "Yeah right!"

"I should finish working," Gally muttered, sliding off of the bed and swiftly trying to make his exit. He turns back to Mae at the last second and said, "I'm glad you like it Mae."

Before Mae could thank him again, he was already gone.

     And as Gally walked away from the hut, he didn't look back. Because looking back meant he was willing to turn around.

And Gally wouldn't. He couldn't.

There was no doubt in his mind that no matter what he felt for Mae, he could never act on it. She was like the sun, bright and beautiful but blinding. Gally couldn't allow himself to be blinded. He couldn't allow himself to like her, let alone love her.

So he'd do what he did best, and ran away.

↳ ❛ NOTES ❜
    ꒰꒰ slow-burn type beat ꒱꒱