˚ ༘✶₊˚. ⊹ ˚ . FIRST ACT
❪ ELEVEN ♥︎ ₊˚༢࿐
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MAE RUBBED HER EYES WITH a tired yawn as she walking across the Glade with a blanket pulled over her head. She made her way into Homestead, the fabric dragging behind her in the dark as she navigated her way up the creaky staircase.

The Maze doors weren't due to open in hours, and Mae had woken up from another nightmare with no one around.

     So, she did what she always did, and tried to bunk with Newt, but when she peeled open the door she physically had to stop herself from squealing when she saw Minho there, sleeping soundlessly beside the Brit, his arm draped over Newt's stomach.

Mae wished she had a camera, for memories and for blackmail.

     For a moment, she thought about waking Frypan, because the two had an ongoing bet on when Newt and Minho would make anything official.

With a small smile, Mae closes the door and ventures down the hall to the last door on the right.

She raised her hand to knock, but before her fist could graze the door, it was flung open and Gally was standing there.

He looked exhausted, his face slightly paled and dark circles under his eyes. His face pulls up in surprise at the sight of her, and Mae slowly lowered her hand in embarrassment.

It was one thing to sneak into Gally's room while he was sleeping, it was another thing to be caught in the act.

"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice low in a whisper as he looked down each side of the hallway, "Are you. .okay?"

She hugged the blanket tighter, imagining what she looked like at that moment. Her hair slipping out of her braid, sticking in different directions, the puffy-redness of her eyes, as her stuffy nose affected her voice.

Mae thought she looked horrible. Gally thought she looked beautiful and had to reframe from telling her at that moment.

     "I think so. I just couldn't sleep," She explained, realizing how foreign the words sounded to him.

Gally had made sure that late nights with Mae ended just the way it sounds. They'd stay up and talk, and he'd leave to his room. No more falling asleep in each other's arms, especially not after Alby almost caught them not even two weeks ago.

"Is Newt already up?" He asked, forcing himself to not want to pull her into his room, "Sleep in his room."

Mae gave an awkward smile, "Minho's in there."

He winced, "So that's what that noise was." Mae had to cover her mouth to reframe for laughing. Gally gave a barely noticeable smile.

"What are you doing?" She redirects softly, "Lights out was hours ago."

Gally rubs the back of his neck, "Couldn't sleep," He admits, "Just got back from crossing Ben's name off the wall. ."

Mae flinched at the name, "I'm sorry you had to be the one to do it."

"Rather me than Minho," He muttered, "He's not doing so well."

"Newt will take care of him," Mae smiled softly, "They're always there for each other." She frowned, and turned to leave, "I-I should go. .sorry for bothering you."

"Mae?" He whispered out, she turned back to face him with a kind smile, "You're not going to be able to sleep tonight, are you?"

Her smile falters, "No. Are you?"

"No," He sighed, realizing that he couldn't push her away even if he wanted to. So, he opened his door.

Mae smiled at the silent invitation and walked into his room. Gally closed the door behind him, and leaned against it, watching as Mae crawled into his bed-- her designated corner-- and got comfortable.

He felt his heart squeeze, reminding him of the cursed fact that he was hopelessly in love with Mae. He swallowed away the words he wanted to say, and walked over his to blow out the candle on his desk, crawling into the bed beside her.

Gally froze when she threw the blanket over him too and rested her head against his shoulder. He closed his eyes to gather himself, ignoring the aroma of honey and hibiscus.

"Goodnight, Gally." She mummers, already falling back asleep.

"Goodnight, flower."

ﾟ✹ ｡･:*: ✧ ⋆·˚ ༘ * 🌷 ✶ ･:

         LIKE EVERY TIME MAE WOKE UP in Gally's room, he was gone before the sunrise. She sighed, and pulled the covers off, getting ready for the day she knew would drag on.

     It felt wrong having the need to sneak out of Gally's room, but last time she bumped into Winston, and he wouldn't shut up about the encounter that whole morning.

     She didn't like blackmail, but it came to the point where she had to remind him that she's the only one who's seen his lower-region and she wouldn't hesitate to spread the rumor that it looked like Chuck's pinky.

     Which she would never do, but it seemed to shut him up instantly.

     "Good morning, Mae Mae." Frypan greets, smiling wide as he handed her a small plate of bacon, "What are you doing coming from upstairs?" He looked at her knowingly.

     Mae narrows her eyes playfully, "I'm sure Gally's already told you."

     He grinned, "I'm his best friend, he tells me everything. Like how you're a sleep talker."

     She reddens, "I am not!"

     "Yes, you are," Newt responds as he walked past.

     Mae throws her hands up, "I just woke up and I'm already being attacked--"

     Zart walks up and takes a piece of bacon from her plate, "Yup, now let's go, you're gardening with me today!"

     He grabs her by the shoulders and drags her out of Homestead, she groans jokingly.

     Newt had explained to her that both Minho and Alby had gone into the Maze, which made Mae physically nauseous at the thought.

     He tells her that he made sure to see them off, and because she slept in, he made she hand Minho a random rock he found on the floor.

     It made her feel a better, but not by much.

     "But why would Alby go into the Maze?" Thomas asked, sitting on a log beside Chuck, "I mean, he's not a runner."

     Newt sighed, "Things are different now," He tells him, gripping his hand around his machete, "Alby went to retrace Ben's footsteps before sundown."

     Chuck holds up a small wooden carving, a proud smile on his face, "Mae, look!"

     She stops her hacking and smiles brightly at him, "Good that! It's coming along well, Chuck!"

     "Are you going to help?" Newt pressed to Thomas, motioning to the tree stump they were cutting.

     Thomas waved him off, "Okay, so he's gonna go back to where Ben was just stung? He--"

    "Thomas," Mae dragged lightly, and the boy instantly sags his tense shoulders, "Alby knows what he's doing, I'm sure everything is going to be fine. Minho knows the Maze like the back of his hand."

     "But--" He began.

     Mae laughs at him, running up and grabbing his hand. Thomas allows her to pull him off the log, "Come on, enough questions. You're supposed to be helping!"

     Thomas smiled and followed her toward the stump. Helping Newt, Zart, and Mae hack at the tree.

     "There you go, Greenie," Newt teased, he turns to Mae, "You mind getting me another one? This ones gone flimsy," He wobbles the handle of the machete.

      Mae smiled, and handed him hers, "Sure, who's got a spare?"

     Zart grinned, "Gally does." Her face goes red at his suggestive tone, "Maybe he left it in his room, you should go back and check!"

     Thomas looked between them, "Go back?" He repeated.

     Mae chuckled awkwardly, grabbing the flimsy machete and running away from the gardens, ignoring the laughter from Zart and Newt that followed.

     She looked toward the South East, where Gally was ordering the Builders around with his arms crossed. Eric wobbles, almost drops a stack of wood, but Gally quickly runs forward and helps him pick it up, throwing his share over his shoulder.

     Her walking slowed, watching as his muscles tightened through his thin brown shirt - which looked too small to be his own. She felt her face heat up as he smirked at Dan, chuckling at a joke he said. Everything he did made her heart race.

Mae physically shook away her thoughts, lifting her chin up in forced confidence as she walked up to the Builders. She smiled when they noticed her, and Dan muttered something to Gally, causing him to whip around.

"Um," She chuckled awkwardly, lifting her hand in a soft wave, "Hi."

Henry smirked, "Hey, Mae. How's it going?" His eyes run up and down her body, tilting his head in a flirtatious manner that breezed right over her head.

     Gally turned to him with a clenched jaw, but Mae's eyes were solemnly on him, "Zart says you have a spare machete we can use to cut down the stumps. Can I have it please?"

     "Have you done something new to your hair?" Carl asked her, twirling a piece between his fingers.

     Mae gave a smile, grabbing the other side, "I twisted them back today! Thank you for noticing."

     "Very nice," He continued, "Ain't it nice, Gally?"

     They were teasing him, and because Alby wasn't there to keep them in check there wasn't much Gally could do without being thrown into the Slammer for harming another Glader— no matter how much he wanted to in that moment.

     He goes to respond, but Alec slides off the picnic table and said, "You can have the machete, Mae. Got anything to give us in return?" Henry chuckled at that.

     "Hey." Gally snapped, face red.

     Mae didn't understand, and opened her little bag, "I have a bag of berries I got from the Kitchens," She explains, holding them out to Alec, "You can have them if you'd like, I was going to eat them for Lunch, but if you're hungry—"

     Henry grabs the bag, but Gally snatched it back and hands it to Mae, grabbing her by the shoulder and leading her away from the group, who howled with laugher at their Keepers pissed expression.

     "Aren't you supposed to with a Keeper at all times?" He huffed, face still red. "What's Newt thinking letting you walk around alone with Alby gone?"

      Mae tilts her head, "But I am with a Keeper," She bumps his shoulder.

     Gally sighs, leading her behind a tree and pulling a machete from the split bark. He had put it there just in case, considering the Weapons in the basement were being under close watch.

     "Here," He hands it to her, crossing his arms over his chest, "I'll take you back to the gardens myself," He turns his head slightly to the North East, "You and Greenie seem to be getting comfortable." He muttered.

     Mae giggled, "Gally? Are you. .jealous?"

     She was teasing him, but his face dropped and his jaw clenched in a heavy bitterness, "Why would I?" He says, "You've only known him for a day."

     She gives a nonchalant shrug, "A lot could happen in a day," She dragged, looks over to Thomas, he had just tripped over a weed. Her face pulled up in a genuine smile, "He's odd, but cute."

     "Cute?" Gally repeats under his breath, scoffing, "So, what? He makes you feel things now? Crushing on him or something?"

     "Maybe? I don't know," She said honestly, "He just seems familiar."

     "He likes you," He insisted.

     "Come on, don't be jealous!"

     In seconds, Gally's hands tighten against her waist and push her softly against the tree, his body pressed against hers. She gasps, looking up at him through her eyelashes as spoke against her ear.

     "I'm not jealous," He said lowly, one of his hands lifting up and wrapping softly around her collarbone, "Shank can like you all he wants, you can even date him if you want to, doesn't matter. I'll know you'll think of me the whole time."

     He pulls back instantly, and Mae didn't realize she was holding her breath until she let out a shaky exhale. Gally was grinning now, and she mentally kicked herself for proving him right.

"But, you know, that's my opinion on it," He shrugged nonchalantly.

     "Right, yes. I'm just gonna," She waved the machete toward the garden, "With the," She points to the weapon like it wasn't obvious, "And you'll," She motions in the other direction, "I-I mean if you want to—"

     "Go do your job, Mae," He shook his head, shifting a laugh, "I'll watch you go."

     "Right, yes, of course," She walks away, tripping over her dress, "I'll do that."

     Then, she sprinted away, to get as far away from Gally as possible — for the sake of her heart beating out of her chest.

ﾟ✹ ｡･:*: ✧ ⋆·˚ ༘ * 🌷 ✶ ･:

ALBY AND MINHO WERE NOT BACK around the time they were supposed to be, and it put the Gladers in a pensive and worried mood. Mae, of course, was at the brink of panic when she realized the sky was getting darker, and her nervous didn't ease when the Glade started to rain.

"It never rains in the Glade," Mae says, pacing under a dry area, gnawing at her thumb. "Why is it raining in the Glade?"

Newt leans against a pillar, his arms crossed as he started intensely at the Maze doors. He was relatively calm on the inside, but the nervous shifting of his eyes gave everything away. Newt was worried for both of them, but Minho specifically was on his mind.

"Dunno," He mutters.

"Why don't we know?" She asked rhetorically, stopping her pacing, "Shouldn't we know? Why is it that we know nothing?!"

"Gee, Mae," Chuck says, "Calm down will you? You're scaring the chickens!"

Mae pressed her knuckle against her temple, taking a deep shaky breath to gather herself. "They'll be fine," She mutters to herself, "Everything is fine."

Thomas walks into the hut, making his way straight to Newt. He looked nervous, and shifted his attention toward the doors, "They should be back by now." He states, "What happens if they don't make it."

Mae forces a smile, "They'll make it."

"What happens if they don't. . .?"

Mae's mind flashed with the memory of spending a night in the Maze. She remembered the sounds the Grievers made, and how it's shrills made her jump every time she tried to closed her eyes. Then, the flash of Nick's face came.

She instantly shook it all away, covering a hand over the other in hopes to stop her from shaking.

"They're gonna make it," Newt answered for her, his voice firm.

Thomas didn't seem satisfied with that answer, but kept his mouth shut anyway. Chuck had told him last night, after Ben was banished into the Maze, that Mae had spend the night there. He gave no real details after, he simply told Thomas that no one liked to talk about that day.

Now, Thomas couldn't shake the one thought that clouded his mind when he looked at Mae. How did someone like her survive the night in that?

The answer would be, she didn't. Mae didn't come back the same person, no matter how much she pretended to be around her friends.

     Within an hour, the rain cloud and passed, but somehow the Glade still felt dark and gloomy. Mae was standing beside Newt anxiously, it seemed as though no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop her hands for shaking.

     A soft hand wraps around hers, and Mae follows the arm up to Thomas' face. He wasn't looking at her, he was staring into the Maze for Minho and Alby, but when he felt her staring he turned to face her and smiled in comfort.

     Mae squeezed his hand back in relief, her hands no longer shaking.

     "Come on, guys, can't we send someone after them?" Thomas asked impatiently.

     "It's against the rules," Gally said solemnly. He was crouching down, his elbows on his knees as stared into the Maze, "Either they make it back or they don't."

     He looks up at Thomas, pausing when he noticed Mae's hand firmly in the Greenie's. Gally simply turned back, not bothering to react — though his clenched jaw gave something away.

     "We can't risk losing anyone else," Newt explains, rubbing his arm up and down to calm his nerves.

     Mae extends her hand to him, and he grabs it firmly in his own. She can't imagine what he was feeling in that moment. If Alby and Minho were gone, not only did he lose someone he loved but he was now forced to take over the Glade. All in one day.

     "They're gonna make it," She whispered to him, repeating his words from earlier.

     It seemed the Universe lived to prove Mae wrong. The familiar sound of gears could be heard, and the heavy wind blew in from the Maze, warning that the doors were about to close.

     "Oh, no." Chuck muttered.

     Thomas points into the Maze, "There!"

     Mae felt her heart speed up when she saw them, both Alby and Minho. She frowned when she realized that Alby wasn't moving on his own, and that Minho was pulling him over his shoulder in loud grunts.

     "No wait, somethings wrong!" Newt says.

     Instantly, the boys began to show in encouragement, screaming for Minho to hurry. Mae takes a panicked step back, almost like she was being hit with a wave of déjà vu.

     Minho's face morphed into Nick's, and in Mae mind she was reliving the day she watched their old Leader running for the doors.

     "You gotta leave him!" Gally screamed out.

     Although their shouts were loud, Mae's heartbeat felt louder and in an instant, she takes a cautious step forward. Then, she was snapped out of her déjà vu when she realized that it wasn't her running into the Maze.

     It was Thomas.

     "Thomas, no!"

     His hand drops out of Mae's, and before anyone could stop him, Thomas was running straight into the Maze, the doors closing right behind him. 

     Then, they all heard the sound of a Grievers shrill, causing every last one of them to grow silent.

     "Well, that's unfortunate." Gally muttered.

[ will I ever write an OC without trauma? no.]

10. 08. 21