"You don't really like this Greenie, do you?" I chuckled at Gally. He sat next me at the bonfire, about to wrestle someone, but he made time for me, too.

"I don't trust him." He grumbled, staring at the fire.

"You haven't really met him nicely, how can you know?"

"I've seen him."

"Huh? You've— ohh."

He rubbed his forehead. "I won't share too much about it. Sorry."

"It's okay." I smiled.

"I saw him and I don't trust him." He muttered. "But I don't want to forbid you from hanging out with him. So, you do you. Just be careful."

"Okay." I lay my head on his shoulder, enjoying the fire too.

"But don't you dare go somewhere alone with him when I'm not around." He added.

"Promised." I assured. More boys started to gather around the fighting ring. "Do you really have to go wrestle?"

He grinned. "Wanna join?"

"Yes, please. My favorite hobby." I rolled my eyes. "I'll watch."

"You'll distract me by watching." He moved in front of me. Touched my shoulders.

I blushed. "Then you just... make sure you don't get distracted."

His name got shouted by a few boys. Both of us sighed before Gally leaned in and kissed me on the lips, long, and cupping my face.

"You better win." I whispered.

"For you, I will." He smiled, placed one last kiss on my forehead, then left. I blushed even deeper.

"Ew." Chuck pulled a face. "That was disgusting."

"It was lovely, admit it." I smiled even brighter.

"I'm never getting a girlfriend." He seemed disgusted.

"I can assure that in the future, you will get one." I patted him on the shoulder. "Wanna watch my boyfriend fight?"

"His name is Gally." Chuck mocked, though he got up and followed me to the ring. "I still don't really like him. He's so scary... and grumpy."

"Not everyone can be a sunshine." I replied.

The boy sighed. "But he's not nice to anyone. Except for you. Why's that, by the way?"

I felt flattered by those words. "Because... I'm his girlfriend."

"Ouch." Chuck's eyes already focused on Gally pushing a boy on the ground. "Why so rough?"

"He can't win if he fights like a twat." I shrugged, mostly admiring how hot Gally looked as he fought. "Oeh, that does look like it hurts."

Chuck looked at me now. "Did you ever fight him?"

"I did. He gave me a bleeding nose." I laughed at that memory. "He never apologized. Neither did I."

He frowned. "That's not nice. Why would he do that?"

"Because in the beginning, we hated each other." I touched my chin. "And now we don't."

"That's weird."

"You don't find it cute?"

"No. It's weird."

I smiled. Chuck gasped.

"He's gonna fight the Greenie!" He whisper-yelled. My eyes widened. Gally didn't like the Greenie, the Greenie didn't seem to like him. Not good.

"Okay. All right." Gally stepped into the middle of the circle. The Greenie stood there too, awkward and fixing his shirt. "The rules are simple, Greenie. I try to push you out of the circle... you try to last more than five seconds."

I rolled my eyes. Whispered, "Acting tougher than he is."

"Ready?" Gally bounced up and down on his feet, then lurched forward at the Greenie, pushing him down immediately.

Cheers and shouts flew through the air.

"Come on, Greenie. We're not done yet." He was bouncing on his feet again.

The boy crawled up. "Stop calling me Greenie."

Gally looked triumphant. "Stop calling you that? What do you wanna be called? Shank?" Chuck laughed extremely loud. "What do you think, boys? Does he look like a Shank?"

The Greenie grunted, grabbed Gally by the waist, and started pushing. He got him to move about feet, but then Gally made his face contact with the sand again.

"You know what? I think I've settled on Shank." He decided. What he didn't expect, was the boy on the ground to lift his foot and kick Gally onto the ground.

"There you go, Greenie!"

"Not bad for a Greenie, huh?" He put his hands on his hips.

Gally's face darkened. He swung his foot at the Greenie's legs, who fell on his head painfully hard.

"Ouch." Chuck gasped.

He lay there for a few seconds, muttering something. Slowly, he got off the ground, his voice getting louder by the second.

"Hey! Thomas!" It fell completely silent. "I remember my name. I'm Thomas!"

More silence. I cringed, but then Alby held up his drink. "Thomas!"

Everyone started to cheer, hugging and handing the Greenie, Thomas, drinks. "Welcome home, Thomas."

And then came Gally. "Good job... Thomas."

I smiled in satisfaction, but it faded when a Griever's yell screeched through the air.

"What the hell was that?" Thomas muttered.

Gally patted him on the back. "That, my friend, was a Griever. Don't worry, you're safe here with us. Nothing gets through those walls."

"All right, guys." Alby spoke up. "Let's tuck it in for the night. Come on."

Slowly everyone wandered off, and Gally made his way to me, grinning slightly.

"That was a pretty entertaining fight." I smiled, wrapping my arms around him. He laughed and hugged back. "Will you join me again?"

"Of course." He took my hand. Together we made our way to the huts. "Yours or mine?"

"Yours?"

He gave my hand a squeeze. "You sure? It's cold in there."

"An excuse for me to cuddle you." I blinked innocently, then continued to walk to his hut, which indeed was quite cold. "Can I lend some clothes?"

He nodded. "It's not like you wear anything else than my clothes."

I chuckled and grabbed some sweatpants and a sweater to keep me warm. "These."

He politely turned around so I could dress, even though I got comfortable enough to show more skin in front of him. Quickly, I put on the clothes and turned around for him too.

I by now was used to the fact he slept with no shirt on. But I was in fact not used to his muscles.

Visible biceps, veins running over his arms, abs, strong chest. Damn. Not to mention how soft his skin was. Or warm.

"Can I?" I didn't mean to say the words that blurted out of my mouth. Yet he nodded. Slowly, almost cringing at myself, I trailed my hand over his soft skin.

Having no control over myself, I moved both of us to the bed, climbing on top of him. Pressed my lips onto his. His hand held the side of my neck as he pulled me closer, kissing back.

I smiled and decided to give him the same thing he did for me last time... in return. His breathing already heaved when I made my way from his jaw to neck, placing soft kisses there.

When I sucked behind his ear, he groaned in pleasure. Smiling, I continued, enjoying to see him in this position way more than I should have.

"Is this okay?" I whispered. Just to make sure.

"Yes." He breathed. I went on, getting more groans gifted. It gave me the confidence to kiss his neck more, moving everywhere. Then suddenly, he rolled us over.

"Rude." But I couldn't help a smile.

He smiled, too, then connected our lips again, moving over my body. Soft and hard at once. The coldness in his room was replaced by our heavy, hot breaths by now. My skin was on fire, and he felt warm, as always.

At some point, he got off me again, knowing neither of us wanted to take it too far. I was still smiling, feeling so appreciated by him.

"I love you, Gally." I whispered as I let him spoon me. His arm wrapped around my waist while he pulled me closer.

"I love you." A kiss on my head. "Good night, Val."

"Night." I closed my eyes, feeling nothing but flattered and happy.