Florence noticed the sky beginning to light, only just, and scrambled up from her sitting position against the wall of the Maze.

Her eyes stung from tears and no sleep, and she was shaking slightly from nerves. She needed to know if they were alive, if Minho was alive.

She didn't know if she would be able to forgive herself for not having told him how she felt.

Florence replayed the moment Newt stopped her racing out into the Maze over and over. He was probably doing her a favour, but she couldn't help but think about how it prevented her from seeing Minho one last time, even if the both of them would've died afterwards.

And Alby. 

If her heart wasn't already broken, it broke again. The boy was hurt, and she couldn't help but think if he even had a slight chance of surviving a night.

And Thomas.

He had no idea what he was doing in the Maze. In the back of her mind, the girl had the sound of Thomas's voice talking to her in the Box. She needed to know why she heard him. And he was her friend - she needed him to be okay.

A lump rose in her throat, and Florence felt the scratch of bile at the back of her mouth. But she hadn't eaten, there was nothing she would be able to throw up.

She cast her eyes quickly across the Glade, to see no one at work at all. The place was eerily quiet for a moment, but then she saw them. The group of boys coming towards her, forming a semi circle around the entrance to the Maze, awaiting the unlikely arrival of Thomas, Minho and Alby.

Chuck made his way beside the girl who had not spoken a word, and he longed to comfort her. She deserved it more than anyone in that moment.

"They'll made it. They're strong." He attempted to sooth her worries, but she just whirled on him in her impatience.

"Will they? No one's made a night in the Maze before. No one." She spat at him, then retracted herself, seeing that she had scared the boy.

"I'm sorry Chuck. I just-" Her voice came out softly and vulnerable, but Chuck cut her off.

"-You're scared. It's okay, I am too." And Chuck's words resonated with her.

She was scared. But there's no way she could accept their deaths. No way at all. And if Thomas died, she couldn't help but feel as though it would be her fault.

If Newt hadn't caught her, she would be in the Maze rather than Thomas. And she would much prefer herself dying, than a friend.

Newt approached the anxious girl, placing a hesitant hand on her shoulder, not sure whether she would snap again. She flinched slightly, but allowed it.

Newt was her best friend. He would always protect her, she knew that. She only wished that this time he had failed.

And then the walls groaned into action. Stepping forwards, even closer to the wall, Florence awaited them sliding apart, anxiety and inevitable dread creeping up on her.

The walls finally parted and opened up completely to reveal;

nothing.

Of course. It was what she was expecting, what they were all expecting, but what none of them were hoping for. The group was silent, mourning the loss of the boys,  in disbelief of it truly.

Florence felt the tears pricking at the back of her eyes, and she almost readied herself to run out into the Maze. Newt tightened his hand on her shoulder, knowing her thoughts and knowing her.

"I don't want to lose you too." He told her quietly. She knew she should stay, but if Newt hadn't spoken those words, she would have left.

Florence was too fixed on the corridor of the Maze to notice the crowds of boys leaving in disappointment and despair. Only Florence, Chuck and Newt remained, stood outside the entrance in silence for only a few minutes.

"You need to eat, Flo." Newt murmured softly, and her stomach did growl, but her mind was too clouded.

How can they be dead? I should've stopped this. This is all my fault.

Tears finally clouding her vision, she blinked, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She stifled a sob, letting out a shaky breath as she remained staring at the empty corridor. Newt's grip on the girl tightened again, comforting her as a distraction from the fact he had lost his own friends.

What did she expect? No one had survived a night in the Maze before. No one. So why did she expect this to be any different?

Because it had to be.

And then it was.

"Hey! Look!" Chuck's excited voice caused Florence to blink away the flow of tears and spot the figures making their way slowly but surely up the corridor.

This time, she sobbed out of relief. They had made it. And she hadn't lost Minho.

Alby was slumped between Thomas and Minho, his head bobbling up and down as the boys limped towards the Glade.

The other two seemed a little scratched, sweaty, bruised and exhausted, but other than that, fine. Florence was stuck to the spot, her heart pounding from her chest.

I don't know what I would've done if they weren't alive.

Also hearing Chuck's shouts, the rest of the boys had made their way back to the entrance of the Maze, cheering and encouraging the boys back to the Glade, proud and relieved to see them safe.

As soon as they crossed over to the Glade, Clint and Jeff had rushed forward to take Alby's unconscious figure from Thomas and Minho's exhausted arms.

The boys swarmed the survivors, the heroes of the Glade. And then he found her. Minho's tired eyes fell on the girl who had not left the closed walls for a moment, awaiting his arrival, and his expression softened.

She had never felt so glad to see someone.

After a moment of paralysis, Florence had flung herself at Minho, entangling her arms around his neck and tugging him down towards her in a hug.

He had never held someone so tightly.

And now she had him back, she never wanted to let go. Minho's arms winded around her waist, his head resting on her shoulder, letting out a sigh into her hair. 

"You've been crying." were his first words. His voice was hoarse and thick with tiredness. She couldn't imagine how stressful being in the Maze at night would've been.

"I thought I lost you Minho." She murmured in his ear, her lips grazing his skin. This made Minho grasp her tighter, letting out another shaky breath as they embraced.

"You can't get rid of me that easily princess." He muttered back, and she hadn't realised that up until that moment her heart was aching due to the lack of the nickname.

They both became suddenly conscious of the others and reluctantly broke apart, both of their cheeks burning red. Newt rolled his eyes at the pair, the obliviousness to one another's feelings astounded him.

Newt had engulfed Thomas in a hug as soon as he entered the Glade, surprising the other boy, but he immediately hugged back. Newt's whispers of thankfulness tickled Thomas' skin, and the words caused him to grip Newt's shirt more tightly. 

Minho's face flooded with concern as he took in the tiredness of the girl in front of him. "You look exhausted, have you slept?"

"Not for a single second. She hasn't moved from the bloody wall since they closed last night." Newt answered for her, causing her eyes to dart away from the Asian boy, suddenly feeling exposed.

Minho was pulled into another hug, definitely not as intense and definitely without those feelings, but still from someone that had missed him a great deal.

"Bloody hell Minho, you scared us for a minute." Newt let out a chuckle, clapping Minho on the back. A smile had appeared on his face as soon as he had seen the girl again, and now he was at ease greeting his other friends.

Florence looked to Thomas, where he was stood with Chuck, looking exhausted beyond belief and as though all he wished to do were sleep.

"Did you see a Griever?" Chuck asked excitedly, and Minho placed a hand on the younger boy's shoulder.

"He didn't just see a Griever, he killed it. He killed four." He told Chuck, who's eyes grew wide in awe. Thomas was clearly zoning out, and Florence felt a small smile coming to her face.

"Thomas." She exhaled a breath and wrapped her arms around the middle of the boy, sensing the comfort he needed.

"I'm so glad you're okay." She mumbled, and the boy softened at her kind words.

He returned the gesture, placing his hands on her back and avoiding the wisps of brown hair that was attempting to fly into his eyes and mouth.

"Florence, get these guys both to the Med room! Clint and Jeff have already taken Alby." Newt ordered instantly, instinctively in leader mode.

Alby. 

Florence had forgotten. Her friend, and the Glade's leader was stung by a Griever. And now he was going to go through the Changing.

Reaching for Minho's hand, his fingers interlocked with hers and she took Thomas' wrist to lead the pair to the Homestead.

Knowing Alby would be in the hut reserved for Griever stings, Florence gave both Minho and Thomas a bed in the Med room, trying to push back thoughts of her friend's imminent pain from her mind.

Newt had followed the three, joining Florence's side to help with the cleaning up of the boys. He reached her shoulder, leaning towards her to whisper in her ear.

"Who do you want to fix up?" Newt didn't really need to ask to know her answer, immediately taking bandages and such over to Thomas with a cheeky smile, looking back at Florence with raised eyebrows. In fact, Newt was happy enough to have an excuse of spending time with Thomas.

Florence took her own equipment to Minho's bedside, perching on the side of his bed as she took his arm in her hands, looking over the scratches and wounds. Nothing too major luckily, but still seeing the boy hurt made her heart ache.

She began to carefully wipe at a deep scratch on his upper arm, avoiding his eye as he studied her working. Brow furrowed and bottom lip pouted ever so slightly, Minho watched mesmerised as Florence tended to his cuts with a collected silence.

But silence is always broken.

"Are you going to tell us what happened then?" Newt broke the quiet in the room, and Thomas and Minho exchanged knowing glances.

Minho began to speak, sensing Thomas' quietness. "Well I made a run for it, almost immediately." Florence paused at this, upset flashing across her face at the thought of the boy just abandoning Alby and Thomas.

"I was being a coward. I thought it'd keep Thomas and I alive - to split up and run - but this shank didn't do it. And we wouldn't have Alby with us if he listened to me. This shank decided to tie Alby up on the wall to keep him safe, and it worked. Shucking genius I have to admit Thomas." There was a faint smile on Thomas' lips at this, and Minho seemed happy enough praising him.

"I saw him trick a Griever into a wall, by diving out of its path at the last second. So we did it again, and we led three of them off the Cliff." Newt and Florence listened to Minho's words intently, Thomas' obvious skill and smart intuition becoming clearer and clearer by the word.

"By dawn, we brought Alby down from the wall and got back to the Glade." Minho met Florence's eye at the end of his sentence, telling her that he was looking for her when he arrived.

Who else could he be looking for?

"Tell me again about how you killed those Grievers Tommy." Newt involved Thomas in a conversation about the tactic he used in fighting the Grievers, allowing Florence to turn to the boy she was tending to, without the stare of outsiders in their much needed private conversation.

Florence reached the cuts on the boy's face, pausing as he winced at the stinging pain a cut on his head left him. "I'm so glad you're safe Minho." She muttered to him quietly, leaning closely to his face to properly check the cut wouldn't become infected. A faint smile placed on his lips as he allowed Florence to steady his head with a hand under his chin.

"I can't tell you how thankful I am for Newt stopping you coming in to try and help. I wouldn't be able to focus on surviving if I knew I had to look after you too."

Florence began to frown. "Look after me? I can look after myself." She told him firmly, reaching a plaster and smoothing it down on Minho's forehead. "I look after you."

"I know you can look after yourself, Florence! It's just-" Minho's use of her actual name startled her more than anything else. He had never said it before, never referred to her as anything else but princess.

Minho was interrupted by Newt, yet another reminder that they hadn't gotten a moment alone since Minho had returned.

"-Tommy's all done, so I'll see you two shanks later." He announced loudly, shooing Thomas from the room before leaving himself, closing the door firmly after himself.

There was a beat of silence, both of them shifting uncomfortably in the awkwardness. Minho cleared his throat.

"If you were there with me, I'd feel I had to protect you. Hell I could barely keep my mind off of you without you in there, who knows how distracted I'd be if you were with me."

Minho didn't seem embarrassed at all admitting this, but Florence turned away from the boy, hiding her flushed cheeks by putting away the spare medical equipment.

If I turn away, he won't know I'm blushing.

"I know you're blushing princess."

Shuck.

Florence could see the smug look on his face with her back turned. Regaining her composure, but her heart thumping with a crazy idea, she approached his bed. Sitting on the edge again, she leaned well and truly into Minho's space, causing him confusion and a bright red face.

Reaching out to put a hand on his cheek, her words came out barely a whisper, hardly audible despite the silence of the else empty room, not including them.

"Can I?"

Her eyes trailed across his lips, causing Minho's chest to tighten, his heart now pounding madly. Minho only nodded, wide eyed and not clued in to what Florence was planning on doing.

Leaning even closer to his face now, she moved her lips to his cheek, pressing them softly against his skin with a gentle kiss that lasted a few seconds.

It was enough to send butterflies wild in Minho's stomach. Never before had he felt so nervous, or vulnerable, or exposed. She leaned back, satisfied with his expression and caressing his skin softly with her thumb.

"I really like you Minho. Like- you know how I mean."

Knowing his words were what had possessed her to do it, Florence hoped he did something. Reacted, in some sort of way.

He merely just sat, his eyes watching her in awe, unable to comprehend her actions. For the first time, Minho was extremely nervous. And he had no idea what to say. 

She took back her hand, standing up from the bed and moving across the room to tidy the shelves.

I should not have done that.

Florence's hands fumbled over the bandages she picked up and stuttering over her words she managed to get out, "You're all done now."

Hearing nothing in response, she turned on her heel, intent to leave the room as quickly as possible. Minho was stood right in front of her when she turned around, and she stopped herself just before bumping into the boy.

They were in such close proximity that their noses were touching ever so slightly, and Florence could feel his cool breath against her face. 

Holy shuck, well I can't avoid this moment.

He was so obviously glancing from the girl's eyes to her lips, it was impossible not to notice. Her eyes widened as she saw it happening, but couldn't move from her position, she was frozen.

Taking the opportunity that had arised, Minho moved forwards and brushed his lips against hers softly.

He's kissing me.

Florence was caught off guard, her breath hitching, and she froze. At the lack of response, Minho moved to pull away, but she chased his lips with her own. Minho smiled against her lips at her reciprocation, and only moved closer to kiss her more firmly and surely.

He's really kissing me.

Wrapping her arms around the boy's neck, she brought herself closer to him, her lips craving his. It felt like they had done this a thousand times before. They probably had done it a thousand times before before the Maze and the Glade. And in their shared opinion, it took them far too long for this to be their first in the Glade.

It was everything the pair had imagined kissing one another would be like, but so much more. It felt like nothing else mattered in the entire world except for them in that moment. They felt safe.

 Minho snaked his arms around Florence's waist, their feet tripping over one another as they stumbled towards the wall, yet their lips not once detaching. They moved in harmony, as if they understood each other completely, because they did. Both kissed as if they never would kiss again, their bodies inches apart then bumping together, longing for closeness.

Florence couldn't hold her breath as long as the boy. Her lungs burned for air and although her lips yearned for Minho's still, she pulled away from him.

Their faces remained close, Florence's eyes on his but his own still on the girl's lips, a hungry glint in his eyes as he panted to catch his breath. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Minho opened his mouth and spoke only just louder than Florence had moments before they kissed.

"In case you hadn't gathered already, I like you too, princess. A lot."

It was Florence's turn to be attacked by butterflies, barely being able to register his words. There was something unexpected about the way Minho was acting. His voice and words were gentle, his touch soft as it lingered. It was a contrast from his usual self; loud, sassy, abrupt.

The pair began to giggle, Florence hiding her red face in his chest, and him burying his in her hair. There were stupid smiles on their faces.

"Well." He stated, the cockiness of his usual tone somehow present in the single four-letter-word. Florence felt herself swooning internally, as Minho cracked his signature smirk and said, "Can't say I'm mad at that."

Florence let herself pull back to look in the boy's eyes, finding it easy to lose herself in them. He rested his forehead on hers and sighed contently.

"Listen, I thought I was gonna die out there. Now that I have you, I'm not letting you go." His hand reached for hers and their fingers locked together. He brushed his thumb over her skin fondly, sending butterflies mad in her stomach.

Holy shuck Minho, I didn't think I could possibly like you anymore.

Before she could respond, the door had flung apart, causing Minho to jump back from her, making sure there was a comfortable distance between the pair.

Why is it always Chuck interrupting? Why is it always someone interrupting?

Chuck looked between the pair suspiciously, but didn't allow it to distract him from what he had come to say. "Alby's okay, the serum worked." 

Florence breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that her fellow Med-jacks had jumped into action so quickly. A scream pierced the air, and the relief drained from her. Although she was so thankful he was alive, the pain he must be feeling had her heart aching.

"He's started the Changing." Florence left the med room, hurrying out of the Homestead towards the hut and towards the source of the screaming. She rushed into the room to see Clint and Jeff sat back and watching the leader struggle. It felt cruel but there was nothing that either of them could do.

Alby's veins roped around his body, green and thick, strangling him like vines. He was severely bruised and scratched and he was twitching on the bed uncontrollably. Florence frowned, worried for her friend, and a figure joined her side.

"You need to get some sleep Flo. You have to rest." Newt encouraged the girl, and she realised how heavy her eyes felt.

The girl was overcome with sleep deprivation and she was beginning to feel weak. But the girl fought away the feeling, wanting to be there for her friend.

"I need to watch Alby." She mumbled, but the boy coaxed her away, and she let him. She was too tired to fight it.

"We'll keep an eye on him for you. We'll let you know when anything changes." Clint reassured the girl. She gave in now, and let Newt lead her away and towards her room back in the Homestead.

When he opened the door, the pair saw Minho curled up in the bed softly snoring. 

How did he get to the bed so quickly?

"If you want you can sleep in my room; if you need to be alone." Newt asked and she shook her head, a smile coming to her lips.

"No it's okay. I want to keep an eye on him." Newt patted the girl's shoulder, and left her in the room, chuckling softly at the love-struck girl.

Florence crept over to the bed, lifting the covers and slipping under the sheets. She watched the sleeping boy for a moment, keen to not disturb him.

He looked so peaceful. His chest was rising and falling slowly, and despite the scratches on his body, he had a smile on his face. Florence must have shifted too much in the bed because the boy's eyes opened.

"Hey there princess." He murmured, his voice groggy. Florence shuffled closer to him, sprawling her fingers onto his chest and resting her head in the nook of his shoulder.

"Hey." She replied, letting the boy wrap his arms back around her, pulling her even closer. Minho closed his eyes again, breathing into the girl's hair. He lifted his hand into her hair, twirling a strand around his finger.

"Can I tell you something?" Minho spoke, and the girl's curiosity spiked.

"Sure." She traced circles on the boy's chest as they laid peacefully, the noises of others working hard in the Glade only faintly in the distance.

"That first day, when Newt and Alby told you that we had to share this room, they didn't actually decide that." The boy admitted, his voice soft as he spoke. "They were gonna have you in Newt's room, but I said I wanted to keep an eye on you myself." The girl let a giggle pass her lips at the boy's confession. 

"Worried I'd get in bed with Newt instead of you?" She teased, and Minho chuckled loudly at the girl's words. Not that he'd say it, but the thought of something like that had crossed his mind.

"Did you really stay up all night by the walls?" He asked, and she was taken aback slightly by the question.

"Yeah I was worried. I couldn't take my mind off you." Minho ran his fingers through the girl's hair and let out a sigh.

"Can't believe you'd worry about me like that. Dunno if I deserve it really." Minho's self doubt caused Florence to pull away, forcing the boy to look her in the eye.

"Minho. Why would you say that?" She almost wanted to scold the boy, but refrained. He shrugged. 

"You're gorgeous princess. Why'd you settle for this old shank?" 

Minho's insecure?

Technically, she wasn't the only girl in the Glade anymore, but she was the only conscious one, and Minho couldn't help but think that she could have someone better.

"Hey." She hit his chest playfully before leaning her chin on it. "I'm definitely not settling. And do you see me wanting to kiss any of these other shanks?"

Minho's small smile had grown into a smirk now, and he coaxed the girl closer as he brought his lips to hers.

Florence let herself melt against the boy's lips, the boy in turn moving his hand to her cheek. It was different from their previous one. It was short but it was sweet, and after pulling away Florence pressed a soft kiss to Minho's neck, nestling her face there.

"I'm happy." She mumbled, and Minho just chuckled, his hands running through her hair again. He let out a content sigh, unable to keep a smile off his face.

"As am I."