Eavesdropping and Teasing

When i make it to the bottom of the ladder, i feel Gally's hands grab onto my waist as he helps he down. "Thanks" i say to him with a small smile, trying not to burn up from the warmth of his hands on me. It seems like time stops as we stare at one another, the silence filled with things unsaid. "Mads, i-" He starts to say but gets interrupted by Thomas' ass practically in our faces as he jumps off the ladder.

"So, you ready to lead the way Gally?" Thomas asks him. Gally clenches his jaw slightly, looking away from me to Thomas. Newt jumps down next, standing next to me as we wait for Gally to lead us through the tunnel.

"Yeah. Follow me" Gally replies. I decide to walk next to him, whilst Thomas and Newt walk a few paces behind us, their torches shining brightly as they look around the area we're in. Gally pulls out a second torch from his pocket, handing it to me with a smile. "Here, take this". I thank him, turning on the torch and shining it around the tunnel.

The tunnel is connected to a large sewer, and i try to ignore the foul smell as it invades my nostrils. Newt groans in disgust. "This is gross. Jesus".

"The smell is making me want to vomit" I say, gagging slightly.

"Yeah, this is great" Thomas adds, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Don't be sassy, Thomas" I scold playfully, pulling a small chuckle from Gally as he presses a button on the wall, lighting up the tunnel.

"Stay with me. We've got a ways to go" Gally says, grabbing my hand so i don't slip, as he walks ahead of the boys. I look at our joint hands, feeling butterflies in my stomach. I glance back at Thomas and Newt, who have small smirks on their faces.

It's nice to know that even though Thomas basically hates Gally, he still wants to send me teasing looks. Cheeky bastard. They stay behind us, starting their own little flirty conversation. This gives me the perfect chance to have a proper conversation with Gally, since i haven't had the chance to talk to him since we first saw him.

I don't really know how to start the conversation. "How have you been, Gally?" I ask awkwardly.

I could honestly kick myself sometimes.

He sends me a look of amusement. "Not bad, but a lot better since i found you again. You know, ever since i've been with Lawrence, i've been trying to find you. I was worried that you-" He explains, stopping himself from finishing. I notice the slight crack in his voice.

"I'm alright. And i just wanna say that i'm sorry for leaving you. I didn't want to, but we thought that. I thought that you were dead" I say, my voice shaking slightly.

"It's alright. I don't blame you, i'm just happy to see that your still alive. That you're here with me" he replies, squeezing my hand to reassure me. "I'm not happy to see a large cut on your forehead though. What happened?" he asks, studying the cut on my head.

"You have Frypan to blame for that. For future reference, never let him drive. Especially in a tense situation. He managed to flip the car upside down with us all in it" I say, laughing at the memory, even though it wasn't funny in the moment.

"Well at least now i know to never let him drive a car you're in ever again. I'll have to have a talk with him about that. Does it still hurt?" He asks, concerned.

"It doesn't hurt anymore. I promise" I reply, with a reassuring smile.

"Let me know if it does at any point. We should patch it up properly when we get back" He tells me. His concern warms my heart.

"Gally, i know this is going to sound really stupid and believe me when i say that i feel awkward saying it but-" I ramble, but he cuts me off.

"It's not stupid. I know this isn't really the best time to talk, but i need you to know that i'm in love with you, and i've been in love with you since the glade. My feelings have grown stronger with every day i've been without you, and i want us to be together officially again, once all of this is over. But if you don't feel that way any-" He explains. I feel a strong sense of relief that he still feels so strongly for me, because he hasn't left my mind during our time apart. I thought he was dead for a long time, but i never thought of anyone else but him.

"I love you too. I never have, and never will stop loving you, Gally" I say genuinely. I'm pretty sure i've got hearts in my eyes when i confess.

Gally's shoulders sag in relief. "Thank God. I wouldn't have handled it we at all if you had someone else. I would kiss you if we didn't have two eavesdroppers behind us!" Gally says, raising his voice at the last part. We both glance back to see Thomas and Newt with huge grins on their faces, and my face heats up.

Shit. I forgot they were here. The teasing is gonna be endless.

"You two are so sweet it's sickening. I can't wait to tell Fry, and Minho when we get him back" Newt says with a small laugh.

"I can't wait to tell Brenda and Jorge. Jorge is gonna kill you" Thomas adds, talking to Gally as he laughs with Newt.

"Shut up. You both won't say a fucking word" I tell them in a threatening tone, trying to calm myself so the red tint on my cheeks will fade.

"Slintheads" Gally huffs, ignoring the two boys snickers as we walk through the tunnel.

After a short time, we make it out of the tunnel, climbing up into the streets in the city. Gally keeps his hand intertwined with mine as he leads us through the streets. Thomas, Newt and i look at the city around us, our jaws dropped at the sight.

We all stop, watching as a train speeds through the city on the tracks, and gazing at the sky high buildings.

"This is a long way from the glade" Newt comments.

A voice rings through the city, talking about a mandatory curfew taking place soon. Gally pulls our attention to him. "Yeah, we better get off these streets. And i know it's hard, but act like you've seen it before" he says, pulling me down the stairs in front of us. Siren's blare through the streets as we jog, trying to stay hidden. We sprint across the roads to hide on the side of a building, narrowly missing a car that drives past us.

"They've definitely upped security. I'm guessing you shanks and Maddie have something to do with that" Gally says, looking around the area. He grabs my hand again. "All right, let's get out of here" He says, pulling me with him as we sprint off again.

You'd think after all the running i've been doing since we escaped the maze, that i'd be somewhat fitter. But my lungs are burning and i'm trying not to make it obvious to the others how hard i'm breathing. Gally leads us to a wall. "All right, Newt, you're up" he says, helping Newt as he climbs the wall. He turns to me next. "You're next Mads" he says, grabbing my waist and pushing me up towards Newt, who grabs my arms and pulls me up.

"I can climb you know? I'm not exactly a professional, but i could've made that" I scoff slightly. Gally sends me a small smirk, turning to help Thomas.

"I got it" Thomas says, too proud to accept help. He jumps up himself, successfully climbing the wall. We wait for Gally to jump up next, and i admire how effortless he makes it look. I try to stop myself staring, imagining his muscles under his shirt as he pulls himself up.

"You're drooling" Newt whispers to me. I just elbow him in the side to shut him up.

We run along the small ledge on the wall, not looking down because i know we're up high and i don't wanna distract myself and slip. We get to a doorway, climbing the stairs to reach a ledge with a railing. "There it is. If WCKDs got Minho, that's where they're keeping him" Gally says.

We stare at the tall lit up building that's basically in the centre of the city. Gally pulls out a small telescope, placing it on the railing and looking through it. "Lawrence has been trying to find a way in for years. The place is crawling with soldiers. They got surveillance everywhere. Scanners on every floor"He explains.

"Sounds like a bloody fortress" Newt says.

"Yeah, i thought you said you had a way in" Thomas says to Gally in annoyance.

"I might" Gally replies.

"You might? What the hell do you mean 'might'?" Thomas asks, sounding pissed.

"Take a look" Gally says simply, stepping back so we can look through the telescope.

Thomas looks through first, and i can tell by the look on his face that he doesn't like what he's seen.

"I said i had a way in. I din't say you were gonna like it" Gally says. I frown in confusion, looking through the telescope to see what the fuss was all about. I feel my anger boil inside of me at the sight of Teresa. The girl who betrayed us and was the reason we lost Minho in the first place. The reason why the Right Arm was basically destroyed.

"You have got to be fucking joking" I mutter, seething in anger. I step back to let Newt take a look.

"Oh God" Newt says, looking just as frustrated as us.

"Come on, we gotta get back" Gally says, grabbing my hand as we run back through the streets, into the tunnels. When we get back to the others, Jorge pulls me into a hug, relieved to see me back alright. We all gather around a table in a room, whilst Gally shares his plan with Fry and the others who couldn't come with us.

"No. There's gotta be another way" Thomas says, totally against having to see Teresa again.

"Like what? You've seen the building. She's our only way in" Gally argues.

"You really think she's gonna help us?" Thomas asks rhetorically.

"I don't plan on asking for her permission" Gally replies.

"Am i missing something here? This is the same girl who betrayed us, correct? Same dick?" Brenda questions from beside me.

"She is a dick" I add in agreement.

"I like her" Gally says, pointing at Brenda.

"We all do. She's a badass with no filter" I say, fist pumping Brenda with matching grins on our faces.

"What's going on?" Brenda asks.

Newt suddenly speaks up for the first time since we started. "What, you afraid your little girlfriends gonna get hurt? Hmm? Because this has obviously never been about Minho, has it?" Newt confronts Thomas. I glance at the others, all of us beginning to feel uncomfortable with the tension rising in the room, between Newt and Thomas.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Thomas asks in confusion. Newt gets close to his face, looking ready to combust in anger, and i wish i was anywhere else but here right at this moment. I like drama, but this particular one between the two boys who just need to bone is something i wish to avoid.

"Teresa. She's the only reason that Minho's even missing in the first place. Now we finally have an opportunity to get him back. And what? You don't want to because of her?" Newt asks, his voice rising as he backs Thomas into a wall. "Because deep down inside you still care about her, don't you? Just admit it".

My uncle and Fry share a look, all of us just about ready to bolt from the room.

"Newt, i-" Thomas begins to answer, but gets cut off by Newt as he pushes him against the wall harshly. "Don't lie to me! Don't. Lie. To. Me!".

His outburst makes Brenda and i jump. I watch in confusion and shock. Newt never gets this angry, especially at Thomas. He starts to calm down. I hear him whisper "Sorry" to Thomas, then turns to us. "I'm sorry" he says, and then leaves the room.

"Wait, Thomas. Let me talk to him first" I say, stopping Thomas before he can follow after Newt. I leave the room, following Newt and watching as he sits on the ledge, with his legs dangling. I slowly approach him, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts.

"Can i sit?" I ask softly. He gives me a small nod, so i take a seat next to him.

"You've been acting different lately. Like you're trying to keep something from us. What's wrong?" I ask. Newt stays silent.

"You know you can talk to me about anything, right? Talk to me" I say, trying not to press him too much, but enough to encourage him to open up.

Newt let's out a sigh, and begins rolling up his sleeve. I look down at his arm, and my heart sinks at the sight of a crank bite, the infection slowly spreading across his arm.

"When did it happen?" I ask, not being able to help the small crack in my voice.

"It doesn't matter. At least i know i'm not immune. Like Winston wasn't. I won't have much time left" Newt says, staring at his arm, rolling his sleeve back down.

"Don't say that. We're going into WCKD to save Minho, so we can grab the cure for you. We have to get it for Lawrence anyway. You'll be alright, Newt. I promise i'll get you that cure, even if i have to sacrifice myself to do it" I promise.

"You're not gonna sacrifice yourself for anything. Don't worry about me" Newt says.

"Shut up. I will do what i want, and i want to get you that cure, so i will. You're Mama Newt, the glue that holds our group together. You're the parent we need when we're acting childish. When Minho and i do stupid shit, and pull pranks that end up with you scolding us. You're gonna make it, Newt" I reassure him, not wanting to think of a world without Newt by our side.

"Thanks Maddie. Thank you for being the person who i always feel like i can talk to, about anything" He says to me with a small smile.

"Of course Newt. You're family" I reply with a smile.

Our conversation is cut short when i notice Thomas making his way over to us. "Talk to Thomas. Show him and tell him our plan to get you the cure. And whilst you're both here, you could finally confess your undying love for him. And don't worry about being rejected, you're both so obvious with your flirting" I whisper to him, getting up and leaving him to talk to Thomas. I give Thomas a small nod and smile, heading back inside to the others.

I walk back into the room to see everyone talking amongst themselves. They turn their attention to me the second i enter.

"How's Newt?" Fry asks in concern.

"He's talking to Thomas. Hopefully they'll kiss and make up" I joke, trying to lighten the mood and leaving out the part about Newt being infected. He'll tell everyone when he's ready. It's not my place to say anything.

"Did you and Gally share a kiss during your time in the tunnels?" Brenda asks with a smirk. Gally and i start to blush.

"No Brenda. They almost did, remember what Thomas and Newt said. They got shy because they had an audience" Fry snickers, and i imagine slapping him after seeing the glare being sent Gally's way by my uncle Jorge.

"Thanks for that, Fry" Gally says through gritted teeth, noticing the glare from Jorge.

"Anytime, brother" Fry replies, him and Brenda chuckling in amusement.

"Gally. Hermano. We need to have a talk" Jorge says, faking sweetness as he wraps an arm around Gally and pulls him towards a different room. Brenda and Fry let out ooo's as Gally's led away. I turn to them with an annoyed expression.

"Thanks guys. Now Gally's never gonna be allowed near me again. My uncle's gonna scare him off" I say with a scowl.

"That's a damn shame then, isn't it. There's plenty more fish in the sea, Maddie" Fry says with a grin. I walk over and slap him playfully.

"Jorge is protective but anyone could see the love he has for you, Madeline. It's in every look he sends your way. Jorge will approve" Brenda assures me.

"Thanks, but that doesn't change the fact that he's gonna enjoy scaring Gally half to death with the threats he's gonna give him" I reply, worrying slightly for my, well almost, boyfriend.

"Are you two official?" Fry asks.

"Well, technically, he hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend again. But we also, technically never broke up, so i don't know if he's going to ask again" I explain, a little confused with our label.

"Would you rather him ask you again? In a romantic way?" Brenda asks, ready for the gossip.

"I think it would be nice if he asked me again. But now's not really the time, with everything we're planning" I answer honestly.

"So, you want him to ask after our mission to rescue Minho?" Brenda asks, intrigued.

"Yeah, i think it would be better that way" I reply.

Fry and Brenda share a look, as if they're planning something in secret. Jorge and Gally finally walk back into the room, and i swear Gally looks quite pale as he moves to stand next to me.

"Are you alright?" I ask Gally, who nods in reply. "What did you say to him?" I ask my uncle.

"That's not your business, Magdalena. But if you must know, our talk went very well. He's a good young man" Jorge says, his eyes full of amusement. Whilst Brenda and Fry are busy pulling Gally aside, probably to tease him, my uncle winks at me, mouthing that he approves. I send a grateful smile back, relieved that he likes him.

Thomas and Newt finally make it back into the room. Newt shows everyone his arm, and we all promise to help him get the cure. We all start discussing the first phase of our plan. To abduct the traitorous bitch.

Author's Note:

Idk how to feel about this chapter. I feel like the writing's not the best but i'm too hungover from the concert to try and change it so hopefully you guys enjoy it. Remember to look after yourselves and maybe not drink as much as i did when you go to your next concert because i'm suffering, or at least take some paracetamol before bed because it works wonders in the morning. I wish i remembered to do that :( #NoRegrets

Xxxx