𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗧𝗛, gally (tmr)

Chapter Twenty Four

Why would he like me?

That's what forced her to shake her head dismissively at their conflicting words. Frypan went to argue again, but she shushed him firmly, her eyes drawing to behind where Jorge was pretending to be oblivious to their whole conversation.

They were made to drop the subject entirely when Gally, Newt and Thomas all returned. Even Brenda silenced completely, being nice enough to not embarrass Ada right in front of the boy she clearly still liked.

"I spoke to Lawrence." Gally said, clearing his throat and shifting on the spot in front of them all. "You guys can stay here whilst you work to find Minho. We can help you get into WCKD."

Ada's eyes drew to Thomas when he let out a small scoff, and rolled his eyes. She watched him questioningly, but he avoided everyone's eyes, instead staring directly at the wall in front of him. Newt however, noticed her confusion and so helpfully informed them all that,

"We need Teresa to get in."

"Teresa?" The disgust dripping from Ada's tone was impossible to miss.

"Exactly!" Thomas exclaimed, throwing his hands up.

"Why do we need Teresa?" Frypan asked in a bemused tone, leading Newt to launch into a monologue about the route Gally had took them down and how Teresa could be their way into WCKD.

Ada found her attention drawing to where Gally was leaning against the wall, watching the blonde boy in his explanation. She realised then that she had a chance to talk to him; and apologise for what happened earlier.

She stood up from her seat, earning a few looks, but Newt kept talking and managed to shift the attention away from her. As she stopped beside a now nervous looking Gally, only Brenda and Frypan stared after her with knowing smirks.

"Can I borrow you?" She asked sheepishly, trying to keep eye contact but also avoid flushing red.

He straightened up in less than a second, nodding. She smiled gratefully and left the room first, followed by a more than curious Gally. Gally led her down a smaller corridor so they could speak more privately, and when he was sure they were alone, he turned back to her expectantly. 

She couldn't help but feel her stomach fill with anxious butterflies. It's the first time she had been alone with him after he was supposedly dead for six months. It was a strange feeling to be able to talk to him again.

"I'm sorry I slapped you. And that I ranted away about all that shit, I shouldn't have." She told him genuinely, and almost missed the small smile that slipped onto his lips for a moment.

"It's fine, really. I deserved it." He looked away to his feet, leaning back on the wall and trying to stop his mind from spiralling away to what happened on that day they escaped the Maze.

"You didn't deserve it." She refused his words, shaking her head furiously. "You weren't yourself back then."

She didn't have to mention Chuck's name for them both to know that that's what they were talking about. Gally looked like he wanted to say something then, but ultimately decided against it, instead exhaling heavily.

She got the opportunity to look at him properly then. She couldn't help but think about how good he looked all dressed up with a bullet proof vest and in that shirt that showed off his arms. Instead of mentioning any of that, she decided to go with,

"I like the haircut." She gestured up to his much shorter hair, tilting her head in amusement when he pointed to his own head out of sheer awkwardness. Her enthusiastic nod earned a soft chuckle from the boy.

"Thank you."

As his cheeks tinged pink, he lifted his hand to run it through the short ends of his hair. Bringing it back down again, he folded it over his chest and nodded to her.

"Yours looks the same." He noted, to which she found it was her turn to laugh.

"Yeah, it is pretty much. It got really long back when we were with the Right Arm so I just cut it back to the length I had it in the Maze. Felt a bit nostalgic, you know." 

Gally hummed thoughtfully as she fixed him with a smile. The butterflies in her stomach were raging ferociously with the incapability to believe they were having an actual normal conversation again.

"You look good, Gally. Really."

She didn't think about the implications behind her words when she said it, but Gally did. How could he not?

"I uh-" Gally blushed heavily, breaking off and staring down at his feet. After he summoned the courage, he was able to flicker his eyes up to her face and say, "You too."

It took her less than a second to sweep him into a hug. Burying her face in his chest and wrapping her arms around his waist, she felt an overwhelming sensation of euphoria when his arms settled around her shoulders, hugging her closer to his body.

He had grown so much as a person. He was calmer. Less insecure. Kinder; and to everyone now. But, he was still the determined, focused, and strong boy she loved back in the Glade.

It was less awkward after that. And Ada felt something deep in her chest telling her he was emotionally available now because he was just a calmer, nicer guy. She was glad he made it out of the Maze, because she knew that the outside was making him a better person.

She thought she ruined her chance of rebuilding any friendship with Gally after she slapped him. But, maybe things could go back to the way they were. Maybe they could be more than what they were back then.

If Ada was sure about one thing, it was that she wanted to be more.