In the morning, I'm awoken to my tear-stained face, smudged lightly with the dirt from the floor of the pit. My stomach growls ravenously, obviously upset that I missed both dinner and breakfast. I stand on my tiptoes, just able to peer out of the cover and onto the peaceful morning Glade. I spy a shadow leaking onto the fresh grass and decide to try and coerce them into my release.

"Hello?" I ask into the distance, trying to sound as vulnerable as possible. I hear the figure shift, and Zart's warm, blushed face looks straight back at me. "Morning y/n, how are you?" He seems kind and caring, but his voiced is laced with a trace of anxiety, as if I was going to hurt him. "I feel so awful. I can't believe he took advantage of me like that, and that I hurt him. I really feel guilty." I make my eyes look as innocent and pure, looking at him and adding, "I just want to get out of here", sniffling slightly and dropping my gaze.

He crouches down, closer to me. "I'm sorry, I'm not supposed to let you out until later." I trace his bare arm with my fingers, one even finding his cheek before looking back up at him with doe eyes. He caves, unwrapping the rope from the top of the cage, and opening the exit, offering me his sturdy hand to pull me out, which I accept. I pull him into a hug, genuinely grateful for his help, and whisper a quick thank you into his ear, before wandering away. His face tinged a rosy pink across his cheeks, noticing Gally standing near, he must've watched me get released or something.

I snuck through the winds of the Glade, making my way into a secluded section of the deadheads, close to where I had my first encounter with Minho, and stumble across a mesmerising, glistening lake. It's crystal waters preserving the lush greenery that surrounds it. When I'm sure that no one is around, I let the tears fall once again, fully opening the gates of my emotions, worried I won't be able to close them.

My breath shortens, thinking about what happened yesterday and how it was so close to putting me in ruins. I shudder as a cool breeze hits my bare shoulders, and I notice it's getting further into the day. I guess since I'm out of the pit I might as well continue with my trials.

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Newt pulls me into a tight hug as I approach him, and I have to cough so as not to let my tears fall again. "You doing okay y/n?" His tone splashed with sympathy. I nod slightly and sniffle, getting rid of the remaining snot from earlier, eating my late breakfast quickly, feeling completely full. "Do you know who I'm working with today?" In all the commotion yesterday, I forgot to check and remember.

"Me." A harsh voice announces from behind me.

Me? Who is me?

I turn around to find the source of the word, and I'm met with a scowling, unimpressed face. Of course it was my best friend in the whole glade, Gally. He seems more sour today, as if something specific had hit his nerves. I sigh compliantly, turning to follow him under the solitude of shade that rests itself under a far-reaching tree. He shoves a hammer and wood into my hands rudely, and I look at him, offended.

"Get to work shank. It's not that hard you just have to make a box for the map room." I scoff and turn my back to him, kneeling down a bit further away from the other builders, analysing the tools of which I had been given. I thought it would make quite a boring box, so got up to go get some supplies to spruce it up.

"Where are you going?" Gally asks, anger splashed across his squished-up face. "Keep your panties on, I'm just going to get some more supplies." He huffs and returns to whatever he's doing. He really does seem grumpy today, well, more than usual.

I stumble into one of the stiff huts, searching through an array of other boxes for the perfect utensils. I manage to recover a small set of paints and two metal, rectangular things that would be perfect to outline the two holes I planned on making for the handles.

I perch myself back on my knees, still keeping a noticeable distance away from the builders. My face lights up and I feel a presence nestle beside me, and I turn to see Hank. He sits opposite me, also holding the basic components to make a crate, he must've done something to annoy Gally, or he would be working on the main project with the others. "Stuck on crate duty?" I ask, a small laugh and smile envelopes me as he nods. "What did you do?" He looks at me before replying, "Absolutely no idea. But that's alright, I can do it with you." I can feel the heat rush to my cheeks, and I have to look away so as not to expose myself.

We begin gossiping about the other members of the Glade, nothing mean, but just making teasing jokes about them all, especially Gally. Neither of us daring to bring up any of the baggers in the hope to avoid the conversation about what happened yesterday. I thought this avoidance would work, but I guess his curiosity was just too overwhelming. "Y/n... are you ok?... With like what happened yesterday, that was really shitty of him and he deserved what you did." I place my hammer and the four pieces of wood I'd combined so far, and start tracing my fingers in the dirt.

"Uhm I guess so. I suppose I kind of expected it, which doesn't make it right but sort of makes it easier. At least he's getting a night in the pit as well." I pick my tools back up, hinting that I no longer want to talk about it, and thankfully, he doesn't bring it up again.

We return to our playful banter, and both finish piecing our wood together, making two sturdy crates. "Finally, done." Hank says, but I smile and shake my head. He looks at me confused. "I'm gonna make mine a bit prettier." He laughs and moves his crate to the side, deciding to just watch what I was doing instead of participating.

I notice a knife held carefully in his belt, and slowly take it out, causing his eyes to widen in fear. "Calm down, I'm not going to stab you or anything." I was giggling hard at the thought. I reeled the knife back, before plunging it into the hard wood, carving a rectangle perfect for one of the metal outliners. I then repeated this on the other side and hammered the décor around the holes. Hank seemed mesmerised by my creativity, even though it really wasn't much.

The builders all left for lunch, but I was still full of my relatively late breakfast. I decided this would be a good time to finish decorating my crate. I picked up the small paint pack, tubes filled with multicoloured liquid, and a few straggly paint brushes. I tap my chin lightly, trying to decipher what to paint.

I notice an entangled bunch of flowers climbing the walls beside the vines, and I have found my muse.

I splash vibrant pinks, yellows and other colours along the sides of the box, painting a plethora of flowers and vines. Even writing y/n in my fanciest, calligraphy handwriting. It was perfect. I was honestly hoping they wouldn't use it for the map room, and I could keep it for myself.

Hank finished his lunch and came over to me. "Woah y/n, that's really good." I blushed and dismissed his persistent compliments, before accepting with a quiet thank you.

I bet if you held it at just the right angle, it might have blended in with the real thing. I stood up, brushing the dirt off of my pants, and placed my box with the others, giggling slightly at the contrast between the different crates.

I looked down at my clothes, small droplets of paint brightening the bland colours of the outfit, laughing at my mess. "I think I need a shower..." "Good idea" , Hank replies, laughing softly with me. I grab Newt, practically dragging him to the showers, not even asking if he was ready, the paint had started to dry and I did not think this crazy, artist look was my thing.

I handed him the old clothes, and he passed me fresh ones before I dragged myself into the water. It felt just as good as last time. The fresh teardrops it was producing raced down my skin, wiping away whatever I felt that day, allowing me to feel refreshed.

I remove myself from the water and return to my post, sort of just standing there now that I was done my work. Gally returns from what I assume was his break, and he sees me and Hank talking. He looks at our boxes, both mimicking each other's almost perfectly, his gaze falling on my unique one.

He yanks my shoulder, pulling me close to him, really taking advantage of our intimidating height difference. He shakes my crate in my face. "What the hell is this y/n?" I fall silent. I thought it was good. "Well? I asked you to make a simple crate for the map room and you manage to fuck that up?" I looked at my shoes. I really thought it was good. I thought he'd be happy that I'd tried to make it look happier. "Get out of here. Your trial's over." I don't even look at him, not wanting to expose myself to the disappointment I can hear in his voice.

I begin slowly walking away, still processing what just happened. Behind me I can hear shouting, presumably the boys trying to scold Gally. I didn't care. I just wanted to get out of there. I hear the maze doors shut, reminding me that I'm trapped here, no known way out, and no way of knowing how long we'd be here for.

As I'm walking around, trying to find someone to comfort me, I spy Billy being dragged to the pit, his arm held stiffly by Alby. I guess it was his turn tonight. Our gazes meet, and I see the damage that I had really done. I stop in my tracks. His face still had traces of blood dried around his nose. His now purple and enlarged nose. It looked awful. And very, very painful. His face looked like it had been in a fight with an angry frying pan. "Look what you did, bitch!" He screams at me, and I'm slightly taken aback by his anger. I'm still startled by the state of his face, I can't believe I did so much damage. "I-I'm sorry" I stutter quietly, feeling the warm tears rush back to my face. I turn and run, not sure where I was, but I knew where I was headed.

I wail, crumbling to the comforting grass by the lake. I look in the water, splashing my reflection. I just wanted to get out of here. I wanted to go home, but I didn't even know what home was. I let the tears fall, mimicking rain as it hit the cool, slightly murky water.

I tuck my head into my knees, wrapping myself in my elbows. I prayed I was far enough away from the boys, never wanted them to see me when I crack.

Gally's POV

I spy y/n, frantically running through the Glade, into the deadheads, so I decide to follow. Guilt floods through my body as I see her crate, it was actually really good. She's an artist. It would look great anywhere we put it. I don't know why I snapped, I just felt this overwhelming anger bubble inside me when I saw her talking to Hank all day, like they were joined at the hip.

As I stumble through the deadheads, I hear a faint cry. I stand still. Oh god, I hope I didn't do that to her. I know I've been harsh on her, but I never wanted her to feel like this, like she's a burden. As I get closer, a twig snaps beneath me, and she stops crying. She doesn't bother looking behind to see who it is though; I doubt she cared. She wiped her eyes and continued to rock back and forth.

I sit beside her, keeping a distance so as not to provoke her. "Y/n, I'm sorry." I say quietly. She stops rocking and just looks at me, a primitive smile curling for just a second. She doesn't answer so I just keep talking. "Your box was really great, you have talent, I'm sorry I didn't see it before. And I'm sorry that I've been such a douchebag to you, I don't really know why, something just seems to just click when I see you talking to people and I lose control. And I'm sorry about Billy, I know that one isn't my fault, but someone has to apologise for him, cause that prick won't be doing it on his own accord." This prompts a small chuckle to release from her plump lips, and I'm filled with warmth.

"How are you feeling about that?" I ask her. She hasn't really talked to anyone about it, but I can tell that it's affected her. I shuffle closer to her, and so does she. Our legs are practically touching. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I'll listen if you do." That sentence surprises both of us. My tough, bruting demeanour seems to have vanished, melted by her presence.

"Uhm.. I don't really know how to explain it. It was awful. I felt like my whole body was burning. He wasn't letting me go, I just couldn't get out." She kept explaining, getting more and more riled up as she recounted the events. Without hesitation, I pulled her into a tight hug, wiping the salty tears that had fallen, and letting her just collapse into my arms. I was so incredibly grateful she'd told me. I stroked her hair as she calmed down, still sniffling slightly.

Y/n's POV

It surprised me how caring Gally had just been. He did everything perfectly. All he had to do was apologise, listen and be there. And that's what he did. I felt safer as he held me, my sobs slowly subsiding at his warm touch, the smell of sawdust and a light touch of sweat was oddly consoling.

I get up carefully, helping him up after me, and we walk back to the Glade. Before we leave the deadheads, I grab his arm. "Gally?" He turns and looks at me. "Thank you." I smile and hug him swiftly before walking into the Glade to find Chuck.

Chuck just so happens to be talking to Newt, both of them waiting outside the blood house. I guess Winston had some fresh guts or something for Chuck to clean, even though the workday was technically over. "Hey there y/n!" Chuck waves me over, and I pick up my pace. "Bloody hell, someone's blushing!" Newt laughs, pointing at my, still rosy cheeked, face. "Am not!" I yell in reply. "Y/n you totally are", Chuck retorts. I roll my eyes at them, as we all laugh.

"So who managed to capture the heart of the 'princess of the Glade'?" Chucks question causes me to burst into a fit of giggles. Princess of the Glade. I sorta liked it. "I told you, no one." I poked him playfully on his cheek. "Mhm, sure", was the reply that I was met with. I glance back at Gally, just making his way back over to his builder, cleaning their station.

"Oh...my....God" I look at Chuck, a mischievous grin plastered across his face. My eyes wide, shaking my head violently. "You like Ga-" , he says, too loud for my liking, before I can reach my hand over his mouth, muffling the last bit of his announcement. Newt's mouth drops open, before his hand reaches his mouth to stifle giggles.

"Really y/n? Gally? But he was so awful." I stare at them both, watching my fingers and they meet my belt loops. "Yeah but he apologised, and he just comforted me, he was really nice." I say it quietly, as if I didn't quite believe it myself. Newt pats me on the back and walks off, bidding us farewell with a wave and saying "Well, I'm happy for you greenie."

I slap Chuck lightly on his arm, both of us laughing. Winston comes out, handing chuck something unmistakeable. A bloody pile of animal insides. My face scrunches as I turn and just walk away silently, pretty rattled by that sight. Why are they making a child do that job?

I decide to return to my favourite place in the Glade, the deadheads, but this time I stay close to the rest of the Gladers, being able to hear what they say whilst still being engulfed in the forest's solace.

I think I hear my name, so hide behind a thick tree, closer to a group of Gladers. Sure enough, they're talking about me. I take a quick peek and see that it's Gally and the builders. A small blush rushes to my cheeks, wondering what they're saying.

Maniac- Conan Gray

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

"So Gally, what's the deal with you and y/n?" One of them asks.

"What do you mean?" Gally replies, his eyes still on whatever he's working on.

"Well a few of us saw you two at the lake. Are you two dating or are you just going soft?" Gally laughs and stands up.

"Shuck no", he retorts, and my smile drops. I guess we weren't dating but he was saying it as though he would never consider it.

"What were you doing then?" A different boy asks.

"She won't shucking leave me alone, it's getting really annoying. Can't she just take a hint? I don't want to hear about her stupid sob stories." The rest of the boys' chuckle before Gally dismisses them for the rest of the day.

I run, faster than I think I have before, straight out of the deadheads and don't stop until someone grabs me. Minho, still panting from coming out of the maze about 10 minutes ago. "Woah y/n, where are you going?" He asks me, his grip staying on my shoulders. I make sure no tears fall, keeping up my decision not to let them see me cry. "Yeah I'm fine." I say, not meeting his gaze.

He looks down at me, not saying anything, and pulls me straight into a warm hug. I stay there, sniffling slightly, for a few minutes. I just wanted to feel better. And the best way I knew how to do that, was to get absolutely hammered.

I pulled away from Minho, kissing him on the cheek, before walking over to Chuck. "Chuckles, I need your help." I look at him with my best pleading eyes, hoping he agrees. "Sure y/n, what do you need?" A smile tips up on my face and I tell him my plan. He immediately approves of my risky idea, walking over to take his post.

He stands at the kitchen, giving me a subtle thumbs up before yelling for Frypan. I sneak around the back, trying to make as little noise as possible. My clumsy nature fights eagerly to escape, but I refuse to let it. Chuck is somehow still occupying Fry, probably trying to convince him to give him some of the secret stash of lollies that Fry keeps hidden, apparently taking them out on very special occasions. I swiftly grab two brightly wrapped lollipops, and three jars of Gally's drink, hoping that would be enough to get me almost legless and off my chops.

I slink back out of the kitchen, winking at Chuck, who quickly wraps up his conversation with Fry. He runs over to me, and we sit down on a log, still shielding the goods. I pass him the blue-wrapped lollipop, presumably blue raspberry, and keep the red one for myself. He peers further into my arms, spotting the jars. He gives me a look that says 'really?', and I roll my eyes back at him, laughing slightly as I twist the lollipop in my hands, his already rolling around inside his mouth.

Chuck gets up with his face scrunched, and without a word makes his way over to the bathrooms. I laugh and start tracing a sad face in the dirt with my fingers. Just as I'm adding the deep frown, a shadow looms over me and my creation. "Hey", they say, and I immediately recognise that it's Gally. I glare at him. What the fuck?

He was just telling his friends how annoying and clingy I am, and then he comes and talks to me?

He looks hurt by my stare, but I scoff and return to my drawing. "What do you want?" I say coldly. He sits beside me and nudges me playfully, I scoot to the side. "Y/n, what's wrong?" He questions, almost demanding an answer. "We can go somewhere more private to talk if you want." He whispers to me, gesturing toward the deadheads. I stand up, just analysing him with a look of pure disbelief.

"Really?" I ask him. "You want to go somewhere private? You want to listen to my 'sob stories'. No thanks Gally, I'm just too annoying. I wouldn't want you to feel like I'm constantly following you around like a dumb shank." I turn around and walk away, feeling completely ready for the jars tucked in my arms, that he'd somehow failed to notice