Disclaimer: I don't own The Maze Runner series. It belongs to James Dashner. Please

note some of the dialogue is taken directly from The Scorch Trials.

Kissing Teresa

She reminded him of Rachel.

They contrasted in looks, of course:

Teresa with her dark, flowing hair, pale skin, and bright blue eyes.

Rachel had had the most perfect blonde curls, and amber eyes with so much going on behind them.

Teresa had a tall frame; Rachel was short and stocky.

But they were both so ambitious. So intelligent, cunning, and fierce.

Aris couldn't bear it. He missed her too much. He pushed Teresa away. The look on

Thomas's face said he felt betrayed enough.

"What are you doing?" she hissed into his ear.

"I can't - - Rachel - -"

"It hurts me too, Aris." Teresa snuck a glance at Thomas, who was obviously trying to ignore them.

Teresa stepped away and Aris wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Thomas looked crushed.

"Tom," Teresa said. "If it helps, I'm really sorry I hurt you. I did what I had to do back in the Maze, and being all buddy-buddy seemed like my best shot at getting the memories we needed to figure out that code and escape. And I did what I could here in the Scorch. All we had to do was get you here to pass the Trials. And it's either you or us."

Teresa paused briefly. "Aris is my best friend, Tom." This simple sentence, sounded so calm and controlled. But it wasn't that simple, Aris knew it.

*Flashback*

Aris was sitting with Rachel at dinner. He could tell she had figured something out that day. She was usually chatty and bubbly. Today she was reserved and out of sync.

Tell me, he said in his mind. There's something going on, I know it.

It's nothing. Rachel replied, sounding sad.

It's not nothing.

Rachel looked Aris in the eyes.

Aris, she said in his head. You're my best friend, but I'm just not sure about anything else

anymore.

*Flashback over*

Thomas's shout jarred Aris out of his memory. "I…don't…care!"

I stopped caring once, Aris thought, paying no attention to Thomas and Teresa. When Rachel died. I stopped caring.

But Aris had to move on.

For her.

I'll be with you someday, love.

R&R. Constructive criticism needed.

Rewrites on 3/16/11 because there was some stuff bothering me.