Vivienne learnt to ignore most of her co-workers and obvious whispers about her, yet that day the last thing she wanted was to listen to the harsh remarks. She didn't understand those boys – when she was trying out as a Med-jack they were all over her, and ruined her chances at getting the job, yet now they were treating her like garbage.

She sighed as she reached builders and bid them a quiet, bit sleepy greeting. Peter beamed at her like he usually did, and she began working, trying to lose herself in her thoughts – she had a lot to think about after all.

"Nice necklace," Peter commented and Vivienne's hand automatically travelled to the pendant. Her slender finger nervously caressed the little swan.

"Thanks," she muttered, "Got it via Box." She motioned it with her head. She hoped to work in silent but Peter began asking more and more questions. She, of course, answered none of them – some because she knew she couldn't and some because she didn't know the answer herself.

During work she noticed a guy – Ryker – with long, brown hair, glancing at her every now and then, but every time she caught his hazel eyes bore into her figure he'd look down at the wood in his hands. It left her leaving uneasy, wondering why he'd suddenly become so interested in her.

They finished pretty quickly and had the rest of their day for themselves. Since they had no more projects they'd have to wait for 'Admiral Alby''s orders and those Gally would receive during lunch since there was always something to do in the Glade.

"It's weird how it didn't come with you, but just now," Peter commented once again as he sat next to her on the cold grass.

"It is." She shrugged.

"I mean, if it was significant why send it just now-" She caught him off quickly annoyed and anxious about all the questions.

"I don't know, Peter." Her voice showed neither anger nor annoyance which she felt boiling inside. She didn't really lie to him, but if she had known anything she wouldn't have told him. "I'm a bit tired. I'll go take a nap or something. See you later." She stood up before he could speak up again and left straight to her hut.

On her way there she bumped into Alby. He looked her up carefully as if suspecting something before he asked, "Why aren't you working?" Oh.

"We finished early and there was nothing left for us to do so Gally let us go. Actually he was supposed to talk to you about our next task." He was half listening to her as he was constantly glancing at the Deadheads. "Are you okay?" she asked when he was humming under his breath.

"Yeah, I just… I'll see you later."

"Wait… Gally hasn't come to you?"

"No, I'll catch him later," he said and moved ahead not paying her any attention. She wanted to follow him, question him – mostly about their fight with Newt and his absent behaviour – but she didn't want to become a second Peter so she let him go and continued walking herself.

She stopped dead in her truck having spotted a figure just outside her hut, gripping something in his hand. She hesitantly walked up to the mysterious person, ready to turn around any second and run. Instead, he turned around with blush colouring his cheeks. Ryker's eyes widened at the sight of her and he stammered awkwardly.

"Vivienne, h-hi I… I was just… I mean, I…" He scratched the back of his neck, looking down at his shoes as with one foot he kicked the grass.

"What are you doing here?" She folded her arms on her chest awaiting an explanation, yet intrigued by the situation. She looked at the object in his hand and realized it was a bunch of daisies. "Where did you get those?" she asked probably the least important question but it must have relaxed him a bit for reasons she had yet to find out.

"They grow deep in the deadheads not far from the wall." There was a long pause during which they stared at each other until Vivienne spoke up,

"And you're here with them because…?" she trailed off impatiently.

"Oh, I uh… I wanted to… to apologize for… for what I said a while back… I just… You see I…"

"Ryker calm down," she giggled against her better judgment. Her eyes widened as she registered what she just did and frowned to look intimidating. "So…? You're here to what again?"

"Apologize," he stated with a short nod, "I was a shank to you and… You didn't deserve that and I was just with the guys and they were talking so I added something – and it was wrong, I know - but I never meant it and I never wanted to… I never wanted to be a slinthead to you." He was stumbling over his own words, making the whole process awkward but Vivienne felt a smile slowly spread on her face.

"Ryker!" She stopped him, before he repeated himself again. "I get it. You said some… klunk about me to… when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

"What? I don't think I understand." He scratched the back of his neck again.

"It's a saying about trying to fit in…"

"You remember stuff like that?" Vivienne frowned, her palms were suddenly sweaty.

"I thought we all did…" A silence settled between them as Vivienne yet again tried to register what was going on. She would have to ask Newt, Gally or Minho if they remembered…

"Anyway, those are for you… Not that I'm trying to buy you or anything, because I know forgiveness can't be bought. I just thought it'd be nice, 'cause they're nice and I think pretty girls deserve nice things… I mean, ugh… forget it okay? I just wanted to-"

"Ryker!" Her yell was broken by her own laugher. "It's okay, I…" She felt herself blush at the mention of pretty. Am I pretty? "Thank you. For the apologies, I mean, and flowers. They're beautiful." She took them from him. He was gazing at her with drops of sweat covering his face.

"You totally deserved it," he laughed nervously. "I'll go. See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah." When he passed her and she could see no one around she smelled the flowers – their scent wasn't too intensive, but it didn't bother her. Instead, she felt something bloom inside her as warm spread through her body like rays of sun spread light in the morning. She just needed water and a glass to keep them alive.

"Legend, can I have a glass of water to go, pleeeaaase?" She knew Fry probably wouldn't give her one since every Glader their portion.

"Why?"

"Did you seriously ask me why I want water, Youngling?" She wanted to sound as Minho as she could. Legend looked her up.

"You don't look dehydrated."

"You know what that means? Boi, I'm so proud." She dramatically put her hand over her chest.

"Acting like Minho will get ya nowhere, Greybeard." Ugh.

"Why won't you just give it to me?"

"Why won't you ask Fry?"

"Because I asked you!?"

"What are you hiding?"

"The shuck you mean? I'm not hiding anything!"

"Why take water away, when you can drink it here?" She wondered, if telling him would be so bad. She didn't want anyone finding out what Ryker did afraid of the consequences he'd get. After all, he did call her names and was sexist as shuck, but he apologized…

"Because I have free afternoon and I want to relax in my room." He looked her up again.

"You're an awful liar and your excuses are shucking pathetic." Vivienne groaned. "So?"

"I got flowers," she confessed before rethinking it. "I need water to put them in, so they won't die."

"That's it?"

"Yeah, basically…" She waited for the outcome.

"I can give you a glass, so you won't waste potable water." She understood. Glade life wasn't in clover - she realized how lucky she was for getting flowers, even though she had to suffer at first to get them.

"Makes sense." She nodded. If finding water was all it took she was more than capable of getting it. She even knew where to go.

She was scared of going back to the pond, but she was more desperate to keep those flowers alive. I'll take care of you, sister. The voice began clouding her vision as she got closer, and she considered turning around and forgetting Ryker's sweet gesture.

She was too stubborn to do that and she kept on going toward the pond. The voice grew louder, her head throbbed and her vision became blurry. And then she heard someone resurface.