Days had past when Gladers began spreading rumours about what might have happened between Vivienne and Newt. It was weird how much Vi wanted to know what they were saying, but at the same time avoided finding out.

She was sure, though, no one beside the two of them knew what really happened, and it was one of the little things that were still keeping her sane.

"Hello, Vivi." Fry grinned giving her a plate filled with scrambled eggs.

In case to avoid questions and suspicious glances, she decided to wake up as soon as canteen began giving away the food.

"My-my, why so cheerful this morning, Fry?" She put on the same oversweet toothy smile fake as much as the sky above the Glade - why it never rained here again?

"Supplies are coming up, and I'm hoping for something huge."

"Oh really? And what might that be?" She put her elbow on a counter and rested her chin against her free hand. "C'mon, Fry, spill."

"No, it's supposed to be a surprise!"

"Please!" she moaned.

"Alright-"

"Yes!"

"But... a secret for a secret, Vivi." She groaned, letting her head fall with defeat.

"So that's a no-no?"

It was a no-no.

"A story for a tea," said Legend with a mug in his hands.

"Not you too!" she sighed.

"Oh, not that! You've been neglecting... bedtime stories," he whispered the last part as if anyone would hear them. Was he ashamed?

"Oh... Leg... I'm sorry; it's just lately I..." She realized she had no excuse for avoiding him. "I'm sorry. I'll tell you a story tonight."

"Promise?"

"I promise, booboo," she chuckled.

"Ey, I'm not a booboo!"

When Legend was called back to the kitchen Minho harassed her at the table.

"I have a few minutes left before those shucks open." He pointed to the door. "So let's make it quick, spidey."

"Good that?"

"Whatever happened," he started, and Vivienne rolled her eyes, knowing where it was going.

"We had a fight. If Newt hasn't spilled yet, then it means it's no biggie."

"I believed you until you said biggie."

Vivienne groaned already tired of his company. She wished the doors would open already, even though, she hated the shriek that accompanied.

"So what exactly do you want, huh?" she asked but inside she screamed – Open, open now!

"Sort that shuckin' klunk with limpy."

"Limpy?!"

"Nah, it's not like you're gonna tell him I called him that," he mumbled.

Silence fell upon them for a few moments. Vivienne didn't really know what to say to him, how to answer his demand.

When the doors finally moved she sighed with relief - she was never so glad to get rid of Minho.

"Just fix it," he said before he stood up and ran to the doors. She watched him go until he completely disappeared from her sight in the maze.

She stood up as soon as he was gone and went to work to focus on something else. To her disappointment, Gally didn't need any new projects from her as all of the builders already had their hands full.

"Go polish the wood," he dismissed her.

So she did as she was told, but the task was tedious and dull and gave her more time to think.

"Hey, Vivienne," greeted her Peter with his smile cheerful as ever.

"Hi," she muttered and focused her attention back on the piece of wood.

"So... how are you holding up?" It was the question she wished she could answer - there were actually many of the latter, yet none was specific.

"I'm... confused, I guess," she shrugged. "But what else is new, huh?" She tried cracking up a smile; it came out sad and half-broken. Peter stayed unbothered by it and chuckled nonchalantly.

"It must be nice, though," he murmured.

"Huh?" Vivienne's head shot up - it was anything, but nice.

"To know you have someone out there, waiting for you."

She let his statement sink in for a while as she glanced at the walls surrounding them. A shiver ran down her spine, remembering everything that she... well... remembered.

"We all must have someone out there unless you need me to give you the bee-talk."

"Still..." he said, laughing, "I wish I could at least remember the sound of my mum's voice." No, you don't - her mind whispered to her viciously.

"But..." she started, uncertain where she was going with it. "We have a family on our own in here - that's what Gally told me once. And I think in a way he was right. Sometimes..." she sighed, but his gaze urged her to go on. "Sometimes I think that being here may not be bad, after all, if maze hides such creatures as grievers I don't think I want to find out what it keeps outside."

To say that Peter was shocked was an understatement - something that would happen later to Vivienne when she realized she had an actual conversation with him.

"You cannot think that!" he sounded almost mad; "You know you at least have a brother out there! Don't you wanna meet the shank?"

"If he's my brother then we're supposed to love one another, right?"

"Yeah-"

"Then why am I here, Peter? Why did he let me be here?" Her voice was a faint whisper as she began truly realizing what Gally meant. "If outside's a paradise, then if he loved me I wouldn't be there." Her brows furrowed. "And if he cares then I'm here for a reason, maybe that's his way of keeping me safe." She was still thinking loudly, "Whichever one it is, I don't want to find out."

"Hey?" Vivienne turned to see Ryker walk up to them and she put on a smile, hoping to hide her current mood.

"Hi." They hadn't had a chance to talk since that evening he gave her flowers, and she noticed she missed his company.

"Everything alright?" He glanced back and forth from Vivienne to Peter uneasily.

"Yeah."

"It's lunchtime," he stated, "You should go grab something to eat. I can finish it up for you." He motioned with his chin to the wood she was working on.

"Oh, thanks."

"Sure, Vi."

"I like this one," Legend said bringing her out of her trance. She looked at the notebook of hers that he was currently holding. He was pointing at the castle she drew after her fight with Newt. "Could live in a place like that," he chuckled and turned the page.

"I guess, all of us could," she admitted.

"How do you think it looks on the inside?" She thought for a few seconds before she answered him in her most posh voice,

"Marble floors, paintings of you on every wall and breakfast in bed - a still alive fish they would force down your throat for a clean complexion."

Legend laughed, with his head thrown back he looked content and free of all worries - she wished she could feel as free.

Freedom made her think of a wild, bay horse, its mane a mess on a windy day. It would run through hills and woods. She imagined herself on a horse, feeling the wind in her hair, adrenaline pumping through her veins.

She told Legend that, instead of herself she put him in the story. She gave him a sword and attirement of a prince.

"I like everything despite the fish - they could at least fry it first!"

"Well, you're the prince, tell them to!"

When he fell asleep, she slowly stood up, heading straight to her hut. She tried to do it quietly as to not wake anybody up. She was a minute from reaching her destination when she heard a brunch break. But she was not the one to step on any.

Her heart skipped faster when she turned around to find a mop of familiar blond hair behind her.