Hi
I just wanted to thank you guys for the reviews! They mean so much!
Also I noticed that time jumps that I wanted to mark with star symbol (*) weren't separated by them… I corrected the last few chapters but let me know if this is the case in any others. Sorry if that was confusing.
Anyway, enjoy ;)
Runners
She yelped and jumped out of her bed. It was one of the worst things she could have done. She got dizzy, her vision spoon. And when she finally felt better, the shadow was gone.
Did I dream about it? - A thought entered her mind. There was a sudden urge withing her to get out and look through the woods for the owner of the shadow. Her fear was the only thing stopping her.
She sat back on the bed, trembling slightly. She was torn inside, waiting for the shadow to return, confirm her sanity, but at the same time, she wanted it to be just a nightmare.
She didn't sleep a wink that night, and the shadow didn't return.
Xxx
When the sun began to rise, she decided to leave her hut. She knew she would appreciate the colorful sky more if her eyes weren't shutting themselves.
"Hello, Vivi. Have you decided to become an early bird all of a sudden?" Fry chuckled.
"Nah, I just... I had a rough night," she mumbled.
"I can see that." His smile was not wearing off, and Vivienne could only imagine how red her eyes must have been. "I might have something to help with that." Fry reached under the counter. He placed a half-empty jar with brown pellets inside before her.
"Is that-"
"Instant coffee. Want it black or with milk."
Vivienne looked at him as if her eyes were going to fall out of their orbits.
"What?"
"We have coffee in this place?"
"Yes, but it's reserved for runners, sometimes medjacks if they have to watch over somebody the whole night, and special occasions."
"You mean me," she smiled. "With milk. Do you also have sugar?"
"You bet your us I do, Vivi."
xxx
"So, tell me." She first smelled her coffee, and then took a small sip, savoring the taste. "Why do I only now find out we have coffee in the Glade?"
"That's a really stupid question, shuckette. That's because we barely get any in the supplies. If everyone wanted a mug, we wouldn't have enough to last us a week, so Alby decided to keep it a secret." he explained. It made Vivienne hum and take another sip.
Soon she drank it all, and even though it gave her a boost of energy, she was sure it wouldn't last long.
She thanked Fry for the coffee, threatened to come for more, and headed for the showers. Her eyes hurt in the light of day, and she sighed in relief as she entered the bathroom.
It didn't last long for a familiar voice said. She looked up to see Newt with his eyebrow raised.
"Are you alright?" he asked, almost fooling her that he was concerned.
Since when do you care? She wanted to say, but she was too exhausted to fight with him again. When have we become like this? When did I become like this?
" 'M fine," she practically yawned and moved past him. For a moment she swore she felt his gaze follow her, but when she turned her head, he was already walking away from her, looking straight ahead.
She was lucky - the shower area was empty. She locked the door behind her and stripped.
When lukewarm water hit her back, she jumped slightly from the sensation. But the joy of feeling awake passed as soon as she stopped the water and dressed up again.
xxx
Thankfully, her shower must have worked because no one else if she was alright, and Gally didn't send her to see Clint and Jeff. Not that she didn't want to see them, but she didn't want to become the weak shuckette of the Glade.
"Time for dinner." Gally's voice reached her ears. He stood behind her with his fists resting on his hips.
"Oh, sure. Let me finish. I'll be there in five." But he didn't agree, didn't nod, sigh or walk away.
"Are okay?" And here we go.
"Yes," she said and added quickly, "I just didn't sleep well."
"You sure?"
"Yes," she tried to laugh it off. "I promise," Vivienne added when she saw Gally still looked suspicious.
"Alright. Let's get some food!"
"But I have to finish!"
"Nah, we don't need that construction project, anyway." He waved his hand dismissively and began walking away.
"Ow!" She stood up abruptly. "So why have I been doing here all day?" He turned to her with an ugly, cheeky smirk.
"Well, you have to do something." She caught up to him and whacked the back of his head with his hand.
xxx
After dinner, they sat in the Deadheads, leaning on one of the trees. A cool breeze was a nice change after half a day in the sun, and Vivienne could feel her exhaustion slipping back in. She put her head on Gally's shoulder.
"If you brought me here just to fall asleep on me-"
"I did not!" she laughed.
"Then why?"
"Well," she trailed off, wondering herself why. "Is it so wrong I want to spend time with you?"
"No. I guess I'm just surprised."
"Why?" she laughed again.
"I thought I scared you after talked about families." Gally shrugged, but Vivienne swore for a moment she could see a glim shadow take over his features.
"You didn't. I've actually been thinking about it a while ago," she admitted.
"Really? Is that because-"
"Of my brother?" They stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds. Gally nodded slowly as if scared of her reaction. "Yeah, because of him." A silence settled between them. "Do you really think this is it for us? Life in the Glade, I mean."
"Maybe. Would that be so bad?"
"I don't know." She sounded like she was about to cry, which surprised her. And then she felt her eyes water, and she confessed, "I'm scared." At first, she said it in a faint whisper. Even though he heard it she repeated, "I'm scared this is it for me - doing the most meaningless job, because I'm too big of a sensation when I work as a doctor, never feeling at home in my own chambers, never falling in love, never having a girl friend, or a dog, or a cat, always being unique not because I accomplished something, but because I'm the only girl," she rumbled on. She probably would have continued, but Gally cupped her face in his huge, rough hands.
"Hey, hey - look at me," he ordered, "Breath."
Vivienne did as Gally told her, and was surprised that she didn't even notice the world around her became blurry. Very slowly, she began feeling again. It was the strangest experience. First, she heard sounds around her - her own breathing, or rather gasping, Gally's surprisingly soothing voice. Then she began noticing green - trees, grass, the color of Gally's shirt. And later, she felt how hot her face or how wet it was - she realized she had been crying - or Gally's hands holding her.
"It's alright, just breath." He kept whispering those words, and when she looked at him he wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled into his shoulder, having regained control over her voice. " I... I don't know what-"
"It's okay," he sighed in relief.
"Please don't tell anyone about this." He promised he wouldn't.
xxx
Gally took her back to her hut. On their way there, he told her what happened must have happened, because she was exhausted. Vivienne wondered if he believed his own words. She knew it might have been one of the reasons, but there were so many more.
They walked in silenced, and Vivienne felt as if she were drowning in her own thoughts. She was overthinking what she had told Gally only a few minutes ago when she lost.
She had never before worried about meeting another girl, never before worried about falling in love. Where had those thoughts come from?
The more she dwelled on it, the more worried she became. In the last few months, she had spent in the Glade, she had never even bothered about such things as love - other than family-love.
She had never before wondered what it would be like to be kissed. What would it be like to be kissed?
They stopped a few feet before the entrance to her hut.
"Get some rest," Gally said.
He had already taken a few steps away from her when she found the courage to call after him. He stopped and turned his head to look at her.
"Yeah?"
"Have you..."
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever kissed anyone?" Vivienne stuttered out, looking down at her fidgeting hands.
"No!" he answered. "Why- Why would you think that?"
"It's... It's not... I haven't either."
"So?" Get there faster Gally!
"Well, I was wondering if... If maybe you wanted to... you know..." she kicked the grass at her feet.
"What- Oh... Oh!" His eyes widened suddenly. "Why?!" he squeaked. "You don't... Do you have feelings for me?" He raised his eyebrow, and a hint of a smirk appeared on his face. If she knew that would be his reaction, she would have asked Minho. He'd teased her about it too, but would probably put his hands on her sooner.
"No! I just... Well, I've been thinking about normal life, and a part of normal life is falling in love. I don't think I could ever fall in love here, but I don't want to not to experience things just because I'm stuck here. And kissing is one of the things I... I want to expiernce, I guess?"
"Alright."
"Alright?" She was surprised how simple it became in a matter of seconds.
"But we have to make rules." It took her slightly aback. She didn't know an activity that would last probably three seconds needed to have rules set up.
"O-Okay? And first would be...?"
"It only happens once."
"Alright."
"We don't tell anyone about it." She pondered about it. "I mean, we don't want guys, coming your way, so everyone could... kiss you."
"That makes sense." Because it did. It also made her feel better, and a bit safer knowing, she wouldn't have to worry about Gally bragging nor other guys expecting her to... Gross. - she thought. "Anything else?"
"I don't think so. Don't you want to add anything?" She thought about it, but nothing came to mind. "Do you want tongue or a peck or..."
"Can't we... try both?" She didn't expect him to react the way he did.
"BUT WE AGREED TO DO IT ONCE!" His nostrils suddenly got twice as big, a vein on his forehead that she had never noticed before began to pulsate.
"Well,... can't we do one of each? Just to know which we like better?" He looked as if he was about to faint. "You know what." She suddenly became angry. "If you really don't want to kiss me, I'll ask someone else!"
"No, Vivienne! It's not that I don't want to, it's... I guess, you just took me off guard? You never mentioned this stuff, and now... What's going on?"
"I just... I don't know, okay?! I'm scared, and I don't know how to stop it! And the least I can do is control the things I do!" She knew she wasn't making much sense. Am I becoming hysterical? "It just... it's been bugging me all day. I just, for once, want to have full control, and not be scared. Just once," she added the last part in a faint whisper.
Her shoulders were stooped, her gaze focused on the grass. She felt utterly humiliated.
"Do you want tongue first or second?" She looked up at Gally so quickly her neck almost snapped.
"What?"
"Tongue. First or second?" She smiled.
"I was thinking second? So we could see which way the wind is blowing."
"Okay. Do you have a way you want it to happen?"
"Not really, no. But maybe... You can put your left hand here." She put it on her waist. "And then, I was thinking the other would go there." She guided his right hand to her cheek. "And I could..." Her voice was fading slowly, as Vivienne realized how close they were. "Put mine here." Her hands rested on his chest, and she found it surprising just how much muscle she could feel under his shirt.
She could feel his heart pound. Who would have thought I could get the keeper of the builders this anxious? She would have grinned if she weren't just as nervous.
"Alright," he cleared his throat, "ready?"
"Mhm."
Even though their faces were only inches apart, it still took them a moment for their lips to connect. They both struggled to close the distance.
"Gals?"
"Yeah?" he stuttered awkwardly.
"Are you ready?" Vivienne made sure to raise her eyebrow and ask him in as serious tone as she could only muster at that moment.
She never got an answer. Gally frowned the moment the words left her mouth, and then abruptly brought his lips to hers.
Vivienne's mind went blank at first. Gally's lips were chappy but still felt nice enough. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the course touch. It ended quickly, but she knew another one was coming.
She didn't have to rush him this time. Hell, she didn't even have time to open her eyes when he started kissing her again.
His tongue parted her lips delicately, unskilfully - not that she knew how someone could do that swiftly.
When his tongue met hers, she had to stop herself from laughing. It was definitely... something. It was weird and messy but somehow felt... nice.
Vivienne felt Gally's hand move from her waist to her back, bringing her closer. She dared to let her hands wander first to his neck, and then his hair.
It was very short, but she still managed to pull on it.
She wasn't feeling awkward anymore, and she had a feeling neither was Gally.
His mouth worked hers wildly, their teeth were clashing against each other, tongues fighting for dominance. Vivienne felt herself running out of breath, but she didn't want to let go.
When they finally parted, though, they were both gasping and untangling. They took a step away, first keeping their gazes on the ground, but when they looked up at each other a smile spread on both their faces.
Vivienne was the first one to burst into laughter. Gally joined her a few seconds later.
"Wow." He was the one to calm down and speak first.
"Thanks." She said. Her laughter had subsided. "For doing this."
"It's my pleasure. Quite literally." They started laughing again.
When Gally left Vivienne entered her hut with a huge grin. Only a day before she hadn't spared kissing a single thought, but that day, she had already been kissed twice. Life's so weird.
She fell asleep before the sun could begin to settle, happy, without any worries on her mind. That was until a sound of brunch breaking woke her up in the middle of the night.