Gravely Ghastly

Thump!

Hope's arrow hit the tree.

Thump!

Hope's arrow hit another tree.

Thump!

And another.

Thump!

And one more.

"Woof!" Hugo, who had been watching Hope from the sidelines, barked happily. "Woof, woof!"

"Haha. Thanks, Hugo," Hope chuckled. "You're so kind."

Once more, the sun was hidden behind the Maze's stone walls, signaling to the Glade that night was close. Dinner had already been served, but unlike yesterday, Hope chose her after work free-time to practice her bow. Alone. She was standing in her usual place in the woods, surrounded by trees that held many little holes in their bark. Hope was getting better at her bow, and had even shot five arrows at seven different trees without stopping. It was her record so far. Nonetheless, the girl always wanted to advance. Be better. Hence, Hope continued to try. And try. And try some more.

Although, four was Hope's record for that day. Only four. This was because of something that had happened earlier that same day. Something that Frypan had told her… about Gally.

"He was angry."

"Scared."

"Wouldn't let anyone get close."

"No one could help him. Even Alby."

Frypan's words weighed on Hope's mind all that day. The story had made her wonder… what the other boys' stories were: how they reacted to being put into the Maze, and how they got over their fear. Did they fight back? Did they cry? Did they try to run the Maze? But what Hope didn't ask herself - what she didn't dare to ask - was the saddest question of them all. It was a question that combined anger, sadness, and hopelessness all poured into one.

The question… of death itself.

"You're spacing out."

"Gah…!" Instinctively, Hope took an arrow from her pouch, hit it against her bow, whipped around, and pointed the sharp object right at her jumpscare's face. However, after she actually saw her 'jumpscares's' face, Hope gasped. "Gally…!"

"Hey there, Greenie," Gally said, lifting his pointer finger to the arrow's tip and pushing it downward. "As your teacher, I should be proud of your instincts, but… I don't wanna die because of them."

"I-I am so sorry!" Hope apologized as she completely dropped her bow and arrow to the ground. "I don't even know what came over me…"

"It's fine," Gally stated with a shrug. "Again, I'm just glad that you're getting better."

"Oh, wow, uhm… Th-Thank you for noticing!" Hope beamed joyfully. "I didn't know you were keeping track."

"I… check in on occasion," Gally mumbled and then let out a huff. "Though, I gotta ask… What's wrong?"

For a few moments, Hope only blinked. "…'What's… wrong'?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry, but… What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean."

"I-I do?"

"Are you really gonna make me repeat myself?"

"I'm sorry, but I really don't get what you're asking. D-Did I do something strange today? I mean, I know that's a normal occurrence, but- Oh! Did I mess-up dinner or something?! Did I make it gross?! Oh, geez, I knew I should have added parsley instead of-!"

"Will you slim it and let me speak?!" Gally suddenly snapped, causing Hope to immediately shut her mouth. When Gally saw the guilt in Hope's eyes, however, he immediately copied the guilty-look. "I, uh… I-I'm sorry, I didn't… mean to… do that…"

But Hope didn't respond to his apology. She just stood there, and once Gally had spoken his apology, her eyes widened in awe. "He was angry, Hope. More angry than I've ever seen anyone… I think it was because he was scared, though. Anger is Gally's response… to being afraid of something." Just like back in the Infirmary after Hope had fainted and Gally had tried to give her those flowers, he had snapped at her. But unlike last time, Hope had a better understanding of Gally. She knew that Gally wasn't truly angry with her. Not even close. In reality, Gally was… afraid of something. Maybe not afraid, but… uneasy.

So Hope wanted to give Gally his time.

"No… No, I'm sorry, Gally," Hope said while a kind smile formed on her face. "I didn't give you time to explain yourself, and that's all on me. I'll just wait until you're ready, okay? Take all the time you need."

Gally gulped - he didn't know what to make of that. Truthfully, Gally didn't know what to make of Hope. She was weird. Strange. He didn't understand a single thing about her. When people complimented her, she waved it off. When she got the day off, she decided to continue working instead of resting. When she got hurt, she tried her best just to "walk it off." And when someone was rude to her, she wasn't rude back. She was compassionate. Patient. Understanding. As Hope stared up at him, softness in her brown and blue eye, he didn't feel awkward or uneasy. Gally felt like… he could tell this girl anything and… she'd accept him.

Hope would accept anything.

"I… I saw that you were distracted," Gally ultimately told her. "Your best is seven, right? Why can you only get four today?"

It was Hope's turn to stare. "Y-You've… actually counted?"

"A little," Gally said nonchalantly, but then a tense expression crossed his features. "Still, I think you should tell me what's up. I mean, you can tell me to mind my own business and all, but… last time I did that, you pushed yourself too hard. And I… I don't want that to happen again. Not next to me."

Hope stared some more, yet she was thinking… something much different this time. As Hope looked upon Gally's face, she could see every single one of the Gladers. The boys who knew nothing. Who knew nothing of their pasts, their futures, themselves even. Yet, there Gally stood. There Alby stood. There Siggy stood. There Chuck stood. There Newt stood. All of those boys had been through so much pain, and yet there they were worrying about Hope's pain. It was all so… Their selflessness made Hope feel so…

Whole.

"Would you be angry if I said," Hope tilted her head, "you?"

"…What?" Gally muttered, taken aback. "What're you…"

"Gally, I've been… thinking about you," Hope clarified once more. "That's why I've been distracted."

"I still don't get it…" Gally shook his head. "Why? What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything. I was told about you."

"By who?"

"By Frypan," Hope said without hesitation. But before Gally could say another word, Hope looked up at the night sky and continued. "After you left, I asked why you two were so close, and Frypan told me about… the gift you had given him."

"What gift…?" Gally asked, prompting Hope to smile warmly.

"You gave Fry something to feel proud about. You helped him feel fulfilled… by becoming a Builder." When Hope uttered this, it finally clicked for Gally. "I've been thinking a lot about your boys' pain lately, and I find myself starting to feel that same pain. The pain you all share. I've gotten to know you each. Understand you. But although every one of you has individual pain, you share it with each other. You allow yourselves to carry another's pain, so that nobody… has to carry it alone."

Gally knew that he was hot-headed. He knew he could be arrogant and judgmental and rude. Gally knew all of this, but… he also knew that he cared. He cared about his mistakes and people's opinions of him; he cared about the other Gladers. He'd do anything to protect them, especially those who had once protected him. So no, he couldn't be angry with Fry for telling Hope his personal story. Moreover, it seemed that Gally had nothing to be angry about. To Gally, that story of the past was a disgusting and embarrassing one. Filled with regret and sorrow. So if Hope could still manage to smile around him after hearing that 'disgusting' story, then… then maybe…

Gally could tell her another story.

"…You're wrong, y'know," Gally suddenly spoke up, causing Hope to turn her head in his direction. "In reality, Frypan was the one who gave me the greatest gift of all."

Hope's differently-colored eyes turned curious. "And… what would that be?"

"Frypan never gave up on me," Gally answered, his voice breaking. "When I first got here, I did things I'm not proud of. I hurt people. Alby, Minho, Newt… I hurt all of them in different ways, and I still haven't forgiven myself for that. I'm ashamed of my anger, but Frypan… Even when I pushed him away or pushed him down, he never walked away or stayed down. He helped me find ways to use my anger as my strength. And my strength made me useful, not a burden." Finally, as Gally stared down at the grassy ground, he smiled. "Siggy saved me. He saved me - he's… he's my best friend. And I know I get shuckin' angry at him sometimes, but you know as well as anyone that… I get angry at everyone eventually."

Hope looked at the teenager for a few moments, watching him beam a smile that she had never seen in him before. Though, the grin was so cute and innocent that Hope couldn't not smile. Above them, the moon shone through the leaves to illuminate Gally's and Hope's soft features. Hugo, who had been sitting near them, had fallen asleep to their chit-chatter. The mood around them was calm and tranquil. Accepting and thankful.

Moments like these were why Hope always had hope. Why she tried her best to carry on, even when faced with confusion and sadness. It was inevitable for Hope to worry about those boys, but it was also inevitable for her to love them. And that love… overshadowed all of that uncertainty. Hope may have not been able to protect their feelings in the past, but she sure as heck would now. In the future, too.

She'd protect them… with all her might.

"Yes…" Hope smiled brightly. "That was a beautiful story, Gally. Thank you for sharing it with me."

For the first time, Gally returned Hope's smile with one of his own. Not only that, but his smile was as bright and as kind as Hope's. The two had gotten closer - much closer than mere teacher and student. They were friends. Comrades. Gally still had much to learn about Hope's so-called "weirdness," but Hope knew all she needed to know about Gally's anger. All Gally had ever needed… was someone patient enough to listen to him.

Creak… As Hope lay in her bed, she heard the Infirmary's door open. She heard footsteps walk closer… and closer… and closer. Her one ear that wasn't lying against her pillow, listened diligently to those closening footsteps. Creak… Therefore, when Hope's bedroom door creaked open, her ears knew who those footsteps belonged to; she didn't even need to turn her body around to know.

On this night, Hope decided to stay awake to see when Newt came into her room. And it wasn't that she didn't trust him or anything. Nothing of the sort. It was more or less to see when he entered. To see how long… he had to sit on the ground for. Thump. Circumstantially, Hope heard Newt sit on the ground. The noise made her cringe, since it debunked one of Hope's greatest worries: it was only a few hours after sunset, so Newt would be sitting there for the next ten hours or so. He gave up so much for her, wasted so much of his time for her, and Hope still couldn't wrap her head around those facts. She couldn't accept it.

Regardless, Hope knew that she couldn't change Newt's mind. Hence, she decided to change something else. Hope deliberately turned her body around, the blankets hugging her body, and came face-to-face with Newt, who opened up his eyes upon hearing Hope move.

"H-Hey, Newt…" Hope stuttered awkwardly, causing the boy to let out a scoff.

"Why're you still awake?"

"I was waiting for you."

"…Why?"

"Because I can't let you do this, Newt," Hope replied honestly. "I can't let you just sit there."

"Well, no offense, but I don't care," Newt argued, hitting the back of his head against the wall. "I'm staying here, Hope. I'm not leaving this room."

"I know that, and I'm not trying to do that," Hope acknowledged and then glanced away embarrassingly. "I-I'm trying to tell you that… I want you to sit… somewhere else."

"Where? Where else… would I…" Newt trailed off after he had obviously figured out Hope's words. Though, did he fully believe them yet? Not at all. "Uhm, Hope, what do you mean… by that?"

"I-I mean that… I want you to…" Hope's face blushed furiously. "I-If you're that adamant on staying here, then I deserve to be adamant about… this. I-I don't want you just sitting there, Newt. You deserve… a bed, so… since you can't hang a hammock here, then… you can… sleep on… here."

Newt's theory was proven right, but he still didn't know what to say to it. Just like Hope, his pale cheeks reddened and he looked away. Then, placing his hand over his mouth, Newt pretended to think for a few moments. When, in reality, a strange, powerful, unknown feeling in his heart was threatening to be released. And if Newt let that mystery feeling free, he knew that he'd say something stupid. Therefore, once he had calmed his heart, Newt said something a little bit less awkward.

"Are… Are you sure?" Newt questioned. "I-I mean, I'm fine here. I've slept on worse, and-"

"I've never been more sure in my life, Newt," Hope interjected in a soft tone. "Please? It'll… It'll make me feel better if you do. M-Much better."

Newt stared into Hope's sincere eyes, not seeing a single trace of apprehension within them. That girl… had no idea what those eyes did to him. Those eyes pulled Newt in, making him unable to say no to her. Without realizing it, Hope had Newt completely under her spell. He couldn't resist her - he couldn't resist such an offer.

"…Turn around and move over," Newt ultimately said while he stood up. "I don't think I can do this with you looking at me."

"R-Right…!" Hope agreed almost immediately, feeling the same way as Newt. She quickly turned back over and scooted to the side of the bed, her cheeks never not being red. But then, those same cheeks turned even redder (she didn't even know how that was possible) when Hope heard Newt walk closer… and feel him push the blankets to the side. More so, Hope's heartbeat quickened as he laid down, feeling the bed move underneath him. And although they weren't touching, the space underneath the blankets felt so much warmer. Hotter. Still, despite the sheepishness, Hope felt relieved. "Th-Thank you, Newt. I know you didn't want this, but… it makes me feel better."

"H-Hey, if…" Newt stuttered as well. "If this makes you feel better, then it's worth it. Trust me, I'm fine."

"I'm fine, too," Hope said with a smile. "More than fine, really."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I am. I'm… happy that you're here, Newt."

"Um…" Newt blushed. "Y-You mean 'happy that you're here' as in…?"

"O-Oh, I didn't mean it like that!" Hope quickly protested, realizing her mistakes. "I-I just meant that I'm happy you're alive and here! Wait! Not 'h-here' as in my bed! I mean here as in the Glade! …Oh, wait, no, that sounds rude! I-I just meant that…! I…! Well… Uhm… Erm…"

"Pfft…!" Hope trailed off after hearing Newt burst out into laughter. "O-Oh my gosh, Hope, you're bloody hilarious!"

"I-I'm sorry…" Hope huffed to herself. "I'm an idiot…"

"No, no… I think I get what you're trying to say," Newt assured while he calmed his laughter. Then, once he had finally collected himself, Newt changed the subject for poor Hope. "Still, you're seriously not… scared by this? By a strange boy in your bed?

"Pfft." It was Hope's turn to laugh. "A 'strange boy'? Newt, what about you is 'strange'?"

"It's not really that I'm strange. It's more that I'm," Newt glanced back, "a boy."

"Ohhh… I see what you mean now," Hope said with a meaningful smile. "Though, I can't agree with you. Why would I be scared of you, Newt? You're an amazing person."

"I'm still a boy."

"What's that gotta do with it?"

"You…" Newt then let out a sigh. "You're too innocent, Hope."

"I-Is that a bad thing?"

"No, but it's… it's a little worrisome."

"For who?"

"For the people that care about you."

"Well, I do get scared. I get scared for the people I care about," Hope remarked, feeling her eyes start to droop. "Plus, I'm… I'm more scared of that girl than any of you boys."

Newt's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes… Yes, I'm very much… scared of that girl…" Hope whispered as she slowly closed her eyes. Hope recalled hearing her own voice in her dreams. A voice much more honest than her one now. Nonetheless, Hope wanted to use that voice for good. She wanted to be better. "But I'm not scared of you, Newt, because you're… a good person. You're kind. Understanding. Smart. You're someone that," Hope's mind went black, "I cherish."

Hope fell asleep, and Newt stayed awake. He turned onto his back, glancing over to stare at Hope's back. That same unknown feeling thumped through his heart, but again, Newt didn't let it free. Because Newt knew that, if he did, he wouldn't be able to not close the distance between their two bodies.

A/N: Happy October 1st, everyone! And sorry that this chapter took a little more time - Chapter 20 is throwing me for a doozy! Still, it's Chapter 20, so I'm trying my best to make it as perfect as I can! It's going to be longer and much more... of something? (O_O)

Nonetheless, hope you enjoy and have a great day!