His hands were on my thighs.

The record had been dead for a while, leaving us to use each other for entertainment. I sat straddling him, feeling tipsy with pleasure. If only we could stay like this forever...

"Really?!" Newt cried out, putting an end to our pleasant makeout session. "In the bloody meeting room?!" I tore away from Gally, bouncing to the opposite side of the couch as I wiped my mouth off.

"I mean there's a couch in here so technically it could be a living room. It could also be seen as-" Newt interrupted my smart ass reply, hands on his hips.

"I don't care what the bugging' room is called, you're not allowed to kiss in it!" A vein bulged angrily on his forehead, almost throbbing. "I'm forbidding kissing in here! Now get out and get to work."

I hopped to my feet along with Gally to leave the homestead as quickly as possible...but not before pulling Gally down for a quick peck when we neared the door. When we separated I flashed a grin at Newt.

"You never said anything about the stairwell." I laughed. Before Newt could start I farewelled them with a wink, dashing out of the homestead.

"Disgusting!" Newt's voice rang out behind me.

________________________

"Gally..." I murmured his name, leaning my head against the tree I had chosen. My knife lay limply in hand. I gazed warmly at the 'Gally + Y/n' that was forever burned in the bark. The words offered up a thrill that made me want to sappily smile and throw up at the same time.

I must tell him. I had to.

It was painful to keep it inside, my heart being squeezed and tugged at each time I saw him.

Soon.

"Y/n!" Zart? There he was in the distance, a purplish mark still slammed on his cheek. His eyes faltered as they looked me up and down. Still nervous around me. After all this time.

I met him at a bough of twisted branches, not wishing for him to see my recent vandalism. It would only hurt him and due to his face I didn't think he needed anymore of that.

"Zart! How's the battle wound holding up? You and that door got into a pretty nasty fight." My hand caressed the bruise tenderly, greeting him warmly. His new look, as bashful as it made me, looked kind of...hot?

Like he had really been in a fight or something. I couldn't help finding it attractive. Whenever Gally had a cut lip or a black eye it always drew my mouth to his.

Zart was a friend though. Just one who had a major crush on me and I couldn't help but finding cute. I really liked Gally but I couldn't deny the newfound butterflies I felt as I interlaced my fingers with Zart's.

"You look good today. The whole mark on your face thing is kind of sexy." I think I just did the lameass thing people that books in movies do when they think out loud. Oh fuck. I did not just say that. Fucking y/n, fucking idiot shit. Getting too motherfucking bold, Jesus Christ!

Zart's face flushed to a cherry bright red. His palm became sweaty in my own.

"I'm sorry!" I ripped my hand away like I'd been seared. "I didn't mean to say that, honestly."

"It's uh, it's um, it's fine." Zart's lips curled into a dopey smile, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "You look really pretty today y/n." His hand very unsure did a few test touches before deciding to take initiative to hold my hand again. "I always think you're pretty..."

The boy stooped down, his eyes closed as his lips fumbled for mine. I let it happen, closing my eyes as he gently kissed me a few times. My heart fluttered unmistakably. I shied away, cutting it short.

"Uh..." I stumbled for words, my gaze unfocusing on the ground below me. "I have a uh, um. God what the fuck do you call them?!"Panic flooded my chest. "A boyfriend Zart. I have a boyfriend. I have Gally." I couldn't bear to look up at him. My face simmered in heat, sweat prickling my forearms.

"And you can't kiss me because I have a boyfriend. Gally can't know. No one can ever find out, okay." I could practically feel my eyes bugging out of their socket as I painfully found Zart's own eyes. "Please." I begged, my eyes shining with already forming tears. "Please?"

"I won't tell." He said with a sorrowful quietness to him. I had rejected him. Threw him aside. And I felt like absolute shit.

"I'm sorry." I murmured, stepping away softly on the brush.
___________________________

I curled up in my bed, all dressed for the night. After an anxious day of nail biting, feeling horribly guilt ridden and awful from Zart's kisses, I was unbelievably nervous to see Gally's face. Avoiding him all day had been easy but he was bound to come back to the treehouse soon.

On top of all that Paul was being banished the very same night. I felt myself fall into the repetitive nasty thoughts.

He's going to hate you y/n. It's your fault. You did this. It's always your fault. Your fault.

Gally burst through the treehouse door. I nearly jumped out of my skin with fright. Here he was. Front in center. He knew. He had to know. Gally was supposed to be participating in the banishment right now, sending Paul away. Yet here he was in a...startled panic?

"You're safe?" He practically leapt for me. Holding me against every crevice of his body. He knitted his hands in my hair, almost like he was checking if I was really there.

"I think I am." Gally's shirt muffled my speech. "Why?"

"Paul's missing." He spat out. "That sick shuck could be anywhere. When we went to get him for the banishment he was gone. His buddies probably helped him. Stupid shanks."

"What?" I was snatched back into a twisting fear, the kind that made you dizzy. "That's not possible. He can't- I- what?!"

"Don't worry." He pulled away, holding my face in his hands. "I'm gonna keep you safe y/n. I swear to God he's never gonna lay a finger on you ever again." Gally kissed me hungrily, a passion I'd never seen before. "I'll keep you safe." He mumbled, pressing his forehead against mine. "A bunch of the other guys are guarding the treehouse. He can't get in. I'll always keep you safe."