CLEAN AIR - tmr

six

"So have you fucked yet?"

Roman chokes on his cereal. He and Hayden sit at the picnic table at the ass-crack of dawn. It's become a bit of a habit for them. While Roman eats breakfast, Hayden gets ready to run or on her off-days, she eats too. They like to gossip about the Gladers, Roman and Newt being Hayden's favourite topic.

"I don't think he's gay."

Hayden starts laughing, not looking up from where she was sliding her daggers into the holster on her thigh. When she realises Roman isn't laughing, she looks up, "Oh— you're serious."

Roman rolls his eyes, "Like my gaydar is tremendous. He isn't gay."

She points at him, "You're wrong."

Before Roman can respond, Ben walks up to the table. "Ready to go?"

She nods, "We still have time though, right?"

Ben hums, sitting down, "Like 15 minutes."

"Ben, can I ask you a question? The answer won't leave the 3 of us." She turns her head to look at him.

"No— Hayden."

"Go for it."

"Newt." Hayden starts, completely ignoring Roman who continuously lets out protests, "Gay or no?"

Ben looks around for a moment, as if checking for any eavesdroppers, "Gay."

"Told you." Hayden replies, looking at Roman. "Very gay. Thank you for your input, Ben."

"Anytime." He nods strongly.

"Alright, you 2 children." Roman stands up, bringing his food with him, "I'm walking you to the doors so you shut up."

"It's so early." Hayden groans.

"Way too early." Ben agrees.

"I don't care. Asses off the bench."

The 2 runners sigh but stand up. On the way, they stop at the group of Alby, Fry, Newt, Minho and Fry, who stand talking about the Greenie delivery later that day.

"Asshole or not?" Minho says.

"Sorry?" Hayden replies. The group turns to her, some chuckling at her confused expression.

"Every month before the Greenie comes up, we bet if he's an asshole or not." Alby explains, "Pointless game but it's a bit of fun."

"What did you guys guess for me?"

"Definitely not woman." Gally says, looking at Hayden who stands beside him.

She looks up at him, laughing softly, "Ya, well, you would've deserved to never have to work again if you predicted that."

He smiles. Everyone either gives each other looks or drops their jaws.

"I'm going asshole." Fry says, the only one who has seen Gally's heart eyes before.

"Me too." Alby adds, both Newt and Gally nodding in agreement.