Secrets | TMR | One

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''I do not'' Nick scoffs, throwing himself back on his chair and folding his arms over his chest.

''Oh you definitely do'' Newt says, trying - and failing - to hide his smile.

''It does make sense, actually'' Leon says, ''she gets away with everything.''

''She hardly gets away with everything!'' Nick tries to defend, although he knows fine well that what the runners are saying is true.

''Okay'' Minho responds. He squints his eyes, drawing his lips into a thin line as he slowly nods his head. ''Next time she breaks a rule, put her in the slammer.''

''I'm not gonna do that'' Nick says, shaking his head lightly.

''Why not? You'd do it to the rest of us'' Kenny points out.

''Fine'' Nick starts, pulling himself forward in his chair, ''if that's what it'll take then... I will.''

Just at that moment, Adeline approaches them, skipping over towards the table. She looks at the five boys as she reaches them, studying all their expressions. Leon, Kenny and Newt all carry stupid grins on their faces, Minho just smirks at her, but Nick tries his hardest to avoid any eye contact.

''Everything alright here?'' she questions, eyeing each of the boys sceptically.

''Everything's bloody brilliant'' Newt says, not peeling his eyes away from Nick as he scoots up to give the girl a space at the table.

Leon has a plate in front of her before her bum even hits the chair, but he also keeps his eyes trained on Nick as he does so.

Minho is the first to crack. Unable to hold the giggles in any longer, he throws himself forward until his forehead lightly smacks against the table.

This, in turn, causes Kenny to start up as well. Twisting his body around to the side, he uses his hands to cover his face as he ducks down behind Leon who's sitting with his own hands covering his mouth.

''What?'' Adeline asks, turning her head to look at each boy.

''It's nothing'' Nick mutters, still not looking her way. He is leaning back, his upper half twisted slightly, allowing his elbow to rest on the back of the chair, while he nibbles on his fingernails.

''It's clearly something'' she responds, releasing an airy chuckle, ''come on, tell me!''

''It's honestly... it's nothing'' Nick says, finally turning to face her and extending his hand out towards her plate. ''Now can you please eat so you can all go?''

Adeline merely shrugs her shoulders at the boy. ''I'm not hungry'' she says, pushing her plate away from her.

This small action causes all four boys to cease their laughter. Nick whips his head around to the girl. Pushing himself to the front of his chair, he leans across the table and places his hand over Adeline's forehead.

''What are you doing?'' she questions, swatting his hand away from her.

''Just checking you're feeling alright'' he confesses.

''Yea'' Minho adds, ''you're never not hungry.''

''Shut up'' the girl responds, scrunching her face up in disagreement, ''I'm just not hungry.''

''I swear to god, Addy, if we get out there and you tell us you're bloody hungry after-''

''I won't!'' she assures them, ''now can we go?'' She stands up and spins on her heel, pacing towards the Homestead while the rest of the runners follow closely. "I have a few boxes of stuff we might need. Minho and I went through them the other day."