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Newt could feel himself going insane. He had always struggled coping in the Glade but Thomas’s arrival had sparked something new inside of him, hope. But it wasn’t just that, Newt felt a special connection to the Greenie and had assumed that he felt the same way.
Every small gesture, every kind word, every moment of eye contact. Newt felt differently about Thomas than any of the other guys. They were all like brothers to him, a closely knitted family- but Thomas? Newt didn’t know if he could admit it to himself, but he was falling for the guy.
And he had been for a while. Thomas seemed so sweet, so genuine. Everything had been perfect and Thomas was becoming a close friend of his, but now that had all changed. The arrival of a new Greenie too early, who was a girl and knew Thomas?
Newt didn’t know what to think of the boy anymore. Thomas had sworn that he didn’t recognise but Newt knew he wasn’t being fully truthful. He noticed the way Thomas would look at her the few times he visited, the way he looked lost in thought every time she became the subject of a conversation.
Newt sat up groggily and stared blankly at his surroundings. He had been experiencing bad dreams ever since he left the Maze and most of them seemed to be focused on Thomas, along with the girl- Teresa. She was kind and pretty, sure, but Newt couldn’t bring himself to be overly friendly with her.
He could admit this to himself now, he was jealous. Minho had caught on pretty quickly too and gave Newt a stern but kind reality check. “Newt..” he had snapped one day as he saw Newt watching Thomas and Teresa interact. “Stop making shucking heart-eyes at Thomas and talk to me.”
Newt had tried to argue but Minho shut him down, “It’s klunkin’ obvious. Now you either chase after him or let Teresa. Your choice.”
That conversation was back at the Glade but even now, as Newt sat in some sand in the Scorch, the words still rattled him.
Newt glanced over to Thomas who was laying beside Teresa with his arm around her shoulders. The sight made Newt feel sick to his stomach and he peeled his eyes away. Slowly, he stood up and walked over to a tall sand dune. Their destination was in sight, maybe another couple of days-
A pair of footsteps sounded behind him and he briefly glanced back. Thomas was stretching and stumbling towards him. Newt returned his attention back to the view, not in the mood to talk.
“Hey.” Thomas yawned and stood beside him, following his eye line.
“Not too far. We should make it soon,” Thomas sighed before looking at Newt, “you feeling okay?”
“Mhm,” They stood in silence before Newt got the courage to speak up, “do you like her?”
“Huh?”
Newt kept quiet, not moving his eyes from the endless sea of sand in front of him. Thomas glanced back at Teresa, then stared at Newt, “You mean Teresa?”
Newt threw his hands up and groaned, “No, I mean Minho. Yes Teresa!”
Newt ignored the fact that he sounded obviously jealous but Thomas didn’t seem to notice.
“Yeah she’s alright I guess.”
Newt gathered his thoughts and looked Thomas in the eyes, “Do you love her?”
Thomas stayed silent for a while then cleared his throat, “Why is it any of your business?”
Newt wanted to scream at him but he just bit his tongue and turned away. Before he could storm off, Thomas grabbed his wrist, “Newt?”
“What?”
Thomas looked hurt by Newt’s tone but didn’t loosen his grip, “Why did you ask?”
Newt glared at Thomas and hoped the boy would make the connection in his brain instead of asking Newt to spell it out for him.
“Wait, do you like Teresa?” Thomas gasped and Newt almost yelled in response.
“No, I like you, slinthead!” Newt bared his teeth and ripped his hand away from Thomas before scrambling away.
Thomas didn’t follow him and Newt didn’t know if he was relieved or disappointed. He had just made a fool of himself and didn’t know if Thomas would ever look at him the same again. Slowly, Newt sunk to the floor in a hidden shady area and buried his face in his hands.
A few minutes later, Newt became aware of a person walking up to him. He didn’t bother looking up at them and guessed it was Thomas. The person didn’t say a word and just sat down beside him. They sat listening to the sounds of people sleeping nearby for a while before the person spoke up.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t even start.” Newt croaked.
“No, really. Newt…” Thomas shook Newt’s shoulder, “I’m sorry that I made you upset. Can you talk to me, please?”
Newt didn’t move and Thomas dropped his hand, “Look at me, please, Newt..?”
Newt turned his head to the side slightly and looked up at Thomas. The brunette had a worried expression on his face but he seemed to relax slightly when they made eye contact.
“How long have you liked me?” Thomas asked quietly.
Newt scoffed in response and rested his chin on his knees, “So is this a pity talk huh?”
“No.” There was an unexpected sternness in Thomas’s voice and he stared at Newt sadly.
“Since you arrived I guess. Why?”
Thomas hummed and looked out towards the rising sun, “Curious. I suppose it was the same for me.”
“Wait what?” Newt lifted his head and peered at Thomas.
Thomas repeated himself, “Around the same time for me.”
“Huh- so you’re saying..” Newt was stuttering and trying to read Thomas’s expression.
“Yeah,” Thomas smiled softly, “nice to know it’s mutual.”
Newt’s head was spinning and he grappled for words, “What about Teresa?” Newt suddenly felt guilty as he thought about the girl who obviously liked Thomas. Thomas frowned slightly.
“I feel like I recognise her now, like I’ve known her for years. Maybe I loved her before my memories were swiped.”
“But do you love her now?”
“I like her now, but love is a bit far. I barely know her and she seems kinda… scary.”
Newt laughed lightly and relaxed, “You barely know me, ya shank.”
“But it’s different with you, and you know it.”
The boys looked at each other for a while before Newt broke the eye contact. “We should get going, you know what Minho’s like in the morning.” He stood up and held a hand out to Thomas. The brunette smiled with a lopsided grin and took Newt’s hand.
“I kind of like the quiet though,” Thomas mumbled once he was on his feet, “another five minutes?”
Newt sighed but nodded, “If you insist.”
Underneath the cool, morning sun, the boys walked hand in hand around their camp, just taking in the comforting quiet.