ᵒⁿᵉ 𝐈 𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐘 𝐎𝐖𝐍 ⁿᵉʷᵗᵐᵃˢ (ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ)

Love, Loss, and Legacy

NEWT POV

"Okay, let's go. Let's go!" Thomas cries.

A man stands in front of us, pointing a gun at Thomas's chest, though he'd gladly shoot any of us, I'm sure. I discreetly move just a little bit in front of him, so the man would have to shoot me instead.

"We're not trying to cause any trouble, okay?" Thomas says, surprisingly brave in the face of death. "We just got to get out of here." 

"Is that so?" The man says. He picks up a walkie-talkie. "Janson, I got 'em for ya. I'm bringing 'em down." 

Thomas grabs my forearm and starts to move away but the man cocks the gun. Then, blood fills his abdomen as he crumples to the floor, revealing Jorge.

"You gotta be kidding me." Thomas says, releasing my arm.

"Plan B, hermano. You kids wanna get to the Right Arm? I'll lead you to them. But you're gonna owe me. Follow me!" Jorge leads us to a place on the top floor with some kind of makeshift zipline. 

Aris goes, then Teresa, then it's my turn. I'm really worried Thomas is going to do something stupid. I put my arms around his neck.

"Please don't do anything stupid, Tommy." I whisper into his ear.

"Just go. I won't die. I promise." He whispers back.

Not really encouraged, I grab the cloth and zip down. But then, I see Thomas run off after Brenda. 

"Thomas, you bloody idiot." I mutter to myself. 

I think but clearly Aris sees what I'm going to do. He grabs my arm.

"Newt, don't even think about it." He says, pulling me along.

"But we can't just leave Thomas in there alone!" I cry, my feet stumbling as Aris pulls me after him. 

"Newt, there's nothing you can do for him." He says.

Then, the building explodes. My breath catches in my chest and I can't move. I don't even realize I'm on my knees. The voices around me are muffled. There's just one thing in my mind: Thomas. 

"Thomas." I whisper, my brain a jumble of words and pictures that I can't quite comprehend. "Thomas." I say louder. I stand shakily to my feet. "I have to-" I try to leave but Aris grabs both of my arms and hold them behind my back.

"He's dead!" Aris cries. "Or he's alive, but somewhere we can't find him, okay? Thomas is gone."

My mind flashes back to when Thomas ran into the maze. He wasn't dead then, maybe he's not dead now. That kid does seem to have an unordinary amount of luck. But I have to find out. Now. 

"Aris, let me go!" I struggle against his arms. "He's not dead, you shank! He promised!" 

Then, Jorge steps in front of me.

"Listen, maybe you're right." He says, placing a hand on my chest. "Maybe he's not dead. Maybe Brenda got him out okay. But killing yourself won't do him any good either way."

I let out a strangled sob. He can't be dead. I relax my body so that Aris doesn't have to hold on as tight. 

"He's dead." I whisper. "Isn't he?"

"I don't know." Aris says. "But come on, let's go."

"I'm sorry but you're going to have to leave my house." Marcus says, tied to a chair, a black eye and blood seeping from his hairline. 

That's when I see Thomas is awake.

"THOMAS!" I cry. 

I sprint over to him and throw my arms around his neck. 

"You are a bloody idiot, you know that?" I say into his ear. "I thought you were dead." Tears of relief fall out of my eyes.

I feel his arms around my waist pull me closer. "But I'm fine." He says. "See? I promised, remember?"

I bury my face into his neck. "If you had died, I'd have killed you."

"I know." He says, chuckling. "That's why I didn't do it."

"I hate you." I say.

"I love you too." He responds. 

Then, I do something kind of stupid, kind of brave and kind of perfect. I pull my face out his neck and kiss him. I don't even care that everyone can see us. I kiss him. And he kisses me back. His lips are warm and soft. Then, I pull away, rather red. 

I turn around. Jorge and Marcus are arguing, but everyone else is watching Thomas and I. Teresa looks shocked and rather angry. I let go of Thomas and run out of the room. I couldn't stand all those eyes watching me. 

"Newt, wait!" I hear Thomas say behind me, but I round a corner and sit against the wall. 

Why did I do that? I think. I put my face in my hands. Maybe I'm the idiot.

Then, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up. 

"Oh, hello." I say weakly.

Thomas smiles and sits beside me. "Why'd you run away?" He asks.

"Because, Tommy, I kissed you!" I cry. "I'm a bloody idiot. Who kisses their best friend?"

"Do you want a list or...?" He says. I hit him.

"Shut up." I say. "I shouldn't have done that."

"You know, personally," He starts. "I didn't mind it." 

He moves so our faces are about 5 inches apart. I blush.

"I, well, I-" I stutter.

He smiles. "You're cute when you're nervous."

I blush even more. "I-"

"Okay, listen." He says, saving me from having to talk. "Whatever our friends think, I don't shucking care, alright?" He says, his golden eyes meeting mine. "I. Don't. Care."

"Teresa probably hates me now." I mumble. 

"Yes, well, that's not your fault, is it?" He asks. 

"Yeah." I say.

"How is it your fault?" He asks.

"For kissing you." I respond.

"Okay, that's..." He sighs. "Ignore her." He says simply. 

Then, he kisses me gently. When he pulls away, I smile.

"But it's kind of hard to ignore someone who hates you, Tommy." I point out. 

"Mmm..." He hums, thinking. "Easier than ignoring someone who doesn't hate you."

"Untrue." I say.

He laughs, making my heart beat faster. "Whatever."

Thomas stands and makes to leave.

"But Tommy?" I say.

"Yes?" He says, turning back to me.

I shake my head. "Nevermind."

Thomas grabs my hand. "Then come on, let's go back."