Secrets | TMR | One

0:7

There are many things Newt likes about the Glade. The scent of the air when he steps out of the Homestead. The soft grass tickling the bottom of his feet as he trails towards the showers. The strong sunlight radiating off his fair skin, giving it a golden hue, while also warming him up.

He especially loves waking up early. The emptiness of the Glade in the early mornings gives the boy a chance to clear his mind of everything that troubles him.

The guarantee that the boy will also get to enjoy a hot shower is just an added luxury.

Newt closes his eyes and smiles, taking in a deep breath as he inhales as much of the fresh morning air as he can.

The boy has just had his first night in his own room. Well, shared room with Minho. After the boy was elected as keeper of the runners, he was given his own room. But after so much time spent sleeping outdoors with all the other boys, Minho had decided that he did not like the idea of sleeping on his own.

That is where Newt came in.

Newt had kindly offered to share the space with his fellow runner, and luckily for him, none of the other Gladers seemed to have and protests to this.

Neither Newt or Minho understood why at the time. But as it turns out, sleeping in the Homestead is also paired with the burden of listening to Nick snoring all night.

Just a small price to pay for some privacy, in Newt's opinion.

The newly appointed runner hops down from the top step of the Homestead, using his right hand to drag his hair away from his eyes while clutching his towels and clothes to his chest.

He briskly walks around to the back of their shabby looking home and towards the bathrooms, too lost in his own thoughts to hear someone humming a small tune on the other side of the doors.

Swinging the door open, he looks down to his feet, ensuring that they are completely over the threshold before spinning and closing the door.

Turning his body back around, he is met by the sight of Adeline, huffing as she tries - and fails - to tie her hair up.

The young girl shifts her head in his direction and gives him a small smile. She casts a quick glance downwards, her eyes immediately widening. ''Oh my god!' she exclaims, throwing her hand up to cover her view of the boy while twisting her head to the side.

Newt furrows his brows for a moment, but as he looks down he soon realises why Adeline reacted as she did.

"Shit" he spits out, lowering the towel and clothes in his hands to cover up his modesty.

''Newt'' Adeline starts, drawing her lips into a thin line and trying to look anywhere but to the half-naked boy on her right, ''why are you just wearing boxers?''

''I, uh, I do this every morning'' he responds, chuckling slightly in the hopes it will relieve some of the embarrassment that is festering in the pit of his stomach.

''Cool, cool, cool'' Adeline mutters, nodding her head slowly, ''but could you not have waited a bit before you went wandering around?''

''Well I can't bloody do anything about it when Minho's in the same room as me'' Newt retorts.

''Oh my god'' Adeline repeats, turning her head completely and pressing her left hand against the right side of her face. She takes her right hand, which is still extended out, and begins waving it to the side. ''Go into that cubicle.''

''Why?''

''Because I want to get out of here without having to walk anywhere near you and your... morning-ness.''