REMEMBER THE NIGHTS | newt

four - the willow tree

wc ; 2,001

warnings: talk of parental death, parental abandonment, divorce, and cancer

Ever since last Friday, you've been nearly jumping out of your skin for another chance to hang out with the group. Sure, when you thought too much about it, it sounded borderline creepy, but you couldn't blame yourself. Even in the city, where everything was practically at your fingertips, you'd never had that much fun.

It felt like the high you had when you watched your very first musical. You were a freshman in high school, and your father surprised you with the tickets one day when he came home early from work. You'd never forget the magical feeling that filled you throughout the show, watching everything happen all at once and so quickly. It was so much fun that for days everything felt dull, and you wished you could relive that night over and over again for the rest of your life.

It would've been tomorrow that the group would hang out again, but some of you had made plans to simply hang out at the park again tonight. Of course, all of you had some sort of curfew, so the night would border on sunset when you would all be around one another for a few hours, before one by one, you'd have to head home.

Though, as the evening went on, creeping closer to 6pm, the texts started to trickle in, one after the other, and within the hour, almost everyone had canceled. Whether it was family obligations, chores, or in Sonya and Harriets case, wanting to spend the night to themselves, all but one person had pulled out of the plans you made. It was just you and Newt, now.

Not long after the last message confirming Minho's cancellation, your phone rang from its place on your bed, where you were finishing up the last sentences of your history homework.

Pushing the textbook from your lap, you reached for it, only to find Newt's contact shining up at you. Pressing the green 'accept' button, you answered the call. "Hey, what's up?"

Newt's voice filtered through the speaker almost immediately. "We're still hanging out tonight, right?"

"Yeah, we can, but I think it's just gonna be us two. Everyone else canceled on us."

"Damn," Newt sighed, but you heard the joking tone laced in his words.

"Hey, I know we were gonna go to the park, but is there anything else you wanted to do?" You asked. The park seemed tempting, but it wouldn't be as fun if it was just the two of you.

"Actually, yeah," Newt replied. "I'll be there to pick you up soon. Maybe half an hour?"

You nodded, though he couldn't see you. "Got it. See you soon."

With his goodbye, you hung up and wrote the final sentences of your homework. Just thinking about spending time with Newt, and no one else, seemed to bring a smile to your face.

— — —

By the time Newt's car appeared in the driveway and the driver at the front door, you packed everything away, tied your hair up into a bun (after failing at it seven times), and grabbed a cream colored hoodie. Whatever minimal makeup you put on was mostly worn off throughout the school day, but you couldn't bother with reapplying it. As long as your mascara wasn't smudged, you were okay.

Newt came in after you greeted him, giving you a few moments to slip your shoes on and grab your phone. In the meantime, he talked with Maggie and your dad, who were watching a movie on the couch. When you finally left, the sky was painted an array of oranges, fading into pink, and finally, a beautiful purple.

"So, what are we doing?"

"I was thinking we could grab some take-out from Mickey's and head over to the school field?" Newt offered, turning onto the main road. "Nothing too... chaotic, you know? We can save that for tomorrow."