Skinny Love - Newtmas

Chapter Twelve

"Hmm...green!" Thomas smiles, "what about you?"

"Blue," I say. Thomas and I have sat here for over an hour, taking turns asking questions then having us both answer. After I was feeling a bit insecure about my dream Thomas and I decided to sit down together after class and talk. Just talk, about everything and anything.

We agreed that we could ask anything. Simple things - things that we couldn't believe we didn't know about each other - like when is your birthday (Thomas's is March 13th, mine is September 24th) or super personal or embarrassing questions.

We sit cross legged and face each other. After thinking for a minute I look at Thomas, "when did you come out?"

"When I was sixteen. I knew since I was about fourteen but was too afraid to tell my mom." He shrugs.

"I was eighteen," I say, not wanting to talk about it any further.

"How long did you know?" Thomas asks.

Biting the inside of my cheek I say quickly and quietly, "about the same age as you."

"Okay..." Thomas trials off, I know he can tell I've fallen silent but he continues on with the conversation anyway. "What was the happiest day of your life?" Looking up to him I see a goofy smile on his face, clearly trying to cheer me up from the awkward question before.

"This is going to sound corny." I laugh.

"Fine with me, I love corn."

Biting my lip, "the day I met you." Thomas blushes and leans forward to kiss me lightly. "I was going to say the same thing."

We both laugh and continue asking questions until it's once again Thomas's turn to ask the question. He thinks for a moment looking around the room. His eyes suddenly flick down to my leg and he asks, "how did you get your limp?"

I know he doesn't mean in it a harsh way, but it feels as if I was punched in the stomach. "I don't want to talk about it." I mumble, fighting away the horrible memories bubbling up to the surface of my mine.

"Oh-oh my god I'm sorry Newt. I shouldn't have asked," Thomas stammers, reaching over to put his hand on my upper arm.

"It's fine Tommy, it's fine. I just...I can't talk about it right now okay?" Looking up at him I blink away my unshed tears not wanting to cry right now in front of him.

He nods and apologizes again, we sit in silence for a moment before Thomas speaks again. "Hey, my friend Gally is having some people over to his off campus apartment tonight, it's not a party just a few people...would you want to go? Gally's real cool, you'd like him."

"That sounds fun," I say in a monotone, seeming far away. Shaking my head to clear away the dark thoughts I force a small smile, "let's go."

*

Thomas holds my hand tightly as he knocks on Gally's door. We wait for a moment until the door swings open. "Thomas! Glad you could come man!" The older boy in the doorway steps aside and Thomas takes my hand in his, leading me inside.

There are twelve people inside including Gally, guys and girls. They all sit around, talking and laughing. "Thomas is here!" Gally calls out, making everyone look up at us. A chorus of shouts come from everyone saying hello.

"Hi guys!" Thomas says, he pulls me to stand next to him, "This is Newt." He smiles and looks over at me. I get the same reaction as Thomas did and a girl and who I assume is her boyfriend make room for us on the couch they are sitting on.

Saying a quick thank you we sit down - Thomas next to the girl and me sitting on the end - and join in on the conversation. I don't really talk much and just listen. Gally pulls up a chair and sits next to me, "so Newt, Thomas has told me so much about you it's nice to finally meet you."