Boxes [The Maze Runner ~ Newt] [BOOK 1]

Us

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The pair of Gladers always found themselves in the barn at 8 o'clock to kiss each other after dinner and before going to bed.

"We can't tell anyone about what's going on between us, okay?" Marie asked of the boy between kisses.

Newt kissed her back. "Okay, okay, I promise."

Another kiss. "Because no matter how much I like you-" And another kiss. "-I can't have anyone seeing you holding my hand under the dinner table-" And another.

"Sorry-" One lass kiss. "But you didn't have to stomp on my foot, y'know."

She didn't have to, but as soon as Newt sat next to her at dinner and secretly tried to intertwine his fingers with hers, she had no choice but to give him a clear sign that it wasn't the best move. Marie immediately dug her heel into his toes, causing a yell to get caught, pulling away his hand as he proceeded to eat his meatloaf before Minho or Nick could catch that whole scene.

Marie wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him an apologetic look with a ghost of a nervous smile. "I know," she admitted. "I'm sorry."

Newt returned a charming, crooked grin. "I suppose I can forgive you," he said theatrically before pulling her in for another kiss.

Their lips locked once more as soon as they closed their eyes. Marie never really understood the concept of closing your eyes when kissing someone. Of course, she could never deal with the amount of awkwardness it took to stare someone directly in the eye while making out with them. But other than that, she imagined it to be very boring in her own head, except it wasn't. She saw lights swirling in her vision- a world of her own and Newt was the main attraction. And as soon as they pulled away and her world dissolved into reality, she could feel herself getting homesick.

A laugh escaped her mouth as she stared at Newt. Another perfect smile rested upon his lips as he stared down at her. Newt had become so aware of her body as soon as they would kiss. He could feel the echo of a heartbeat within her chest and noticed how often she broke away for a brief moment to surface for oxygen- the oxygen they shared. He still couldn't get the thought through his head. It was hard to believe that the girl before him shared the same exact feelings he had for her. The blond boy couldn't help but worry that all of this was a dream and he'd awake abruptly- departing from a world where he and Marie were happy together.

Marie nuzzled her head under Newt's chin and hugged him tight. He hugged her back and rested his chin atop of her head, a small smiling surfacing as he felt the girl's ear press up against his chest.

"We should go back to Homestead," Marie murmured.

"What? Do you not want to be with me?" Newt joked.

"I would absolutely love to spend the rest of the night having a secret make out session with you," the girl giggled, "but I don't want the others to get suspicious, and I don't want to kiss you in a place permeated with the smell of animal poop. It kills the mood."

"I don't know about you, but I believe that the smell of animal poop sets the mood."

Marie broke into a smile, pushing Newt away from her and laughing at his ridiculous joke.

"You're so weird!"

"Yet you're still here," Newt smirked.

He wrapped his arm around Marie's waist, pulling her in for one last kiss. It was quick and soft but it was powerful enough to make them want more. Marie departed from his lips, taking his hand and leading him out of the barn. She immediately let go of him as soon as they escaped the barn's concealment.

"So is this how it's going to be from now on?" Newt inquired, slipping his hands into his pockets. They weren't cold, he just wanted to do something with them seeing he couldn't hold Marie's in public. "Us sneaking off to make out and hold hands all that stuff?"

"You make it sound like a bad thing."

"I didn't mean to." Newt shrugged. "I dunno, I just thought that I could stop holding back my feelings by now."

"You can still express them, Newt."

"Yeah, in secret."

Marie grew quiet. She looked down at her feet brushing up against the grass as the walked along. Was Newt hurt that she didn't want anyone to know what was going on between them? What was going on between them in the first place? Was there a word for what they were doing? They weren't exactly dating, and they weren't boyfriend or girlfriend either. They would often slip away just to be with each other and to kiss and cuddle and talk in the barn at night. Maybe it was safe to say they were transitioning into something more.

"No one can know about us, Newt," Marie reminded him in a small voice.

Newt let out a light sigh. "I know."

"I'm not embarrassed," she assured him. "This is just a private thing to me. I want this to be ours. Not theirs. Boys see affection and mock it as if it doesn't have any meaning."

"I apologize on behalf of all the boys here," Newt joked. "And I get it. Besides, the guys around here might think I'm giving you special treatment or something once they find out what's going on between us. I won't tell anyone, I promise. It'll be our secret."

With no warning, Marie got on her toes real quick to plant a kiss on Newt's cheek to say thank you. He immediately felt the blood rushing to his cheeks by the time she returned to the ground and continued walking ahead. He raised a hand to his cheek, touching the spot where Marie's lips once were. He found it amazing how something so innocent and simple made him feel as if his knees were about to give out.

They knew deep within them that they would never get tired of this feeling.

~~~~~

A/N: This chapter was short and insignificant sorryyyy. I really wanted to write another cute Narie scene but I promise the next few chapters will be eventful! Thanks for reading! I'll be updating sometime next week :)