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

Tell

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

It wasn't long until Newt was finally feeling better. A few days had passed and he was back on his feet with no negative feelings tugging at his heart strings. That morning he woke Marie up early to take a walk with him. He was very thankful for the support she had been providing him and wanted to show his appreciation.

"You sure you're feeling better?" Marie wondered. They were walking hand in hand through the Deadheads in the early morning just as the sun was rising.

"I am, actually," Newt said with a genuine smile. "I feel light."

"I'm glad to hear that," the girl giggled. "So, what made you want to go on a stroll?"

Newt shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno. But I don't feel like questioning it."

They continued getting deeper into the woods, finding a nice tree to lie under and to curl up next to each other as the sun began to rise. They simply sat there listening to each other's heart beat in the still morning. Marie intertwined her fingers with Newt's, proceeding to climb into his lap and kiss him. Their lips parted after a few seconds which left Newt staring up at Marie, looking into her eyes as her lips broke into a smile.

"You're being awfully intimate," he chuckled.

"I don't see you complaining."

"Of course I'm not." Newt rested his hands on her hips. "It fits the romantic vibe I was going for."

"Romantic vibe?" Marie inquired.

"Well, yeah," Newt shrugged. "I mean, you're my girlfriend and all."

Marie stared at the boy, her eyes locking with Newt's who had gone completely red. Should he not have said that?

"I'm your girlfriend?" Marie asked in a small voice.

"Well, yeah. I mean- you don't have to if you don't want to. We can just be friends with benefits or something like that. Unless you don't want to do that either-"

"Don't hurt yourself," Marie interrupted to stop Newt's rambling. "It's just that we haven't really talked about it, the whole boyfriend-girlfriend thing."

"We can talk about it now."

Marie giggled. "There's not much to talk about. You just have to ask me if I want to be your girlfriend. Or I could ask you. I enjoy breaking down gender norms."

The blond boy laughed, looking back up before speaking.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

Marie ran her fingers through her hair and gazed off into the distance, pursing her lips.

"I'm not sure if I want to. I'll have to think about it...."

"No no no," Newt softly chuckled. "You are not playing hard to get."

Their laughing became one "I'm joking, Newt. I would love to be your girlfriend."

For a moment, Newt couldn't believe it. It felt so surreal. This girl, this bright and beautiful girl, was his girlfriend and he was her boyfriend. It felt too good to be true, like he was living a dream that he'd wake up from in a matter of moments. And if that was the case, he was hanging on to dear life with this dream.

"It sounds weird hearing you say that," he admitted.

Marie furrowed her eyebrows. "Why is that?"

"You have your pick," said Newt, looking up into Marie's warm brown eyes. "This whole Glade is filled with boys who could do more for you, and you chose me. It just doesn't make any sense."