Heights

I.

With a long and loud exhale, Newt finished stuffing his last bag to the brim. He had another one, relatively larger than the one he just finished, packed and pushed off to the side. It was a hiking backpack.

He knew he had to overcome his fear of heights one day. Today just happens to be the day.

Newt didn't necessarily tell the others about his phobia, he thought it was quite obvious. With all the nervous and slow paced moments he had when sitting on a balcony, or the holding of his breath when one of his friends would climb stupid abandoned buildings.

But when they invited him along for a hike up in the mountains, where there's surely a lot of heights, maybe it wasn't so obvious afterall.

Nonetheless, Newt agreed to go. He couldn't miss out on the longing views, his friends, and the freedom that was sure soon to come. Who'd wanna miss out on all that?

A notification came from his back pocket, pulling Newt from his pondering. The blonde took out his phone, looking down at the low-lit screen. It was Thomas, he was outside.

Newt replied with a simple OK, while bending down and slinging the larger more heavier backpack over his shoulder. He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and snatched the smaller bag off his bed, heading for his front door. He shut off most of the lights, only leaving the outside light on. He wasn't really sure when they were going to get back, he just hoped his roomates would behave well enough to not snoop through his room.

A truck horn made Newt jump as he was locking up the door. He peered over his shoulder to shoot Thomas a nasty glare, before adjusting his bag strap.

"You best hurry up Newtie! Everyone's waiting in the back!" Thomas shouted from the passengers seat. He was stretched over Alby, who looked disapprovingly uncomfortable. Just then, Newt noticed the bunch of boys, and a girl in the back of the truck.

"Hurry up Newt, it's freezin!"
"It's not freezing, slinthead."
"C'mon commander! Seats are no good back here!"
"Down right awful."

As they complained, a smile formed on Newt's face. He threw his bags in the back with them and hopped in the back seat behind Alby, inside the truck. Teresa and a large cooler were the only things next to him.

"Hey Newt," Teresa said softly, she sat behind Thomas, on the other side of the cooler. "Hi Teres." Newt replied as he strapped his seatbelt across his chest. Alby started up the truck and started to drive. The uneasey expression on his face was probably from Minho, Gally, Brenda and Frypan goofing around in the back. Newt was sure that was illegal.

"What's up Newt? Anything new?" Thomas asked, turning around in his seat. They haven't seen eachother in a while, seein as they were pretty close before. Newt pressed his lips into a thin line, shaking his head. "No, quite boring actually."

Thomas raised an eyebrow, but didn't question anything. Newt saw his eyes drift down. "Looks like your wound is doing good. I mean, I'd hope so." Newt nodded with a smile, he brought up his hand to trace over the spot he was once stabbed months ago, but now it was healed over. He wasn't sure if it was him or Thomas that had done it, but all that matters is that they both made it to Teresa in time. "Yeah, bloody miracle isn't it?"

The brunette grinned, nodding. He turned back to the front, kicking off his shoes. "How long d'you think we'll be Albs?"

Alby rolled his eyes, "Long enough that you wont be needing to take of your shucking shoes." He shifted his body away, pulling onto the highway. Newt could see the mountains in the distance, he ignored the bickering of the two upfront. The grey cliffs, the sharp hills, long stone walls.. Newt wondered if there'd be cliffs thirty feet high. He hoped not.

"..my feet don't stink that bad! C'mon, guys, tell him." Thomas sighed, looking back at him and Teresa. Newt couldn't help but smile, and neither could Teresa. "Nah mate, your feet reak." Newt said, both Teresa and Alby snickered. Teresa spoke up through her laughter, "Yeah Tom, roll the window down or something."

Thomas looked taken aback. "Woww.. hey, Minho!" Thomas absently rolled down his window, sitting up in his seat while yelling at his friend who was in the back. Once he got his attention he asked the same exact question, getting a nod in response, along with the others.

He sat back down, having the look of defeat spread across his rosy cheeks. "Alright, alright, fine." He shuffled back on his shoes.

Alby grinned and stretched out his back muscles, something he did back in the Glade when he proved something or someone wrong. First commanders, he guessed.

Throughout the drive, Newt sat back, looking out his window. Daydreaming as the trees and signs whisked by. He was most definitely anxious, for sure. But something about being around his friends, dare he call them family, felt comforting. They've been through so much together. They'd keep him safe, right?

That feeling of adrenaline and fear stayed at the pit bottom of Newt's stomach. Never once leaving. It only died down the slightest bit when Thomas suggested they play a game, eye-spy or something simple.

Newt agreed to play, making the time tick a lot faster than when he was dreading moments before. He was glad he had friends like these. Friends that could take his mind off anything. They all had chemistry, bad and good.

After a few minutes of road games, Alby spoke up.

"Hey, Greenie, quit eye goggling back there and look up ahead." Alby pipped up. Thomas hummed a quick "huh?" Before turning to look up. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "Shuck! we're here already?"

Newt peered up at the mountains aswell, they looked so beautiful. This was one of the reasons he tagged along, the view. He would be missing out on beautiful things like these if he stayed back at his duplex.

Alby turned a corner, suddenly they were almost on an edge of a cliff. With railings, of course. "In under thirty minutes we'll be up there. Tell the guys in the back to hold on tight, wouldn't want them fallin' off."