Skinny Love - Newtmas

Chapter Twenty Six

Thomas takes my hand in his and squeezes. "Newt if you really don't want to do this-"

"No. I want to." I force another smile and squeeze his hand back. He grabs his bag from the floor and slings it over his shoulder, never letting to of my hand. Reaching down I wrap my fingers around the handle on my bag, picking it up.

Thomas kisses my cheek, "I love you."

Looking straight ahead I mumble back, "I love you too."

A minute ticks by where neither of us move, but finally Thomas's phone rings again and without even checking it he starts walking, pulling me along behind him.

As we walk I play out scenarios in my head. I don't know what exactly is making me so nervous, the fact that I've never met Thomas's family? The way my own family treated me when they found out I was gay? The fact that I'm such a closed off person, and I'm going to be sitting with Thomas and holding his hand and maybe even kissing him in front of people who are practically strangers?

I'm pulled from my thoughts when Thomas pushes open the door to the building. A small light green car sits fifty feet away and Thomas waves to the driver. I see a girl with dark hair sitting in the passenger seat and I know who it is.

At the sight of Teresa's car I stop dead in my tracks without even thinking about it. Thomas's hand slips from mine as he keeps walking a step ahead but he immediately notices I've stopped walking and turns to me. My eyes flick from the car to him and I dig my nails into my hand. "I'm sorry," I whisper. Walking forward to Thomas, my whole body shaking just enough that Thomas notices.

He takes both of my hands in his and stares into my eyes. "Newt it's okay, just take a deep breath. It's going to be alright, I promise." I nod at his words, feeling pretty stupid that he has to calm me like this. "Remember what I said Newt, if you start to feel nervous just squeeze my hand...I read once that holding hands with someone you love can help with fear and stress and physical pain so it's going to work...just hold my hand the whole time and everything will be fine."

Thomas lets go of my wrists and pulls me into a hug. "I love you Newt. Never forget that." His voice is quiet and sincere in my ear and then he pulls back, keeping his hands firmly planted on my shoulders for a moment. Looking into my eyes a sincere smile forms on his lips.

His hand slides down my arm and lands in my hand. This time I'm the one to start walking, I have to stop panicking and just face this head on. What's the worst that could happen, so what if Thomas's family hates me, I'm used to it...

The door on the driver's seat swings open pulling me from my saddening thoughts and a girl with long black hair walks around the front of the car. "Thomas!" She beams, holding her arms out wide.

I know that if Thomas goes to hug her he will still try and hold my hand so I pull away from him, letting him walk to his sister alone. I hang back a few feet, watching Thomas and Teresa.

Teresa throws her arms around Thomas and Thomas hugs her back, they both break into a laughter and pull away from each other. "Jeez Thomas I haven't seen you in so long!"

"Yet you've seen Minho, my roommate. How sisterly of you." He jokes and Teresa hits him on the arm. "Oh shut up! You could've come out to say hi!"

Thomas continues to joke with her for a minute before turning to me. He says something to Teresa before moving closer to me and grabbing my hand. My heart is beating fast but when I look at Thomas's face it starts to slow to a normal rate. This time when I smile it isn't forced at all.

"Teresa this is Newt." Thomas smiles wide, rubbing his thumb across the top of my hand.

I smile smaller than Thomas at Teresa who bursts into a wide smile and pulls me into a hug just like she did Thomas. My hand gets ripped from Thomas's but after the initial shock of the hug I put one arm around Teresa and pat her on the back awkwardly, laughing nervously.