Lovers Lies || Thomas

43 - The Past

HOURS later, Sandra found herself sitting beside her father in front of a round table with the others circling it, looking at maps and information after the four Gladers came back and told the others what they'd found.

"No," Thomas said, shaking his head. "There's gotta be another way."

"Like what?" Gally sighed. "You've seen the building. She is our only way in."

"You really think she's gonna help us?" Thomas questioned. "Better question, you really think Sansa won't kill her the second she sees her?"

Sandra raised a brow, kicking her feet up on the table. She'd considered the thought of killing Teresa many times, but not until she got Carlos and Minho back.

"I don't plan on asking for permission," Gally countered. "And I know Sansa won't risk losing the boys by killing Teresa first."

"Am I missing something here?" Brenda spoke up. "This is the same girl who betrayed us, correct? Same dick?"

Gally snorted, pointing at Brenda. "I like her," he said and then dropped his hand as he looked at Sandra. "You sure you and Carl aren't blood-related to her?"

"I wish," Sandra snickered as her father chuckled.

"What's going on?" Brenda asked Thomas who was silent.

Newt looked up at Thomas beside him while leaning against the table. "What, are you afraid your little friend's gonna get hurt?" he asked harshly, and Sandra dropped her feet down from the table at his tone. "Hmm? Because this has obviously never been just about rescuing Minho and Carl. Has it?"

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Sandra asked, sitting up straighter with her brows furrowed as Thomas turned to Newt. "Where is this coming from?"

"Teresa," Newt answered, but only looking at Thomas while he pushed off the table. "She's the only reason that Carl and Minho are even missing in the first place," he raised his voice, squaring up to Thomas who started to walk backward in slight shock. "Now we finally have an opportunity to get them back. And what? You don't want to because of her?" Sandra stood up, walking toward them as Newt backed Thomas up to the wall, getting in his face. "Because deep down inside you still care about her because of some stupid past friendship, don't you? Just admit it."

"Newt, I—I'm only worried about San—"

"Don't lie to me!" Newt shouted, grabbing Thomas's arms and pinning him to the wall. "Don't. Lie. To. Me!"

Sandra halted behind him, shock and concern filling her body at his sudden snap and aggressiveness. She'd rarely ever seen him get physical, and never once to Thomas.

Newt took a step back, taking in a deep breath. "Sorry," he quietly said and then looked behind him at everyone else. "I'm sorry."

"Newt—"

"No," Newt cut Sandra off, walking away. "I'm sorry."

Sandra's face fell more as she watched Newt disappear around the corner, leaving everyone in a shocked and uncomfortable silence.

"I'll be back," Sandra quietly said, giving Thomas an assuring nod before she walked away, following the way Newt went.

The sun shone down on Sandra as she stepped onto the roof, spotting Newt sitting on the edge with his feet dangling over the side as he had his back to her.

"Is it safe to sit next to you or will you snap at me too?" Sandra asked in an amused tone, walking toward him.

Thankfully Newt snorted, looking back at her. "Take your own risk to discover the answer to that question."

Sandra lightly laughed, sitting down next to him with her legs dangling over the edge beside him. From where they sat, the wall to the city stood tall and was their only view, which was bland.

"You wanna talk about it?" Sandra asked, playing with her hands.

"We'll wait for Tommy who is currently watching us," Newt said, looking over his shoulder at Thomas who raised his brows, walking toward them. "Sorry about that. Back there."

Sandra looked behind her just as Thomas stopped near them. "We all have our moments, you know?"

Newt shook his head. "Not like this," he quietly said, and Sandra faced him with a look of confusion. "I guess I can't hide this anymore." Slowly, he pulled up his right sleeve and Sandra's heart shattered at the sight of blue, purple, and black thick veins.

"Shit," Sandra whispered and Thomas crouch down beside her. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away, not wanting Newt to see. The boy had been one of her closest friends for years, and now there he was, starting to change into a Crank. That factor destroyed a part of her as she studied his face, his hair—everything about him.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Thomas carefully asked.

Newt looked at Sandra and then Thomas. "Didn't think it would make any difference," he admitted, and Sandra glanced at Thomas as Newt looked away. "All I know is that WICKED must have put me in that maze for a reason. Maybe it was literally just so they could tell the difference between immunes like you two and people like me."

"You know we can still fix this, Newt," Thomas stated when Newt looked at him and Sandra nodded. "Okay? We can."

"Don't worry about me." Newt took in a deep breath. "Did I ever tell you about when I broke my leg?" he asked Thomas and Sandra grabbed his hand. "It was way back in the maze...I had just come up the Box like Sandra and all the other guys. Didn't know where I was or know who I was, you know?" He paused, squeezing Sandra's hand as they both shared a sad look. "And even though all my memories were gone, I could still feel that something was missing. I felt empty. And I-I just couldn't handle that—couldn't take it."

"There were a lot of boys who couldn't handle it," Sandra softly said. "The Glade had a lot of dark days before you came, Tom."

Newt nodded, staring at their hands. "So, one morning I-I got up early and I snuck out into the maze...and I went, and I found the tallest wall I could...and I climbed up there and I jumped off it." Sandra rubbed her thumb against the back of his hand as Thomas lowered his head. "Of course, I got completely tangled up in all the ivy," he added with a small chuckle. "Snapped my leg in three different places, like a proper shank." Thomas and Sandra huffed a laugh, but there was no amusement in it. "Landed hard on the floor. I thought that was it...and then Sansa and Minho found me, somehow."

"I like to think it's the hero shit you all complain about," Sandra mused, earning a snort from the both of them.

"It wouldn't surprise me," Newt hummed, lightly punching her good shoulder before looking at Thomas. "They carried me between them and took me back to the Glade and we never told anyone the truth about what happened. They saved me and gave me a second chance and now Minho needs us. So, if there is even the slightest chance that we can save him and Carlos—we can get them out of there, then we have to take that. No matter what the cost."

"Okay." Thomas nodded. "I hear you."

Sandra let go of Newt's hand, throwing her arm over his shoulder instead. "I've saved your ass many times, Newty, and I'm gonna keep doing that," she promised him before placing a kiss on the side of his head. "There's no way in hell I'm losing you."