Maze girl

✧༺ 12. Rune ༻∞

The fire crackled, sending sparks flying into the night sky, as I pulled my knees closer to my chest, letting the warmth wrap around me. The monthly bonfire always had a way of making the Glade feel almost... normal. For just a little while, the weight of the Maze, the fear, and the endless routine didn't feel so suffocating.

But tonight wasn't like the other bonfires. Tonight, there was something else making my heart beat a little faster, something that made the shadows feel less threatening.

Newt.

His arm rested around my shoulders, loose and comfortable, but there was an intimacy in it that made me feel like nothing outside this circle of firelight mattered. I leaned into him a little more, feeling the solid warmth of his body against mine. He smelled like fresh grass and earth, a familiar scent that grounded me even here, in the middle of this endless nightmare.

I turned my head, letting my gaze linger on his face. He wasn't looking at me, his attention half-focused on the others laughing and talking around the fire. But I couldn't help it. There was something about the way the firelight flickered against his features, softening the usual hard lines of worry he wore like armour. His blond hair was messier than usual, falling into his eyes, and I had to resist the urge to reach up and brush it away.

I'd seen Newt like this before-relaxed, his guard down-but it always felt special when he let it happen. He carried so much weight on his shoulders, always thinking about the others, about what was next, what needed to be done. But here, in this moment, with the fire crackling and his arm around me, it felt like he could just be... Newt.

And that made me feel like maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.

"You know," his voice broke through my thoughts, low and teasing, "you're staring again."

Heat rushed to my face, and I quickly looked away, though the smile tugging at my lips was impossible to hide. "Am I? Maybe I'm just admiring the fire."

"Uh-huh." He chuckled softly, that deep, familiar sound sending a warmth through me that had nothing to do with the bonfire. "Sure, love."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help leaning further into him, resting my head against his shoulder. His arm tightened around me, pulling me a little closer, and I sighed contentedly. Moments like this were rare-so rare that I never took them for granted.

"I don't get to see you like this often," I murmured, tracing small, absentminded circles on the back of his hand with my fingers.

Newt's brow furrowed slightly, and he glanced down at me. "Like what?"

"Happy," I said softly. "You don't always let yourself be happy."

There was a brief silence, the sound of the fire crackling and the distant laughter of the Gladers filling the space between us. I wondered if I'd said too much, if maybe I'd touched on something too raw, but Newt didn't pull away. His grip around me stayed firm, steady.

"It's hard to let go sometimes, you know?" he finally said, his voice quieter now, more thoughtful. "With everything... the Maze, the Glade... it doesn't leave much room for happiness."

My heart clenched at his words. I knew what he meant. I felt it, too. The constant pressure of survival, the unknown dangers lurking just beyond the walls-it weighed on everyone. But Newt... Newt carried it differently. He shouldered it for all of us, whether he realized it or not.

I tilted my head, looking up at him, wanting to chase away that heaviness in his voice. "You deserve to be happy, Newt," I whispered. "Even if it's just for tonight."

He looked down at me then, his eyes meeting mine. There was something vulnerable in his gaze, something that made my heart ache and swell at the same time. It was a side of him. Not everyone got to see. The real Newt, the one behind the calm and collected leader. The one who was just a boy, scared and tired like the rest of us.

A small, soft smile tugged at his lips. "Maybe you're right," he said quietly, then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Maybe I'll let myself have tonight."

I closed my eyes, my breath catching as his lips brushed my skin. It was such a small gesture, but it made me feel like the world could crumble around us, and as long as he was here, I wouldn't care. I reached up, running my fingers through his hair before pulling him down for a proper kiss.

When our lips met, the rest of the world faded away. There was no Maze, no Glade, no fear. Just him. Just us. His hand found the back of my neck, pulling me closer, deepening the kiss. My heart raced, but in the best way possible.

When we finally pulled apart, our foreheads rested together, and I couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped me. The rest of the world seemed so far away in this little bubble we'd created.

"I don't care about the Maze," I whispered, brushing my thumb across his cheek. "As long as I have you."

Newt's eyes softened, and he pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose, sending another flutter through my chest. "I'm not going anywhere, love," he said softly, his voice a quiet promise.

I smiled, letting the warmth of his words settle deep inside me. For tonight, for this one moment, everything felt right. The fire, the night, the safety of his arms-it was enough. And for now, that was all I needed.
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Hey guys,
I'm sorry I didn't upload in the last weeks. I had some problems and I don't want to hide them from you. My girlfriend broke up with me and practically destroyed me. I had a crash with my motorcycle and had to stay in the hospital for some time. My family is giving me problems because of school and other stuff. I hope you can understand.