-FLICKER- |NEWTMAS| -

E I G H T

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Lunch time finally came around. As Thomas walked into the cafeteria, lost in his thoughts, he heard someone calling his name. He looked up and saw Minho waving him over from a table in the back.

Thomas felt a pang of relief, grateful for the distraction. He made his way over to the table, noticing the other guys sitting with Minho, some of them on the track team.

"Hey man, come sit down," Minho said, patting the empty seat next to him. Thomas took off his backpack and sat down, noticing the curious gazes of the other team members.

"Guys, this is our new runner," Minho announced aloud. "This is Thomas."
The other team members looked at him curiously, sizing him up. Some of them nodded in greeting while others remained reserved.

Thomas felt a mix of excitement and nerves. He knew he'd have to prove himself to these guys, but he was also happy to be getting the chance to be on the team.

"So, Thomas," a voice piped up, "You any good?"
Thomas looked over and saw a tall, broad-shouldered guy named Hank giving him a scrutinizing look.

(A side note guys :3 I searched up who was a runner in the maze runner and it said these two names Hank and Dan, and ofc Minho and ben :D)

"Uh, I'd like to think so," Thomas replied, trying to sound confident. "I mostly run long distances, but I'm willing to train on the track as well."

"You've ever done sprints before?" Hank asked, still looking skeptical. "We got a big meet coming up and we need someone who can keep up."

"Hank stop being mean, let the new kid breathe." He then pulled the boy closer and whispered something.

Thomas felt a slight wave of gratitude towards whoever spoke up for him. But he was also confused by the hushed conversation between the boy and Hank. He couldn't make out what was being said, but he caught the words "new," "bullied," and "Newt."

He tried to shake off the feeling of unease and focus on the conversation at hand. He had to prove to these guys that he was worthy of being on the team.

"I've done some sprints," Thomas replied to Hank, his voice steady. "I can handle it." He was starting to feel a bit more confident, although he still wasn't sure if he'd be able to measure up to the rest of the team.

"We'll see." Hank said, still not looking convinced. "You can start training with us tomorrow, that way we can get a good estimate of your abilities."

Some boys nodded. One boy gave Thomas a very friendly smile, the one who stood up for him. "My name is Dan by the way. I'm glad we found someone to replace Ben for now."

Thomas smiled back at Dan, grateful for his welcoming demeanor. "Nice to meet you, Dan. I'm glad to be joining the team."
He glanced around at the other members, some of them more friendlier than others.

As Thomas glanced around, he noticed a few girls sitting with the boys. One had short brown hair, another had blonde hair that seemed vaguely familiar, and another had dreads. He found himself curiously eyeing them, wondering if they were part of the team or just friends hanging out.

Before he could think more about it, Minho spoke up, drawing his attention back to the conversation at the table. "Alright, we all set then? Thomas is joining the team, we can start training tomorrow."
The other team members nodded in agreement, although Hank still looked a bit wary.

"Just make sure you're in top shape, shank," Minho said, giving Thomas a friendly smack on the arm. "We don't need any weak links on the team. Now go get yourself some lunch."