For As Long As I Can Remember

Glade Decisions

As night fell so did Minho's guard. Newt was pleased to curl up against his chest when he began to feel sleepy. Minho wrapped his arm around the other boy's shoulders and fell asleep. Newt dared not move for he did not want to wake him. He did not feel any desire to move anyhow. He felt calm now, like the butterflies had all landed in his stomach. He knew Minho needed time. He was scared and that meant he cared. It'd be a secret for now. But not forever, and that's what mattered. He remembered Alby telling him to be patient. He was willing to be patient some more. He'd be the most shucking patient person in the entire world if it would mean he'd get more nights like this falling asleep against Minho's heartbeat.

The two boys were torn from their slumber by the door to the health hut slamming shut. Newt jumped up to see Alby walk through the door. Newt quickly threw his legs out from under the blankets and hopped onto his feet beside the bed. Minho sat up with his eyes wide and his face red.
"Alby!" Newt stuttered, "G'mornin'."

"I've got to stop walking in on you two like this." Alby sighed in frustration despite the smile creeping onto his face.

"No Alby-" Newt struggled to come up with an excuse to why Alby would have seen what he saw.

"Shut up shank." Alby shook his head; "You can't hide this from me. I've seen it from day one."

Newt glanced nervously at Minho with the words he needed to say caught near the back of his throat.

"You can't let others know." Minho spoke up carefully.

Alby shot a side glance at Newt, "Is this true?"

Newt nodded then looked at Minho, still wearing a worried expression.

"Can I ask why so?"
Neither boy spoke up.

"So be it." Alby glanced at each of them once more, "My lips are sealed."
"Thank you Alby." Newt replied.
"Get ready and come to the Homestead quickly. We need to make a decision over Nick and I need you two there." With that Alby left. It wasn't until the door fell shut again when Newt let out a breath of air he hadn't realized he'd been holding in.

"Shuck." Minho pulled himself out of bed.

"Alby won't tell." Newt rushed to reassure him.
"I know he won't." He grabbed his shirt, which was ripped down the back, "If it's that obvious I'm concerned everyone knows."

"No. They don't know. Alby is just more-" He shrugged, "Perceptive."

"It is his job to know every glader." Minho pulled on his shirt, "It's yours too."
"It is." Newt smiled as Minho approached him, "Can I kiss you once more before we go pretend we don't enjoy it?"

"Of course." Minho smiled. Newt bent at the waist to let his lips meet with Minho's for a short period of time before pulling away to gaze down at him.

"Let's go. We don't want them waiting up for us."

Newt and Minho pushed through the doors to find the homestead in chaos. Gladers were yelling at one another while others sat alone on the verge of tears. Minho pulled a nervous looking Chuck from the crowd by his arm. Chuck twisted around with his fists up until he saw it was Minho and Newt and put them down.

"Were you going to hit me?" Minho asked, a mixture of confusion and disbelief on his face.

"No!" Chuck rushed to say as he put his hands behind his back.

"What the fuck is going on here?"
Chuck talked loudly to be heard over the mass of gladers, "They don't know what to do about Nick! Some people want to kill him!"
"Kill him?" Minho was taken aback.
"Where's Alby?" Newt shouted back at Chuck.