Be Mine

Chapter 14

   Two days had passed. I hadn't talked to Newt at all, but I didn't mind since I was too busy to talk anyway. It was my third day of training and I was so concentrated that I barely had any time for anything or anyone else. The only person I had really been socializing with was Minho. And that was because he was my trainer.
   I finished my last sprint of the day. I felt proud of myself. I felt as though I had accomplished a lot in just a few days.
   "Addison," Minho called me.
   I walked towards him. "Yeah?"
   "I need to talk to you about something."
   We walked toward the Map Room in silence, side by side. Once we were inside, he shut the door.
   "Sit," he ordered. I obeyed.
   "Alby and I were talking and we decided that you're ready to become a full time Runner," Minho said.
   My eyes widened. "Really? That's awesome!"
   "Yeah," Minho smiled, although it looked more like a smirk. "Starting tomorrow, you'll run out in the Maze. Usually Runners run by themselves in the different sections of the Maze that I taught you, but since you're still new, you will be running with me."
   "Okay," I said.
   "Okay," Minho repeated. "You can go now."
   I ran out the Map Room and did a cartwheel on the grass. I was so happy.
   "Damn, I didn't know you could do that," Minho chuckled.
   I smirked. "Neither did I."
   I went to my room and danced around by myself. I was now a Runner. After awhile I heard a knock on my door.
   "Come in!"
   The door opened and Newt walked in. His expression was unreadable.
   "Hey, Newt," I said awkwardly. I was mad at him for not letting me be a Runner, but now that I was one I didn't know how to feel towards him.
   "Congratulations," he said, no emotion in his voice whatsoever.
   "Thanks," I replied, trying to act as though his behavior didn't bother me. "Listen Newt, I'm really sorry about all of this."
   "I was just trying to protect you, Addison," Newt said. "Did you ever think about that?"
   "Well, not really," I admitted.
   "Addison, it's not that I don't think you can be a Runner," Newt looked me in the eye as he spoke. "I honestly think that you have what it takes to run in the Maze. But all the what ifs scare me. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. I just want you to be safe."
   "Newt, I will be safe," I reassured him. "I'll be careful out in the Maze. I'll come back before the doors close and I won't get lost."
   "Promise?"
   "I promise."
   "Good that."
   "Why do you care so much?" I asked without thinking.
   Newt took my hands in his and pulled me close to him. He leaned in and kissed me. I was surprised, even though this wasn't our first kiss, I didn't expect this. But I kissed back anyway. I had spent so much time thinking about Newt in a negative way that I had forgotten what it felt like to be close to him. To feel his soft lips on mine...
   He pulled away from me and whispered, "Because I love you."
   Butterflies erupted in my stomach and I felt even happier than when I found out I was a Runner. I always felt a connection between Newt and I and I always felt something for him. I was already in love with him from the moment I saw him, but I didn't think he felt the same way. Now I knew. "I love you too."
   "Please be careful in the Maze," Newt said.
   "I will," I promised.
   Newt tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear, away from my face. "Thank you, love," he kissed me again and I kissed back. My arms wrapped around his neck and his around my waist. The only reason why we broke apart was to breathe.
   "You better rest well," Newt said. "You have a big day tomorrow."
   "Yeah," I said.
   "Good night, love."
   "Good night, Newt."