ribbons

viii

"It's a ribbon." Newt manages to spit out and Thomas groans, falling back on the bed.

"Yeah I know it's a ribbon, but why do we both have it?"

Newt becomes quiet again, Thomas getting up and coming closer to him. He desperately wanted to tell him but he can't. What if he tells everyone and they all make fun of him?

He couldn't let that happen. Gally already bullies him for how Newt acted when Thomas first came up in the box. If he found out about all of this... God knows what could happen.

"I... I can't tell you." he mumbles as he begins to stand up but Thomas gets in his way.

"Yes, you can! Newt, its me!"

As the blonde boy stares at Thomas, he could see straight through Thomas' brown eyes, the memories they had back at WICKED. He could see the concern Thomas had in his eyes when he stared at that ribbon.

"Just tell me." Thomas says, snapping him out of his daydream and he puts the ribbon into Newt's hand.

He deserves to know, Newt thought.

"... I gave this to you... when we used to work for WICKED."

"WICKED? What's that?"

"... It is the company who puts us in here. We used to create the Maze, putting these innocent boys through the most horrible things... like a test or trial... but that's not important."

"Newt, of course this is important! I didn't even know why I was and now I find out that I was planted here as a... guinea pig!" Thomas yells and the blonde sigh, throwing my head in his hands.

Thomas notices his position and calms down, placing a hand on his back. As Newt looks up at him, he gives him a sympathy smile and allows him to continue.

"It was late and we were the only ones working in the building. You were fiddling with something in your hand so I asked what it was. It was that ribbon."

He takes the ribbon out of Thomas' hand and rolls up his sleeve, showing the same ribbon wrapped out his wrist.

"We made a pact. A pact that with this ribbons... you and me would always be together."

•••••

As soon as Newt said that, memories of that night came back to Thomas. The glow on Newt's face as they both promise each other to keep those ribbons on.

But his name wasn't Newt... It was Isaac.

"This memory came up with me in the Box. I always wondered if I would ever find you again and guess what? I did." Newt laughs, tears slowly travelling down his face.

Thomas sighs, smiling as he places his hand on the blonde boy's hand, locking their fingers together. As he looks up, Thomas gives him a nod to continue.

"Tommy... When I saw you not having the ribbon on your wrist, my heart broke. I felt like you forgot about me and that... I had no one."

"Newt," Thomas says, putting his hand on Newt's cheek.

"You'll never be alone, okay? No matter what, I will always be there for you and if we're apart... I will always find you."

Newt smiles as he cuddles up to Thomas, the brown haired boy putting his arm around him. They stay in that position for a while, the only thing you could hear was the beating of their hearts.

"Tommy?"

"Yes, Newt?"

"... Can I kiss you?"

Thomas' eyes widen. He didn't know what to think. He always felt something toward Newt but... he never thought about kissing the blonde.

He hesitantly nods and soon enough, he felt Newt's lips against his. And it was perfect. Like it was meant to happen.

All the memories of them working together came flooding back. All this feelings for Newt appeared and then Thomas realised... he liked him.

"Isaac. That's your name." Thomas says as they pull away from the kiss.

"Yeah... But the others don't know that so just call me Newt for now." the boy laughs, scratching the back of his head.

Thomas nods and they sit in silence once again, staring at each other. Thomas took this time to admire the boy.

His warm, caramel eyes, his scruffy but cute dirty blonde hair. Thomas admired all of it. But he notices something. His smile. His smile wasn't like all his others. It seemed... real. As if Thomas was the only reason to make Newt happy.

And he was happy to, because the blonde boy meant the world to him.