A Way Back - The Maze Runner (♡Newt) UNDER EDITING/REWRITE

Chapter 12

Edited: 14/02/25

Happy Valentines Day! 

~.~.~

Cally

Sleep did not come easy to me, nervous and thoughts of home consuming my mind, making me restless. I needed this job, no matter how. I needed to jog more memories about this place, help the story along, get out and most importantly get home. In the movies they found a way out through there, I don't remember how or why they found it, but being there myself, surrounded by walls and ivy should shake something loose from my brain. And hopefully I wouldn't have to run in to those horrifying creatures... the only real thing that made me nervous to go out there.
     I turned from laying on my side to my back, pressing my hands to my eyes groaning to myself, "Jenny wouldn't have this problem..." Trying to find a comfortable position I turned to my other side, eyes falling on the outline of the window. The faintest shimmer of moonlight came in through it, partly blocked out by the branches of the big tree that stood beside the Homestead. I could've pulled the make shift curtain I'd put up over it to block it out, but I couldn't bring myself to do so. The slowly moving shadow reminded me of the big live oak that grows in our back garden right outside my window. And as I lay there in my bed in the small wooden room in the Homestead, watching the shadow move over the wall, all I could see were my white and purple walls at home.
     One day, years ago when Felix and I had just started dating, I'd lain in my bed, sun almost entirely gone, texting with my boyfriend.
I miss you. I'd texted him, Wish you were here.
I could come over. He'd responded.

C: Ugh I wish, but mom
will never let you in,
its almost dark.

                      F: I could come in through
                          the window.

I'd laughed.

C: Like you could climb up a
building.

                      F: I ain't climbing up
                           the building
                     F: Are you crazy?
                     F: I'll climb the tree
                     F: Obviously

C: HA!
C: Sure
C: I'd like to see you try

                     F: Ok.
                     F: Bet.

Realization washed over me that he'd actually be crazy enough to try it. Immediately the amusement was gone.

C: Fe, no.
C: Please don't.
C: It was a joke
C: I was joking
C: Please don't climb
through my window in
the middle of the night
C: My mom will kill you

When after a few minutes he still did not respond I opened my phone again.

C: Forget my mom
C: I will kill you
C: I mean it
C: Stay. Home.

But there still came no response from my idiot of a boyfriend. With a big sign, I put my phone down and picked up the book from my nightstand. No use waiting around, I knew him well enough by now to know he was either already on his way or not responding on purpose to mess with me. Worrying wouldn't make a difference.
     I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know is startling awake because of something repeatedly knocking against my window. My heart raced, fear creeping up my spine, the fuck?
     Slowly I sat up, taking a hold of my phone in case I would have to call the police and moved towards my window. The darkness outside made it difficult to see more than a big shape that definitely was not a bird moving the branch on the other side. A human shape. Dressed in all black.
     My eyes grew wide and I dropped my phone on the bed as realization hit me. "He fucking didn't." Quickly I jumped out of my bed, rushed to my window and threw it open.
     "Felix?" I hissed at my boyfriend.
     "Hi, Princess," He looked at me with a big grin on his face, clinging to the branch of the tree as if his live depended on it. "A little help?"
     I could not believe the idiocy of this boy as I helped him make his way from the half hanging in the tree to safely inside my room.
     "Thanks." He said once he had found his balance, shaking a leave out of his hair. The eyeliner around his left eye had smudged, but I couldn't tell if it had been on purpose or if it had happened somewhere during his climb.
     "You fucking idiot!" I whisper yelled at him, hitting him repeatedly on his shoulder. "That was so fucking stupid!"
     "Hey!" Felix whispered back, half laughing, grabbing my hands to stop me from landing another blow. "You said you wanted to see me try."
     "And I also said I was joking!"
     "True, but I wanted to see you." I froze while my heartbeat picked up, fluttering inside my chest.
     "Well," I managed to bring out, pulling my hands away from him, crossing them over my chest, not sure what to do with the feeling. "That couldn't have waited until tomorrow?"
     Felix snickered, reaching for something inside his long coat, "Technically, but I really wanted to give you this." With a dramatic flourish, he pulled out of the inside pocket of his coat a handful of squashed lavender flowers. Apparently Felix hadn't considered the flowers would not survive the journey inside of his jacket, because his crooked smile faltered when he saw the state they were in, flowers and petals missing, broken stems. Still, he regained himself and smiled at me again, successfully disturbing the butterflies in my stomach even more, "your favorites."
     I couldn't help but laugh at it all. "Thank you," I eventually managed to get out, taking the lavender from him and putting them inside the pen holder on my desk before turning back to Fe and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I love them." It wasn't exactly a lie, I did like lavender, but they weren't my favorites, cornflowers are my favorite flowers. But still, I couldn't believe this boy just drove multiple miles, plucked what he believed to be my favorite flowers and climbed up a tree to come and deliver them.
     He'd stayed over for the first time that night. Not that mom ever found out. She did ask me to ask her next time before picking flowers from her flower bed.
     As I lay there, alone and unable to fall asleep I wished Felix would climb in through my window. To lay curled up against his side, I could almost feel his warmth as I closed my eyes. Feel his hand go through my hair until I'd fall asleep...
     Tears escaped my eyes when I opened them again. I wanted to scream, but forced myself to keep it in and roughly pushed myself up instead. Wiping the tears from my face as they kept coming. I wasn't sobbing or anything, but for a moment they just wouldn't stop.
     A little whimper came from the ground, drawing my attention to Bark. The dog had gotten up as well and for the first time she jumped onto my bed, forced herself between my arms and started to inspect my face, licking at the remaining tears on my cheeks. "It's okay, Barky." I said through a shaky laugh, gently guiding her head away from my face, stroking her back with my other hand. "I'll be okay. I promise."
     Eventually, with two thirds of my bed taken over by a softly snoring dog, I managed to fall asleep. Only to wake up to the faintest shimmer of sunlight not too long afterwards. Unable to fall asleep again, and honestly also just really wanting to clear my mind before whatever would come during the test, I got ready for the day.
     Followed by my loyal companion I made my way downstairs. Frypan acknowledged me with a nod as I passed him by, the guy already busy preparing the first things in the kitchen before the other Cooks came to make breakfast. I smiled back, giving a little nod in responds. A little disappointed that I couldn't grab some left overs from yesterday with the Keeper of the Cooks present.
     This early in the morning, the Glade was quiet and peaceful. Most of the Gladers were still asleep, and the few who had woken up were either lying or sitting on the ground, still wrapped up in their sleeping bags. Enjoying their last minutes of rest before the day began.
     Bark ran out a little in front of me as we crossed the edge of the Deadheads. She scoured the ground, sniffing between the many leaves and dead wood before finding a stick that apparently was worth her attention and ran back to me again, dropping it at my feet and looking up at me expectantly. Shaking my head I picked it up and through it a few meters away, Bark didn't loose a second before shooting after it. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her.
     As Bark searched for her stick, I took a deep breath of fresh morning air, stretching my arms and back. Even though I hadn't slept great, I felt ready for today. This new life had brought many challenges already, but I hadn't been able to fit exercising into the schedule. My muscles aced for a good run.
     Not too far into the Deadheads, more towards the West door, a little still pond could be found. It barely stretched further than a few meters, and yet the Gladers had decided to build a bridge over it. I tested the wood with a bit of weight first, sure people had walked over it before but not entirely trusting the questionable craftsmanship. Only to find the planks- that existed of different sized, cut off stems from young trees- were steadier than they looked.
     In the meantime, Bark returned to me, carrying an entirely different stick then before for me to throw. Laughing softly to myself I threw the stick and Bark followed without hesitation.
     Halfway down the bridge, I sat down beside one of the pols that kept the railing up. My head leaning against it, one arm lazily resting on the railing as I stared into the clear water. Observing the little insects that skimmed over the service, a little disappointed not to see any fish rooming the waters, but at least some more life than just plants occupied the pond.
     A dull thud, and the bridge shook. I grabbed a hold of the pole, head snapping to the side of the bridge the sound had come from. I relaxed the moment I saw Bark trying with all her might to force a stick longer than her body that barely fit in her mouth through the bridge's railing. I laughed, looking at my girl with nothing short of adoration. "If I ever manage to get out of this place," I started, watching as Bark tried to figure out how to get her new stick past the railing and to me, "you're coming home with me."
     "Good to know that from everyone in the Glade, you'll take the bloody dog with ya." For the second time a jolt of fear went though my body as I jumped away from the voice that came from very close behind me. Somehow, Newt had managed to sneak up on me while I was distracted by Bark.
     "Yes, of course her." I answered after regaining myself, leaning back against the pole while Newt leaned his arms on the railing. "She's my girlfriend. There is no way that I'm leaving her behind." I could see a smile grow on Newt's face as I watched his reflection beside mine in the water. "Or that I let her go with one of those other Shanks. Hell no, she's mine." The smile turned into a laugh, making a bit of unease creep into me, had I said something weird? Misused one of their words? "What?"
     He just shook his head, a hint of amusement still in his voice. "Nothin'."
     "Then why are you laughing?"
     "It's nothin', Forget it." He repeated, looking down at me.
     I huffed. "I won't. And even if I wanted to, I can't." I shifted so I could look up and meet his eyes. "So tell me before my insecurity takes control over my curiosity."
     I wasn't joking, but apparently, Newt thought I was. He started laughing again and shook his head, "ya're a weird one, Greenbean."
      Realizing I would have to do with that answer I moved back to see a Water Glider go through his face, disturbing the reflection with little waves. "Well, being weird is a side effect of being awesome, so thank you for the compliment, Newton." I took a hold of the railing and pulled myself up, sitting down on top of it instead, meeting the blonde at eye level. "You're pretty weird too, not as weird as me, of course. Maybe, if you stick around a little longer, you could become as weird as me one day."
     "As weird as you?" The guy chuckled, looking at me from the side, still leaning his arms on the railing, the pole between us. "I don't think anyone can get that far gone without gettin' jacked in the process. So no, thank you."
     This time, it was me who laughed. "Your loss."
     "Speaking of losing. Ya think you're gonna pass the test?"
     My smile disappeared for a short moment as some nervous crept up inside of me. If I hadn't been using my hands to hold on to the railing and not fall I'd have started calming myself by rubbing my arms. "It would be easier to say if I knew what the test is."
     "Don't let the nerves get to ya. It's not all that crazy." Newt pushed himself up from the railing, facing me fully, his tone reassuring. "We'r just gonna take a look at your skill set, that's all."
     "We?" The reassuring affect Newt most definitely intended got thrown out of the window. "You too? I thought only Minho and Alby would test me."
     "Of course we. Ya didn't think I would let them test you without me, did ya?"
     Another thud and a soft shake as Bark tried getting the stick across with some more force again, distracting me for a short second before continuing. "Well, more hoping it I guess. The more people are watching, the more nervous I get."
     Newt pulled his hand through his hair, brushing it backwards only to have parts of it fall back to the exact same place it had been before. "A lot of Gladers are gonna be watchin', so better prepare y'self."
     "Thanks, Newt. That's really helping." I made sure he could hear the sarcasm in my voice. But of course, he didn't care, I mean, who would after spending so much time in one place with Minho?
     "You're welcome, Greenbean."
     I rolled my eyes, glaring at him only half playfully. "I was being sarcastic."
     Newt laughed, "I know, ya do that a lot."
     The sound of snapping twigs coming from the side of the bridge currently not blocked off by a dog and half a tree made both of us look up.
     "Finally found you." Minho said after making a quick jog to join us on the bridge. "I was wondering where you were, Greenie. Came all the way to your bugging room to wake you so you wouldn't be late. But apparently Newt beat me to it."
     "Nah, he didn't, I woke up early, wen't for a walk, that's all."
     "Very early then," Minho commented, raising an eyebrow for a moment when his attention got drawn to Bark still trying to figure it all out, but quickly left it and turned back to me. "Nerves kept you up?"
     I shrugged, not really feeling like focusing on how I felt last night. "You could say that."
     "This means you backing down, Newbie?" Minho raised an eyebrow, placing his hand on his hip. "What happened to 'test me and you'll see?' was that all a pile of steaming klunk after all?"
     I snorted a laugh, pushing my hand in Minho's face to get him to back off a bit. "Oh, shut up, Pretty boy. I never said that."
     Minho swatted my hand away. "A bit more respect for your future Keeper, Newbie."
     "Alleged, future Keeper." Newt chimed in.
     "Exactly. You're not my boss yet. Besides, respect is earned."
     "That is somethin' I can get behind." The blonde boy mused. "Maybe ya should put some more effort in earnin' Shank's respect instead of showin' off."
     "I couldn't agree more, Newton." I exchanged a look with Newt who, just like me, could not suppress his grin.
     "Look at you two getting along, well isn't that just bugging adorable." Our Asian friend mocked, somehow able to add sarcasm to the mix as well. "Did you already finish the thing, or are you slacking off?"
     Newt laughed, pushing himself fully away from the bridge's railing. "Yeah, yeah, I'm almost done."
     "That's what I thought."
     "What thing were you doing?" My question got met with the two boys exchanging a look before turning back to me.
     "Don't worry 'bout it."
     "You'll find out soon enough."
"Right." I jumped off the railing, landing just beside Bark, who in the meantime had managed to maneuver herself in such a way that the stick stuck out over the railing on one side, and scraped over the floor with the other. "Definitely has nothing to do with my test, I am sure."
     Bark looked at me, and dropped the stick, it hooked behind an uneven part of the bridge for a moment but quickly it slipped down and fell over the edge of the bridge, entering the water with a splash. For a moment it seemed that Bark did not know what to do as she stared at her stick with her ears peaked and head cocked to the side. The piece of wood now half on the bottom of the pond, the other half drifting on the service, just out of her reach. A soft wine came from the back of her throat as she looked up at me again, barked ones, and shifted her attention back to the stick.
     I signed, petting her head, "Yeah, no. Not doing that, girly, sorry." With that I started to make my way to the opposite direction as Newt and Minho, "See you guys later, I'm gonna get breakfast." For a moment, Bark stayed at the edge of the bridge, head switching between me and the stick a few times, before she barked again and ran after me to catch up.