LEMON BOY ( THE MAZE RUNNER )

iv.

iv.

— breaking the windows to my soul, the playground in my heart is out of my control. ROLLING IN THE ROSES, BØRNS

♡

Devin's room was different from what Newt was used to. He felt stupid to think that his room would be four walls, and a floating block that resembled a bed. He clearly had spent a lot of time in the berg, with a backpack for a pillow.

The moment the two boys stepped in, one had rushed to the bed and the other looked around with so much curiosity, scrutinizing every inch of the room. The walls were an off-white color, close to dirty white, adorned with posters that had slogans he had seen before in the Scorch.

There was a basket of records and vinyls on the ground, but he couldn't see a record player. The desk had a candle already lit (scented, he believed), with only two books stacked, and some stationery. The bedside table is filled with things he had yet to ask about.

"What do you need, Newt?" Devin asked, voice somehow muffled. Newt turned around to see the boy on his stomach, head buried in a couple of pillows. Oh, how he wished to sleep in a bed so comfortable.

"What is up with you? You look sick." He asked, not rather answering his question. He had already gotten what he needed; to get away from those guards.

"God, I've been moving around so much, I might throw up." He rolled over, hand rested on his forehead and eyes screwed shut.

The Bliss was doing what it needed to do, it was to slow down the body. While Devin did the opposite, forcing more movement, fighting the drug instead. It resulted into confusing the body which sent him spiraling.

"There were a bunch of guards out there with all these scanners, right, and I can't have them checking me." He rushed, accent heavy. He rested both hands on his hips, taking a breath.

"As long as you aren't past The Gone, then you can stay here for as long as you need." Devin says, as he sat up, head resting on the headboard.

"You do know that I am infected, right?" He asked slowly. Newt had sunken on the floor, his backpack off both his shoulders and a few spaces away from him.

"I'm high, not stupid. It was really fucking obvious." He had let out a chuckle. Newt looked up to see Devin still laying on his bed, eyes closed.

He focused on his the irregular rising and falling of his chest. High?

"Well, shuck, I thought my secret would've lasted me at least a few more days."

"You should face it, Newton. You're really shit at some things. Hiding a disease is one of those."

...

It was midnight. A measly hour had passed and Devin and Newt were already very, very high on Bliss.

Newt had asked what made Devin so sick, and he had answered. One minute, Newt was simply curious about the substance. Only asking a few questions with eyebrows furrowed. And another minute, he wanted to try it for himself.

"You either take the pill, or the injection."  And both were on the bedside table.

When Newt had downed it, he felt almost calm. He had never felt anymore serene in his entire life. Nothing had ever felt so good.

...

It was dawn. "What does 'shuck' mean?" Devin asked. "Is it a slang you guys say in England?"

"England." Newt repeated but it sounded more like a questiom. A wave of familiarity had hit him. His brain processed things slower than normal.

He knew he was from there. From the UK. He just didn't know where.

Devin scoffed. "I guess that doesn't really matter anymore now, since half the world had been wiped out."

"It's just a word the we used. I'm from England. I just don't remember where." Newt answered silently

"So, you're a WICKED kid, huh." Newt figured that he wasn't asking, and that he had pieced it together.

"The bastards took my memory," Newt let out a grumble. Devin chuckled. He was on his back, intently keeping his gaze on the ceiling.

...

It was two in the morning. Newt had told him a few stories of his experiences during the Maze Trials. What was it like? What did you do? What are they like? Devin would ask.

"Minho. What can I say about that shank? He's uh– my best friend. He had kept me grounded for the three or four years we've been together. Sure, he could be a little bit– No, he could be very annoying, sometimes, but he's a good person.

He is a leader, a bloody amazing one at that."

"And we have Tommy– or Thomas, but I call him Tommy. I think he's one of the strongest of the lot. He really changed our lives. He helped us escaped, he lead us, he gave us our hope.

That guy is my best friend, and I don't know what we would be without him. I would take a bullet for him, no doubt. Because I've lost count of the times he had saved my arse."

Newt had just started talking. Stuttering with some words, repeating phrases silently, but those were just the drug.

He had talked about Frypan, about Alby, even a little bit of Teresa had been mentioned here and there.

But Devin could tell how much he cared about them. How much he loved them. His family.

...

"Can I take one more pill?" Newt's question had Devin abruptly sat up, intently looking at Newt as if he was joking.

"Do you want to die of overdose?" Newt shook his head, "Then no, you can't have another pill." It was clear that Devin had almost recovered from his high, considering he had taken his way before Newt did.

"How long does it take for it to wear off?" Newt asked. Devin had rolled over to the side of the bed where Newt's head was rested on the edge.

"A few hours." He said. Devin sighed and poked Newt's shoulder. "Bliss is not a cure, Newt. You shouldn't depend on this drug to live. Too much of this could and will kill you even before the Flare could."

"Is it illegal?" Newt asked after a few moments of silence, taking in what Devin had said.

"Kind of." Devin muttered. He thought Newt had called it a night. Until his last question,

"Can I sleep on your bed?"

"I hope you don't move around too much." Newt didn't ask anything else after that.

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