Count On Me ➵ Newt [1]

EIGHT | attempted suicide

▬"So, did he tell you?" Minho asked me excitedly during breakfast the next day.

I stared at him, my ham sandwich held halfway to my mouth.

"What?" I said.

"Did Newt tell you?"

"Tell me... Tell me what?"

It was Minho's turn to stare at me.

"So he didn't tell you?" He said, incredulous.

I set down my sandwich and said, "Minho, I have no idea what you're saying. What was Newt supposed to tell me?"

"You're playing with me," Minho scoffed. "Right?"

Alby eyed me carefully for a moment. "She doesn't seem like she's lying," he said. "Or pretending."

"Wait, what the shuck is going on?" I said, getting more confused by the second. "What was Newt supposed to tell me? Can you guys please stop speaking in riddles?"

"So he didn't tell you..." Minho trailed off. He glanced at Alby, who merely shrugged.

"Where's Newt, then?" I asked. "I haven't seen him since yesterday."

"Eh, probably still sleeping, the lazy bug."

As if on cue, Newt arrived and joined us at the table. He looked nothing like the nervous, blubbering boy he was yesterday - in fact, he looked like his usual calm, friendly demeanour. I was instantly suspicious.

"So! What are we having for breakfast today?" He asked cheerfully - too cheerfully.

"Frypan and the Cooks are making ham sandwich today." As if to emphasise his point, Minho held up his own. "It's delicious."

"I'll go get mine then." And without even so much as a glance at me, he left.

I stared at Minho and Alby. "You're not gonna tell me anything, are you?"

"Nope." They chimed together.

-

It was Newt's day off running today and stupid me, I thought I would be able to ambush the guy and ask him about what he wanted to tell me, but he was too sneaky. He avoided me every time I approached him and wouldn't even spare a glance in my direction, plainly ignoring my existence. I got so frustrated at one point that I even thought of dragging him away to a secluded place and interrogate him, but the sensible side of me knew it was a bad idea. He would never forgive me for that.

I finally gave up after many hours. Newt evidently did not want to talk to me, so I left him alone. I went back to the Homestead to check on Clint and Jeff, where they were tending to Franklin, who somehow managed to break his arm. I checked up on his condition, chatted with Clint and Jeff for a while, then headed out the Homestead.

Feeling bored, I went around the Glade, greeting friendly faces and talking with them. I glanced around the place; Newt was nowhere to be seen. Did he run away when he noticed me walking around?

Then was when I spotted him - he emerged straight out from the woods where the Deadends were supposedly and started heading towards the West door, his pace brisk and determined.

Uh oh, I thought, as he continued marching towards the door, never slowing down. A few other Gladers called out to him in greeting but he ignored them all, staring straight ahead with grim determination. He disappeared into the Maze.

I glanced around me. No one else seemed to have noticed or cared. I looked back at the West door, where Newt had gone through, contemplating my choices. Should I follow him and see what he was up to?