Count On Me ➵ Newt [1]

TEN | the kiss

▬I woke up the next morning to find Newt's bed empty. The blanket was thrown to one side, the room completely empty of his presence.

Panic flaring up in me, I threw myself out the door and accidentally bumped into someone.

"Ow!" We both cried out simultaneously. I stumbled back and rubbed my nose, which was throbbing from the impact, and looked up to see Jeff raising his eyebrows down at me.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty," he greeted. "What's got your hair in a tousle today?"

"Where's Newt?" I asked immediately. "He's missing!"

"Oh, don't worry about him - Clint is helping him with his crutch."

"Crutch?"

Jeff led me to the back of the Homestead, where sure enough, Newt was trying to steady himself with a handmade wooden crutch. His splint had been replaced with a cast, though it didn't seemed to have eased his pain at all as he kept grimacing. Alby and Minho were there along with Clint, trying to offer support to their friend. Whenever Newt would stumble even ta little bit, the three were there to steady him.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I asked Jeff. "Shouldn't he be resting his leg?"

"He insisted to be let out," Jeff said. "Wouldn't take no for an answer, the stubborn shank."

I watched as Newt tried to take a step forward, then nearly tripped over a crack in the ground. Alby and Minho immediately reached out for him. Beads of sweat dotted Newt's head.

"I think that's enough for today," he said, sounding tired. "I'll try again tomorrow."

"But-" Alby said.

"No, Alby, I don't want to be stuck in the room any longer than I have to," Newt said firmly. "I want to do something other than lay in bed and feel useless."

"I don't think you'd be any more useful if you hurt yourself more," I said, crossing my arms. Newt jumped at my voice and met my stern gaze.

"Rosalind's right, Newt," Alby chimed in. "You need to rest. Clint, Jeff, take him back into his room now. Rosalind, come with me."

"Why-" Newt said, but Clint and Jeff forced him to lean onto them and they hobbled back into the Homestead. Newt threw a glance back at me before disappearing through the door.

"Your punishment starts in about five minutes," Minho told me. "Soo... if I were you I'd get breakfast first."

Ah, shuck. I had forgotten about my punishment.

I nodded a thanks and quickly headed towards the kitchen, where Frypan was already waiting for me. He passed me a plate of bacon and eggs and I consumed it all gratefully, trying to relish the savoury taste before I was forced into the Slammer.

A few minutes later, Gally and Alby came to take me away and I followed them without a word. It would be no use arguing with them. When we reached the Slammer, they held open the wooden door for me and I hopped in, shoes kicking up dust. I glanced back up at their faces as they closed the door. Gally locked the door and left, but Alby stayed for a little longer.

He crouched down right next to the door and gazed down at me, his dark eyes the most serious I had ever seen them. 

"Did Newt tell you why he went into the maze?" He asked quietly.

I blinked in surprise, but nodded.

"Can you tell me?"

I bit my lips hesitantly. If Newt didn't tell Alby about it then there must be a reason for it.