Why Can't I Tell You

Walk

Newt continued to prepare more feed as Tina flipped open to the front of the book. Her eyes landed on the message, finding comfort in Newt's messy yet oddly comforting handwriting. She almost gasped aloud but stopped herself.

They fed all of Newt's creatures together, spending extra time with the occamies since they were Tina's favorite. She laughed as one slithered up her arm and settled on her shoulder. Newt watched her, he watched the pure glee spread across her face, the glint in her eye, the way her cheeks would form her smile, the way she would cock her head slightly when meeting a new creature. As he was feeding the hippogriff that had taken the habitat of Frank, he watched out of the corner of his eye as Tina sat down in front of the occamy nest, Dougal nestled on her shoulders, the bowtruckles in her hair, the mooncalves gathered around, and she started reading them Newt's book. He tuned into the ups and downs of her voice, finding peace in each rise and fall. He had missed her. He had missed her so much.

-----------------------

After they had finished feeding the creatures Tina took Newt to Central Park. They walked side by side in comfortable silence. The air was bitter and cold, and they breaths created billowy white clouds in front on their faces. Tina couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Newt, did you...did you really mean what you wrote to me in the book?" Tina said stopping and looking straight. This time she was the one who wasn't able to make eye contact with the wizard. Newt glanced at her from the side, having stopped as well, at a loss of what to say.

"Yes, yes of course, Tina, why wouldn't I have?" he managed to say looking at her. She was still staring straight ahead. She whipped around to face him.

"You really meant all of those things you said about me?" she croaked, evidently on the verge of tears.

"I'm...I'm sorry Tina, I didn't...I didn't mean to upset you, I can leave if..." Newt stuttered out, bewildered at Tina's unexpected outburst. He was interrupted by her arms wrapping around his neck. Tina hid her face in his shoulder. 

"No, don't leave...please don't leave," Tina whispered, tears wetting his peacock coat. He gently wrapped his own arms around her.

"Why are you crying then Tina," Tina's name sounded delicate on his tongue, like something fragile and precious, even meaningful. She quickly disentangled herself from him, a disbelieving look crossing her features at what she had just done.

She shook her head, "I'm not." She closed her eyes tightly, more tears snaking down her cheeks. "I'm really sorry about that," she gestured to Newt, "I don't know what I was thinking." Newt was utterly confused. How could she be sorry for needing comfort? For letting out her emotions? For hugging him? 

She turned and continued to walk forward, Newt hurried to catch up. "Don't ever be sorry," he said.

"What?" Tina asked furrowing her eyebrows.

"Don't ever...don't ever be sorry for doing things like that...to me...don't be sorry to me...no well, don't be sorry to anyone, but especially to me," Newt quickly stuttered out, "Because...because...well I...I...I," he faltered. He couldn't say it, he didn't know what he wanted to say, he couldn't formulate any sentences though. Standing in front of him was the most astonishing, beautiful person he had ever met, and all he could think about was how much he didn't want to loose her. Of all of the people he had ever cared for and lost, he just really didn't want to loose her.

Tina smiled and nodded.