The Tributes from the Maze (Newt/OC)

Settling In

Trigger warning! This chapter includes mentioning of self-harm and depression.

They didn't have to point a gun at the receptionist as Brenda had suggested, but they did have to fill in some long and boring paperwork. Even Teresa almost admitted that threatening them with a gun would have been better. Almost, but not quite. She had this niggling feeling that something had happened between Thomas and Brenda and she didn't like it one bit. It was always meant to be her and Thomas. But no, not one thing could go right in her entire life. Brenda just had to come along and be cooler and feistier than herself. She hoped that, at the very least, Thomas could just hurry up and choose between her and Brenda. Drawing the process out would just be more painful for everyone involved.

After they left the hospital Minho took them for a quick tour around all the public areas. Everything was running smoothly. Each of them was in charge of something. Teresa was in charge of the politics and official business behind their decisions. Brenda was in charge of security. Ariadne was in charge of planning. Frypan was appointed as head chef. Thomas was in charge of being a voice for the people. Newt was second in command and was in charge of overseeing everybody's concerns or problems and as a judge, if necessary. Jorge was in charge of the weaponry production. Gally was in charge of building projects. Harriet and Sonya were in charge of the livestock and farms. Lawrence was in charge of the military unit, and Minho was the figurehead because he claimed it would make the most attractive emblem.

Once the main tour was done, Minho took them to the cabins. They were sizable houses with ten bedrooms each. There were about thirty-five of them in a circle around a huge open space with a central bonfire set up and sound system. Harriet, Sonya, Aris, Lawrence, Frypan and a few others were put in cabin ten, right next to the cabin that belonged to Thomas, Gally, Newt, Minho, Jorge, Brenda, Teresa and Ariadne.

Their cabin was number eleven and it was the largest of all of them. Minho gave each of them a key and unlocked the front door. The group walked through the hallway and came to the open space that held the living room, kitchen, glass sliding door to the alfresco, and dining room. None of the group apart from Minho had seen the inside of the cabins yet as the previous night everyone had just crowded into the open fields and slept wherever they dropped.

Everyone looked around at the huge place with such modern technology. Jaws dropped open, eyes widened, deep breaths were taken and no one moved for a few minutes. Until everyone bounded in a different direction, Minho stood laughing at everyone. Thomas and Gally fought over the television remote, Brenda opened the doors to the balcony and basked in the sunlight whilst Jorge went straight to the bathroom. Ariadne and Newt bounded up the stairs and Teresa went through all the bedrooms.

It had five bedrooms on either floor with two living rooms, a dining room and four bathrooms. It had a large balcony on the top floor looking out over the lake. After examining every inch of the place, everyone chose a bedroom. It was decided that the remaining two bedrooms would stay vacant for now.

Teresa's bedroom was the one closest to the front of the cabin on the first floor. As she was looking through all the clothes and items that were already in the room someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." She called. A part of her hoped it was Thomas, but it was a very optimistic part of her. She knew that Thomas wouldn't forgive her that easily and no one but Ariadne really trusted her yet.

"Hey, Teresa," Newt said as he entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"Hey Newt," Teresa replied, barely even glancing up. She wondered what she had done wrong this time.

"Look, I still don't fully agree with what you did in the Scorch or in WICKED." Newt began. Teresa rolled her eyes. Here it comes, she thought. "But I do understand why you did it. It's what you thought was best. I get that now. You cared about Thomas, so you did what you thought was best for him, even if he hated you for it. I admire the strength it took to do what you thought was right for the greater good, despite it going against the people who care about."

Teresa frowned. That wasn't what she was expecting to hear. She felt a pang of fondness for Newt. He actually took the time to try to understand her.

"I'm glad that someone gets it. Maybe you should tell Thomas that." Teresa said, looking up at Newt, wondering where their conversation was heading.

"Teresa, don't beat yourself up about that. Thomas will come to his senses. He's just confused. You do know that he probably would have forgiven you by now if you hadn't kissed Aris." Newt said plainly.

"What?!" Teresa said sharply in confusion.

"Thomas is an understanding and forgiving person. He even forgave Gally for killing Chuck. He really liked you and then you tore his buggin' heart out of his chest and repeatedly threw it against a brick wall, stomped on it and then left it there. Just drop the moody attitude, try to get along with Brenda and maybe he'll remember who you really are and forgive you." Newt said.

"Thanks, Newt. I'll...do my best. But I don't think you came to see me to give me advice about my Thomas dilemma. What are you after?" She asked.

"I came to tell you to stop sulking in your room and actually interact with everyone. You can't fix the relationships you broke by avoiding them all together. So get out there and mingle." The Brit laughed.

"Yeah well, you have a bit of relationship mending to do yourself, don't you Newt?" Teresa rolled her eyes in good humour.

"What are you talking about?" He frowned.

"I mean you and Aria. You two should talk. There was a lot that happened after WICKED put you in the maze, and it's not my place to tell you. But you should ask her. It will be good for her to talk about it and it's something you should know about." Teresa answered sombrely.