The Maze Runner Imagines

Newt [36]

 She wasn't necessarily the most people oriented person. Though she loved her friends deeply and thought of them nearly every second of the day, she needed time alone. More often than not, she resorted to finding her own spot in the Glade on busy bonfire nights or after long days of work to recollect herself and sit in silence. That in itself was fine. Everyone here had their own preferences and thresholds for how long they could keep up a social attitude.

Tonight though, Newt was looking around the Glade for Y/N. He knew she needed her own time, maybe a little more than everyone else here. But, it made him miserable how anytime they had a chance to spend real time together, she snuck off. After a long day of work he understood she might be too tired to talk with him, but it was the only chance they had. So, tonight he decided he was going to find her. He was going to spend that time with her. If ever it became obvious she didn't want him there or asked him to leave, of course he would. But he wanted to try.

Luckily, Y/N wasn't difficult to find. She had a few select, favourite sports around the Glade where Newt could always count on finding her. Tonight, she was lost in her own world drawing things in an old book Newt had given her behind rows of lattices and thick vines. Newt would be lying if he said over the past few months he hadn't arranged the gardens to create a home like space for Y/N on nights like these. It made him feel better about living here in this horrific place to know he'd made someone else's life a little more comfortable.

Newt peeked around one of the masses of greenery stretching above his head. He smiled at the familiar sight of knees tilt slightly to the left, eyes focused on the stack of papers being scribbled on in the small space between her legs and chest. To disturb her peace seemed like the worst of all crimes. However, Newt saw it was worth interfering with. He had to find a way to stop wasting time hoping Y/N would come around and join the other Gladers and just reach out to her himself.

Though she was tired at her mind was rusty from having to navigate conversations through the day, she smiled wide and greeted him kindly. Obviously, she was still glad to see him.

"No bonfire tonight?" He asked softly as he sat down beside her, sneaking a look at the lines carefully drawn across the paper. "Chuck and a few others were asking where you were."

Y/N raised a brow and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure me being there actually makes a difference."

Newt lowered his eyes and let out a small sigh. It hurt to hear those sorts of things pass her lips. It was becoming apparent that she really was so often up and lost in her own world she forgot she had a part in the lives of those around her. She failed to see that she wasn't just a solitary piece on a chess board, but that she was part of the whole game.

Tonight, Newt wasn't going to hold back. It was time he spoke honestly about the girl and how he felt about it all. "It's completely alright for you to be exhausted of talking to people at the end of a long day and to not want to be around anyone," He said. "But I want you to know that there's people who want you around. There's people who want to spend time with you."

Y/N completely dropped the small remaining slice of focus she had on her drawings. She almost winced at his words. Newt felt awful but held firm.

"...people like me." He added carefully.

He was right. She had completely neglected the idea that there were people here who wanted her to be there but were let down every time she wasn't. She never considered she was valued in any way shape or form. Her presence was something she saw as null and void—unimportant. That when she wasn't there, it had no impact. Newt had just flipped her conscience and perspective inside out. She was a part of this massive moving operation in the Glade and played an important part, no matter how small. When she took a step back, she realized how often she thought of her friends. And, if her friends were anything like her, that meant they must think of her often too. She, in some capacity, must mean something to them as well. When looked at like that, everything changed.

Y/N was momentarily frozen but soon gathered her senses. "You want me there?"

"Of course we do!" Newt spat with a little too much enthusiasm. "We all do. Y/N, you're some of the best company here."

The girl tossed aside the book. "I'm sorry. I've been selfish, going and hiding at the end of every day. I didn't think anyone actually wanted to talk to me—I though they did just because I was there."

"Hate to break it to you love, if they didn't want to talk to you, they wouldn't have been like they do." He laughed softly as he reached out a hand to help her off of the ground. "And let me tell you, you've got people lined up to speak with you."

Y/N was still not fully convinced, but she believed Newt. He wasn't one to lie, even if it was to boost someones spirits or convince them to do something. The boy was honest to his bones. In trusting him, she agreed to take the walk across the Glade to the fire. She, here and now, was choosing to try and pay attention. She was going to see for herself that she really did mean something to these people.

After simply appearing from the dark of the Glade and into the bustling around the fire, she didn't need to look for anymore evidence. People, her friends, all around stopped what they were doing and eyes darted to her and Newt. Smiles rose and some people yelled out her name in excitement. A few rushed over and ruffled her hair like they hadn't seen her in a decade.

Newt looked down with a coy smile. "Still wondering if you being here actually makes a difference or not?"

"No, not really." She jabbed his side and laughed a little. "Thanks."