From The WICKED Start | A Maze Runner Story (English Version)

7. Butterflies

"And for a moment I really thought that maybe this Teresa wasn't so bad after all," Minho murmured as we left the laboratory wing.
We didn't talk until we reached the corridor with the rooms and separated. No one really knew what to say.
"Well then, we'll meet at lunch," Minho said and nodded at us before disappearing into his room, which he shared with Ben.
Newt and I walked the few metres to our room in silence and he opened the door. I smiled faintly at him and when I got inside I immediately dropped onto my bed.
"What a sick shit," he said and sat down on his.
I just nodded and stared at the ceiling, which was as white as the walls, the floor and our bedding. Just like everything here.
"How can this go on? I have lived here all these years with the fear that Gally would have to go into the maze, I have repressed everything else. I have closed my eyes to what is happening here every day, to what these people think up for us every day. I cannot live with it, I don't know how I ever could. There must be something we can do... But where can we go? The world ended a long time ago."
Newt sighed and I could hear him getting up restlessly.
"I have no idea. We should probably just pretend that everything is normal and wait and see."
"But you... we don't have much time."
"Yeah, I know. We have a month. Then I'll be gone, too, and I'll have managed to let you down. The only person I care about and could protect anymore."
I sat up too and looked him in the eye.
"When you enter the maze... I can't stand it. If you are gone, there is no point in my staying here any more. So either we find a way out first or... or I have to enter this maze too," I concluded in a firm voice and without avoiding his gaze.
Newt raised his eyebrows.
"I cannot allow that."
"You don't have to. You'll have forgotten me anyway. And then there's no reason for me to remember anything anymore." I swallowed, but I still held his gaze.
"You heard what Teresa said. It's possible I remember."
"Yes, but for this to happen, the feelings must be particularly strong. I'm sure you've heard that, too," I replied.
"And what if my feelings for you are particularly strong?" he asked and looked at me piercingly.
He stood up and I too rose without turning my eyes away from him for a second. Now we were only a few inches apart. My heart was beating strongly and unevenly. I felt myself trembling and held my breath. Again Newt was so close to me and this time there was no one at the door to interrupt us.
Once more I became aware that I had never had such feelings towards anyone in my whole life and that I still did not understand all this. I was also pretty sure that Newt was no different. And yet he stood in front of me now and looked at me with his brown eyes. I wanted to ask him what was going on here, what we were doing here, but couldn't get a word out. I could only look into his eyes.
And then it happened. Something that I had not thought to be possible in this broken world. Slowly and very carefully Newt approached me a little more and I noticed him taking my hands in his. His skin was warm and pleasant and it felt good to feel it on mine like that.
After he had paused briefly to see if I was moving away from him, he came even closer to me, so close that I could now feel his breath on my lips. Instinctively I closed my eyes and waited what would happen.
And then, very carefully, he came one last bit closer to me and I felt our lips touching very lightly. I felt like a thousand little tingling electric shocks and I couldn't help but move a little bit in his direction to find his lips again.
I found them and now it was no longer a careful touch but the first kiss of my life. And it was a wonderful kiss.
Newt let go of my hands and put one hand under my chin while he let the other hand slide through my hair. I put one hand on his chest and the other on his back. Slowly our kiss became more intense and his lips on mine a little more pressing. Still I felt completely comfortable. I was exactly where I wanted to be and with exactly the person I wanted to be with. I wished that this moment would never end, but I knew that at some point we would have to return to reality.
After a wonderful eternity we separated and looked each other in the eyes again.
I just couldn't help but smile, and when Newt returned my smile, it turned into a laugh and we just faced each other and grinned at each other. This was by far the most beautiful moment in my life.