Disclaimer: everything is Dashner's

all warnings from the first chapter apply

Minho:

When Minho got back through the doors Newt had just gotten back, so he sped up to catch up with him. "Hey shank" he said and Newt turned around to face him.

Newt gave Minho a smile so big his insides did a flip. "Hey shuckface" he said.

"You seem happy" Minho said as a smile crept onto his own face.

"Well I'm so bloody sorry" Newt said with a laugh as he shoved Minho's shoulder.

"Slim it, I wasn't complaining" He said as he shoved Newt back.

Newt stumbled and laughed. "You know if we didn't have to go draw maps I'd kick your pony lovin' butt right here" he said as they walked into the maproom. They were the first runners to get there so it was empty.

"Oh, is that so?" Minho said as he walked towards Newt.

"Yup" Newt said, but he took a step back from Minho. He his back ran into the wall so he was trapped between Minho and the wall.

Minho stepped closer so he was only a few inches from Newt. "Are you 100% sure?" he said in an almost whisper. Newt smirked at him and Minho's insides practically exploded.

"100" he said as he tried to lift his hands up and shove Minho, but Minho was too fast and grabbed Newt's wrist and held them above his head. Newt struggled against Minho's grip. "Shuck Minho!" he said with a laugh.

Minho smirked. "Not my fault I'm faster than you" he said and then he sighed dramatically "and stronger..."

"Slim it" Newt said as he kept struggling against Minho's grip.

Minho smiled and stared into Newt's eyes. "Make me" he practically whispered. Newt stared at him, breathing hard. Minho felt like you could cut the tension with a knife. Suddenly he didn't care anymore about ruining their friendship, he couldn't wait any longer. There was no way Newt didn't want this too.

He decided to test the water and leaned his face closer to Newt's. Newt didn't react, so Minho inched closer and their faces were barely an inch apart.

And that's when the other runners burst through the door.

Minho jumped back from Newt, both their faces bright red. The other runners didn't seem to act weird, they just continued in their own conversations, so he assumed they didn't see anything. Minho scratched the back of his neck and cleared his throat. He glanced at Newt who looked just as disappointed as he did. "Uh- we should draw up the maps" Minho said.

Newt shook his head. "Yea, good that" he said.

Newt:

After they drew their maps, Newt and Minho went to dinner. They didn't talk while drawing maps and walking to the homestead, Minho seemed mortified about what had happened earlier. Newt wasn't crazy, Minho was going to kiss him, right?

He was. He definitely was.

They got to the kitchen and grabbed food before going to sit down next to Alby and Nick. Luckily, they were discussing escape strategies so it covered their awkward silence.

"I'm telling you!" Nick said "Just lower me down the box hole! We need to know if it leads out!"

Alby rolled his eyes. "Do you really think it's that simple?" he said.

"We have to find out!" Nick said.

"What if you fall down the hole into a pit of nothingness?" Newt asked.

Nick puffed out his chest. "Than I shall have died a hero's death!" he announced.

Everyone laughed, "I think it's a good idea" Minho said.

"Of course you do" Newt said with a smirk.

Minho glanced at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" he said indignantly.

"Oh nothing" he said as he rolled his eyes.

"So it's settled then? I'll do it tomorrow!" Nick announced.

"Nothing is settled slinthead" Alby said. They continued to argue throughout dinner, but in the end Alby finally agreed to let Nick go down the box hole the next week. They decided not to risk their leader's life the day they got a new greenie, and it was best wait until the supplies came up the following week.

The idea intrigued Newt more than it should. He won't even be alive a week from now. But a small part of him really wondered if it would work. If they could get out.

But the voice in the back of Newt's mind told him it didn't matter. Whether he stayed in the Glade the rest of his life or escaped through the box hole, he would be the same person no matter where he went, and he didn't like that person. That person was weak and pathetic. That person had to mutilate himself in order to feel happy for a second. That person didn't deserve to live.

"Newt?" Newt jumped at the voice, he was definitely not paying attention to anything anyone was saying. Minho leaned in and whispered, "are you okay?"

Newt cleared his throat and sat up straight. "I'm fine Minho" he said "just got distracted for a bloody second."

"Alright, alright" he said. "you going to eat that?"

Newt glanced at his food and realized he'd barely touched it. "Uh- yea" he said as he shoved a sandwich in his face.

"Shuck Newt don't choke" Minho laughed.

Newt swallowed his food and grabbed his apple as he stood up. "Slim it, lets go" he said.

They walked back to their room since it was getting kind of late and there wasn't much else for them to do. Newt was fine with this, he planned on it being his last night so he wanted to spend it with Minho.

They stayed up and talked for a few hours about unimportant klunk and Newt was really enjoying himself. They were both sitting on Newt's bed and he found himself once again doubled over in laughter at a terrible joke Minho had made. "That's not even funny" he said between laughs.

"Then why are you laughing?" Minho said with a triumphant look.

"Good shucking question" Newt said.

Minho stared at Newt for a long time. "You seem a lot happier today and I just-" he broke off and furrowed his eyebrows as if trying to find the right words. "I'm just happy you're happy."

Newt nodded. He almost felt like he was lying to Minho, by not telling him what he was planning. That the only reason he was so happy today was because of what he'd decided. "Um- yea" he said quietly. He yawned dramatically to fill the silence. "We better hit the sack" he said.

Minho stared for a moment, but then nodded. "Yea, good that" he said. Minho climbed into his own bed and curled under the covers. Newt stared at the ceiling for a while before falling asleep. It was surprisingly easy for him to drift into a dreamless sleep, he felt incredibly at peace with his decision. He knew things would be better this way.

Minho:

Minho woke up the next morning before Newt. He glanced over at him and watched him for a while. He was curled into a ball and looked like a sleeping child. Before he could stop himself, he took his hand and brushed the hair out of Newt's eyes. Newt twitched in his sleep and let out a moan. Minho couldn't help but smile.

"Hey Newt" he said, "get up." Newt's eyes fluttered open and he groaned as he sat up. "Mornin'" Minho said.

"Morning" Newt said as he got up. He grabbed his clothes and they headed down to the showers. Minho found himself once again struggling not to stare at Newt as he took off his shirt. He knew he liked Newt like that, but he still wasn't sure if Newt liked him like that.

When Minho got out of the shower, Newt was already dressed and waiting for him. "Do I get my own personal escort?" he asked.

Newt blushed and smiled. "Yup" he said "lets shucking go."

As they walked towards the maze doors, Newt became more agitated and nervous looking. He kept glancing at Minho and then looking away. "Are you okay?" Minho asked.

"Uh- yea I'm fine" he said.

"You look like something terrible's going to happen" Minho said.

Newt let out a nervous laugh. "Nothing terrible's going to happen shuckface" he said, but his voice sounded weird and he didn't look at Minho when he said it.

They got to the maze doors and started jogging. They both followed the same route for a little while before splitting off in their own directions. Minho got to his turn and glanced at Newt. He flashed a smile before saying "see ya" and turning away.

"Wait!" Newt blurted out before grabbing Minho's hand. Minho stopped in his tracks and turned around to face him. Newt stared at him with a serious expression. "I just-"

And then Newt's lips were on his.

He didn't react at first, but then when his brain processed what was happening he leaned into it. He placed a hand on Newt's face and he couldn't help but smile against his lips.

Minho wanted to stay like that forever, but then Newt pulled away. He stared at Minho for a second and smiled. "I just had to do that once" he said. Before Minho could respond or react Newt turned and ran away.

All he could do was stand there and watch Newt leave.

Please tell me your thoughts on this chapter! I really hope you liked it. Please please please review if you're following!