Thomas was the first one to move, already at Gally's level when he was going for another punch. He pushed back the Glader grounding his feet between Gally and the boy.

"What the fuck Gally?"

His eyes ran on his Thomas, confused, upset, his fists closing and opening. "Stay out of it Thomas."

Thomas scoffed turning away, he walked up the boy, Stefan if he remembered correctly. The boy seemed shaken enough not to say a word, accepting Thomas's hand. He was furious for the boy though, he did have the stature to fight back against Gally, and even in his right mind Gally had no idea of his strength. Newt was standing now, balance still fragile as he got closer from the boys. The fireplace were few feet away made it hard to see clearly Gally's face.

"Gally?" called out Newt walking up to his old friend.

"He can't keep on fucking up, we don't have time for this," growled Gally glaring at Stefan. "This greenie needs to learn."

"What are you on about, shank?" smiled Newt, hand brushing Gally's arm, amused by the vocabulary choice. "It's the middle of the night."

Stefan took a step back. "I don't know what's up with him," hissed the boy. "I was just sleeping!"

"What's wrong with you?!" shouted Thomas letting Stefan stand on his own. "Stop trying to shield him, Newt. He was always insane."

Gally didn't stepped back, levelling Thomas with a glare. "I'll deal with him, you should go get Alby," he ushered pushing the blond behind him.

Newt froze letting himself being manhandle from the shock as he finally figure it out.

Thomas stepped closer unaware. "Stay away from Newt," he threatened.

"Thomas stop," hissed Newt, hand falling on the taller boy tugging him away, trying to get his attention. "Gally, we are not in the Glade," said Newt. "This is the safe haven."

Gally let Thomas out of his sight at once, finally turning back to the blond furious. "Safe haven?" he mocked. "That's another one of Thomas's grandiose idea right?"

He backed Newt up against the wall, the blond tripping over himself as he tried to follow him.

"He is trying to turn us against the others!" Growled Gally. "Don't you see it?"

Thomas laughed bitterly, "Still not over that? It's not my fault if you're a coward."

"All of this is your fault," growled Gally.

"My fault?! You killed Chuck!" Thomas hissed walking up to him stopping at arm's reach. "You killed Chuck! You tried to kill me! You shouldn't be here."

"Stop it!"shouted Newt moving between the two of them. "Both of you, just stop."

But there was no more reason in the two boys, Thomas continued to insult Gally who had no idea what was actually going on. Gally stepped in, Newt tried to block his arm but Gally wasn't paying attention. Newt was pushed against the wall. Wind was knocked out of Newt's lungs, hissing in pain. Thomas barely looked and blocked Gally's hit answer with another one sending him back, which all but broke out a fight between them.

Newt coughed, ribs still absorbing the shock when his knees collapsed. He felt sick holding his side, feeling the solid ground under my knees as they gave in. He had no idea what was happening or how long he was lost in the pain of getting his lungs crushed against its bones again.

"I won't let you destroy everything!" growled Gally.

"You brought it on yourself!" shouted the youngest.

"Thomas!" tried to call Newt but his breath got caught up in a fit of cough and none of the boys reacted too busy trading insults and hits. Gally fell down, hitting his head on the floor but Thomas was not finished with him.

Sonya ran down to them, rushing to Newt's side. Harriet close behind, and with one smooth motion punched send Thomas flying to the ground with maybe to much force than necessary.

Thomas found himself on the floor, breathless and furious. Harriet was standing above him, clear still hazy from sleep but her stare was deadly. As he tried to slow his air intake, his eyes ran around him, Gally was trying to stand carefully, Sonya was here kneeled down next to. Newt. Thomas finally realising he hadn't gotten up, arm around his chest, whizzing as he tried to breath in. Thomas rushed to his side Gally forgotten.

"Are you okay?" asked Thomas, and Sonya almost slapped him, her glare clearly warning him to get closer. And frankly Thomas would have preferred that than the look Newt gave him. He was in pain, and didn't even have to speak up for Thomas to understand he fucked up. But it was Gally's fault.

"I'm going to kill him," murmured Thomas.

Harriet heard it and stopped talking quietly to Gally who kept on staring at the scene with fire and hate in his eyes.

"You need to leave," said Sonya, cutting Thomas short.

"What?!" shouted Thomas.

"She is right," winced Newt obliviously preferring to pulling on his lungs than have to witness at another one of their fights. He moved away from Thomas and putting his arm out for Sonya to help him up and it hurt more than Thomas was willing to admit.

"He needs calm," he continued his breathing catching on each words. "And you're not helping."

"Because you just know better," drawled Thomas. It wasn't his fault for God sakes!

"No," bite back Newt, exhausted of this back and forth, Thomas unnecessary combativeness and his own stupid feelings for that idiot. Newt started back coughing, Sonya silently watching as Thomas realised he fucked up. Saying that she didn't enjoy it would be a lie. Newt continued, "You need to leave because you're brash, reckless, hot heated and have no consideration for other's feelings."

The last part hurt more than Thomas excepted, maybe because it was coming from Newt. He wasn't wrong per se, Newt never was about Thomas. But it didn't stop him from feeling bitter as if he couldn't very well just tell him what he thought of it, as if it was an unfair fight, not with Sonya and the other here. It wasn't even a fair reproach as Thomas literally spend his life trying to save others. Just because of Gally, Thomas was an inconsiderate person? He was trying so hard to fit in, sorry if he didn't just forgive everyone?!

Vince decided this moment to wake up and just storm out in pyjama followed by Stefan. "What happened?" he shouted glancing between everyone.

Thomas was ready to just rant about it, but Newt glared, demanding his silence. Gally stood still eyes fix on Vince. Slowly his face started to break down into fear and incomprehension. Harriet walked up to him quietly, her arm extended ready to duck. But it never happened, Gally slowly sank to his knees and as sudden as it started it just finished.

"He has no idea what happened," sighed Sonya bringing with her a bucket of non-salty water and towels.

"He thought we were in the Glade," said Newt still bending over himself, as he made to sit on his bed.

Before Thomas could ask the blond was quicker with a short and harsh, "I'm okay."

Sure, thought Thomas. He didn't believe on word coming out of his friend's mouth and grabbed his arm to help him move. Newt recoiled from the touch but couldn't really do without it.

"Did you break a stitch?" asked Sonya already bypassing Thomas, who she had been ignoring since, to push Newt's shirt up.

"I'm fine," hissed Newt between his clenched teeth, letting Sonya manhandle him. "Just a bruise I guess."

Sonya nodded but it was just to get the blond to shut up. She looked carefully at each one of them, Thomas stepping back a little eyes trailing on Newt's torso. Newt caught his eyes and Thomas felt even more out of place. They hadn't talked after Vince arrived. He had send them to their rooms, like scold children telling them this situation would be dealt with in the morning.

"So?" asked Newt to the room, apparently trying to save them for this longing weird silence but Thomas could only shrugged having no idea what to look for, Newt's chest was still an evolving blue and green. It was part of the healing processed had reassured Charlotte, head of the medical team. They had teams now, for almost everything. It was a great improvement for the coordination of the camps.

"You'll live," sighted Sonya letting the shirt fall back in place. "Or long enough for Charlotte to get a look at it in the morning. And you?" she said not even really turning to Thomas. It was just petty now. She had rolled her eyes when Thomas had followed Newt to the room. It's not his fault if they still both slept in the same tent.

Sonya through him the towel. "Clean up, if anything hurts see with Minho, because I, am going to bed." She waved a good bye, running her hand in Newt's hair, as if Thomas needed one more proof of her favouritism.

The moment she walked out, Newt threw himself down on his bed, hands rubbing his eyes. "I'm exhausted…"

Thomas agreed not daring to move away, not daring to move closer. Thomas just waited, if they didn't talk now, he was not going to be able to sleep anyway.

It took a few minutes but Newt finally continued. "I'm sorry," sighted the blond. "You're not… inconsiderate of other people's feelings…" The way Newt repeated those words just couldn't stop from putting a smile on Thomas's lips. Why could he never stay upset at him? Moaned Thomas.

"So I'm just brash and hotheaded?" he asked at bit too bitterly maybe.

"And reckless," smiled Newt not really picking up on it.

It might have sound light hearted to anyone listening but Thomas couldn't quite swallow it. "You're not so much better."

"Oh?" said Newt, sitting back up understanding where Thomas was going. "Speak your mind then."

"You're stuck in the past, and you act like no one knows," said Thomas softly.

"You're the same," taunted Newt.

"You just stand on the side like nothing can touch you," continued Thomas not interest in his answers.

Newt just shrugged pulling on the threads of his blanket sitting up straight.

"You're pushing everyone away, Minho, Brenda, you barely talk to Gally or to me!" hissed Thomas coming up closer to Newt. "You're filled with hatred and pain every time WCKD or the Glade or Teresa is mentioned."

"Really?" laughed Newt sourly. "So how should I feel about WKCD? Care to tell me?"

"It's like you don't want to let go, like you can't be here," continued Thomas.

"Maybe it's because I'm not supposed to be here," growled Newt pushing the covers away. "Like Gally is not supposed to be here?"

"I didn't mean that." Thomas wished Newt did not look at his hands.

"You did." Newt turned to Thomas daring him to take another step closer. "I might not open up to everyone I see but at least I don't blame it all on Gally."

"No, you just don't blame anyone!" hissed Thomas hands dying to reach out to the blond and take away his still and calm facade. "You stand there silently! And that's so scary!"

"What?" asked Newt, too confused to stick to his defensive retorts about Thomas's accusations.

"I don't know what you want," continued Thomas, now talking about more than just Newt's inability to talk about the past. "I can't make you want to stay here. Minho is so worried, Brenda too! It feels like you'll never get out of your head. He thinks-"

"I know," cuts Newt adverting his eyes. "I know, he thinks I'll try again."

"Are you?" asked Thomas because he couldn't wait to just found out on day he was too late. "You say all those nice things, about this place and you act all nice and okay about it all but it's not true. I know it, I can feel it. It's like you're saying goodbye constantly… to me and…"

Newt did not move, eyes locked on his hands. "What do you want me to say?" he asked coldly.

"I don't know!" Thomas just shrugged to find his words, as usual. He gave up sitting down next to Newt. "I'm asking just you if you're going to stay."

"I'm not going anywhere, Tommy," Newt didn't look up nor move. His voice completely blank, almost sad. "I'm sorry you felt like that."

Thomas had won and somehow it didn't feel like it. "Don't just say it," begged Thomas, wishing he could reach out again but too scared to try. "Act like it. Be here, with us."

"Do you want me to?" asked the blond unable to look up.

"Yes!" it was too quick, making Newt jump. "I do, everyone does."

"I don't care about everyone…" murmured Newt, hands mindless grabbing unto Thomas's sleeve. Wishing he was not that pathetic, hoping that Thomas didn't actually hear it.

Thomas didn't answer, letting the silence weight down, realising now the quiet of the night around them. It was just before dawn, before animals would wake up, well before people would get up. He kept his eyes on Newt's hands as they played with his sleeves. He never wanted it to end and that was stupid. Newt wasn't doing anything special, he was just here and somehow it was more than enough for Thomas. Newt was finally opening up to him, and whatever was between felt real and calm for the first time, like they could make it work here.

"Don't stay because of me," said Thomas because he needed to make it clear, be sure.

"What is that suppose to mean Thomas?" hissed Newt moving his hands back. "Stay so I can just limp around the camp trying to find myself an occupation? Try to find my place in the society where nothing makes sense? When it doesn't even feel real?"

"Okay!" cut Thomas putting his hands up before going to reach for Newt's, tugging him to him. "Let's make it real! Let's find something better for you to do than pile up boxes."

"Then what?" said Newt voice too fragile to carry any anger. "What are we doing here? If it's not boxes, what it will be? Cutting up vegetables? What's the point. I should be dead, or a crank like the rest of the population, like Alby…"

"It's the same reasons than at the beginning," smiled Thomas. "It's the same… you idiot."

Newt didn't look up not interest into seeing the way Thomas's hopeful eyes stared at him.

"It's for friendships! It's bullying Minho and teasing Brenda, getting bullied by Sonya," continued Thomas a smile in his voice. "Family? All of things that matters!" Newt shrugged waiting for Thomas to continued. "Us?"

Newt finally looked at Thomas, breathing in. "Us?" repeated Newt eloquently frowning a little. Playing dumb didn't make much sense but Newt's heart was racing so fast it apparently killed most of his braincells.

"I mean, this," repeated Thomas waving between them two, turning redder and redder at every second passing. "Whatever this is."

"And what is this?" pushed Newt, and Thomas felt more embarrassed. It was going so well and now Thomas was panicking. Why was he so scared to act when it involved Newt? He was going to backtrack, this was a bad idea, it was not the place not the time. They were talking about Newt, he had finally started talking about how he felt here, it was not the time to risk everything.

"Well… I don't know.. We're friends and… a-bit-more?" tried Thomas cringing at the sound of his voice. "We're best… friends, I guess?"

"Best friends?" Newt smiled with a bit of difficulties for trying to rule his expression. "You kissed me."

"I'm brash and reckless remember?" answered Thomas like an apologise. He could see Newt's expression closing off again at the words remembering what he said seconds before Gally exploded in their faces, if Thomas wanted to forget about it.

"Not that I wouldn't want to do it again. It was great. Like the best." Thomas was awful at it. "It's not like I had lots of experience. But I mean from what I've got. We could definitely try again if you're okay, otherwise I wouldn't ask but if, I mean I care about you like…"

"Thomas," Sighted Newt his free hand just going up to pass over his face trying to quiet his smile. "Just stop…"

Thomas chuckled relief to be stop from this disaster. "Sorry…" Thomas felt like digging a hole. "I'm sorry. Can we not do that now?"

"It's okay," said Newt softly, but didn't want to look up. "It's fine, we don't have to so this now. I didn't mean to trap you into that discussion."

Thomas nodded along, passing his hands in his hair before remembering about the pain in his knuckles, wincing a bit. He stretched his fingers out trying to lessen the fire in his bones. Newt was just too happy for the change of subject grabbing some of the towel from Sonya pressing it down on Thomas's hands.

"I just don't know what this is…" answered simply Thomas. "I just know I want to be here with you."

Newt decided than he shall never look up again, cheeks redding. The blond barely nodded, trying to quiet down his shy "Me too," not even sure if he should praying Thomas would hear it or not. Thomas didn't answer so Newt just decided to just stop, stop trying to hold it back, to just hold everything in. "I'm just not sure how to do that."

Still sponging Thomas's hands, he did not see the smile on the other's face, just felt the hands clenching a bit.

"We'll find a away," promised Thomas.

It must have been the first time since they got here Newt actually breathed in properly. Thomas fixed his face, trying to make him look up. He leaned in closer when the blond refused but he knew he won't when Newt couldn't hold back his smile.

"Okay, cool," murmured Newt.

Thomas snorted and repeated Newt with a smug smile. "Yeah. Okay Cool."

Newt laughed pushing Thomas away, finished with the towel.

"As your best friend," there was definitely some sarcasm in it and Thomas looked up just in time to see the smirk on the blond's face. "I need to tell that, you need to talk with Gally."

"I know," sighed Thomas as Newt moved to lay down next to his best friend. God Thomas was feeling like an idiot, why didn't he just say it? Say that he didn't want to just be best friends?

"So do it," snapped Newt but there was no heat. Not anymore. "He was scared. We were all scared."

"Doesn't mean what he did was right." Thomas laid down too, not feeling like working against gravity anymore. His head almost touching Newt's.

"Are you really going to judge all of him for that?" sighted Newt, his hand moving unto Thomas's left hand. That's when Thomas realised he was holding the neckless. "You don't know what it was like being in the Glade for that long…" he confessed, not trying to blame Thomas but to make him understand. "And we both know he was stung, you do believe him right?"

"Chuck didn't deserve it," cut Thomas grabbing Newt's hand blocking it between his skin and the wooden piece.

"I know." He answered his head turning to face his friend. "Gally neither, you neither."

Thomas didn't know what to say, eyes fixed on the ceiling. He could feel Newt's eyes stuck on his face waiting for Thomas to say it, to say he understood. But he didn't, he couldn't so instead he just let Newt's hand go.

"I'll talk to him," promised Thomas nevertheless.

"Cool."

"In exchange…" smiled Thomas.

"What?"

"Talk with Minho?"

"Did he say something?" worried Newt turning back to Thomas blond hair brushing against the other face.

"I wished he had," scoffed Thomas, trying to push the blond strands away, it was getting way too long.

"Okay." Newt turned around again staring at the ceiling. "You're right."

Silence weighted down and none of them moved, breathing starting to slow down. Thomas didn't feel like moving, this felt way too comfortable to move.

"Can I stay?" asked Thomas. Newt nodded, his hair once more brushing against Thomas's face as the only indication he answered.

None of them knew who woke up first. Thomas remembered moving his face away from the blond strands eyes blinking and opening at Newt's own dark sleepy eyes.

They exchanged lazy smiles but neither find the strength to move and stay still. Thomas was laying back with Newt's body tug against him. He couldn't look away, sunlight diffracted on the blond's face and across the room through the tent's clothes. Thomas' hand somehow had found a way his best friend's waist during the night, he didn't notice until he started tracing, drawing circles the shirt. He could feel his hipbone just under the layers of flesh and clothes as it was slowly rubbing against his skin. His hand curved so nicely around Newt and Thomas didn't find the strength to stop.

The blond turn his head, hair brushing Thomas face, searching through the other's eyes for an explanation. Newt tried to say something, but find himself stuck on the words. Luckily because Thomas didn't have answers that made sense. He just wanted to continue, feeling muscles tensing, relaxing and melting under his hand. Newt didn't say a word nor did he look away when his own hand grasped Thomas's sleeve, somehow testing out Thomas's reaction.

Thomas froze a second thinking it was to push him off but nothing of that sort happened, the hand laid still, fingers rumpling his shirt. Eyes still locked into Newt's, Thomas carefully let his hand slip under his t-shirt continuing the tracing directly against his skin. Newt's breath hitched, mouth drying up, body moving against Thomas's hand. Newt let his fingers run up Thomas's arm to caress his cheek, fingers shaking slightly as they trailed to his lips.

Whatever this was Thomas wanted more and he knew Newt felt the same. As if reading his mind, Newt moved closer, nose touching. Why was he so breathless when they barely moved? Newt smelled like himself again, cool under his touch and Thomas was almost dizzy. He wanted more, too feel more of that skin under his hands. Thomas hand jerked closing on Newt's hip bringing him closer without second thoughts. Clothes ruffled against each other, and Thomas didn't know what to focus on, Newt's hips pushing against his, his lips so close, his skin under Thomas' hand. Thomas was not going to waste another second, pushing on his elbows to kiss the blond, to press him against the mattress, pushing the shirt out of the way. Thomas just couldn't just stand here and look and imagine how it felt, how it sounded to have Newt closer and-

"Thomas! Vince needs to see you! Get up!" Minho bragged in.

Thomas more mobil, shot up turning to his friend. "Minho!" he scolded breathless and unnecessarily angry.

"Sorry!" Giggled Minho turning around in a heartbeat. "Is it what I think?! Is it actually happening?!"

"Nothing was happening," hurried Thomas trying to sit up away from the other. "Nothing is."

"We're dressed Minho, calm down," growled Newt making his way up slowly.

"So what happened?" teased Minho slowly turning around. "Newt's bed doesn't work anymore?"

"Ah. Ah," faked Thomas, trying to sit up. "Must be the same problem than Brenda's."

Minho gave out a fake laugh at that, mentioning the door and the outside world. "Vince needs you, now."

Thomas whined rolling on his back. "Why?"

Minho shrugged watching his friend slowly make his way out. Both Thomas and Newt tried looking away as the younger crossed the room to grab some clean clothes. It was so awkward Minho felt almost bad for barging in. He was going to let them be but he did not trust them enough. As Thomas made his way to the door, he glanced back to the bed, eyes never meeting the blond. "I guess… I'm sorry for…" he tried. "I'll see to you later?"

Newt winced falling back in bed, "Just go."

Thomas didn't need more to run away. Minho was going to follow when Newt called him back.

"Could we talk?" asked the blond pushing the sheet against himself suddenly missing the warmth. "At breakfast? Whenever you've got time, really…"

"Yeah?"

"I need to apologise to you," tried Newt looking above the blankets. "I just don't know where to start."

"I mean I can definitely find one or two thing we need to talk about now," said Minho with a smile that Newt just couldn't resist to answer. "What was that?" giggled Minho.

"Just," sighed Newt. "Just let me change."

Vince wasn't very happy. To the least really. Thomas got out of his tent, head resonating with the shouts and scolding of the leader. Jorge had been there too. Everyone seemed against him. As he stepped out from the suffocating room, Thomas's eyes just took a second to take in the beautiful surroundings. The sun was high up now. He was prepared to be told off and forced into apologising to Gally, but Vince thought it would be better to call a meeting and decide on it as a community. Somehow this was not such a worry weighting down on his mind as much as this morning madness. His thoughts were still on a certain blond, and how it felt to have him so close, the skin under his hand. Fate seems to have a hand at it because Newt just walked past him.

The blond stopped looking at Thomas in silence, trying to find words.

"I talked with Minho," said Newt.

"Cool," tired Thomas wondering why the furtive eyes. "How did it go?"

"Fine!" said Newt almost off hand. "But I think we should talk," finally said Newt, eyes on the floor.

"Yeah sure… No problem," smiled Thomas.

"Tomorrow?" asked Newt, mentioning Charlotte and Sonya at the over hand of the courtyard, apparently waiting on him.

"Sure." Thomas nodded, "Cool." He didn't know where to look but tried to stay cool as Newt just waved goodbye like it was the easiest thing ever.

2 Minutes later:

"Where were you!" hissed Thomas rushing in breathless. "I've been looking for you for ages!"

Minho looked up from his work unimpressed, "I was here?"

Thomas stomped inside the building in mid-construction.

"Are you okay?" asked Minho handling a wooden board around like it weight nothing.

"If I'm okay?!" hissed Thomas. "He wants to talk!"

"Newt?" ventured Minho putting the thing down, realising it was going to take some time.

"Yes! Obviously!"

"How dares he," mocked Minho. "That's it then… You're finished. It's obviously out of your reach. I mean, we all know you can't talk."

"What?" chocked Thomas.

"I mean talk? Damn why can't he just kiss you and be gone?" teased Minho sitting down on some wood stock.

"Minho," scolded Thomas. "That's not funny."

But Minho continued not interest in listening to Thomas's begs. "Talking…. Who does he think he is? Who does that anymore?!"

"Stop it."

"If Brenda did that to me I would leave her right away."

"Minho."

Minho finally turned around to face his friend, stopping in his rant. "Thomas."

Their standoff glare did not last long, Thomas eyes looking away first. "Okay, okay," gave up Thomas. "You win, I'm calmed down."

"Good," smiled Minho, decided to join Thomas on the bench. "What does he want to talk about anyway?"

"I don't know!" whined Thomas hands moving in his hair. "Did he tell you?"

"No, we barely talked about you," answered Minho, but it could be a lie. Thomas couldn't trust anyone anymore!

"What did you do?" scold Minho.

"Me?! Nothing! Everything was fine! We are just going around! We were just been okay! He was laughing all the time! I mean, he is alive and so I am! And so are you!" rambled Thomas, throwing out ideas as fast as they came. "We were doing stuff as usual, like everything was back to normal and then he just… I fucked up… Maybe I just fucked up?" he suddenly said thinking back to this morning. "I thought it was okay. But now he wants to talk!?"

"Maybe he just want to switch side?" teased Minho.

"What?" stopped Thomas mid-rant.

"For the bed," explained Minho as Thomas turned red tumbling across his own words. "Come on everyone knows you're sleeping together."

"It's cold."

"I know, I say that to Brenda too." Answered his friend with a knowing smile.

"It is because of this," growled Thomas. "This life here, nothing makes sense."

"We get to finally do and be what we want," said Minho. "Does that upset you that much?"

"I guess I'm not use of having a choice," said Thomas quietly. "I'm too scared of making a mistake. What if I do something wrong?" whined Thomas as Minho just stare silently thrown off.

"Did something happen?"

"No!"

"You're killing me, Thomas…" sighted Minho. "You kissed him, right?"

"I did no such things."

"You kissed him and you haven't decided how you feel about him yet?" continued Minho. "Like I told you to on one of the first night?"

"I know how I feel about him!" hissed Thomas. "That's not the point."

"So you kissed him and brush it off as an non-out of the ordinary thing because you were scared of losing him."

"No!" said Thomas. "I wouldn't do that!"

"Almost everybody saw you kissing on the beach."

Thomas opened his mouth ready to answer but he couldn't find anything to say, torn between wanting to deny everything and just bragging about how awesome it was. Silence felt on the boys and Minho just waited staring right at Thomas who didn't know what to do with himself.

"That might have happened," said Thomas dejectedly.

"I'm going to make so much on this one," said Minho mostly for himself before turning around and shouting: "Brenda! Come here!"

"I hate you. So much."

"He probably wants to talk about that to be honest then. Maybe he just want, you know, do that more often."

"Did he tell you?!"

"No." Minho looked at anywhere but at Thomas. "We just started talking again today. It wasn't much about you to be honest. I think he is trying to sort out his life."

"Oh."

"Yeah?" asked Brenda head looking in. "What's up? Wait- Are you okay?"

Thomas shrugged.

Minho started laughing, "You owe me so much you might actually want to sit down to hear that."

Brenda chuckled taking a sit, "Wait. It's about Newt. You kissed him and now you are freaking out, out-loud because Newt, who meanwhile has been freaking out quietly, decided to act like an adult and tries to resolve the situation."

"How can she even lose to you?" whispered Thomas stun to a dreamy Minho.

"You couldn't be more right if you tried," smiled Minho.

"Okay," sighted Thomas. "What do I do then?!"

"Listen to him?" proposed Brenda with a smirk. "Shouldn't be that hard considering how you guys function anyway."

"What do I tell him?" whined Thomas.

"That's up to you," she chided.

"What if he doesn't want anything to do with me?" asked Thomas. "I can't, I'm not sure what would I do, you know if- He is like,"

"Thomas," cut Brenda. "It's not with us you want to have that conversation."

Minho nodded along happy to have Brenda come and rescue them.

"After all of this mess, nothing that bad can happen between you guys. I mean… You have that super power to make everything turn out okay in the end."

Brenda smile reminded Thomas of a time so far away. A time when him and her could have work out.

"I just don't want anything to change. Maybe this is the only ending we are getting."

It was Minho's time to get upset. "You! Stop that! Thomas, you're an idiot, young brainless self-sacrificing, nosy and cheeky runner. In no case scenario, you are a coward. So pick yourself up-"

"And finish what I've started, I know… I know…" cut Thomas.

The rest of the day flew by, Thomas was called to the council. The room started to fill, people whispering and Gally came to sit at the front but as far away from Thomas as possible. Gally didn't say anything keeping his eyes on the floor.

And like an idiot, all Thomas could wonder about was if Newt was going to come. Brenda had come fetch him earlier thinking Thomas would be stressed. Stressed no but his shower did not help him come back down from this morning near-miss and working with Minho on construction could take his mind of his future talk with the blond. Thomas frowned, suddenly realising, what did he mean by tomorrow? He would have almost missed Vince sentencing if Brenda had not squealed.

"The pit?" repeated Brenda appalled. "That's barbaric!"

Vince merely shrugged. "It's not like there is a better solution."

"I think there is," called out Newt from somewhere next to Gally. Thomas looked up and smiled, he hadn't seen him arrived and was mildly annoyed how casual, all-business Newt looked. The only thing keeping Thomas quiet was how the blond didn't quite looked at him. It was almost endearing.

"It was obviously an accident, well, on Gally's part," he continued.

Thomas choked glancing back at Brenda, while Newt tried to step forward without hurting anyone sitting down. He came to stand next to Vince.

"Putting Gally in the pit for such thing is counter-productive," continued Newt, as people stared curiously at him. "I think he should take the morning off, talk with the medical team." People started to complain murmuring too loudly. "Gally should be babysit, everyday until Brenda sees him fit to stop. He doesn't need punishment, he needs help."

Vince nodded slowly along watching people whispered around the room. Newt did not back down even walking down the steps ready to defend his argument. Minho didn't say a word too scared to break Newt's newly found voice watching his friend careful walk up to Gally.

"As such, Gally can continue his work in the afternoon, and we can be sure that whatever that was, doesn't happen again," he concluded simply, like it was the easiest answer.

"What about Thomas?" shouted someone in the crowd.

Newt glanced at Vince royally ignoring Thomas. "I think he should spend the morning in the pit."

Thomas choked, "What?! Didn't you say it was barbaric?!"

Vince shushed him.

"Brenda said that," said the blond with a smirk. "But I think Thomas over-reacted and it can't happen again. I also think Thomas should be assigned under Gally's tutelage for the week."

People cheered at the idea of another fight and someone to be thrown in the pit. It seemed like everybody was happy with it. Thomas just couldn't believe it.

"We need to work together," said Newt finally, turning to Vince. "I think this would be the best solution for them and our community. We can not ignore other people's pain but we can not let violence slide by."

Vince nodded slowly, asking for anyone else opinion and asking for a quick show of hand. Everybody was happy with the sentencing wondering if they should give him food. This was slightly too much and even Minho felt uncomfortable. Vince ended up by putting his veto down, with a clear and simple, "we are not going to starve anyone."

The voting was a quick affair. Thomas didn't need to look to know Newt won, so he kept his eyes on him until the blond dared to look back. Newt smiled somewhat apologetically, somewhat amused. Thomas was tore in two between being enraged and amazed. The smirk on the blond face made it even less clear for Thomas.

Night already started to fall when the meeting finished and it was time to get to the pit and Sonya happily proposed to bring Thomas there herself. Minho shrugged, telling Thomas that it was only one night. Newt did approached him Vince keeping him to talk about some things or others. It was frustrating to say the least.

Sonya did wait for him to whine and just told him to follow. They slowly made their way to the outside of the camp. At least it wasn't going to be as bad as his first night in the Glade.

"I know what you are up to, Thomas," whispered Sonya, dragging Thomas toward the hole when he started to slow down. "And I'm not going to stand here and say nothing."

"What?"

"He is exhausted, wounded, and confused," she listed off pushing Thomas toward the pit. "I swear, if you hurt him…"

"Is this about Newt?" asked Thomas trying to hold back the stunned 'Are you actually threatening me?'

"Don't play dumb," growled Sonya. "I'll drown you, right there on the beach in front of everyone. I don't even care if I get banned," she continued lowering her voice enough not to draw attention from the others.

Okay, that was definitely a threat. Thomas tried hands moving up in surrender. "I would never hurt Newt! What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," she hissed. "I've seen how he looks at you, how he hangs at every words you say-"

"Does he?" gusted Thomas, brain cutting short at the mention.

"He deserves better than awkward hugs and staring. Newt deserves to be happy and not wondering if he actually matters or is just a Teresa rebound," she lectured him steeping back. "You need to man up, and do something. Prove him he matters. I know he wants to talk with you tomorrow. So give me a reason not to bash your head in the next 24 hours."

"I'm not, I don't, it's not about Teresa," tired to say Thomas. "It's not that easy."

"I can make it easy."

"Sonya… No," winced Thomas. "I just don't want to hurt him, hurt us… Do you really think he likes me?"

"Oh, no… Tommy," she chided as she opened the pit. Thomas cut her off with a brief 'don't call me that' as she continued; "I'm not helping you get with my brother. I'm not on your team. I'm making sure you know what to expect if you fuck up."

"I promise you, I'll never do anything to hurt him."

"So you've said," she drawled holding the door open. "But you did stab him once. Now get in."

Thomas obeyed but continued to defend himself, "This was different, and he- "

"I don't care. If you love him tell him or leave him alone," she hissed closing the door. "Have a good night."