She breathes in the morning air as the sun rises over the Safe Heaven. She often finds herself, not because of nightmares - no she hardly ever has those - it's somewhat fear that, eventually, they will pay a visit and she won't be able to get rid of them. That's why she reads as much as she only can - to leave all that's wrong, unfair and hurtful behind her and indulge in another world with problems easier to solve.

She treasures books telling stories from old days. She often imagines herself living in a huge residence with marble halls as Thomas - her ardent beau - courts her audaciously.

It's not fair to Newt, but then their arrangement has never had any rules, except keeping it private. So, Teresa never confined in Penny again - even though she was very cogent and her biggest passion turned out to be sticking her nose where it's not wanted - has only told her little things or at least she thought she has. The last talk they had was quite embarrassing, and Teresa would much rather expunge it.

"So you don't have sex with him, after all?" The disappointment was clear in Penny's voice.

"Haven't you listened to the word I've just said? We have... plenty of sex." Saying it out loud was as perplexing as Teresa expected.

"But it's not really sex, is it?" she dragged the topic out. Teresa was still as awkward when it came to talking about matters like this. It didn't help that Penny found it so exciting, either.

So, yes, maybe Newt didn't exactly put his penis in her vagina. So what? His fingers and tongue were diligent enough. And considering his reaction so were hers.

"It really doesn't bother you?"

"Why would it?" It wasn't that Teresa didn't want to... share herself - she was already doing that. It was just that every time she thought Newt would... he didn't. It was weird, but Teresa daren't question him, after all, he didn't question her - anymore that is.

She gets up and goes to the canteen to get some breakfast before work. She stopped eating with her old friends the moment she and Newt began secretly meeting. She still talked to them - preferably when Newt wasn't around, she was scared she would give the two of them away.

She liked whatever there was between them. Newt's kept his space, allowing her to have hers. He always comes after twilight settles above the valley, making sure no one notices him and leaves a while after they're done. As far as she's concerned it works both ways.

"I found a book for you," Penny greets her with a beam. She hands her a dark-blue cover. Its pages are a bit yellow, torn and scrunched up in a few places. "I think you'll find it pretty helpful," she winks.

Teresa doesn't open her book until she reaches her hut. Soon she finds herself skipping a few pages every chapter, finding the book unbearable. "He steps out of his Converse shoes and reaches down and takes his socks off individually. Christian Grey's feet - wow - what is it about naked feet?" - How... Why... Why?! Why has Penny thought it was a good book for her? The protagonist doesn't seem to think anything else than 'Oh dear Barbossa!' not to mention she blushes all the time!

It doesn't take her long to throw the book away, letting it land somewhere on the floor as she groans.

"Hello to you, too," Newt greets her with his usual pearly grin. He peeks up the book with a raised eyebrow, waiting for her to tell him the story behind her aggravation but all she gives him is a shake of her head.

"Hi," she sighs.

"Is it a bad time?"

"Nope." She stands up to take the book away from him. He decides to get on her tits and lifts the book in the air, refusing to give it to her. "Newton!" she threatens him. "You know what?" she says as she struggles to whip the book out of his hand. "You can keep it. It sucks anyway."

"Does it? Let me take a look." He hops on her bed with 'thud' sound and opens the book halfway as he begins to read aloud, "I nod, wide-eyed, my heart bouncing off my ribs, my blood thundering around my body." He stops, gaze focused on the sentence he has just read. "Bouncing off my ribs?" he sneakers as he looks back at Teresa. "I'm not a doctor nor have I ever had a biology lesson but... bloody hell is it how this works?"

"I told you not to read that," she huffs.

"What would you have me read then?" She doesn't answer him at first, thinking he's making fun of her, but as she scans his face, she finds genuine interest and decides to give him one of the books she has borrowed.

Her eyes carefully go over a small collection of not yet returned books - not that anyone minded; barely anyone on the camp bothered stopping by a library - on a petite bookshelf above her desk until her sea-like eyes reached "Ten Little Niggers".

He delicately caresses the rundown cover, and she can't help but admire the way he treated the little gift.

"It's a bloody whodunit story. Are you trying to tell me something?"

She smirks - something she hardly ever does- and spoke up,

"You're finally catching up." Her terrible performance of a threat lacked only an overdramatic 'mwahaha' at the end. He snickers at her horrendous attempt to scare him, and with a head shake, he opens the book.

"Are you going to read it now?"

"Yeah, why? Did ya have anything else in mind?" He raises his eyebrow. There is some kind of a force in a way he looks at her that almost makes her crawl to him. Instead, she grabs another book for herself with a beam.

"Not really. No," she laughs. She waits for him to tear the book away from her and crush her with his weight on the bed. Instead, he scooted so she would have more place on the bed to sit comfortably.

She falls asleep in his arms, the book opened and facing his abdomen.

She wakes up to an empty and lukewarm bed with only a blanket atop her. Her book lays closed next to her pillow, and she finds a small piece of paper marking the last page she read the previous night. Last night - despite being different from what she expected it to be - was wonderful. She's never known she could spend some time with someone without speaking and enjoy it so much.

She spots Newt at the same table as always with Minho and Thomas already there. She considers joining them but is too diffident when she sees Brenda wrapped in her love's arms.

So just like every other day, she sits with her new crew, glancing at the pair warily every now and then.

She's let off work early as there is nothing left for her to do that day. Instead of going to lunch, she goes straight to her house for a blanket and a book and heads toward the beach.

Sun barely makes it through the clouds and every now and then a cold breeze makes her shiver, but she doesn't mind. She's become quite appreciative of the chilly weather after spending so much time at the scorch.

She takes off her snickers to let her feet drown in a cool sand as she looks for a perfect spot. After thirty minutes of walking, she decides she has found the perfect and secluded enough place for her to rest. She shakes the last thoughts of Tom and Brenda out of her mind and sits on the rough blanket.

If she could go back in time she would have brought a hoody with her – the scorch - she reminds herself to get rid of unpleasant shivers. It helps only a bit but it's enough for her mind to focus on the book.

"He shall never know I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same."

She doesn't hear his footsteps as he approaches, she just feels a weight rest next to her and wrap an arm around her. And even though she came here to get away from everyone and read, she appreciates his presence.

She wants to put down her book to talk to him - she believes that's just politeness she owns him - but he stops her,

"No, don't interrupt yourself." But she barely manages to finish a chapter, curious as to why he went so far after her. "I wanted to bring you lunch, but Fry wouldn't let me get any dishes outside the camp so..."

"That's fine," she whispers with a grateful smile.

"I brought tea though." He turns to lift to mugs - his half empty - but the beverage is cold as ice. She takes a small sip, but it tastes like plastic and her brows furrow in disgust before she puts the mug away.

She focuses her gaze on Newt or much rather on his white hoodie that she can't help but yearns to put her hands on.

"Can you give me your hoodie?" she asks. He doesn't react at first, too focused on his drink, then he puts the mug away as well and stares at the sea. "I'm cold," she adds, but still doesn't get a reply. "Newt?"

"Alright," he says at the sound of his name, "But you have to go for a swim with me first," he smirks.

"What?! You're kidding right?"

"Nope." He stands up and takes off his hoodie, and begins waving it in front of her face only to raise it above his head when she tries to reach it. "Bloody hell, T! It'll be fun. C'mon," he offers his hand. She takes it with a frown and stands up.

"The water must be freezing. We'll get sick!"

"So we'll get few days off of work," the grin never fades, "And you'll get the hoodie." He waves it in front of her again.

"After that," she motions the ocean, "I'll need at least three."

"I can always wave my magic wand and get you one. Please, T!" he begs. When she doesn't move, he brings an arm around her and brings her closer to distract her with a kiss as his other hand works on her jeans.

"What are you doing?" she mumbled against his lips.

"Manhandling you," he snickered. Newt lifts her up, throwing her on his shoulder before she can argue and carries her to the water.

"Newton, put me down!" she commands, but he just laughs,

"Bloody hell, did you just call me Newton?"

"Newt!"

"All right, all right." But the waves almost touch their feet at this point. "Just try, alright? I'll be waiting there for you," he winks, throwing his shoes off and then his pants and boxers. "C'mon," he yells, "I've already seen you naked, T."

It's not that! - she thinks nervously as she refuses to give in.

Teresa watches him get further into the ocean until she can't see him anymore. Her jeans are loose, but she doesn't bother to zip them again. Instead, she watches Newt fight with the choppy water until she doesn't see his blond locks anymore.

"Newt?" she whispers, her voice shaky. She repeats his name, screaming this time. "Fuck," she mutters under her breath and quickly throws off all her clothing before she runs into the waves. "Newt!" she tries again.

"Boo!" he reveals himself.

"Jesus!" she jumps. Her hand finds its way over to her heart as she tries to calm it with few deep breaths. "You shuckass!" She hits his chest as he tries to embrace her.

"Shuckass? I like it," he grins.

"God, I hate you," she mumbles with relief.

"Well, I got you to get into the water, didn't I?"

"You did, and as I predicted it's freezing!" she argues as her teeth chatter. She's sure her lips are livid at this point.

"I'll warm you up," he brings her close. She swears his body heat increased, and against herself - because she's still so frustrated with him - she wraps her arms around his chest and steals as much of it as she can.

Few drops fall from his messy her onto her shoulder and he bends his head to kiss them all away. The gesture brings the first pleasant shiver she had on the beach that day. And Newt doesn't stop. He leaves a path of hot kisses up her neck to behind her ear. A mellow moan escapes her lips as she feels him harden.

"Let's go," he whispers right into her ear. But she doubts she can make it back to the camp with the by now well-known burning sensation down her core.

"No," she manages to say before their lips collide. It's hot and passionate, needy and impatient. And it ends too quickly.

"I thought you were cold."

"Not anymore." This time he kisses her, opening her mouth, his teeth biting into her lower lip and then their tongues are dancing together all the while he guides her out of the ocean.

Clumsy as she is, she trips when they almost make it out and lands on her back with him on top. Neither of them cares.

His mouth leaves her to attack her collarbone as his hand slowly reaches her clit. At the first contact, Teresa arches her back for more but soon slaps it away.

"Huh?" He raises his head in surprise.

"I need your cock," she whines before she has time to rethink it. She swears he's dumbstruck for a second or two before he manages to choke out a, "I got a condom in my jeans." They stare at each other for a while as if trying to understand what he has just said.

"Okay..." she whispers at last, but it takes him another second to actually get up. She hears him tear the packaging before he comes back with the condom already on.

Newt hesitantly gets on top of her, waves swooping over her body every two seconds. She wonders what he waits for until he asks,

"Are you sure about that?" The question seems stupid- they might have not been together in exactly that way before but they did have sex. And then it hits her. She wouldn't think of it herself, she was sure she wanted him, but the moment he asked she was truly sure.

"Yeah," she smiles. He kisses her one more time, this time it's slow and tender. One more look into her eyes before he finally moves into her.

And whether she feels any discomfort or pain the waves wash it all away.